Conneaut Arts Center moves into spring, summer season with photo exhibit

Apr. 20—CONNEAUT — Spring activities are getting rolling at the Conneaut Arts Center with a photography and multi-media exhibit by Amy Edixon.

Edixon said she has been fascinated by photography since she was 12 years old when her mother bought her a camera, but the film was soon discontinued.

"When I was 19, I got a 110mm film camera and then later a 35 mm camera," she said. "I started snapping pictures left and right and I haven't stopped since."

Edixon said she grew up in Austintown and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from Youngstown State in 1996. She worked at the school newspaper as a photographer and darkroom technician.

She said the rapid change in photo technology took away some of the job opportunities so she became an occupational therapist at a nursing home when she moved to Ashtabula County, but didn't give up her love of photography.

Some of the work she is showing at the Conneaut Arts Center started in 1996 when she captured a Vietnam veteran kneeling in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visiting Wall. She said the photo has received numerous awards including one from a juried art show at The Butler Institute of American Art.

She said she has photographed all the covered bridges in Ashtabula County, as well as local lighthouses and the Ashtabula Harbor lift bridge.

"My usual theme for photos and artwork I create is predominantly nature, nautical, local attractions and sometimes historical architecture," she said.

Conneaut Arts Center Director David Jones said there are is a different artist each month. He said there is also a Lake Erie "Monster" event in July allowing area residents to use their imagination on what might be in the lake.

He said the CAC is planning to improve the stage thanks to fundraising efforts from the Conneaut High School youth philanthropy program.

Jones said the annual summer arts camp is scheduled for two one-week sessions in June.