37 Seniors Earn Awards At Annual Art Show In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Dozens of talented artists recently captured awards in Essex County’s annual senior citizen art show.

A total of 37 people received awards in the 2025 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show. The annual contest is open to all professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older. Artwork is judged on originality, composition, style, quality and creativity. Judging was done by Heather Carter, founder of Carter Fine Art Services.

Seniors whose artwork was awarded first place are automatically entered into the NJ Senior Citizens Art Show.

The list of winners includes the following artists:

Bloomfield

• Kathy Clemente won first place in the professional acrylic category with “Floofy.”
• Robert Galvin won second place in the non-professional oil category with “Garden in August.”
• Roberto Pagan won first place in the non-professional works on paper category with “Anya.”
• Joan Park won first place in the professional pastels category with “Dimensions.”

Caldwell

• Henderson Cole won second place in the non-professional photography category with “Cruising to the Floating Market.”

Cedar Grove

• Jane Ballinger received an honorable mention in the professional watercolor category with “Spring Lake Visit.”
• Denise Fitzgerald received an honorable mention in the professional acrylic category with “Transitions.”
• Richard Hanifan won first place in the professional works on paper category with “Unforgotten.”

East Orange

• Glendora Simonson won first place in the professional craft category with “Leg Pommes, Poires et Fleurs.”

Fairfield

• Robert Szpila won second place in the professional photography category with “Spicels Creek Sunset.”
• Louise Woodcox won first place in the professional oil category with “Dockside.”

Glen Ridge

• Judyann Affronti won second place in the professional mixed media category with “Free Postage.”

Livingston

• Sue Greenwald won first place in the non-professional acrylic category with “Blue Balloon.”
• Maryann Guerriero won first place in the non-professional craft category with an untitled submission.
• Orlett W. Pearson won first place in the professional photography category with “Grand Central Station.”
• Rosann Toma won first place in the non-professional pastels category with “Walking on Sunshine.”
• Angela Wang received an honorable mention in the non-professional oil category with “Stop and Smell the Roses.”
• Sheila Writt won first place in the non-professional oil category with “Sailing.”

Montclair

• Sharon P. Allen received an honorable mention in the non-professional mixed media category with “Legacy.”
• Judy Beck won first place in the professional mixed media category with “Mexican Holiday.”
• Regan Caton won first place in the non-professional mixed media category with “Special Delivery NYC.”
• Mary Hadley won second place in the professional works on paper category with “Inquisitive Shai.”
• Susan Irby won first place in the non-professional watercolor category with “Hostas in Winter.”

Newark

• Karen Hillard Johnson won second place in the non-professional mixed media category with “Autumn Rhythm.”

Nutley

• Anthony Andolino won second place in the non-professional acrylic category with “Spring Mix.”
• Theresa Ruffo won first place in the professional watercolor category with “Peaceful Tides.”
• Marleen Valdes won second place in the professional watercolor category with “Dog Day Afternoon.”

Parsippany

• Chas Palminteri won second place in the professional pastels category with “Veiled Marble Woman.”

Roseland

• Michele Cicchetti won second place in the non-professional pastels category with “See God?”

South Orange

• Carol Ann Hicks won second place in the non-professional works on paper category with “Peony ‘Close Up.’ ”
• Cindy Wolf won second place in the professional acrylic category with “Enso.”

West Caldwell

• Jan Kamper won second place in the non-professional craft category with “Pops Chair.”
• Christine Mayer Elvin won second place in the professional oil category with “Wilsons.”
• Marcia Miele Branca won first place in the professional print category with “Portal.”

West Orange

• Linda Hollander won first place in the non-professional digital print category with “The Park.”
• Martta Kelly won first place in the non-professional photography category with “Blue Heron.”
• Sandra Voremberg won second place in the non-professional watercolor category with “End of Summer.”

The winning artists were recognized during an awards ceremony on Sept. 12 in the Robert O’Toole Community Center in Cedar Grove Park.

“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,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“This is an excellent event for us to promote the arts and inspire our residents to use their talents,” he added.

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