New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) English faculty member Dr. Thomas Spreelin “Spree” MacDonald has been nominated for 2014 The Pushcart Prize “Best of the Small Presses.”

“To be granted national recognition on this level is an indication to the talent and hard work of someone who is equal parts artist and academician,” stated NOCCA President|CEO Kyle Wedberg. “As a member of our Academic Studio Faculty it is outstanding that his talent is shared with all of the full-day NOCCA students.  We are proud of Dr. MacDonald’s work here at NOCCA and are grateful for this recognition of a piece from an artist whose body of work will only continue to grow.”

The Pushcart is given out each year to the best writing published by small writing publication houses (small presses). Small presses can nominate their best writing of the year for the Pushcart, and it was the editorial team at Poydras Review that nominated Dr. MacDonald’s poem, “Snow Globe Explosions,” for the honor. Winners will be announced in May.

“I am very honored and humbled by this nomination,” stated Dr. MacDonald. “The poem is one I wrote about memories of looking at the stars in South Africa and listening to one of my favorite musicians, the late jazz bassist Johnny Dyani.”