To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Wandell Sculpture Garden, we held a contest for amateur photographers to submit their photos of Meadowbrook to grace the cover of the September-December edition of our program guide. The contest was held from December 7, 2022, through June 16, 2023, and we had 47 entries. The district’s Arts & Culture Matrix Team acted as jury for the photographs and chose Bullseye by Linda Coleman of Champaign as our winner. We had a second photo that we liked so much; we had Dream Traveler by Shirley Le May added to the guide’s back cover.
“Although I have taken photographs since I received my first little Brownie camera when I was a child, I didn’t begin regularly carrying a camera until about ten years ago as I was about to enter my retirement. It was around the time that digital photography was emerging as the standard and I found its simplicity made practice of essential skills so much easier.” said Coleman, who lives in Champaign.
Regarding Meadowbrook Park, Coleman stated, “Meadowbrook Park and especially the sculpture collection offer endless opportunities for many kinds of photography, from landscapes to micro shots of elements of the sculptures or flowering prairie flowers and grasses. I guess it’s the variety the park offers that I most enjoy. The light and landscape are always changing, and new sculptures are regularly being added.”
“I took this photograph last fall, but when the contest was announced I chose it from among the many shots I have taken. It was great fun to work on preparing it for submission.” said Coleman.
Thank you to all the photographers who took great photos of this spectacular park and sculpture garden! We look forward to seeing you on September 15, 2023, for the Wandell Sculpture Garden Rededication reception at 3:30pm and the Jazz Walk, which will be from 5 to 7pm.
