This program was launched in 2004 by Shoshauna Shy in Madison, Wisconsin, with the mission of bringing poetry out of the libraries, bookstores and classrooms into the general public arena. Calls for submissions are conducted largely via cyberspace.
Since this program began, the work of 140 poets from the U.S., Canada, England, China, Wales, Spain, Australia and Norway have appeared on over 2500 java jackets, close to 5000 postcards, 1500 bookmarks, in a plethora of jawbreaker capsules, in palm-sized books for glove compartments, on 125 note cards attached to maple syrup jugs and on 30 decals affixed to bicycles.
From time to time, other kinds of projects happen
such as partnerships with local presses, various awards,
readings in conjunction with projects,
and worldwide contests.
Check back often to see what is going on ---------- !
Shoshauna Shy welcomes your queries:
poetryjumpsoff@gmail.com
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OCTOBER 2016
ANNOUNCING
The Winners
of the
Woodrow Hall Top Shelf Awards
The Woodrow Hall Top Shelf Awards 2016 was a contest conducted April through July
to provide further notoriety and a wider readership for those poems that had already proven
their excellence by prior publication or placing in other contests.
Thank you to EVERYONE who submitted their work! Entries came in from 27 states
in the USA, as well as India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel and Norway.
Selections were made by Karla Huston without knowledge of the authors.
The winning poems are available to read by clicking here:
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JUNE 2014
"Up to the Cottage"
POETRY JUMPS OFF THE SHELF project of Summer 2014 featured poems
on the theme “Up to the Cottage,” as in that phrase “I'm going up to the cottage.”
Poems were produced on postcards and bookmarks, and then made available
at the cottages and through the venues listed below.
Houseguests of these cottages found the postcards available to them for free
during their stay to send to friends and family, and the bookmarks to use while
there—or both of these items to take home when they departed.
Thank you to the hundreds of poets in the U.S., Canada, Israel, England
and Norway who sent candidates to audition for this project, and the cottage
owners who hosted the selected poems! Poems referencing maple syrup were
also published on laminated note cards, and attached to the thumb-holds of
maple syrup bottles.
The producers and distributors are listed below along with the locations where the syrup was sold.
Cottages that hosted the poems
WISCONSIN FLORIDA VERMONT
Cedar Glen in Ephraim Pine Ridge Cottage in Naples Stephens Family Cottage in Addison
South Nest Retreat in Baileys Harbor Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain
The River Cottage in Mazomanie MAINE The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Dillman’s Bay Resort in Lac du Flambeau Magalloway River Camps Champ's Trading Post on Lake Champlain
Other Wisconsin locations
Mystery to Me bookstore in Madison; Delafield Art Center in Delafield;
Dwight Foster Public Library,
Velveteen Rabbit Book Shop and Hoard Historical Museum all of Fort Atkinson;
Purloin Studio Gallery in Menomonee Falls
Poems Attached to Maple Syrup Bottles
Ruegsegger Farms of Blanchardville sold the syrup at Paoli Local Foods in Paoli,
and at Farmers Markets in Waukesha, Oshkosh and South Milwaukee
Marquardt Tree Farm of Tigerton made them available at the Dane County
Farmers Marketin Madison, and sold them via their mail order business.
Jackl’s Whataview Farm in Phelps had them at their farm near Phelps.
Shoshauna Shy welcomes your queries:
poetryjumpsoff@gmail.com
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OCTOBER 2013
In partnership with COWFEATHER PRESS, announcing
Echolocations: Poets Map Madison
a collection of poems that reference Madison locations to benefit the Madison Poet Laureate Fund.
Monona Terrace Reopening Celebration
featuring a photo poetry exhibit involving 11 poems from Echolocations: FEBRUARY 2ND 1:30 PM Monona Terrace Exhibit ongoing into 2014
Celebratory launch party SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD 1:00 PM Madison Public Library, Central Branch 201 W. Mifflin Street in Madison!
Another reading to celebrate publication DECEMBER 12TH 7:00 PM at Mystery to Me 1863 Monroe Street Madison's newest independent bookstore!
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APRIL 2013
In partnership with MADISON B-CYCLE, POETIC BIKES LAUNCHED!
At high noon on Friday, April 26th,
30 bicycles sporting decals with poems referencing various locations
in Madison hit the streets! These poems were a preview of the anthology
produced in partnership with Cowfeather Press that debuted in October.
Learn more here about
Madison B-Cycle, sponsored by Trek
.
Learn about Cowfeather Press: cowfeatherpress.org
Learn about Cowfeather Press: cowfeatherpress.org