PAN is a visual arts and poetry competition and sale. Artists are invited to enter their 2- or 3-dimensional artwork, accompanied by a poem. The poem should be either the inspiration for the art, or inspired by the art. The poem can be an original by the artist, by someone else, or a previously published poem. Only original poems by the artist or commissioned by the artist for the show will be judged and eligible for prizes.
The Village Fine Arts Association takes pride in presenting the 33rd annual Poetry Art Night (PAN) competition and exhibit to be held at the Suzanne Haskew Arts Center (the SHAC), home of the VFAA. The VFAA has been greater Milford’s premier independent art organization since 1992, holding art shows, monthly meetings with informational speakers, workshops and classes open to all skill levels, and numerous events and projects within the community.
All entered artwork must be inspired by or related to a poem, and must be accompanied by that poem. Entered work is reviewed with poetry selection. Entered poetry may be written by the artist or commissioned poet, or can be previously published. Previously published poetry is not eligible for the poetry competition. Only poems written for PAN entries are eligible for poetry awards. Poetry must not be over 20 lines. Poetry without artwork, or artwork without poetry is ineligible.
See all important dates to the left.
2025 Judges
Art Judge - Laurén Gerig
Laurén Gerig is a visual artist living in Lansing, Michigan. She holds an MFA in Studio Art from Michigan State University and a BS in Studio Art from Indiana Wesleyan University. Her paintings explore landscape, memory, and responding to current environments through expressive mark-making and bold use of color. Captured with a sense of immediacy and compulsion, her paintings serve as entries to an on-going investigation of the ways we interact, impact, and hold onto places we pass through.
Laurén's work has been included in several solo, small group, and national juried exhibitions including Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in Clarksville, TN, The Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois College, Sarratt Gallery at Vanderbilt University, Soft Projects in Ypsilanti, Michigan to name a few. She has been awarded artist residencies with Golden Apple Studios, The Sable Project, and La Macina di San Cresci. Laurén has been interviewed by Visionary Art Collective and has been featured in Create! Magazine, CandyFloss Magazine as well as numerous online art blogs. Along with her studio practice, Laurén teaches Studio Art courses in the Department of Art, Art History, & Design at Michigan State University.
Poetry Judge - Susan Allen
Michigan native Sue Allen has written poetry and prose since her childhood. In 2017, she authored a novel, Water Beyond the Bridge, and three years later, the text for Lilacs on Mackinac Island: A Fortnight of Fragrance. Like many English majors (BA University of Michigan), she combined her love of reading and writing to become a teacher. Before retiring, Sue was a National Board Certified instructor in English as a Second Language, and always included a poetry unit for her students in Fairfax County Public Schools. A lifelong learner, she enjoys editing and helping others write better and more humanly than any Al program.
If you would like to commission an original poem to go with your art piece feel free to reach out to the following:
Sue Gollan - suegollon@aol.com
Lori Pas - glolight@comcast.net
Chris White - inspro.cpw@gmail.com
Isabella Mansfield - Isabellajmasfield@gmail.com
Isaac Perry - Perryisa@hotmail.com
Awards
Fine Art: First Place - $300; Second Place - $150; Third Place - $75; Several Honorable Mention awards.
Poetry: First Place - $50; Second Place - $50; Third Place - $30; Several Honorable Mention awards.
Entry Fees
VFAA members in good standing: $35 for up to three pieces. Non-members: $45 for up to three pieces.
Entry Procedure
Please read carefully, as our entry procedure has changed. PAN entries are now accepted only at ArtCall.org.
Registration: If you are not already registered, you must register with ArtCall.org before entering. See a video tutorial at the bottom of this page for help with registering and entering if needed.
Payment: You must pay the entry fee via credit card after registering. If you prefer to pay with cash or check, please let us know before you start the entry process and we will give you a coupon code to use. If payment is not received within a week after the entry deadline, your entries will be deleted.
Entry:
1. Once you are registered, click “Add New Submission”, and begin your first entry. Fill out all fields with your artwork information, read and check “Terms and Conditions” then click “Submit Entry Details”.
2. Upload a jpg or png file of your artwork.
3. IMPORTANT: when the pop-up box appears after you have uploaded your photo, click “Add Additional Image” and upload your poetry doc here. If you have closed out the dialogue box already, you may scroll down to your submission and click “+Attachment” to upload your poetry doc, txt or pdf file.
4. Repeat this process for your second and third entries. Once all files are submitted, you are done, you may log out. However, you may log back in at any time before the deadline to change your entries.
5. Feel free to share your entries on your Facebook page.
6. You may also print custom labels under “My entered submissions” . Find the button to the left of your entry.
7. You do not have to upload a profile photo, but if you do, it will show up on our online PAN gallery with your work.
If you have any trouble entering, you may call us at 248-797-3060 or stop in for help.
Note: Submission of work to the jury constitutes compliance with all the conditions stated in this prospectus. Please read our terms and conditions (link at the bottom of the page.)
