To foster an appreciation of the works of Jane Austen, JASNA-GCR sponsored a poster contest for high school and college students who live in the Greater Chicago Region. Winning posters were announced at our annual Spring Gala, April 24, 2010
Poster Contest Topic: Celebrating the life of Jane Austen (1775-1817) or one of her novels.
We appreciate all entries to this, our first, contest for students. Our First Prize winner was awarded $300; our two Runners Up each received $100. All three winners were invited to our Gala with a guest and received a novel by Jane Austen of their own choosing. In addition, two honorable mention winners received $50 each. Posters were judged for their relevance, design, artistry and creativity in conveying the topic. Students were asked to include an artist statement about how they created their poster and what they hoped it might convey about Jane Austen. Our judges were impressed by the students' work.
This year, for our Education Outreach Program, the Board decided to fund a Poster Contest for high school and full time college students. Our prizes were announced as $300 for first prize and $200 for two runners up. Additionally, all winners would be invited to attend our Gala with their guest, a parent or teacher, and receive a novel by Jane Austen of their own choosing. In addition, we decided to include two honorable mention awards of $50 each.
In our contest, we invited students to Celebrate the life of Jane Austen (1775-1817) or one of her novels. All posters needed to be original and previously unpublished. Students were also asked to include an artist statement about how they created their poster and what they hoped it might convey about Jane Austen. We explained that posters would be judged for their relevance, design, artistry and creativity in conveying the topic.
Five judges reviewed all the submissions Elisabeth Lenckos, Jeff Nigro, Sandy Flannigan, and Luanne Redmond, and myself. We were uniformly delighted with the creativity and appreciated the work, enthusiasm and talent evident in the students' posters and artist statements. We genuinely appreciate all of the entries to this, our first contest for students. As it turns out, our first place winner is someone we all know; she was performed in our Readers Theater at the Birthday Tea; she participated in our discussion at the Winter Meeting. However, she submitted her work under a pseudonym, which we did not discover until she received notice of the prize. Melinda, apparently, was the alternate name her mother chose before she became Anne Hathaway Davis, who is a freshman at the College of DuPage. You all have small copies of her wonderful poster celebrating the special qualities of Northanger Abbey in Anne's life. I would like to share part of her artists statement with you:
Northanger Abbey has always held a special place in my heart, so when I heard of this poster contest, celebrating one of Jane Austen's novels, I went straight to it for inspiration. I came up with the idea of imitating the poster "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." …With this as a starting point, I jumped with enthusiasm into Northanger Abbey and started collecting phrases to live by. I read and re-read Northanger Abbey four times, and came up with a rather extensive list, but, naturally, had to cut some of the precepts I found.
Since Northanger Abbey is a coming-of-age story, featuring a sensible girl making her first bow to society in Bath, it is filled with instructive tidbits that are easily applicable to one's own life. There are also two potential love interests for the heroine who are easily compared and contrasted to show what to look for in a mate for yourself. Mr. Henry Tilney, whose gentlemanly manners and easy conversation distinguish him, is nice to his sister; knows about women's clothing (helping his sister choose fabric for a dress!); and is not above reading novels, but reads tasteful ones. In contrast, Mr. John Thorpe has encroaching manners; is manipulative and selfish; swears often; is mean to his sisters, refusing to drive his thick-ankled sister; and boasts and exaggerates to further his own consequence. Seeing these two men presented at the same time makes it plain what to look for in a potential husband.
I wanted to draw a girl reclining while reading a book, so I posed (with difficulty) my mannequin and took many hundreds of pictures until I had exactly the right pose. I drew several different girls, chose my favorite girl, and drew even more versions of that girl in the correct pose, coloring the best couple with colored pencil. . . . I moved the whole into Photoshop CS2 to create the text portion.... I used the classic Jane Austen silhouette as a bullet point separating the individual precepts and used the typeface reproduction of Jane Austen's handwriting created by Pia Frauss for the words Northanger Abbey.
When creating this poster, I wanted to turn my favorite parts of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey into aphorisms that I, and other potential heroines, can apply to our lives. I hope my poster will convey some of the playful charm that so endeared Northanger Abbey to me when I first read it, and I hope it encourages others to read or re-read this charming novel.
