Newtown Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to announce that Newtown resident Tracy Van Buskirk is the chosen winner for the 2012 Newtown Arts Festival poster contest for her entry titled "Life in Newtown." 

Mrs Van Buskirk wanted to capture the town's serenity and pleasure. With her block print of Ram Pasture, she captured this tranquil mood and more. Her Asian-style rendition of this early burg landmark with its soft pastels reminds viewers of many beautiful days walking or playing by the pasture’s pond or feeding the ducks.

Mrs Van Buskirk says she was drawn to art at a very young age. Although deciding not to major in art at college, instead pursuing a degree in East Asian studies at Oberlin, she always found time for this avocation during her busy work and family schedule.

In 1999, Mrs Van Buskirk, who was making clay jewelry, arranged for the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild to create Bottles of Hope for breast cancer survivor Diane Gregoire. Today Bottles of Hope is a national organization that distributes beautifully decorated bottles to cancer patients.

For the past five years, Mrs Van Buskirk and her husband, Peter, have been advisors for the Venture Crew, a year-round outdoor co-educational program. It builds skills and self-esteem for youths ages 14-21 with such activities as snowshoeing, camping, hiking, rock climbing, caving, and canoeing. The Van Buskirks, long-time residents of Newtown, have two children, Elisa, 24 and Dana, 22.

When creating her entry for the Newtown Arts Festival's contest, Mrs Van Buskirk considered that linoleum block designs, which she has been making for the past several years, would reproduce well on T-shirts and posters. She drove around in her car, camera in hand, for ideas. When she saw Ram Pasture, she knew this was the perfect scene to depict Newtown.

"I 'm very excited to have my artwork on the first — we hope of many — annual Newtown Arts Festival posters and T-shirts," she says. "I love the arts, and am pleased that Newtown is going to have this special event."

Van Buskirk is also receiving a $500 prize for her artwork.

The Newtown Arts Festival Artwork Selection Committee received many creative entries, several from area artists as well as Newtown students. All posters will be displayed, many that received other places in the contest, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, during The Flagpole Radio Cafe Pre-Show Reception in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall. Flagpole Radio Cafe ticketholders and Newtown Arts Festival art contest contributors and their families and friends are invited to view the artwork and help kick off the festival.

For those wishing to attend The Flagpole Radio Café show, this month featuring guest artist Livingston Taylor, tickets are available at www.FlagpoleProductions.org.

The Newtown Arts Festival, to be held September 15-16, 2012, at Fairfield Hills, rain or shine, will be celebrating all the arts from poetry to dance. Workshops, live music, arts and crafts, farmers market, children's activities and more will be crammed into these two days. More information can be found at www.NewtownArtsCommission.org.

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission was created by a town ordinance to stimulate, facilitate, coordinate and cooperate with existing artists and arts organizations in order to further the development of the cultural arts in Newtown. The commission began its work in June of 2007 and meets monthly.

The current Newtown Cultural Arts Commission comprises the following residents: Commission Chairperson Jennifer Johnston, Recording Secretary Donna Mangiafico, Sharon L. Cohen, Robert Kaiser, Donna Monteleone, Robert Rabinowitz, and Jennifer Rogers. Anyone interested in filling vacancies on the Commission or joining the Auxiliary Board should contact the First Selectman’s Office at 203-270-4201.