Millburn Senior Captures Essex Art Show Award

SHORT HILLS, NJ — Essex County officials honored 28 local artists with awards in the Annual Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show on Aug. 29. Officials presented the winners with their awards during a ceremony at the Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove.

The winning artists included Short Hills artist Nirmala Shah, who received first place in the Non-Professional Craft Category for “Evening Purse.”

The Essex County Senior Art Show and Exhibit was open to all professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older. Art work was judged on originality, composition, style, and quality and creativity. Seniors whose artwork was awarded first place are automatically entered into the NJ Senior Citizens Art Show.

“I congratulate the winners and all the artists who participated in this year’s Senior Art Show,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “The talent displayed by our senior artists is truly amazing and the artwork is inspiring. Essex County has a thriving fine arts community and our Senior Art Show enables our older residents, both professionals and non-professionals, to display their original creations where the public can see them.”

NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said that it was a “great treat” treat to see the creativity and expression by the county’s older residents.

“The purpose of government is to provide something different segments of our population and this is a shining example of that,” Ruiz added.

Artists and the awards they received are as follows:

Cedar Grove

• Victoria Augustine received first place in the Non-Professional Water Color Category for “White Water Lily.”
• Jane Ballinger received first place in the Professional Photography Category for “Majestic View.”
• Gail Benson received second place in the Non-Professional Watercolor Category for “Binna.”
• Angelo Casarola received first place in the Non-Professional Oil Category for “3 Daughters.”
• Roseann Martin received second place in the Non-Professional Drawing Category for “Autumn Pie.”
• Marie Matarazzo received second place in the Non-Professional Pastel Category for “Island Hide-a-Way.”
• Bill Oswald received first place in the Non-Professional Sculpture Category for “Birth of a Raptor.”

East Orange

• Lester James Johnson received second place in the Professional Sculpture Category for “Four Hearts Mask.”
• Meredith Hillman received an honorable mention in the Overall Category for “Rutgers Street.”

Fairfield

• Robert J. Szpila received first place in the Professional Digital Category for “Fiore.”

Glen Ridge

• Nancy Taiani received first place in the Professional Watercolor Category for “Birds of a Feather.”

Livingston

• Walter Beck received first place in the Non-Professional Photography Category for “Card Players-Sorrento.”
• Richard DiGiovanna received second place in the Non-Professional Acrylic Category for “Morning Light.”
• Harriet Hiller received first place in the Professional Pastel Category for “Keep Your Eye on the Ball I” and first place in the Professional Drawing Category for “Keep Your Eye on the Ball II.”
• Sheila Writt received first place in the Non-Professional Pastel Category for “Stone Building and Garden.”

Montclair

• Steadman D. Channer received first place in the Professional Oil Category for “Regina.”
• Salvatore Giangresso received second place in the Non-Professional Sculpture Category for “Grandpa’s Work Boot.”
• Joyce Goldman received first place in the Non-Professional Mixed Media Category for “Untitled #1.”
• Miriam Anise Sampson received second place in the Non-Professional Photography Category for “Orchid.”

Nutley

• Anthony Andolino, Sr. received second place in the Non-Professional Mixed Media Category for “Tropical Resort.”
• Nina Del Collo received first place in the Non-Professional Print Category for “Out of the Darkness.”
• Marleen Valdes received second place in the Professional Watercolor Category for “August in Vermont.”

Parsippany

• Chas Palminteri received from place in the Professional Acrylic Category for “Cotton Tail.”

Roseland

• Joseph Mango received first place in the Non-Professional Acrylic Category for “Metropolis.”

Short Hills

• Nirmala Shah received first place in the Non-Professional Craft Category for “Evening Purse.”

South Orange

• Victor Esquilin received first place in the Non-Professional Drawing Category for “Amaya.”
• Cindy Wolf received first place in the Professional Sculpture Category for “Windhover.”

West Caldwell

• Lynne Palmer received an honorable mention in the Overall Category for “Southern Rim of Grand Canyon.”

Photo: Glen Frieson

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