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We judges agree that the poster is very appealing. Elisabeth Lenckos said, It builds on an essential and immortal truth, the genius and intelligence of Jane Austen, which never goes out of style, and complements the celebration of the writer with the modern, individual response(s) from a young reader, who illustrates that she learned from Austen. The message is clear: Austen still edifies and educates young audiences to this day! . . . in the "lessons" [she] draws from her reading of NA, she accomplishes a balance between the public aspects of the poster (Promoting Austen!) and the private (Austen's meaning for her, personally). The layout is pleasing, and the reading girl nicely embellishes the point of the poster. I would like to display this poster as the backdrop to our Gala!
Jeff Nigro added: it certainly captures the sheer pleasure of reading Austen, as well as the complex moral lessons to be drawn from the experience. The statements are very personal and universal at the same time. It's exciting that she was so inspired by "Northanger Abbey", which is all about the joys and pitfalls of reading novels.
This poster was the favorite of Sandy Flannigan, as well. She pointed to the evidence of insight shown into Austen's work at an analytical level, and understanding of Austen's importance in contemporary society. In addition, the poster is eye-catching and aesthetically appealing; it cleverly creates an "Ah-ha" moment for the viewer as she/he contemplates, "I never thought of it like that."
Luanne Redmond appreciated the lighthearted approach and enjoyed the idea that a modern girl living 200 years later could find practical advice in Austen's novel.
I present Anne Davis, First Prize winner of our Poster Contest!
We have two runners up: Eleonora Beier and Nycole Nystrom. In her artist statement, Eleonora, a student from Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, explains: "I created a poster using color pencils, watercolor for the background and ink with a calligraphy pen. I represent Jane Austen, drawn from a familiar portrait, and two of her major characters in Pride and Prejudice, Elisabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The novel Pride and Prejudice is open to chapter 34, and I wrote in the first sentence from the chapter. On the two characters from the novel, to distinguish them from Jane Austen, who is real, while they are part of her imagination, I also wrote with the same ink quotes from the book about them." Luanne Redmond explains: I like the composition, the coloring and the way this poster conveys Jane Austen's wonderful imagination. You can see from this drawing that Jane Austen truly felt that Elizabeth and Darcy were real people, which is perhaps why we still love them in her books. The judges agree that this poster is handsome, and clever in the way it suggests the characters coming to life out of the words of Jane Austen. Eleonora's drawing is skillful and she has placed Jane Austen with her most popular couple, as if in a family photo; she drew Austen's words on the characters, to illustrate that Austen really lived but her characters "live" in Austen's words.
I present runner up, Eleonora Judith Breier!
Runner up Nicole Nystrom is a home schooled high school junior from Woodstock, Illinois. In addition to reading and horseback riding, Nicole enjoys scrap-booking. She also loves music and plays the piano and sings. Nicole explains how she has come to Jane Austen: Growing up around two Jane Austen lovers, my mother and grandma, I have been familiar with Jane's work since I was a young girl. Firstly, I was introduced to her novels by watching them on screen, then later I enjoyed reading the books for myself.
While recently writing a paper on Jane Austen, I learned more about her. I hope to convey Jane's life, creativity and the contribution of friends and family in her life. …I hope that when others see my poster that it will make them curious to find out more and appreciate her and her talent even more.
Elisabeth Lenckos explains: This is a beautifully executed poster and would grace anything from a postcard to a book cover. The pastiche is lovingly done and reflects the aesthetics of Austen's world and her readers. . . . It evokes our reasons for loving Austen. The catch phrase "A Literary Legend…" is wonderful and the work is gorgeous!
Luanne Redmond explains: I like the old-fashioned scrapbook style of this poster. The artist's statement says the artist wanted people to get interested in finding out more about Jane Austen. I can see where this poster would have that effect, because it shows a little of the mystery of old things that have been saved through time and are still important to us.
Jeff notes: I was genuinely touched by her discussion of how important the role of family was for her as well as for Austen. As inspiring as a great teacher can be, it's important for us all to remember the vital role that family can play in instilling a love of reading and of Austen in so many of us.
I present runner up Nicole Nystrom!
We have two excellent honorable mentions, two students of Linda Reinert, Alysa Rose and Dana Zeno. Alysa's picture, "The Sacred Language of Jane Austen," addresses the true reason why Austen is such a brilliant writer and so universally beloved. Her method of putting Austen's words over her silhouette is clever. Dana's poster was inspired by a quotation from chapter III in Pride and Prejudice: To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love" and pictures a dancing couple in front of an embracing bride and groom. . It isn't the dance of Ausen's era; instead, the couple seem to be dancing like Dancing with the Stars, and the couple are wearing contemporary wedding clothes, but that is the poster's charm -- it places Austen's words into contemporary society. "unique approach" and shows "relevance."
