17 Jun Talking Gourds: Paulo Munguia Named San Miguel County Poet Laureate for 2025-2027!
On the recommendation of the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program, Paulo Munguia is set to be appointed San Miguel County Poetry Laureate at the San Miguel County Board of Commissioner (BOCC) meeting Wednesday June 18.
For more information on poetry contests and Talking Gourds programs, visit the website www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds.
For questions about the event, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at art@tellurideinstitute.org’
Go here for more about Talking Gourds (dating back to 2009).
Munguia, courtesy Talking Gourds.
While Munguia resides in Montrose, he works on construction and performs and has exhibited his poetry in Telluride.
“Denver and Santa Fe have both appointed poet laureates living outside their jurisdiction but within their spheres of influence,” explained Art Goodtimes, Talking Gourds director. “We’re proud to honor Pablo who’s appeared as a performer at Telluride Arts and has exhibited at the Ah Haa School for the Arts.”
In 2006 the BOCC created the honorary position of Poet Laureate of San Miguel County to “honor a member of the local community who has demonstrated significant literary achievement.”
The post runs for two years.
Joanna Yonder was the previous county poet laureate and she did a host of readings, performances and workshops for adults and kids as part of her two years of service. Former county poet laureates include Davia Chesonis, Elissa Dickson, Peter Waldor, Ellen Marie Metrick, and Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.
Locate the county website page for the project here.
A collaboration of San Miguel County and the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program, the county Poet Laureate project continues thanks to the generosity of a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, support from the Wilkinson, Lone Cone and Naturita libraries, private donors and Talking Gourds’ annual Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
“Those who pay to play in our poetry contests help keep our poetry projects alive,” said Goodtimes.
Both the Fischer and Cantor contests are currently open for submissions.
No Comments