Pic Darien, the Darien Art Center’s smartphone photo contest open to all ages, is receiving submissions online at darienarts.org from March 14 through April 4.
All entries will be presented in a slideshow on June 25 at Darien’s Got Talent, and at an April 8 Award and Reveal Reception at the Darien Arts Center.
The photo contest created this year hopes to encompass a broader population of artists, including the growing number of talented photographers posting on social media. Pic Darien will alternate with the DAC’s Annual Art Show and Sale every other year going forward.
Nationally published professional photographer, Alix Martinez of Darien, will judge the contest. Martinez, a children’s commercial and fashion photographer, has been featured on NBC and HuffPost for her underwater photography series that has also been published in many magazines and books. Martinez’ clients have included Vogue Bambini, Target, Diesel, Stride Rite, Barney’s and Martha Stewart among many others.
The contest will be sponsored by Darien Rowayton Bank and Geary Gallery. It is open to all, but photos must be taken with a smartphone and submitted online at darienarts.org between March 14 and April 4.
Contestants may enter either as a student (age 15 or under) for $5 or as an adult (age 16 and over) for $10 in one of seven themed prize categories.
Categories are My Darien, Family and Friends, Landscapes/Nature, Travel, Pets, Abstract and Selfie. Up to 20 photo submissions per person are allowed and subject matter should be family-friendly; unsuitable work will not be accepted.
First place and Honorable Mention cash prizes will be awarded to adults and children in all categories. First place prize for adults is $100 and the adult honorable mention prize is $25. First prize for students is $50, with the student honorable mention prize awarding $15.
A slideshow of Pic Darien photo entries will run during intermission of Darien’s Got Talent, the popular talent competition, taking place on June 25 at Darien High School.
There will also be an Award and Reveal Reception, on Friday, April 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., with a slide show of all photo contest entries set to music and projected on the 184” HD movie screen in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. The reception is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.
To find out more about Pic Darien, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Darien Town Hall.