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2004-11-01

Artist hit First Night design right on the button in contest

By Marty Collins

NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Christine Lombardi's co-workers know how to pick a winner.

Long-time fans of her lighthearted and whimsical artwork, they encouraged the Danbury Hospital-based WorkNET receptionist to enter one of her designs in the First Night Danbury button design contest.

The sketch her co-workers selected depicts a whimsical owl couple. The male is festooned in a polka dot party hat hooting through a striped megaphone. The tiara-wearing female is twirling a razz-a-ma-tazz noisemaker. The pair is perched on a branch and backed by a full moon.

A three-member First Night Danbury button committee selected Lombardi's design to represent this year's festivities. The button design will also be incorporated into the T-shirt that First Night volunteers wear.

First Night board member Tom Vogt said the button committee set the dozen or so entries out on a table.

"There were lots of good designs," he said. "But hers was one that jumped out at us."

Sue Horton, vice president of the all-volunteer First Night Danbury committee, said the idea of using a button to indicate a paid participant goes back to 1989 when the Danbury's initial First Night took place. This is the first year the committee ran a contest.

Lombardi said it was her mother who prompted her to enter the contest.

"My mother saw the article about the First Night design contest in The News-Times and told me about it," Lombardi said. "My parents have always been very supportive and encouraging about my artwork."

Planning a design within the four-inch diameter limit was a challenge but not an overwhelming one for an artist who works mainly in a small format. She's the designer of her own greeting cards and birth announcement line called Pretty Cute Creations. Lots and lots of intricate and often humorous Where's Waldo-type detail is her hallmark. She has designed her own Christmas cards for years.

A native of Danbury, Lombardi received a bachelor's degree in graphic arts from Western Connecticut State University.

Promoting herself as an artist does not come naturally to Lombardi. Rather, she lets her friends act as her agents.

"I am not the salesperson type," Lombardi said. "People know me in the area but not from a selling point."

Still, Lombardi said she is thinking about doing something more with her album full of designs. The popularity of her button design is giving her courage.

"Maybe it is time for me to try to sell my work," she said.

Lombardi said initially she was dismayed to think her button design would be limited to black, white and purple. But this is the first year the First Night buttons will be multi-colored and Lombardi is thrilled with the change.

Horton said the charm of the partying owls captured the imaginations of the board members and renewed their sense of fun in a project that takes months of work to put together.

"I have to say it has given us a real boost," Horton said.

“First Night has secured more than 20 performers for this year's celebration which will take place at venues throughout the CityCenter on Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. to midnight.

First Night buttons will be sold later this month at a variety of Danbury locations, including Deep's Market, Marcus Dairy, The News-Times, and the Town Clerk's office in City Hall.

Button prices remain the same as last year. The cost for an adult button is $10. The cost of buttons for children 12 and under or seniors over 62 is $7.