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Visions of Life Series

2023 VOL Exhibits and Short Film Fest

A Call for Entries

Older youths (high school and beyond) and adults are invited to participate in making a short 5 to 15-min film based on one of the 12 stories from the Visions of Life series. The longer films are for stories with a lot of dialogue in one setting. The paintings in the stories will be exhibited at Highland Park Art Center and Oak Park Public Library. The stories are listed below, and free ebooks for Visions of Life and Visions of Life 2 will be available at Smashwords.

Requirments: Entry filename should be the title of the short film. The title, the story it's based on, and the art and artist's name the story is inspired by should be at the beginning of the film. The credits can be at the end of the film. More than one film can be submitted. The audio levels should be adjusted so that they peak at -6 dB.

Due Date: tbd
Prizes: tbd
Screenings:
   Highland Park Wayfarer Theaters - date tbd
   Highland Park Park District - date tbd
   Oak Park Public Library - date tbd


Exhibits

Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park, Illinois.

Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park, Illinois.

Each Visions of Life book is an anthology of short stories inspired by art published in The Chicago Art Scene, Art Scene Chicago 2000, and Living Artists.

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The Predicted End of Will by Paco Aramburu's
protagonist must confront whether knowing one's destiny is desirable or inhibiting.

The story is inspired by Flora of the Subway, oil on canvas, by Bruno Surdo, a painting featured in the 3D section of Living Artists.

Flora of the Subway

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My Turn by Linda S. Buyer
deals with a wife who finds out at her husband's 90th birthday that he fathered a son before their marriage, and all her friends knew about it.  

The story is inspired by Garlic, oil on canvas, by James Michael Ostlund, a painting featured in The Chicago Art Scene.

Garlic

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Disappearing Act by Elizabeth DeSchryver
is about a young woman on the eve of her wedding. She is from a Catholic family and she hasn't told her mother that she is pregnant. After taking a DNA test, she finds out that she's part Jewish, upending her self image.

The story is inspired by Sparkle, oil on panel, by Katherine Grossfeld and Gift, oil on panel, by Susan Hall, both featured in Living Artists; and Study of a Winged Figure, oil on canvas, by John Rush, featured in The Chicago Art Scene.

Sparkle
Gift
Study of a Winged Figure

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Elvis Has Left the Building by James Flanigan
is a humorous story about an aging busker trying to find a new career.

The story is inspired by Imitation a la King, pastel on paper, by Eric Semelroth, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.

Imitation a la King

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Family Portrait by Joanne Freeman
brings out old family grudges when a dutiful daughter returns home to visit her Italian mother.

The story is inspired by Girl with a Violin, oil on canvas by Mary Barnes Gingrich, a painting featured in The Chicago Art Scene.

Girl with a Violin

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The Age of Reason by Barbara Joyce
follows a Catholic school child's experiences of faith from her first Communion to her later questioning the patriarchal policies in Catholicism as an adult.

The story is inspired by Muslim Madonna, pastel on paper, by Eric Semelroth, a painting featured in Living Artists.

Muslim Madonna

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Superman by Julie Justicz
deals with the struggles of a mother after her son attempts suicide, from endlessly replaying the incident to endlessly worrying if it will happen again.

The story is inspired by Superman, oil on canvas, by Sandra Dawson, an artist featured in Living Artists.

Superman

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Dress Up by Ann Kammerer
is about the friendship between a cross-dresser and a prostitute.

The story is inspired by Cross-dressing Draft Resister Who Chanted Hare Krishna for 7 Years, pastel on paper by Eric Semelroth, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.

Cross-dressing
Draft Resister Who
Chanted Hare Krishna
for 7 Years

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Print Services by Ann Kammerer
is about an alcoholic's denial despite being fired, his girlfriend leaving him and his landlord evicting him. Will his new job give him a second chance?

The story is inspired by Moving Toward the Light, oil on canvas, by Michele Maria Mitchell, a painting featured in The Chicago Art Scene.

Moving Toward the Light

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Just Float by PJ Minton
is about a father's attempts to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter. 

The story is inspired by Just Float, oil on canvas by Irene Ryan Maloney, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.

Just Float

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Soft Music by Marie Thourson
is about a daughter who visits her mother who has Alzheimer's, and how they find a way to enjoy their time together.

The story is inspired by Mind of Her Own, linocut on woven paper, by Izumi Yoshitani, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.

Mind of Her Own

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A Pact, So We Can Fly by Colby Vargas
is written from three points of view: a roller coaster attendant, the most timid of four friends who make a pact to jump off the coaster together, and the father of the pact leader. 

The story is inspired by Tomorrowland, alkyd on linen, by Mary Henderson, a painting featured in Living Artists.

Tomorrowland

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