A young artist creates a painting during a class through ArtWorks Westfield, which is hosting an online Youth Art Show. Ssubmissions are accepted through Dec. 27. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
WESTFIELD-Westfield children have a tight deadline to meet — Dec. 27 – for the 2020 Online Westfield Youth Art Show, presented by ArtWorks of Westfield, Inc.
“Our inaugural Westfield Youth Art Show, launched in 2019 in partnership with the Visual & Fine Art departments at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, was such a success we scheduled this year’s youth art show for May 2020 in conjunction with the Articulture Westfield event planned for May at Amelia Park ice rink,” said Bill Westerlind, ArtWorks president. “Of course, COVID got in the way!”
Westerlind noted that ArtWorks members had “held out hope” to launch the youth art show in person until it became “very clear” this would not be possible.
“At the last minute we decided to launch the show online,” he said.
“Our children have been through so very much in 2020 that we decided to launch the Westfield Youth Art Show online to give kids of Westfield the opportunity to share their creativity with the community and provide a safe and friendly platform to them to express themselves through art,” said Westerlind. “During these challenging times of disruption and seemingly unrelenting stress, the act of creation and expression through art can be very comforting.”
Shannon Chiba, a city artist and board member of ArtWorks, has been the principle driver behind the youth art show as well as the initial Westfield Youth Art Show in 2019. Also, Wayne Weatherwax, a founding member of ArtWorks Westfield and currently a member of the Westfield Cultural Council, has overseen the art supply prizes and trophies for the show.
Westerlind noted that the online show on Facebook is open to all children up to age 18 who are Westfield residents only, and all art media will be accepted.
Within hours of the Facebook post announcement, parents were already sharing their child’s artwork that included a mug of hot chocolate, landscapes, woodland creatures and cute characters. Shortly after the posts, the “likes,” “shares,” and “comments” were underway.
Parents are asked to click on the Facebook show page – http://bit.ly/2020OnlineWestfieldYouthArtShow – and post pictures of their child’s art with the child’s name and age.
“Share away to get more likes and hearts,” said Westerlind. “Your child can win a prize pack that includes a trophy and a variety of pens, pencils, paint and other goodies.”
Sixteen winners will be chosen that have the most likes and hearts, noted Westerlind, adding, “Some winners will receive gift packs for creativity and originality.”
Parents will be notified via private message if their child has won. All prizes will be hand-delivered in Westfield before Jan. 1 to a mailbox or doorstep.
“Good luck and have fun,” said Westerlind.
