Christina Nealson was recognized by Mayor Simon Wheaton-Smith on May 26 as the new Poet Laureate of Silver City and Grant County. She is the latest honoree in a long line of distinguished poets beginning in 2012. Christina will serve from 2026-2028, and has exciting ideas to bring poetry into the community.
Nealson is the author of five books and photographer of four. Her career in photojournalism has taken her to Africa, Central America, and throughout the west from Alaska to the tip of Baja. She has received numerous honors for her writing. Her love of the wildness of the southwest, its non-human and human inhabitants, geography, history, and culture is long standing. She has also worked as an interpretive park ranger. After many years in various locations throughout Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, she has chosen Silver City for its location near the Gila, its vibrant creativity, and absence of pretense.
During her term as Poet Laureate, Christina hopes to engage people of all backgrounds and ages in poetic activities that are relevant to their lives and concerns. She will also be organizing activities in the more rural and mining communities outside of Silver City. She has opened a facebook page called Silver City Poet Laureate where she can communicate with the community and announce coming events.
Christina will be at Avalon Book Store, 425 N. Bullard St., on Friday, June 12 at 5 p.m. to give a reading of her poetry, followed by an open mic. She will also be interviewed by Howie Richey on July 13 at 10 a.m. on KURU’s Poetry Bread.
