Berkeley Heights Local Wins Award For Artwork

Berkeley Heights, NJ - A Berkeley Heights local is among the Union County employees and their family who won an award for their art work.

A sampling of 17 pieces from among the 149 creations judged at the recent 15th annual “National Arts Program Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families" are on display through July 13 in the Freeholders Gallery.

The gallery is located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, in Elizabeth. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.weekdays.

The exhibit and contest is a result of a partnership with the National Arts Program Foundation which provides prize money and valuable support to display the work of talented artists.

Listed are the award-winning employee artists (or their family members) and the awards they won:

• Berkeley Heights: Leslie Kepner (Professional, Honorable Mention). Edison: Richa Wadhawan (Second Place and Art Education Award, Teen 13-18). 
• Clark: Isabella Anastasatos (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); Ryan Frees (First Place, Amateur); George Valladares (Honorable Mention, Amateur,). 
• Clifton: Patzy Gutierrez (First Place, Teen 13-18). Cranford: Christina Barlik (Third Place, Teen 13-18); 
• Elizabeth: Brianna & Elianna Borga (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Natalie Gregorio (Second Place, Intermediate, returned award money back to program); Shane Rhodes (Second Place, Youth 12 and Under); Dario Scholis (Third Place, Professional). 
• Freeland: Ali McKittrick (First Place, Intermediate); Seyona McKittrick (Third Place, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Hillsborough: James Caratozzolo (Second Place, Amateur). 
• Martinsville: Kayla Stasil (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Old Bridge: Allana McQueen (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). 
• Phillipsburg: Angelina Saggese (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). 
• Plainfield: Raymond Morgan (Honorable Mention, Intermediate).
• Rahway: Arianna Lespinasse (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Danni Newbury (Honorable Mention, Intermediate). 
• Roselle: Judith White (Honorable Mention, Professional). 
• Roselle Park: Mario Rodriguez (Third Place, Intermediate). 
• Scotch Plains: Diego A. Otero (First Place, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Somerset: Tina Nummela (Third Place, Amateur). 
• Summit: Agnieszka Solawa (Second Place, Professional).
• Westfield: Richard Earl (First Place, Professional); Michael Endy (Best of Show, Professional).

Additional support for this event was provided by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Exhibits at the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For more information about this exhibit and other programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711. Or send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org

(Image via Shutterstock)