I am honored to be a chosen winner for American Illustration 45. “Undercover- Facts of Life at Sleep Away Camp 1969” gauche on board by Sally Edelstein
In the late 1960’s, a world before screens and social media made sexual content just a click away, a pre-teen like myself learned the facts of life at summer sleep-away camp. Late at night, when the lights went out, the lurid worlds of adulthood and sex could be revealed through gossip and steamy romance magazines, viewed through the yellow glow of an Eveready flashlight.
While teens today learn from online porn, sex-ed for me was also media-driven – raunchy pulp magazines, a mix of veiled advice and confession-style narratives.
After taps had been played, the whispering began among bunkmates, each tucked in our beds with the properly made hospital corners. Candy bought at the canteen that day was unwrapped as we dove headfirst into the world of scandal, sex, and shame in magazines like True Stories, True Confessions, Photoplay, and Modern Romance. The titillating titles screamed, such as “What Drove this Girl” Any Boy! Any Man! Any Time.”
As much as I devoured them, I was not quite ready to completely leave the innocent world of high school romance that was Archie and Veronica.
I am honored to be a chosen winner for American Illustration 45.
Many thanks to the jury and Mark Heflin for selecting my work “Undercover -The Facts of Life at Summer Camp 1969” for inclusion.
This year’s distinguished AI45 Jury included: This year’s distinguished AI45 Jury included: Josh Cochran, The New Yorker; Victoria Escobar, The New York Times Magazine; Toby Fox, Rolling Stone; Emily Glaubinger, Anthropologie; Sarah Lee Grillo, Axios; Marina Grinshpun, The Robb Report; Sara Loane, Al Majalla; Randy Minor, New York Magazine; Linda Rubes, The Wall Street Journal; Ploy Siripant, HarperCollins; Lizzie Soufleris, Architectural Digest; and Raghu Vadarevu, The Marshall Project.
Envisioning The American Dream 
Congratulations!!
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Thank you!
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My mom had a stack of “Modern Romance,” but it was the Brazilian version, “Romance Moderno.” The magazines had all the stories translated into Portuguese. I enjoyed reading them as much as she did.
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Oh those were great! And good visuals.
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Congratulations 🎊
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Thanks so much!
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CONGRATULATIONS, Sally! What a smart and sharp jury! I love your work, this is so well deserved! Well done, jury!
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Thanks so much for your support. That means so much. It a nice switch to put down my exacto knife and glue, and pick up a paint brush, now and again.
It’s a stellar jury so I am very honored.
The little 13 year old budding artist at sleep away camp who drew for the camp newspaper would be pleased too.
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That little girl, like you, is really terribly talented. I’m glad she grew up to be you!
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How wonderful, congratulations Sally! Did You include a photo of the work? If so I missed it and would love to see it.
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Yes. It’s the painting in the post.
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