[Dear Readers, today we begin publishing the essays of the 16 finalists in the New Art Writing Challenge Contest! Here is the fourth of four articles we publish today on Artblog and the St. Claire. Thanks to all those who participated, submitting more than 70 articles. And thanks to our jurors — Hrag Vartanian, Abigail Satinsky and Nell McClister — who picked the winners. We are energized by all the wonderful writing that was submitted and know you will enjoy reading it! — the artblog editors]

Grand Prize Winner

Ma Chère PooZee: Shelley Spector Crafts a Love that Dare Not Speak its Name
By Peter Crimmins

woman sitting in the midst of a sculpture exhibit — Shelley Spector shot in installation of Keep The Home Fires Burning, Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art

sculpture of house on top of crate — Frances Loves Katherine, Wood and paint, 6″ x 9″ x 6″ Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art

Read the article here:PETER CRIMMINS Ma Chere PooZee

–Peter Crimmins is an arts and culture reporter with WHYYFM in Philadelphia, Philly’s NPR station. He is originally from California (San Diego, then San Francisco Bay Area) who has been working his entire professional career (and then some) in radio. He has created audio guides for art installation projects (Kay Healy’s installation at the Central Branch of the Free Library is still on view), and used to record+edit artist interview podcasts for Artblog.