The career arc of Ashley Gilbertson can be considered enviable — regular assignments with The New York Times, a distinguished body of work from the Iraq war, and a reputation for creative, compassionate approaches to tricky social topics.

While editing for submission is a struggle, judging is an equally delicate process. Visual artist Monica Alcazar-Duarte has been involved with the BarTur Award for over 5 years, most recently as a judge for the Climate Change award in 2020 and the Ann Lesley BarTur Award in 2021.

Portfolio review season is in full swing, and contest season is nearly upon us. Submissions for The BarTur Award just closed — we will offer an exclusive sneak peek into that judging process in an upcoming issue.