Inspired by the work of five award-winning poets, over three dozen children's book artists and illustrators submitted over 40 works for Reflections, a competition and exhibition at Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), on display through May 3. MCBA and the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (MNSCBWI) are proud to announce the competition's award winners:

	Best In Show: Shawn McCann (Otsego, MN) Plane-In-The-Sky-Cycle (illustrating Two-Wheeler by Jane Thomas Noland)
	Best in Category, Collage and Mixed Media: Anna King (Minneapolis, MN) Over Seas (illustrating His Father Overseas by Ruth Berman)
	Best in Category, Digital: Chrysa Otto (Minneapolis, MN) Two-Wheeler (illustrating Two-Wheeler by Jane Thomas Noland)
	Best in Category, Painting and Drawing: Brianna Capra (Menomonie, WI) Princesses (illustrating Princesses by Jeanie Watson)

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Barbara Björnson (New Brighton, MN), Nina Victor Crittenden (Deephaven, MN) and Emmeline Hall (Mendota Heights, MN).

Winning works were selected by a jury of three acclaimed experts in the field: author/illustrator David LaRochelle, author Brian Malloy and illustrator Christina Rodriguez.

Reflections is the culmination of a year-long collaboration and series of competitions. In May 2008, a MNSCBWI poetry competition cultivated five winning poems from talented local writers Ruth Berman, Krisanne A. Dattir, Bill Herring, Jane Thomas Nolan and Jeanie Watson. Each work on display in Reflections is an interpretation of one of those five winning poems.

Artists featured in Reflections:

Cheryl Barr Barbara Björnson Brianna Capra Nina Victor Crittenden Sandy D'Antonio Megan Eckman Chris Greenman Emmeline Hall LouAnn Hoppe Jessica Ann Hutton

Jane Janda Anna King Stephanie Kunze Betsy LePlatt Shawn McCann Amy Marshall Faythe Mills Jo Mills Chrysa Otto Katie Parke

Beth Robinson R. W. Scholes Alicia M. Schwab Orlee Smull Karen Sorensen Mary Jo Truchon Amy Vasterling Sharon Wagner Karen Wallach

Also included in the exhibition are process materials from the University of Minnesota's Kerlan Collection – one of the world's great children's literature research collections. Associated programming includes:

Poetry-Inspired Books For The Classroom
Monday, March 23; 6-9pm
For teachers of grades 2-12
A snowflake book for winter snow poems. A Japanese receipt book for haikus. The structure of a book can support students' poetic writing in dynamic ways. In connection with Reflections, this workshop will focus on making book structures to support popular poetic forms, i.e. acrostics, cinquains, haikus, and more. Participants will make five different structural poem books that will be easy to replicate in the classroom. Pre-registration and fee required; see the Teacher Workshops page for more information.

An Introduction to the Kerlan Collection
Tuesday, April 7; 7pm, free and open to the public
With more than 100,000 children’s books as well as original manuscripts, artwork, galleys, and color proofs for more than 12,000 children’s books, the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota is one of the largest children’s literature research collections in the world. Join librarian Marie Harvat for an introduction to this fascinating collection and a peek at some of its holdings. See the Book Arts Roundtable listings for additional free public Roundtable programs.

Free Family Day: BROADSIDES! Pairing Poems and Prints
Saturday, April 11; drop in between 10am-1pm
Bring out the writer and artist in you and create a fabulous broadside. Write an original poem with instructors from The Loft Literary Center. Then, after visiting MCBA's gallery to get inspired by Reflections, join teachers in the studio to make prints to complement your poem. Put your creations together and create a poster to take home with you! Children will also have the option of working with pre-selected text. See the Community Programs page for more free family events.

The Loft's Festival of Children's and Young Adult Literature and Illustration
Saturday & Sunday, April 18-19; 10am-5pm
This year's festival will feature workshops, readings, presentations and appearances by Andrew Karre (Carolrhoda Books), Brian Farrey (Llewellyn Worldwide), Emily Easton (Walker Books), Zachary J. Marell (Lerner Publishing), and Tina Wexler (International Creative Management Agent). A complete schedule and registration information will be available in February 2009 on The Loft Literary Center's website.

Interaction: Word and Image
Tuesday, April 28; 7pm, free and open to the public
Award-winning illustrator Lauren Stringer and Milkweed Editions managing editor Jim Cihlar talk about the process of illustration and revision and what drives the interaction between editor, illustrator and writer. Q&A encouraged! See the Book Arts Roundtable listings for additional free public Roundtable programs.

 

Coordinated exhibitions:

Text + Image: Collaborative Broadsides from the MCBA Archives
March 20 – May 3; Open Book Lobby Gallery
Text + Image presents an historic format for the pairing of writing and art -- the collaborative broadside. Words, phrases, verses and stanzas are paired with drawings, calligraphy, illuminations and symbolic imagery in over 20 contemporary works.

Minnesota Conversations
March 20 – April 26; Cowles Literary Commons
Minnesota Conversations, a suite of photo-illustrated poetry, demonstrates yet another method to wed text and imagery. Images of the natural world captured by photographer and writer Elizabeth Nagel are metaphorically echoed in the words of poet and naturalist Clem Nagel.

 

All exhibits and associated events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

 

Minnesota Center for Book Arts is open to the public: Tuesdays: 10 am to 9 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays: 10 am to 5 pm Sundays: noon to 4 pm Mondays: closed Minnesota Center for Book Arts is located in the Open Book Building in downtown Minneapolis 1011 Washington Ave S, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: 612.215.2520 Fax: 612.215.2545 Email: mcba@mnbookarts.org © 2009 Minnesota Center for Book Arts