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Rollie McKenna Community Photo Contest

In an effort to preserve and celebrate the town’s artistic legacy, we are proud to present a community-wide photography contest. Named for portrait-photographer Rosalie “Rollie” McKenna, this annual photography contest is held to inspire new generations of photographers, as well as to continuously document our changing town by the people who live in it. We also hold this contest in memory of Rollie McKenna, who left a photographic legacy to Stonington and the world through her determination, creativity and passion for photography. May we always remember the path she forged for women in the arts.

The Lighthouse Museum will be open for voting Thursday through Sunday 1-4pm through April 27th.

The theme for 2025 is “Aging Gracefully”. Rollie was best known for her portrait photography, and her images of Stonington residents are some of our most requested materials in the archives of Historic Stonington. Before her death, Rollie McKenna was working on a project about aging artists called “Gleanings”, and this year’s theme is in honor of her unfinished work. In order to ensure we are documenting the town to the best of our ability for future generations, submissions must be a portrait photograph of a current resident of Stonington. Portraits submitted must document a person over the age of 65.