in focus
By Lydia Freudenberg
April Showers Bring... Art! April is Arts Month celebrates artistic kids, tweens and teens
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an you imagine reaching into a computer and pulling out whatever is on the screen? For example, what if you could Google puppies, reach in and suddenly you’re holding one? What if this transformed your arms into pixilated skin? Now what? Is the pixelated skin worth endless amounts of adorable internet puppies? It may seem wild, but it’s actually the plot to Daria Lesmerises’ original piece, Pixels. The young student submitted her work for the 2019 Celebrate the Arts Writing Contest in the 6-8 grade category and won first place. Daria is just one of many talented sixth through eighth-grade entrants, including her older sister, Kyra Lesmerises. The event, held by the Arts Council of Westerville, Westerville Public Library and the ThisWeek Westerville News & Public Opinion, highlights hundreds of writers in the community. Still, this is just one event that celebrates April is Arts Month in Westerville. Throughout April, the community showcases different mediums and artists of all ages, especially kids as they grow into their creative talents. A Powerful Pen In 2007, the Arts Council of Westerville felt something was missing in April is Arts Month. “Our mission is to appreciate all of the arts, so in addition to visual artists – painters and those types of talents – we wanted to encourage and highlight writers in the spotlight,” says Linda Wilkins, chairperson for the Creative Writing Contest and past president of the Arts Council of Westerville.
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Now entering its 14th year, the Creative Writing Contest is divided into five age groups and about 300 artists submit entries – approximately 200 which are K-12 students. Topics range from fantasy to historical, cover themes ranging from depression to compassion, and highlight pets, hobbies, travel, nature, and more. 2019 writing winners, grades K-2 and 3-5 All participants are receive an invaluable award - becoming a published in the contest but is still ecstatic about her author in a book that showcases all submit- first-ever win last year. ted work. In 2019, the winners' publica“I was really proud of myself since this tion came in at 232 pages. As for winners, was one of the years where I wrote the they get the chance to perform a reading of story early on instead of procrastinating. It their work at the awards reception paid off, so I was super excited,” she says. “I think that children appreciate the op- “If you’re really competitive like me, this portunity to be in the spotlight and to have contest really makes you push your writing their individual works respected, honored abilities so you can do your best.” and remarked upon,” Wilkins says. “You In the end, Kyra and Daria say winning would not believe the pride that each of is still just a perk. these writers brings.” “It’s always interesting to see what other Now 16 years old, Kyra has participated people wrote about and get new ideas,” in the Creative Writing Contest since first Kyra says. grade. The young writer creates fictional “My favorite part of participating is, short stories and took home the gold in of course, the writing part because I love 2013 for Boys are Aliens and again in 2015 writing,” Daria says. for Barbie Doll Factory. She says flipping through the book and seeing her work in 2020 Celebrate the Arts print is her favorite part. Writing Contest Reception “Even if I didn’t win, it’s always a nice Congratulate the winners and listen to original feeling to read your work in a published works at the Westerville Public Library on Sunday, book along with other people’s work,” she April 26. All winners along with its respective says. “There is no con to submitting; it’s second, third and honorary mention winners just another outlet to let your ideas and will receive a copy of Celebrate the Arts Writing Contests 2020, which features all submissions. creativity shine.” Additional copies are available at the library. Like her older sister, Daria also started participating in the writing contest in first Grades K-5 | 2 p.m. grade and also finds joy in fictional stories. Grades 6-adults | 3 p.m. Now 12 years old, she has always placed www.westervillemagazine.com
