Arts & Entertainment
Bloomfield Artist Earns Award In Senior Citizens Juried Art Show
Irma Perez of Bloomfield received first place in the non-professional watercolor category for "Sunflowers."

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Almost three dozen Essex County artists, including one from Bloomfield, earned awards in the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show. This year’s contest was held virtually because of the coronavirus.
The winners included Irma Perez of Bloomfield, who received first place in the non-professional watercolor category for “Sunflowers.”
The Essex County Senior Art Show and Exhibit was open to all professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older. Artwork was judged on originality, composition, style, quality and creativity. Seniors whose artwork was awarded first place are automatically entered into the NJ Senior Citizens Art Show.
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“The talent displayed by our senior artists is truly amazing and the artwork is inspiring,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.
“Essex County has a thriving fine arts community and our Senior Art Show allows our older artists, both professionals and non-professionals, with an opportunity to display their work,” DiVincenzo said. “This is an excellent event for us to promote the arts and inspire our residents to use their talents.”
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See other artists honored as part of this year’s awards below. View the winning entries here.
Cedar Grove
- Jane Ballinger received second place in the professional watercolor category for “The Falls.”
- Rich Hanifan received second place in the non-professional drawing category for “Spring House.”
- Roseanne Martin received second place in the non-professional watercolor category for “By the Sea.”
- Marie Matarazzo received first place in the non-professional drawing category for “Mother with Baby.”
- Bill Oswald received first place in the non-professional sculpture category for “Watcher of the Woods.”
East Orange
- Winifred Boss received first place in the professional acrylic category for “Enchanted Forest.”
- Carol Jenkins received second place in the professional mixed media category for “Chaotic Calm.”
- Lester James Johnson received second place in the professional sculpture category for “Balls in a Cage 2.”
Fairfield
- Marion Jones received an honorable mention in the professional watercolor category for “Verona Paddle Boats.”
- Robert Szpila received first place in the professional photography category for “Presby.”
Livingston
- Richard DiGiovanna received second place in the professional pastel category for “Livingston Marsh.”
- Eleanor Halpern received an honorable mention in the non-professional watercolor category for “Untitled.”
- Joan Speare received first place in the non-professional oil category for “Orchids in the Wild.”Angela Wang received second place in the non-professional oil category for “Snorkeling in Galapagos.”
Maplewood
- Peter Astor received second place in the non-professional acrylic category for “Undertow.”
- Mary Franklin received first place in the non-professional acrylic category for “Hope.”
- Nikki Pusin received first place in the professional sculpture category for “Quurtle.”
- Arlene Silva received second place in the non-professional mixed media category for “The Wedding.”
- Jill Vondervor received first place in the professional watercolor category for “Atlantic City.”
Millburn
- Maya Bloom received first place in the professional craft category for “French Textile and Lavender.”
Montclair
- Sharron Allen received first place in the non-professional craft category for “Wall Hanging Bowl.”
- Miriam Sampson received first place in the non-professional photography category for “Abstraction.”
Parsippany
- Chas Palminteri received first place in the professional pastel category for “David.”
Roseland
- Maria Lupo received first place in the professional mixed media category for “Prophet’s Dream.”
South Orange
- Gail Gardella received second place in the professional oil category for “The Flower Station.”
- Annette Kushen received first place in the professional digital category for “Untitled.”
Verona
- Claudia Arici received first place in the non-professional mixed media category for “Heaven on Earth.”
West Caldwell
- Christine Elvin received first place in the professional oil category for “Road Last Taken.”
- Lynne Palmer received second place in the professional acrylic category for “Peony Power.”
West Orange
- Noah Chivian received second place in the non-professional photography category for “Copenhagen.”
- Sue Silberner received second place in the non-professional pastel category for “Springtime in Verona.”
- Steve Wien received first place in the non-professional pastel category for “Still Life with Avocados.”
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