Here’s how it works:

Select one work of art by Gertrude Fiske that is on display in the downstairs gallery at Discover Portsmouth. Spend time observing the artwork and write a short piece. You may write a poem, story, essay, play/dialogue, newspaper article, or in any other style you would like. You must relate your piece to the artwork you selected.

All entries must be submitted by midnight on Saturday, September 22.

A panel of judges will read and evaluate the entry on its content, creativity, expression, clarity, quality, and connection to the original artwork.

OFFICIAL ENTRY INFORMATION

Age Division

• Grades 3-5
• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

Length

• No longer than 600 words
• At least 200 words
• Poem must be at least 10 lines and no more than 50 lines

Submit

• Email submissions to Claire@portsmouthhistory.org
• Mail submissions to:
  Claire Spollen
  Young Writers Contest
  Portsmouth Historical Society
  PO Box 728
  Portsmouth, NH 03802
• All entries must be received by midnight on Saturday, September 22.

Information Needed with Submission

• Age
• Grade you will enter in September 2018
• First and last name of entrant
• Home mailing address
• Your email or parents email address
• Home phone number
• School Name or Home School
• Title of Gertrude Fiske Painting
• Title of entry

Judging

• The judging panel will include staff from the Portsmouth Historical Society and local educators.
• Entries will be evaluated on content, creativity, expression, clarity, quality and connection to original artwork.

Awards

• There will be a small ceremony to celebrate the winners and all participants at Discover Portsmouth on Friday, September 28 at 5:30pm.
• Each submission will be placed into a lottery to win a one-year family membership to the Portsmouth Historical Society. The winner will be pulled on Friday September 22 at 5:30pm at Discover Portsmouth. You do not need to be present to win.
• Each division will have a winner and an honorable mention
  • The winner of each division gets a one year family membership to the Portsmouth Historical Society, a $25 gift card to Flatbreads and a gift certificate for a one-day rental at Summer Sessions
  • Honorable mention in each division gets a prize from the Museum Shop at Discover Portsmouth

Publication

• Participants grant permission to the Portsmouth Historical Society to publish your entry and your name for publicity purposes.

Questions

Email: Claire@portsmouthhistory.org

Information about Gertrude Fiske and the Exhibition

Tips for observing artwork

Creating Writing Through Art
How to and Why Look at Art with Children
Teaching Tips

Thanks to our Contest Sponsors

Press Releases 2018

2018 Exhibition-Overlooked and Undervalued: Three Hundred Years of Women’s Art from the Seacoast (PDF)
John Paul Jones Birthday July 8, 2018 (PDF)

Overlooked and Undervalued Exhibition Images

John Paul Jones House Images

Elinor W. Hooker (July 10, 1933 -January 27, 2012), a long time New Hampshire resident and activist, was born July 10, 1933 in Pittsburgh, PA, daughter of the late Dr. Ulysses Williams and Louise G. Williams. The family’s Pittsburgh home was near Wylie Avenue an active community of black businesses, jazz music and churches, a location that would shape her lifelong interest in multicultural activities.

Mrs. Hooker was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University where she majored in French and English. She taught English in Junior and Senior High Schools in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, PA, Brockton and Quincy, MA and Concord, NH and served as a tutor in the English as a Second Language Program at Nashua’s Pennichuck Junior High.

As a community activist, she volunteered with several groups including the Nashua Multicultural Committee and served as scholarship chairperson and assistant treasurer for the New Hampshire Outreach for Black Unity. During her tenure she chaired art exhibits by black artists and black performing artists. Elinor was a strong advocate of cultural diversity and Teaching Tolerance in schools base on the programs developed by The Southern Poverty Law Center.

Elinor was the wife of Thomas L. Hooker, who served from 1966 to 1974 as Director of the New Hampshire Division of Welfare. Shortly after moving to New Hampshire in 1966, Elinor and husband Tom became aware of Valerie Cunningham’s research on the history of blacks in New Hampshire. Both became supporters of PBHT and were interested in its growth.