Eighth Annual Peace Poster Project for Children and Young Adults
WINSTED, CT – Winsted Area Peace Action (WAPA), has launched its seventh annual Peace Poster Project. This year’s theme “My Future in a Peaceful World” is intended to encourage youth, ages 5-18, to envision what peace looks like when put into action in our homes, schools, communities, the world.
The Peace Poster Project began in 2011 with 47 entries. Since then, participation has tripled. The project was started as an effort to block the constant flow of negative imagery of war and violence with images of humanity at peace.
Judges for this year are two notable artists: Juan Moreno, Kent CT and Cécile Naudin Emond of New Hartford. Moreno has been widely exhibited in Connecticut. He teaches both studio art and art history at the college level in a variety of settings. He seeks to “explore the dynamics of color and illusion” in his work. Artist and writer Cécile Emond uses collage, writing, and lately, textile design, to explore themes such as identity, expatriation, feminism and nature. A French artist, Cécile is a New Hartford resident. She has been exhibiting and selling her work since 1998. Ms Emond was a judge in the 2017 Peace Poster Project, at that time stating that she was “ honored to help them in their mission by being a judge in this important project. By expressing their views visually, young people engage in a reflection about what peace means to them, whether at home or in the world, and this awareness will, hopefully, help their generation shape a more peaceful world.”
Much of the success of the Annual Peace Poster Project is due to the wonderful community support it has received over the years. Area businesses have consistently donated items and gift cards. Additionally, the individual sponsor list has been growing making it possible to obtain a wide variety of art supplies that are given as prizes in addition to ribbon awards. A special memorial cash award of $100. will be continued in the 15 -18 age category in the name of the late Frank C. Hohmeister, a strong supporter of the W.A.P.A. Peace Studies and all the Peace Poster contests to date.
The expectations of the Peace Poster committee is that, as in the past, art teachers from the region, in public, private and religious spheres, will be devoting time, materials, and encouragement so that their students may participate.
Entry blanks for the Peace Poster Project will be available in local schools, at the Beekley Library, New Hartford and Northwestern Connecticut Community College Library.
Project entries must be submitted by Friday, May 11, to one of the above-mentioned locations. The awards ceremony will be held Friday, June 8, 2018, at 5:30 pm in the atrium of the Arts and Sciences Building on Holabird Ave.
All the creative results of participating area youth may be viewed at the the Arts and Sciences building in an exhibit arranged by Ann Raymond. Donations by the community may be made to WAPA with a memo for the Peace Poster Project, and sent to: WAPA, PO Box 454, New Hartford, CT 06057.
Artwork from last year’s project can be viewed at http://www.peaceposter.weebly.com For further information about the 2018 Peace Poster Contest for Children and Young Adults, or online entry forms, please contact Carol M. Beaudoin at: cbeaudoin@nwcc.commnet.edu.
