Vote for your favorite at the Maritime Aquarium’s 2015 Festival of Lighthouses!

This Ray Touch Pool is one of the many stunning details in Nancy Todd of West Haven, CT’s, “Droste Pointe” entry.

The 2015 Festival of Lighthouses is up and running at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT (where I am a volunteer Gallery Ambassador, in case readers of this blog don’t know)! This year’s 14^th annual exhibit features 22 large models crafted by artists from Connecticut and New York.

You can visit the lighthouse exhibit, which is included with regular admission, through January 18; much like in a juried art show, you cast a vote for the one you like the best. First prize garners $1500, and there are also prizes for second through sixth place. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, January 21.

They’re all so creative I’d have a hard time choosing which one to give my top vote. So I picked my top picks based on “what I’m into.” They’re below, in no particular order. Some of them feature lights and sound, so I included some video. Enjoy, and don’t forget to visit The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk between now and January 18 to cast your vote! Information on planning your visit can be found here.

Tiki Island Lighthouse – Brett Almstead, Ridgefield, CT

I’m a great fan of Tiki, so this one ends up high on my list! Play the video to hear the bird sounds. Tiki Island Lighthouse – Brett Almstead, Ridgefield, CT

Surviving the Storm – Robert Keene, Ashley Hoefer, Clayton Ludwig, and John Freeman, Darien, CT

Surviving the Storm depicts a frightening evening on a stormy night off the shores of New England.

Paradise – Maria, Alexiah, and Aijah Williams, Cortlandt Manor, NY

I know this is called “Paradise” but it makes me think of Key West! I’d love to live in this if it were real!

One of the exquisite details in the Paradise Lighthouse.

Cinderella’s Lighthouse – Sail at Briarcliff Manor School, Yonkers, NY

I’m a fan of Cinderella’s Lighthouse, obviously, because of my love for the Magic Kingdom. But what’s particularly interesting here are the Moorish details. Cinderella’s Lighthouse – Sail at Briarcliff Manor School, Yonkers, NY

Droste Pointe: The Lighthouse Within – Nancy Todd, West Haven, CT

“Droste Point: The Lighthouse Within” isn’t called “Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk”–but it may as well be! There are so many of our exhibits in miniature. This one is nothing short of amazing.

Here, the Meerkats exhibit.

Here, our turtle exhibit, and just behind that, the giant kriesel that houses our moon jellies. You can even see last year’s lighthouse exhibit on the left.

On the second floor, our Touch Tank (complete with staff member and the step that little kids can stand on so they can reach the animals)!

This is our salt marsh gallery. Great attention has been paid to the residents of our gallery; for example, yes, there are seahorses in the first central tank to the right.

This is one of our upstairs classrooms.

Our frogs exhibit!

About kristipetersenschoonover

A ghost story writer who still sleeps with the lights on, Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s fiction has appeared in many magazines and anthologies; her traditionally published books include a short story collection, THE SHADOWS BEHIND. She was the recipient of three Norman Mailer Writers Colony Residencies and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. She serves as co-host of the DARK DISCUSSIONS podcast, as founding editor of the dark literary journal 34 ORCHARD, and is a member of both the New England Horror Writers and the Horror Writers Association. Follow her adventures at kristipetersenschoonover.com.

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Posted on November 30, 2015, in Deep Thoughts & Fun Stuff, Events and tagged lighthouse models, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, special Christmas exhibits in Connecticut. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.