Perry was awarded $1,000 as the winner in the high school category, and Sullivan was awarded $500 as the winner in the middle school category.
Perry’s submission was selected because it showed many of the interconnected features that make the Adirondacks unique.
Sullivan’s submission shows a loon floating on a lake that has been impacted by humans. Sullivan chose to submit an artist statement, which was an optional feature of the application form, that said, “This piece was inspired and made to communicate that these birds and many other’s habitats are […] being destroyed and that we, as citizens of the Adirondack Park, should take immediate action.”
This year was the first year ACLC has sponsored an art contest for students. Participants were asked to consider the theme, “What makes the Adirondacks the Adirondacks?” and to include a loon — or the hint of a loon — in their final submission. Seven high school and 24 middle school students submitted entries.
The contest was coordinated by ACLC Education Coordinator Sylvie Casella as a way to encourage artistic expression and connect conservation to art.
“I’ve always believed in the power of creativity and expression,” Casella said. “I’m constantly inspired by the artists I see around me, yet art often gets overshadowed by academics or sports. The arts give us a way to share who we are, and we wanted to create a space that celebrates that and encourages the connection between environmental science and art.”
The contest was open to all types of visual art in any medium. An artist statement was optional but encouraged to help judges understand the student artists’ intention or thought process behind their work.
ACLC intends to open up the contest again in 2026 to middle and high school students attending schools within the Adirondack Park. There will be a new theme, and some details may change to encourage maximum participation. An announcement will be made through press release, social media and the ACLC website when all details have been finalized, and individual districts will be contacted and invited to participate.
“Loons are so symbolic of the Adirondacks and the North Country,” said Denise Silfee, ACLC director of education and communications. “We think they are a perfect species for inspiring young artists to create works that express the importance of intact ecosystems and preserving natural habitats for all wildlife.”
All of this year’s entries will be displayed in the Loon Center in Saranac Lake for the next several weeks, and then students will have the option to collect their artwork.
To learn more about the work of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, log on at adkloon.org or stop in at the Loon Center in downtown Saranac Lake. Fall/winter hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
