New Anthology Presents a Poetic Tapestry of Albuquerque

Open-Hearted Horizon: An Albuquerque Poetry Anthology invites its readers into a poetic conversation where Albuquerque provides the inspiration – directly, associatively, obliquely – as a place and as a community. The new anthology, the latest book in the Poet Laureate Series published by UNM Press in partnership with the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts & Culture, includes 65+ Albuquerque-based poets and poems.

The book launch will take place at the Albuquerque Museum on Sunday, March 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

"This project is a celebration of Albuquerque, providing snapshots of our city and documenting a history that only poets can capture so precisely,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Our city is elevated, and its heritage preserved for our families through investments in the arts."

Anthologies commonly celebrate a multitude of voices. Because this one is place-based, the hope is that readers will feel drawn into a circle that deepens their sense of place and people, of contexts and cultures, whether they know Albuquerque or not.

Because the Albuquerque poetry community is characterized by its support for individual writers and by a strong impulse toward creative collaboration, the collection features poems in multiple voices. In addition to poems by individual poets, it features collaborative works, including those by the EKCO collective and one that features a line from every poem in the anthology. Overall, the collection is an invitation to experience Albuquerque in all its richness, diversity, and depth.

The launch event on March 10 will be an opportunity to connect with contributing poets and enjoy readings by New Mexico’s esteemed Poet Laureates. Books will be available for purchase in the Museum Store.

Open-Hearted Horizon was edited by Valerie Martinez and Dr. Shelle Sanchez. Martinez is the author of several books of poetry and prose, including Each and Her and Count. She is the founding director of Artful Life. Sanchez is the director of Arts & Culture and coeditor of several books, including ¿de Veras? Young Voices from the National Hispanic Cultural Center (UNM Press).

Open-Hearted Horizon can be purchased at local bookstores and at https://www.unmpress.com/9780826366214/open-hearted-horizon/.