“We used to live in Norwalk and were members of the aquarium,” said Cecile Lobo of Bridgeport. “We always admired the holiday lighthouse display. My husband, Ron, and I are very crafty and creative, so one day we just decided we could give it a try.”
Dave Sigworth of the Maritime Aquarium said he looks forward every year to Lobo's submissions.
“Her lighthouses are always extremely creative,” said Sigworth. “She has won in the past, and she is definitely one of our more talented artists.”
Lobo said that winning the contest was great, but the real thrill is in taking part in the contest and creating the lighthouse.
“We actually won first place twice in a row, which encouraged us to keep participating,” she said. “Competition has been tough these past few years, but it's always a pleasure designing a lighthouse, creating it and also learning from the creativity of other contestants. It's a personal artistic enrichment for us to discover what other people can imagine and put together.”
Lobo said this contest is the only competition she and Ron enter.
“The staff at the aquarium have been wonderful. I thank them for organizing the contest and accepting everyone," she said. "We only design lighthouses for this contest. I come from Brittany in France, which is famous for its numerous lighthouses, so maybe that’s my inspiration.”
Creating the lighthouse entry is a year-long process, Lobo said.
“We usually start thinking about the next lighthouse when the current one is still on display,” she said. "I sketch a few designs and it evolves throughout the year. It's a collaborative effort.”
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