A Celebration of Young Photographers at Arethusa Farms: ASAP

11/8/11 - By Mary Beth Lawlor

If you live in Litchfield County, your children may have attended a workshop sponsored by ASAP, The After School Arts Program based in Washington, CT. ASAP was created 13 years ago as a way to engage Region 12 children in artistic and cultural activities that otherwise would not be available to them. What started as eight workshops has turned into over one hundred as well as a summer camp program, field trips, concerts and classes for preschoolers and adults.

ASAP's programming is extensive, covering all ages and including workshops such as beatboxing, hip hop dancing, making ecobooks and creating a musical from your favorite book. Anyone can attend one of the numerous workshops and the after school programming is open to all Region 12 area students.

A new event this year, A Celebration of Young Photographers, invites students to submit a photograph reflecting their interpretation on this year’s theme: Perspectives on Home. Joanne Torti, Executive Director, sees this as a true community event--one that is open to all children, grades 3-12, across the region. One that allows them to explore their creative side and be recognized for it. It's also a fun way to usher in the holidays.

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All entries will be juried by famed photographers and art collectors. 60 will then be chosen, printed and framed for a gallery showing in the famed Arethusa Farm in Litchfield on December 3rd. Everyone is invited to stop by and view the work of the children, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the delicious cheeses and ice cream from Arethusa Farm’s creamery. Photographs will be for sale, with proceeds benefiting ASAP’s arts programs for children. A gift will be awarded to one participant from grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

What To Do: Hoping that the children will come up with great ideas while having fun with it, all representations are encouraged. Children are asked to contemplate about what home means to them. Questions that can be asked are: Where do you feel most comfortable or where do you spend much of your time? Is there a place that makes you feel safe and calm? A place that is special? Do you feel at home in certain clothes, with a favorite pet, or in your favorite pair of shoes? What about your bedroom, a garden, or a favorite hangout spot? There are many ways to represent what home means to you; it could be as simple as a chair or even a window through which you gaze.

The following detailed information is designed to help your child present their photograph in the ideal format. If you have any questions or do not understand any of the requirements please feel free to contact Kaitlin Clark at kaitlin@afterschoolartsprogram.org or 860-868- 0740.

Entry Requirements: Each artist may submit one original piece.     Works must be submitted via email.  Images MUST be saved in JPEG format (with a .jpg extension).  File size is not to exceed 5mb with a minimum 300dpi. Horizontal image width can be no less than 800 pixels with vertical image height no less than 625 pixels. Please label your image as follows: lastname_firstname_title_ageyrs_grade_school.jpg (Example: doe_jane_myhouse_14yrs_9_svms.jpg). Please do not send compressed, zipped or stuffed files. Do not send submissions with links to your image or website. Please send submissions to: kaitlin@afterschoolartsprogram.org on or before November 12,
2011.