Jessie Ansari, Nederland.   As the sun went down on Thursday, December 6, 2018, poets and artists throughout the area prepped for Nederland’s longest running creative arts contest. Mountain Forum for Peace’s annual Liz Caile Express Your Peace Event encourages people of all ages to get inspired and create. This year, folks submitted artworks and poems on the topic of home and were asked to consider the question, “What does home mean?”

The contest is held in honor and memory of Liz Caile, a founding member of Mountain Forum for Peace when it first formed in Nederland in 1985. Caile lived much of her adult life in a small cabin only accessible by foot and without modern conveniences. As a regular columnist for the Mountain-Ear, Liz contributed thought-provoking pieces for twenty years. She wrote about the things that were important to her including nature, environmental ethics, war, peace, local history and family.

Some time after Caile passed away in 1998, her family willed a sum of money to MFP. It was decided that the funds would go toward a creative arts event to honor her commitment to writing and peace. The Express Your Peace Contest began as a children’s creative writing contest and continued on as an annual event that later adapted into an all-ages celebration of the arts.

Last year, MFP organized writing workshops for youth at the library taught by local writer and editor Krista Crabtree. The workshops were so successful that they were held again this year, as a way to brainstorm ideas and come up with an entry for the contest. Live music by Nick Scheidies provided the perfect ambience as entrants signed up to read or submit art. The writing entrants spoke about what the word “home” means to them. The writing was varied, and thoughts touched on issues like homelessness, family, safety and belonging. By 7 p.m., the winners were announced.

Writing 12 and Under Winner: Oscar; Honorable mentions to Lyric Haworth and Mika Begin.
Art 12 & Under Winner: Trinity Le Blanc; Honorable mentions to Evelyn Gustafson, Abigail Hess and Drew Hertzfeld.
Writing 13 to 18 Winner: Michaela; Honorable mentions to Elise Harless.
Writing 13 to 18 Winner: Marguerite Bradley.
Art 19 and Up Winner: Virginia Unseld, Honorable mention to Krista Crabtree.
Writing 19 and Up Winner: Alanna Robyn, Honorable mentions to Deleana Baker, John Haworth.

Winners walked away with $600 in total prize money and certificates to acknowledge their achievements. Overall, the emphasis was clearly on having fun and making connections. Mountain Forum for Peace wants to thank everyone involved, from the talented artists and writers, to the hosts at Salto, the skilled judges who volunteered their time and all the volunteers who helped make it happen. Thanks everyone for expressing your peace!

(Originally published in the December 13, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)