ANNOUNCING FOCUS ‘23
The Wilton Arts Council is pleased to announce the return of FOCUS, an annual photography exhibit for photographers in three divisions—adults, high school students, and youths (through 8th grade). FOCUS ’23, which is the 23rd photography exhibit organized by the Wilton Arts Council, will be on display at the Wilton Library from Saturday, March 11th through Friday, March 31st, 2023.
Volunteers—WE REALLY NEED YOU ! FOCUS ’23 is organized totally by volunteers. Volunteers are needed more than ever for various FOCUS ’23 activities, including planning, designing various materials, writing press releases, serving as school ambassadors, and assisting with the photo drop-off, hanging, curation, reception, and take-down. There is something for everyone! Please see below for information on how to get involved.
Photographers— As in the past, photographers are limited to submitting two photos, which must be wired for hanging (wire running across the back is required due to the type of art hooks that are used to hang the exhibit). For viewing purposes, the minimum size of entry photographs is 8” x 10” framed. If printed on canvas, metal, or plexiglass, a frame may not be necessary; however, it must still have a wire across the back to be hung using the art hooks. Please mark your calendars with the other key dates below.
KEY DATES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS…
All events take place at the Wilton Library
Photo Drop-off:
Saturday, March 4th – 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Sunday, March 5th – 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Reception and Awards Ceremony:
Friday, March 17th – 6 PM to 7:30 PM.
Awards presentation at 6:45 PM
Photo Pickup:
Saturday, April 1st – 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Sunday, April 2nd – 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
FOR MORE INFO…
Additional details, including the official FOCUS ’23 entry form, are included under the FOCUS tab above.
The Wilton Arts Council organizes the annual FOCUS photography exhibits with the goal of promoting an appreciation of the photographic arts in the community. These exhibits can only happen, however, with the assistance of volunteers (even an hour or two of volunteering makes a big difference). Plus, it’s a fun, rewarding experience to team up with other great people who appreciate the importance of art in our lives.
Please contact Beth at beth@wiltonarts.org or at 203-834-9986 with your questions or to be one of the wonderful volunteers for our FOCUS ’23 team activities to make FOCUS ’23 a resounding success.
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Focus ’20 Photography Exhibit
The Wilton Arts Council congratulates all photographers who entered FOCUS ’20. The award recipients of FOCUS ’20 are as follows:
FOCUS ’20 BEST OF SHOW: “Fortitude” by Amy Bates-Garone of Danbury, CT
Adult Division:
1st Place: “Death Valley” by Edward Simmons of Danbury, CT
2nd Place: “Elephant Tough” by Ronald Lake of Stamford, CT
3rd Place: “What You ‘Steering’ At” by Erik Landegren of Bridgewater, CT
4th Place: “NYC Easter Parade 2019” by Robert Sachs of Norwalk, CT
5th Place: “We’ve Got Your Back” by Joyce Andersen of Wilton, CT
Honorable mentions in the adult division are awarded to:
- “Fleeing in the Sand” by Nancy Breakstone of Westport, CT
- “Wings” by Margaret Harris of Norwalk, CT
- “On the Road, Bagan, Myanmar” by Emily Kelting of Norwalk, CT
- “Young Monk” by Emily Kelting of Norwalk, CT
- “A Splash of Red” by Erik Landegren of Bridgewater, CT
- “Misty Morning at the Farm, Grace Farm, New Canaan” by Danielle Pearson of Weston, CT
- “Bell Island Memories” by Robert Sachs of Norwalk
- “Deep Red” by Sergio Villaschi of Warren, CT
- “Before the Storm” by Sergio Villaschi of Warren, CT
High School Division (9-12 grade):
1st Place: “Between Water and Land” by Harrison Gordon of Fairfield, CT
2nd Place: “Night Eye” by Connor Golden of Weston, CT
3rd Place: “Pathway” by Connor Golden of Weston, CT
Honorable mentions in the high school student division are awarded to:
- “Blue” by Sarah Case of Wilton, CT
- “Backstage” by Emma Scanlan of Bedford, NY
- “Sunny Days” by Audrey Maco of Shelton, CT
- “Vortex” by Amanda Prather of Wilton
Youth Division (through 8th grade):
1st Place: “Mid Air” by Jack Ericson of New Canaan, CT
2nd Place: “One of Many” by Damien Pichardo of Ridgefield, CT
3rd Place: “Love This Book” by Lyla Micola of Redding, CT
Honorable mentions in the youth division are awarded to:
- “Rhode Island Granduer” by Cashier Brooks of Ridgefield, CT
- “Galapagos Girl” by Callie Harper of Stamford, CT
- “Peck, Peck!” by Ella Loughran of Wilton, CT
The judges for FOCUS ’20 were: Jacquelyn Etling of Trumbull, FOCUS ’19 Best of Show recipient; Daryl Hawk of Wilton, The Unconventional Traveler; and Joyce Seymore of Wilton, artist and photographer.
Sponsors for Focus ’20 are: Beardsley Traveling Art Framer in Wilton, Milford Photo in Milford, Photographic Solutions LLC in Norwalk, and Rockwell Art & Framing in Wilton, Westport, New Canaan, and Fairfield.
Focus ’19
Seen above, Focus ’19 Best of Show: “Country Road” by Jacqueline Etling
GOING STRAIGHT TO THE INFO
To see FAQs (frequently-asked questions) about Focus, click here.
To see the entry details for Focus ’20, click here.
To see the next key dates for Focus ’20, click here.
For the Focus ’20 entry-form brochure, click here.
For a PDF of the Focus ’20 poster, [not yet uploaded – check back soon].
ABOUT THE NEXT FOCUS EXHIBIT
Each year in early January we send out a heads-up email to everyone on our list about the upcoming Focus exhibit in early January – b/c by then we have the Focus exhibit dates – followed by a well-placed reminder email whenever the next key date (e.g., Drop-off Weekend) approaches for participants and the public. Let us know if you’d like to be added to the list.
The Focus Organizing Committees consists of artists and art-lovers – volunteers all! – who do the work for this exhibit each year with the goal of promoting our appreciation of the powerful blend of art/expression and reality/reportage that is photography. All are invited to volunteer for any or all activities (even an hour or two of volunteering makes a big difference). It’s a fun, rewarding experience to team up with other great people who appreciate the importance of art in our lives.
We are very interested in your ideas for Focus (and for the Wilton Arts Council) and hope you’ll be able to take part in Focus next year. Please contact Beth at beth@wiltonarts.org with your questions and ideas, or to be one of the wonderful people willing to volunteer for our Focus team activities.
Please spread the word to your family and friends – and don’t forget to encourage youths and high school students to participate next year.
Every one of us can bring our unique gifts to the arts
They in turn give us back so much of what makes us human
Wilton Arts Council 