Monmouth County seniors rewarded for artistic talents

Winners of the 2007 Monmouth County Senior Citizen Juried Art Contest and Exhibition were honored at an artists' reception and awards ceremony July 18 at Monmouth County Library Headquarters, located at 125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan.

During the ceremony, Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton, Human Services Director Lynn Miller, and Office on Aging Executive Director John Wanat awarded certificates of appreciation to all the participating artists, according to a Monmouth County press release.

"It gives me great pleasure to recognize these very talented artists," Clifton said. "Each artist has a passion for art and his or her chosen artistic medium. The quality of the work is outstanding and amazing."

Nancy Hirsch, Bob Mataranglo and Robert O'Connor, all of whom serve on the Monmouth County Arts Council, judged the contest, which had nine categories. Winners in each category received first-, second- and third-place prizes as well as honorable-mention ribbons.

The Best in Show prizes were presented to Ruth Slater, a nonprofessional artist from Marlboro who submitted a watercolor, and Joan Wallace, a professional artist from Manasquan who also submitted a watercolor.

In the nonprofessional acrylic category, first place was awarded to Michael Ricci of Manasquan; second place went to Charlotte Levitan of Allentown; and honorable mentions were given to Joseph Alfieri of Bradley Beach, Edward G. Demerest of Aberdeen, and Eleanor Malland of the Belford section of Middletown. In the professional acrylic category, first place went to Dorothy Lawrence of the Morganville section of Marlboro, second place was given to Avram Shapiro of the Adelphia section of Howell, and third place went to Dr. Barbara Clarke Egypt of Sea Bright. Arthur Wyman Potts of Manasquan received an honorable mention.

First place in the nonprofessional drawing category went to Lorraine Allen of Marlboro. Second place in that category went to Shirley Cohen of Marlboro, while third place was awarded to Sandra J. Fornino of Neptune. An honorable mention was also given to Paul Tartamella of Tinton Falls. First place in the professional drawing category went to Miguel A. Figueras of Atlantic Highlands, and second place went to Kenneth L. Klohn of West Long Branch.

In the professional mixed-media category, first place was given to Stephen W. Slomko of Farmingdale.

In the nonprofessional oil category, first place was awarded to Dimant Arkadi of Freehold Township, second place went to Judy O' Connor of Keyport, and third place went to Guido Guazzoni of Wayside, with an honorable mention going to Helene M. Schroeder of Manalapan. First place in the professional oil category went to Edwin R. Ahlstrom of Neptune. Second place was awarded to Mildred Ostowitz of Manalapan, with third place going to Roberta Carter Clark of Little Silver. Honorable mentions went to Robert Herbert of Neptune, and Michael J. McCrink of Red Bank.

First place in the nonprofessional pastel category went to Esther Greenberg of Marlboro, while second place was awarded to Ruth Birnbaum of Morganville, and third place went to Valerie Rigazio of Freehold Township. Sharon Steinhorn of Marlboro received an honorable mention.

Elizabeth DeAngelis of the Lincroft section of Middletown won first place in the professional pastel category.

In the nonprofessional photography category, first place was awarded to Arnold Hirsch of Freehold Township, second place went to Lynne Alfieri of Bradley Beach, and third place went to Myron C. Weinstein of Millstone, with honorable mentions going to Anthony Baldessari of Aberdeen, Jerry Horowitz of Marlboro, and John O'Connell of Farmingdale. First place in the professional photography category went to Michael Menendez of Freehold Township, while Judith A. Mugrace of Eatontown was awarded second place.

First place in the nonprofessional sculpture category went to Michael Ferrara of West Keansburg, while first place in the professional sculpture category went to Paul Pugliese of Long Branch.

In the nonprofessional watercolor category, Ruth Slater of Marlboro won first place, Edythe Carter of Red Bank won second place, and Jeanette Slomack of Freehold Township won third place. Honorable mentions went to Patricia Ho of Marlboro, and Barbara Lomasson of Long Branch. In the professional watercolor category, first place went to Joan Wallace of Manasquan, second place was awarded to Jean G. Larson of Farmingdale, and third place went to Mona Kirk of Manasquan. Honorable mentions went to Beverly S. Lane of Spring Lake Heights, Louis Rivera of Atlantic Highlands, and Grace Schultz of Manalapan.

The winning artwork is on display at library headquarters until July 31. Photographs of the winning artwork are posted on the county's Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com/aging.

First-place winners from each of the nine categories will go on to compete in the N.J. Association of Area Agencies on Aging State Senior Citizens annual juried art contest and exhibition, which will be held in September at the Hunterdon County Complex in Flemington.