The unconventional, beautiful, real: Tell us what you love about your Maine culture

Whether you live in the country or city, Maine has a vibe all its own. What does your Maine culture look like? What do you love about your Maine?

We want to know.

As part of a Maine Focus and University of Maine Humanities Center project to celebrate Maine’s sense of place, we want you to submit a digital postcard of “My Maine Culture” — an image and some text.

By Tuesday, Dec. 16, send us an image that captures your Maine traditions or, simply, what you think of when you think of home. Be creative.

We want art, photography, old films, videos of musicians playing music that evokes Maine — anything that defines and celebrates how you see our state.

A custom piece from The Stray Arrow Jewelry, made by Portland artist Stasia Salvucci, is part of the new CSArt Maine, an art share program that just launched. | Kathleen Pierce

A custom piece from The Stray Arrow Jewelry, made by Portland artist Stasia Salvucci, is part of the new CSArt Maine, an art share program that just launched. Kathleen Pierce | BDN

In addition, write 200 words or fewer about what your image or video depicts and why you chose it. What story does it tell? How does it relate to your life? How does it show off Maine’s unique qualities?

Feel like sending a poem instead of a couple paragraphs? Go for it.

We want to make the arts and humanities come alive by sharing and discussing what matters to us about where we live.

We need your submissions by Tuesday, Dec. 16. Send your image and description to Maine Focus Editor Erin Rhoda at erhoda@bangordailynews.com.

Or post it on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #MyMaineCulture.

BANGOR, MAINE --5/15/13-- Tom McCord, a history and urban planning instructor at the University of Maine Augusta, leads a walking tour in front of the Hannibal Hamlin statue in downtown Bangor on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. The tour was part of the UMaine Humanities Initiative summit and focused on the history of development in Bangor and the changes that have occured in thea area over recent years. McCord lead the tour with Bangor city councilman Ben Sprague. "We really were just trying to show all the great things that are happening in dowtown Bangor. It's really becoming a dynamic community," said Sprague. Carter F. McCall | BDN

BANGOR, MAINE –5/15/13– Tom McCord, a history and urban planning instructor at the University of Maine Augusta, leads a walking tour in front of the Hannibal Hamlin statue in downtown Bangor on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. The tour was part of the UMaine Humanities Initiative summit and focused on the history of development in Bangor and the changes that have occured in thea area over recent years. McCord lead the tour with Bangor city councilman Ben Sprague. Carter F. McCall | BDN

Your text may be edited for clarity, grammar and style, and it’s possible not all submissions will be published.

The BDN will publish highlights from the Maine digital postcard cultural collection prior to the Downtown Bangor Public Humanities Day Jan. 24, to contribute to its offerings of music, art, discussion and ideas.

Find the day’s calendar of events here: http://umaine.edu/umhc/calendar-of-events/.

The Maine Folklife Center may choose to preserve the digital postcards in its archives at the University of Maine.

For more information about the Downtown Bangor Public Humanities Day, contact Pauleena MacDougall at 581-1848 or Pauleena.MacDougall@umit.maine.edu.

What we want: A digital postcard from you of “My Maine Culture.”

What to include: An image that represents Maine and a 200-word description. Also required: your name, your job title if it’s relevant to what you’re submitting, your address, and your phone number. (The address and phone number will not be published.)

Deadline: Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Where to send it: Send everything in an email to erhoda@bangordailynews.com. Images are best as jpgs. To send videos, upload them to YouTube and send us the link. To make sure we get the text, just put it in the body of the email. If you have a fabulous photo or video on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, tag it with #MyMaineCulture. We’ll come look for it. Any questions? Call Erin Rhoda at 990-8204.

HAROLDJACKSON082413-6.jpg

BANGOR, MAINE — 08/24/13 — Pauleena MacDougall, director of the Maine Folklife Center listens to Harold Jackson and Martin “Mark” Morris at the American Folk Festival in Bangor on Saturday. Troy R. Bennett | BDN

Erin Rhoda

About Erin Rhoda

Erin Rhoda is editor of Maine Focus, a journalism and community engagement initiative by the Bangor Daily News.