Licking County Photo Contest Award Winners

News

The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) hosted a public art photography contest that ran from May through July. Community members were encouraged to submit photos of public art in six categories, including sculpture, mural, people, animals, nature’s influence and other.

A judging committee selected submitted photographs for first, second and third place in each category. They were assessed on a combination of artistic expression, creativity, originality, quality and photo commentary. Additionally, People’s Choice awards were given for the photo in each category that received the highest number of votes via Facebook. The winning photos will be part of a permanent display on the Newark campus in the newly renovated Louella Hodges Reese Hall for the campus and local community to enjoy.

Sculpture

Sculpture photo entries included at least one publicly accessible sculpture located in Licking County. The first-place award went to “Relaxing by the Pond,” which captured Seward Johnson’s Summer Thinking, by Olivia Yocum, a communications major and student assistant at Ohio State Newark. The second-place award went to “Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader,” which featured Gary Lee Price’s New Heights of Knowledge, by Karen Cook. The third-place award went to “Sunny Days with Abe,” which spotlights Gary Lee Price’s Abraham Lincoln, by Becky Clawson, the assistant director of advancement at COTC and Ohio State Newark. Lastly, the People’s Choice award went to “Across the Pond,” which also featured Summer Thinking, by Olivia Yocum.

A statue of a girl lying on the grass gazing over the pond with a book open in front of her.

Mural

Mural photo entries included at least one publicly accessible mural located in Licking County. The first-place and People’s Choice awards went to “Historic Storefront” by Regina Williams, the former early childhood education program director and faculty member at COTC and current secretary for Licking County Arts, and spotlights “Promenade” by Curtis Goldstein. Williams’ photograph was also the Best in Show winner. The second-place award went to “I Love Newark,” featuring a mural on the Bottle Shoppe Drive Thru, submitted by Kimberly Cheng. The third-place award went to “Helping Hand” by Jennifer Lewis of the Granville Kiwanis club and features “A Helping Hand” by Curtis Goldstein.

A brick-lines alley leading toward the Licking County Courthouse with a mural painted on a building on one side and a brick building on the other.

People

People photo entries included at least one person standing, sitting or interacting with a piece of public art located in Licking County. The first-place and People’s Choice awards went to “Aaron & Monet” by Bonnie Smith, an Ohio State alumna and sixth-grade ELA teacher at New Albany-Plain Local schools, and featured Gary Lee Price’s Claude Monet statue. The second-place award went to Kim Manno, director of advancement for COTC and Ohio State Newark, for “Abe & Batman,” which spotlighted Gary Lee Price’s Abraham Lincoln statue and Manno’s son Camden. The third-place award went to “Reading with Shakespeare” by Kimberly Price and captured the statue William Shakespeare by Gary Lee Price.

A toddler sits on a bronze bench statue holding the arm of a bronze Claude Monet statue.

Animals

Animal photo entries included at least one animal standing, sitting or interacting with a piece of public art located in Licking County. The first-place award went to Christopher Dawson, the videographer and photographer for COTC and Ohio State Newark, for “Sage on Campus,” which captured Gary Lee Price’s The Wright Brothers statue and Dawson’s dog Sage. The second-place and People’s Choice awards went to “Freddie Says Hi” by Susan Kamps, an Ohio State alumna, the former president of Licking County Arts and former business coordinator for Crock Orthodontics, and also spotlighted The Wright Brothers and her dog Freddie. The third-place award went to “Good Sit with Ben” by Christopher Dawson and features COTC President John M. Berry’s, PhD, dog Koda alongside the statue Benjamin Franklin by Gary Lee Price.

A dogs sits appearing to smile in front of a bronze statue of The Wright Brothers.

Nature’s Influence

Nature’s influence photo entries depicted the natural or seasonal beauty of a piece of public art located in Licking County. The first-place award went to “Reflection” by Rachel Brandenburg, the digital communications specialist at Ohio State Newark and COTC. The second-place award went to “Sunrise” by Christopher Dawson. The third-place and People’s Choice award went to “Sunset at Mirror Lake” by Becky Gate.

Clouds reflected in the windows of the John Gilbert Reese Center on a summer day.

Other

Other photo entries did not fall into any of the five distinct categories but otherwise depicted a piece of public art located in Licking County. The first-place award went to “The Fountain and Courthouse at Night,” which captured the Licking County Courthouse designed by architect Henry E. Myer, submitted by Jonathan “Jonny” Lippincott, a COTC alumnus and current restaurant manager of Raising Cane’s. The second-place award went to “Grandeur” by Ohio State Professor Elizabeth Weiser, PhD, and features the Everett D. Reese Carillon by JBA Architects. The third-place and People’s Choice awards went to “Reflection” by Susan Kamps and also spotlights the Reese Carillon. 

The Licking County Courthouse and a fountain list up at night.

COTC is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs. COTC has four campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.