The Pocono Arts Council has announced the award recipients for "The Earth Speaks, A Juried Exhibition on the Climate Crisis," scheduled to open at the ARTSPACE Gallery in Stroudsburg on Monday.

Juror for the show was Patricia Lea Watts, founder of ecoartspace in 1997. Watts has participated as panelist at numerous conferences, given lectures to art departments internationally on art and ecology and curated numerous exhibitions on the theme of the climate crisis.ºåShe has also produced a site-specific temporary public art installation entitled Windsock Currents (2005) on Crissy Field in the Presidio in San Francisco for U.N. World Environment Day.Most recently, Watts has been writing a series of Action Guides, including replicable social practice public art projects. Curator for the exhibition is Claire Marcus, fine artist and new curator for the ARTSPACE Gallery at the PoconoArts Cultural Center.Seventy artists submitted 134 pieces to be juried, with 76 works selected to be included in the show.The following award recipients will be recognized for their work based on the theme of the climate crisis:• Kay and Girard Lichty Climate Crisis Award for Best in Show: Nikki Moser, Factoryville• ARTSPACE Student Award: Ethan Hambry, Watertown, Massachusetts• Otto Grever Printmaking Award: Jave Yoshimoto, Alva, Oklahoma• 2-D Award: John Collier Sabraw, Athens, Ohio• 3-D Award: Darlene Farris-LaBar, Stroudsburg• Pocono Mountain Arts Council Photography Award: Minoosh Zomorodinia, Albany, CaliforniaThe show will be on exhibit at the ARTSPACE Gallery from Monday through April 26. An artists' reception is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. April 18, where awards will be given out and artists recognized.Thanks to the work of ESU students, under the direction of Dr. Paul Wilson, several interactive kiosks will be available during the reception for attendees to get scientific information on the climate crisis.There will also be the opportunity to discover ways each individual can make an impact and pledge their desire to work toward a better outcome for this important issue.Finally, The Earth Speaks will celebrate National Poetry Month with a poetry competition, as well as four Poetry Slams. The competition was coordinated by Jody Singer of Mountainside Arts, and Dr. Hazel Fisher, associate dean of Academic Affairs at Northampton Community College Monroe Campus, with the winning poems available the evening of the reception.Poetry Slams have been scheduled for 7 p.m. April 8 at SoHo in the Burg, 600 Main St., Stroudsburg; 4 p.m. April 18, just before the artists' reception at ARTSPACE Gallery, 18 N. Seventh St., Stroudsburg; and 7 p.m., April 23 Northampton Community College Monroe Campus, Route 715, Tannersville.The poetry slams are open to all, but you must register in advance at

info@poconoarts.org.The ARTSPACE Gallery isopen 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 570-476-4460 or visit

www.poconoarts.org.