WESTERN SLOPE & SAN MIGUEL COUNTY
POET LAUREATES
HONORING OUTSTANDING POETS & PERFORMERS
Western Slope Poet Laureate
Wendy Videlock (2023-2024)
A project of the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds program honoring an outstanding poet/performer who has helped promote the practice of poetry on the Western Slope of Colorado. The TG program selects poets who have published in the region and performed widely and to acclaim. Its purpose is to support the Laureate in continuing the work of poetry in and of the Western Slope, teaching, reading, writing and building literary community across the region.
Started at the Karen Chamberlain Poetry Festival in Carbondale, the naming of a Western Slope Poet Laureate moved to Telluride Literary Arts Festival in 2014.
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY POET LAUREATE
Joanna Spindler (2022)
The San Miguel County Board of County Commissioners created the position as a way to honor a member of the local community who has demonstrated significant literary achievement. The Poet Laureate will provide leadership in the literary community, create opportunities to expand the literary community in the county, and educate the young in the community-building powers of the arts to provide vision as well as beauty and entertainment to the people of the county.
San Miguel County has posted its own page on the county website honoring the County Poet Laureates that have been named since 2006.
San Miguel County Poet Laureate
POET LAUREATE NEWS & EVENTS
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POET LAUREATE ARCHIVES
Western Slope Past Winners & History
Started at the Karen Chamberlain Poetry Festival in Carbondale, the naming of a Western Slope Poet Laureate moved to Telluride Literary Arts Festival in 2014. Art Goodtimes of Norwood (2011-13) served as the first Laureate, Aaron Abeyta of Antonito (2013-15) the second, and Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer of Placerville (2015-2017) the third.
The tradition has continued with David J. Rothman of Crested Butte (2017-2019) and the current laureate L. Luis López of Grand Junction (2019-2022). Because of Covid, a decision was made to continue the position with the current laureate until 2022.
This year, the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program awarded the Western Slope Poet Laureate title (2023-24) to Wendy Videlock at a ceremony at the Art Center in Grand Junction, as well as honoring the past laureate L. Luis Lopez. Wendy has taken off with the honor and begun numerous poetry initiatives throughout the Grand Valley.
San Miguel County Past Winners & History
Joanna Spindler (2022-2024)
Ms. Spindler has lived in San Miguel County for many years and is an adult programming specialist with the Wilkinson Library in Telluride. She has been a long-time collaborator with Talking Gourds and is now the lead partner on the Bardic Trails Zoom virtual poet series in this time of COVID. She is also an inspiring performer of her poetry and has appeared on stage many times in Telluride.
Daiva Chesonis (2019-2021)
Ms. Chesonis has lived in San Miguel County for many decades and is the former co-owner of Between the Covers Bookstore in Telluride. She has participated and collaborated with the Talking Gourds Poetry Club, Guest Gourds, and Traveling Gourds projects, as well as being a founding member and co-director of the Telluride Literary Arts Festival and Saturday Night at the Livery (SNL), a somewhat regular speakers series in Norwood.
Elissa Dickson (2016-2018)
Ms. Dickson is a very impressive poet/performer, and member of the Talking Gourds Poetry Club. She lives and works in San Miguel County, serving as Adult Programming Director at the Wilkinson Libary, and has been a valuable partner of the Poetry Club for several years. She assists the Poetry Club by creating local posters each month.
Peter Waldor (2014-2016)
Mr. Waldor is a member of the Talking Gourds Poetry Club. He spends a good part of the summer in San Miguel County every year and has done so for many years. He is a nationally recognized poet who has won numerous awards and has demonstrated his craft and his love for the San Juan Mountains.
Ellen Marie Metrick (2011-2013)
Ms. Metrick has demonstrated leadership in the literary community – having worked as editor of the Norwood Post and with youth in the Norwood schools. She has set up a poetry reading and gourd circles in Norwood, in conjunction with the Arts Community & Education (ACE) of Norwood. She provides literary excellence in her chapbook, and in the many poems she has published and performed for many years.
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer (2006-2010)
Ms. Wahtola Trommer has served as head of the Telluride Writers Guild for several years. She has demonstrated literary excellence in many published books of poetry and in her many performances of poetry. She continues to be involved with both adults and children in promoting literary arts.
San Miguel County has posted its own page on the county website honoring the County Poet Laureates that have been named since 2006.
