“The Mushroom Forest” by Ron Morella features characters from “Alice in Wonderland.” It won first place in the non-professional digital art category at the Gloucester County Senior Citizen Art Show Awards.
Talent and creativity do not lose their importance in older artists; on the contrary, they can even be increased by the wisdom of age and life experience.
This was evident in the artwork on display at this year’s Gloucester County Senior Citizen Art Show, which runs through Friday.
“I was impressed by all the different genres,” said Renee Post, executive director of communications at Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ), as she looked at some of the 44 entries on the mezzanine walls of the College Center.
“So many seniors participated and their talent was recognized here.”
“I really enjoyed the art exhibit,” noted Alysa Serrano, who participated in RCSJ’s Three Plus One program and will graduate from Rowan University in December with a bachelor’s degree in applied professional communication.
“My favorite painting is the heron painting,” she added, referring to Merrilee Chappell’s “Scarlett O’Heron,” a work that focuses on the beaks, eyes and feathers of four herons, which won first prize in the non-professional oil painting category.
Serrano is interning in the marketing and communications department at Rowan’s Deptford campus this summer, and one of her tasks was to write a press release about the art exhibition’s awards ceremony on August 7.
“It was a great group,” Serrano recalled. “Many spouses supported their partners.”
The county’s Cultural and Historic Preservation Commission at RCSJ hosted the ceremony to recognize the artistic achievements of local seniors. County Commissioner and Senior Citizens’ Representative Jim Jefferson thanked the artists for their contributions.
“Today is about honoring our winners,” he noted, “so thank you to everyone who participated and gave their time and talents to this great ceremony.”
Erika Gardner, director of the Cultural and Heritage Commission, built the exhibit with the help of her assistant De’Von Downes, installed it on the mezzanine and promoted it through social media. She is thrilled with how the exhibit has grown each year since its launch in 2020.
“I’m always happy when our group grows with a few new faces each year,” she noted. “It’s also great to see the individual participants each year and watch them develop as artists. This year we had 44 participants and last year we had 37 participants.”
“They are allowed to submit two pieces of art for the annual exhibition that have been created in the last three years,” Gardner explained of the artists. “Because this is more of a celebration of the art created by the county’s seniors, we have never turned down a piece of art. It is very important to offer this service to our older community members…
“I have spoken to some participating artists who were encouraged to try a new medium or style because of what they saw at previous exhibitions.”
Gardner said participating in the state fair also gives participants a sense of pride in both their work and themselves, “which I think is of great value to our seniors,” she added.
This year, entrants won prizes in various categories based on their medium and skill level, whether professional or non-professional. All entries had to have been created by people over 60 living in the county.
Winners included Nailini Jain of Clayton; Rich Gess of Glassboro; Jane Mayer of Mantua; Kathleen Turner, Edla DeFay, Leda Manfre, Richard Hughes, Joan Boarts, Sal Clark Massimino and Eileen Ziegler of Mullica Hill; Jane Mack, Janet Kalapos and Charlotte Ryan of Pitman; Nicholas Grassia, Frank Stauss, Linda Silver, Marie Fickenscher and Donna Turner of Sewell; Patricia Acton and Nancie Merritt of Swedesboro; Jan Narducci, Marc Narducci and Catherine Root of Turnersville; Cathy Matos, Carlos Matos and Mary Stauss of Washington Township; Guillermina Martin, Cass Vitale, Guy DiGiugno, Ron Morella, Gabriele Villa, Merrilee Chappell, Barbara Wright, Amelia Valentino and Diane Sweeney, all of West Deptford; James George of Woodbury; and Sharon Coyle, Nancy Rodney, Patricia Acton, Annemarie Pondo, Rekha Chandra, Carol Schell and Myra Gross of Williamstown.
Many winners were repeat offenders, returning to the Gloucester County Senior Citizen Art Show each year to not only showcase their talents but also share their successes with community members and other participants.
The New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show is held in October and all first place winners of the County Art Show are nominated and have the opportunity to be ranked at the state level.
“I’m always really proud when I send this stuff to the state and get an email back saying that some of our artists have applied for the state fair,” Gardner said.
To see all participants’ artwork, visit the RCSJ Gloucester Campus College Center before August 30. For information about participating in next year’s event, contact Erika Gardner at [email protected].
“Scarlett O’Heron” by Merrilee Chappell depicts the beaks, eyes and feathers of four herons in great detail. It won first place in the non-professional oil painting category at the Gloucester County Senior Citizen Art Show.
“Riverton” by Barbara Wright is a beautiful depiction of sailboats from the Riverton Yacht Club preparing for a peaceful cruise on the Delaware River. It won second place in the non-professional oil painting category at the Gloucester County Senior Citizen Art Show awards ceremony.
