4 Creative Maplewood And South Orange Residents Win Contest

MAPLEWOOD – Two Maplewood and two South Orange residents recently received awards in an art contest sponsored by Essex County.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. officiated a ceremony for the winners of the annual Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show.

Maplewood resident Mary Franklin was awarded second place in the non-professional mixed media category for “Tropical Paradise.”

Maplewood resident Nila M. Pusin actually won two awards. She was awarded first place in the professional sculpture category for “Lady in the Waiting” and second place in the non-professional craft category for “Howl (Human Owl).”

Gail Gardella was awarded second place in the professional oil category for “The Empty Bench.”

Cindy Wolf was awarded second place in the professional sculpture category for “Keep Them All in the Air.”

The artists were recognized during an awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Robert J. O’Toole Community Center in Essex County Cedar Grove Park.