Two Norwalk Entries on Display at the 14th Annual Festival of Lighthouses Contest

Two creative model lighthouses handcrafted in Norwalk are vying for the $1,500 grand prize in The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s 14th annual “Festival of Lighthouses Contest.”

“North Pole Lighthouse” by Jo Stecker and “Card-inal Points Light” by Courtenay Austin are among the 22 creative handmade entries in the holiday display, open daily through Jan. 18 in the popular Connecticut family attraction.

The lighthouse contest works like a juried art show except that you and thousands of other Maritime Aquarium visitors are the jury. Visitors can follow the homemade beacons through the galleries and cast a vote for their favorite. The lighthouse that gets the most votes wins $1,500. There are cash awards for five runners-up too.

Seeing the lighthouses – and casting your vote – is free with Aquarium admission.

This year’s 22 lighthouses were built by local artists looking for a challenge, by hobbyists with a vision and by students fulfilling a school assignment. Some lighthouses are modeled after actual lighthouses; others are wildly whimsical.

“We’re as excited as anyone to see and display this year’s entries,” said Thomas Frankie, the Aquarium’s exhibits director. “We’re always amazed and honored by the thought, design and effort that our contestants put into these lighthouses, which add a festive glow to the Aquarium throughout the holidays.”

Rules of the “Festival of Lighthouses Contest” are kept to a minimum to allow for maximum creativity. Lighthouses must be 3 to 6 feet tall and have a working light, and may not include animal remains, such as shells. Beyond that, it’s up to the creators’ imaginations.

Austin is a regular in the Aquarium contest, often using the most unusual of materials. Her entry this year, “Card-inal Points Light,” is a tall lighthouse “wallpapered” with 12 levels of playing cards. No face cards are shown; just the card backs, which feature various species of birds and flowers. It leads up to a light glowing gold. And the whole thing stands on a silver-foil cube base.

Stecker has been successful each year she has entered, taking home prize money for fifth place last year, third place in 2013 and second in 2012 – always with intricate dollhouse-themed lighthouses. Her “North Pole Lighthouse” this year is again a highly detailed four-story dollhouse, this time with a Christmas motif. Peek inside to see the fully furnished – and holiday-decorated – first-floor kitchen, Santa’s workshop on the second level, third-floor living room and fourth-floor bedrooms.

Besides the contest’s $1,500 top award, other prizes are: $750 for second place, $375 for third; $300 for fourth; $225 for fifth; and $150 for sixth. Winners will be announced at an evening reception on Jan. 21.

The 2015 “Festival of Lighthouses Contest” is free with Maritime Aquarium general admission, which is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for youths (13-17) & seniors (65+), and $12.95 for children ages 3-12.

For more details about Maritime Aquarium exhibits, IMAX® movies and programs, call (203) 852-0700 or go online to www.maritimeaquarium.org.

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Submitted by Norwalk, CT

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