April 21, 2008


Dylan Days names 2008 writing contest winners

Winners, author Toby Thompson to headline literary event May 24

HIBBING, Minn. (April 21, 2008) -- Dylan Days, an annual arts and music event in Bob Dylan's hometown, announced the winners of its 2008 creative writing contest this week. The contest recognizes experienced and up-and-coming writers of poetry, short fiction and one act plays.

More than 700 entries were received in the contest's five categories. More than 100 plays were submitted for the contest's first-ever one act playwright competition. Winners will read their work during the Dylan Days Literary Showcase on May 24 at the Hibbing Community College Theatre. The celebration will include a short lecture by Toby Thompson, author of Dylan biography "Positively Main Street," readings from the contest winners and the world premiere of the one act playwright contest's winning work. The play will star Iron Range actors and will be presented by HCC Theatre Director Michael Ricci.

"We received entries from all corners of the United States and every populated continent on Earth," said Dylan Days co-chair Aaron Brown. "Our seventh year of this contest has brought some of the strongest competition our judges have ever seen."

The first winner of the Dylan Days one act playwright competition is Demetra Kareman of Brooklyn, N.Y., with her play "Lessons and Carols." The play shows humor and harsh reality of life through the eyes of two girls held in detention at a Catholic boarding school in New York. The contest recognizes stories, poems and plays that strive for the same innovation and creative spirit as Bob Dylan. This year's winners cover subject matter across the human spectrum.

OPEN FICTION:

1) "Glued Sawdust" by Kevin Lottes of Westerville, Ohio 

2) "Day Shift" by Craig Planting of Minneapolis, Minn. 

3) "Toilet Tornado" by Lindsy O'Brien of Cloquet, Minn.

Semi-Finalists

STUDENT FICTION:

1) "Superior" by Jeffrey Carr of Logan, Utah (Utah State University)

2) "Leaning" by Elizabeth Reinhard of New York, N.Y. (Duke University)

3) "Tia Cruzita" by Krista Oehlke of Plano, Texas (Greenhill School)

Semi-Finalists

OPEN POETRY

1) "When it Rains" by Sandra Newbauer of Mankato, Minn. 

2) "At Some Distance" by Philip Fitzpatrick of Duluth, Minn. 

3) "Hush, the Girls are Writing" by Andrew Periale of Strafford, N.H.

Semi-Finalists

STUDENT POETRY WINNERS

1) "Goodnight, Beet Dreams" by Claire Parson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio (Otterbein College of Westerville, Ohio)

2) "Friday Night Vigils" by Carl Anthony of Baltimore, Md. (Loyola College)

3) "Waiting" by Kelly Carrubba of Woodbridge, Va. (Woodbridge Senior High School)

Semi-Finalists:

ONE ACT PLAYWRIGHTS

Grand Prize)  "Lessons and Carols" by Demetra Kareman of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Finalists)        

"The mission of Dylan Days is to honor the arts community and culture of northern Minnesota, the same place that influenced a young Bob Dylan," said Brown. "This writing contest, along with the singer/songwriter and visual art contests, represents the cornerstone of our annual gathering. Anyone interested in the music, the arts and writing will find something of interest at Dylan Days."

Contest winners receive cash prizes and publication in "Talkin' Blues," the program and literary journal for Dylan Days.

Admission to the Dylan Days Literary Showcase on May 24 is free with the purchase of a Dylan Days button. Dylan Days runs May 22-25. Thompson will also be conducting a free writing workshop (advanced registration required) from 9-11 a.m. on Friday, May 23 at the Hibbing High School Library.

This year's Dylan Days highlight is the grand opening of "Tangled Up in Ore," an original exhibit of Dylan memorabilia, photographs and local artifacts at Ironworld in nearby Chisholm, Minn. This exhibit was made possible in part by a grant from Iron Range Resources and was produced in consultation with Dylan Days.

Dylan Days 2008 also features classic annual events like the Bob Dylan singer/songwriter contest and the Bobby Zimmerman bus tour of Hibbing. Hundreds of writers, artists and musicians from all over the world participate in Dylan Days every year. Live music, displays and many other local cultural events are scheduled throughout the event, including a benefit concert for the Hibbing Arts Council by Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover. For more information, see www.dylandays.com or call 1-866-305-3849.

Dylan Days is an annual event organized by the volunteer Dylan Days committee as part of Dylan Arts Celebration, a community initiative to honor Dylan and expand the arts in Northeastern Minnesota. Dylan Days began informally in 1991 as a musical tribute on Dylan's May 24 birthday at Zimmy's in Hibbing. It is now a fast growing arts event that encourages visual, musical and literary artists from Minnesota and across the world.

CONTACT:     Aaron J. Brown, Dylan Days media coordinator and co-chair, 218-969-9663 or info@dylandays.com. Media availability for contest winners will be made upon request.

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