The Photography Contest aims to celebrate the beauty of life and the resilience of the human spirit through captivating images. The theme chosen for this year’s competition is “Changes.”

Fourteen winners will be selected by our esteemed judge, Frank Ceravalo, a prominent West Virginia photographer based in Martinsburg. Selected photographs will be transformed into stunning 45 x 30-inch prints and prominently displayed in the Cortland Rehab wing for one year, offering inspiration and joy to residents, staff and visitors alike.

“After a challenging period, we believe in the power of art to uplift and inspire,” said Foundation Director Crystal Boone. “Through this Photography Contest, we hope to foster creativity, community, and connection, while also supporting the vital work of the Cortland Foundation.”

In addition to large-scale prints, a concentrated display area will be added to the Pendleton Lounge situated in the Blackwater Short-Term Rehab Center common area. The Gallery will include twenty-two feet of wall space and showcase different sizes and orientations to allow for even more local images and regional talent to be on display. There is no specified number of images to be selected and The Gallery will be curated by this year’s contest judge and the Cortland Foundation.

Frank Ceravalo

Following the one-year exhibition period, the prints will be offered for sale with all proceeds benefiting the Cortland Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life for residents and support essential programs and services.

Photographers interested in participating are invited to submit their images through the Cortland Acres website at http://blackwater.cortlandacres.org/. Submissions will be accepted through May 31.