City Cancels Calendar, Art Contest, but Frame Shop Fills In
2009 Calendar art by Nicole Philbin. . .
Due to budget constraints, the City of Falls Church has cancelled the Student Art Contest and calendar this year. But thanks to FIRSTfriday of Falls Church, there will still be an art contest, and the calendar featuring the winning entries will be made available online.
“For the past several years, this has been a great collaboration between the City, my business and FIRSTfriday of Falls Church,” said Tom Gittins, owner of Art and Frame of Falls Church and founder of FIRSTfriday. “The City would run the contest and produce the calendar and we would hold a reception for the student artists on FIRSTfriday. And all of the artwork that was entered would be on exhibit at Art and Frame for a month. I didn’t want the kids to miss out because of the budget cutback so FIRSTfriday of Falls Church is going to continue the tradition of kids creating for the love of art.”
The theme for the 9th Annual City Student Art Contest is “Change in the City of Falls Church.” Contestants are asked to submit artwork that illustrates change they have observed in themselves, in others, or in their community.
Judges will select 13 entries to feature in an online 2010 Calendar. Robin Clark, a senior at George Mason High School, will help create the calendar as part of his internship with FIRSTfriday of Falls Church. The Student Art Contest Calendar will be available on the FIRSTfriday website (www.FIRSTfridayofFallsChurch.com).
FIRSTfriday is accepting submissions from students in K-12. Students must attend school (public or private) in Falls Church or reside in the City. The deadline for entries is 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.
The virtual Art Contest Calendar will be unveiled at the artists’ reception on Jan. 1 at the FIRSTfriday event at Art and Frame of Falls Church, 111 Park Avenue. Winners will be awarded prizes that include cash, art-related merchandise, and gift certificates. As in past years, more than 100 works of art are expected to be submitted. All entries will displayed throughout the month of January at Art and Frame.
9th Annual City Art Contest Submission Requirements
- Students must be in kindergarten through Grade 12. All students must attend a public or a private school in the City of Falls Church or reside in the City.
- No more than one entry per student.
- Artwork must illustrate the theme: Change in the City of Falls Church.
- Art must be original to the 9th Annual Student Art Contest. Do not resubmit artwork from previous contests.
- Oil, watercolor, acrylic, collage, mixed media, pastel, drawing, hand-pulled prints, photography, and sculpture of a size and weight easily handled by one person are acceptable media.
- Artwork cannot be edible (e.g. no Cheerios, macaroni noodles, etc.)
- Artwork must not require storage at a certain temperature or in a special setup and must be dry and ready for display.
- No piece can exceed 30″ in any direction.
- Each entry must include the following information on the back or on the bottom: Student artist name, age, grade, school attending, parent/guardian name, address, phone number, title, medium, and location depicted in artwork.
- Entries can be delivered or mailed to: Art and Frame of Falls Church, 111 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046.
- Deadline for submission of entries is 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.
- For more information, call 703-534-4202 or e-mail Tom Gittins at tom@firstfridayfc.org.
- All works must be retrieved Monday or Tuesday, Feb. 1-2, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
By Gina Caceci
October 14, 2009
I haven’t been able to use the calendar for several years…it grew too big, too heavy to hang in my cabinet and not enough open squares for me to write appts. I will not miss it.
Just another example (in a long list of examples) of one of our city businesses stepping up to provide the quality of life that Falls Church in known for. I hope the average citizen realizes what our city businesses mean to our city and do all that they can to support them in these tough economic times.
I like the art. I can understand the cut however, as the printing costs are high and we are in the green era. It would also be fun if the student art could then be incorporated in our City Hall as part of Falls Church Arts “Gallery Without Walls” program at City Hall to widen the viewing audience. Thanks to all who keep this going!
Thank you Art & Frame, FirstFRIDAY and especially, Tom Gittins. You saw what needed to be done and made it happen. You make Falls Church a better place every day!
Tom, you are a hero! Never one to say “No” to something that benefits our children and our city. As residents, we can all show our appreciation by patronizing local businesses that consistently support these causes. Thank you!
Tom,
Thanks for stepping up again and finding a way to support the community!