Knoxville, TN—Between January and May, the Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA) and Sundress Publications, its parent organization, invited submissions of poetry, prose, theater, film, and other forms of socially conscious performance for its OUTSpoken program. Making final decisions was difficult, as we were stunned by the power, beauty, and variety of the entries received.
Our overall winner is Dee Stribling for her dramatic monologue, “Why Poetry.” Stribling will receive a $100 honorarium to travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, a free workshop at SAFTA, and tickets to and a DVD of the final performance. Her work will also appear in the June 2014 issue of Stirring, the flagship journal of Sundress Publications.
We have also selected two finalists as winners in their individual genres: Gemma Cooper-Novack’s “Straight Girls” in Poetry, and Kelly Barth’s “Complication” in Prose category. Both Cooper-Novack and Barth will also receive publication in Stirring, along with a free workshop at SAFTA and tickets and a DVD of the final performance.
OUTSpoken’s goal is to create a platform for the LGBTQ community of Knoxville, Tennessee, and its surrounding areas to record and perform the experiences of sex- and gender-diverse individuals in the South. Both Stribling’s and Novack’s work will be performed as part of this program.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 28th, at 7:30pm at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the SAFTA website for $10 or at the door for $15. A percentage of the proceeds will go to support the East Tennessee Chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network).