Waukegan library announces Bradbury creative contest winners

Posted March 28, 2016 11:00 pm

Waukegan Public Library submission

Waukegan Public Library has announced the winners of the 32nd annual Ray Bradbury Creative Contest.

This year, the library received 91 submissions to its contest celebrating the creative talent of Waukegan native Ray Bradbury. Submissions came from Waukegan and surrounding Lake County communities, as well as from all over the United States - from California, New York, and more.

The 2016 theme, which asked artists and writers to create a piece illustrating their vision of the future, was inspired by Bradbury's landmark novel "Fahrenheit 451." The winning pieces imagine new technologies - like robots - and new ways of interacting with the world. They also engage with the ramifications of our increasingly tech-reliant society.

"I am very impressed by the depth of creativity of this year's submissions," Waukegan Public Library Executive Director Richard Lee said. "It's really a testament to Bradbury's own talent that people are continually inspired by his work."

This year's contest was the finale of Waukegan Public Library's Big Read, a communitywide reading event made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The library's Big Read began with the 10th annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival Oct. 30, 2015, and featured a variety of programming, from a visit by Bradbury scholar Jonathan R. Eller of Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, to elementary school classroom visits by library staff to film showings.

Thanks to the Big Read grant, the library is able to give copies of "Fahrenheit 451" to the contest winners in each category.

All visual art submissions are presently on display on the library's main floor. As in prior years, the library will release a digital literary journal of all creative writing submissions, which will be available on the library's website in late spring/early summer.

The winners are:

Short Stories

• Elementary School: "The Josecon Portal," Eric Cisneros, Waukegan

• Middle School: "Fly Away," Caroline Chung, Northfield

• High School: "Man in Machine," Justin Kim, McLean, Virginia

• Adult: "A Grasp on Eternity," Kimberly Horta, Whittier, California

Visual Art

• Elementary School: "Visual Art, Isaac Bruno, Lake Villa

• Middle School: "Futuristic Vitruvian Man," Jessica Flores, Waukegan

• High School: "Future Be Now," Jacqueline Martinez, Waukegan

• Adult: "Fahrenheit 32," Tara V. Purtell, Waukegan

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