The Joy of…series comprises of three cultural events at Topsham Public Library that are co-sponsored by the Friends of the Topsham Public Library: Joy of Art, Joy of the Lens and Joy of the Pen.
Joy of Art
The Joy of Art is our annual judged art exhibit which features original artwork by Maine residents, both amateur and professional. Each year the work can be viewed in the Crooker Gallery and the Highlands Community Room. Applications for the next Joy of Art will be available in November.
Congratulations to the 2022 winners!
Painting: Abi by Kevin Mizner
Drawing: Artichoke by Linda Wolcott
Printmaking: Maine Deer by Mya Sol
Mixed Media / Collage: Gratitude by Natasha Kempers-Cullen
Textile: 100 Years by Rebecca Jauch
Digital Art: Mi Mundo Entero by Cali Montes
3-Dimensional: Smoke & Flames by Douglas Kanes
Honorable Mentions:
Painting: Notes of Neon by Anne Schutz
Drawing: Rocky Coast Sunrise by Diana Washburn
Mixed Media / Collage: Crocodile Love by Libby Sipe
3-Dimensional: Flattop Gourd by Douglas Kanes
People’s Choice winner:
Diamond in the Calm by Jon Coffin
Joy of the Lens
The Joy of the Lens is our annual judged photography exhibit which features original photography by Maine residents, both amateur and professional. Each year the work can be viewed in the Crooker Gallery and the Highlands Community Room. Applications will be available in February.
Congratulations to the 2022 winners!
Color: The Weight of Sorrow Cannot Be Measured by Norma Warden
Black & White: Moxie Falls by Dick Tarr
Peter’s Challenge – Contrasts: Stranded by Karen Kurkjian
Honorable Mentions:
Color: The Kiss by Linda Cullivan
Black & White: Solitude by Jack Sharkey
Peter’s Challenge – Contrasts: Infinite Conflict by Rob Smith
People’s Choice winner:
Happy Moose by Victorien Rami
Joy of the Pen
Joy of the Pen is our annual writing competition, which is open to Maine residents. This year, we awarded the following prizes, sponsored by The Cryer: The Verdi L. Tripp Fiction Award, Margaret F. Tripp Poetry Award and Richard F. Snow Nonfiction Award, and sponsored by The Crowbait Club: The Crowbait Short Play Award and Honorable Mention. We also awarded Honorable Mentions in Fiction, Poetry and Nonfiction, sponsored by the Friends of The Topsham Public Library, a Teen Fiction Award sponsored by TPL Teen Scene, and a Kids Poetry Award sponsored by the TPL Children’s Department. You can read the winning entries and author bios, watch readings and much, much more on the online Joy of the Pen Literary Journal.
Congratulations to the 2022 winners!
The Verdi L. Tripp Fiction Award: Jim Mentink for “The Seminar”
Fiction Honorable Mention: Lorelei Greenwood-Jones for “Candy House”
Margaret F. Tripp Poetry Award: David Sloan for “Solo”
Poetry Honorable Mention: Cynthia Larson for “Perhaps to Dream”
Richard F. Snow Nonfiction Award: Nancy Browne for “Ricky Rivers”
Nonfiction Honorable Mention: John Reinhart for “Traveling by Platypus”
The Crowbait Short Play Award: Greg Simpson for “3 Hail Mary’s”
Short Play Honorable Mention: Fred Cheney for “Danced to the Fiddle”
TPL Teen Fiction Award: Charlotte Schatz for “To Lend a Hand”
TPL Kids Poetry Award: Luisa Feliciano for “Crow”