Union County Employee Artists Show Work At Freeholders Gallery

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a selection of prize-winning art work by Union County employees and their family members is on display through July 15 in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, in Elizabeth. The gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

The art display presents a sampling of pieces from among the 121 creations judged at the recent 13th annual “National Arts Program Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families.” The exhibit and contest is a partnership with the National Arts Program Foundation which provides prize money and valuable support to display the work of talented artists.

“The artistic talent of our Union County employees and their family members is very impressive,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “We have artists who excel in painting, photography and other visual arts, and we are proud to put their work on display. We thank the National Arts Program Foundation and Elizabethtown Gas Company for hosting the annual awards reception and providing gallery space for the original exhibit.”

Listed alphabetically by town are all the award-winning employee artists (or their family members) and the awards they won at the original exhibit and contest. Not all of the award-winning pieces are able to be displayed at the Freeholders Gallery exhibit.

• Clark: Tegan Frees (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Cranford: Kelly Capasso (First Place, Teen 13-18); Angelina Spricigo (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); and Dianna Strom (Third Place, Intermediate). 
• Edison: Ruth Brown, (Third Place, Professional); Richa Wadhawan (Third Place, Youth 12 and Under); and Rishabh Wadhawan (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Elizabeth: Brianna Borga (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Elianna Borga (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Shane Rhodes (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under) and Dario Scholis (Honorable Mention, Professional). 
• Hillsborough:James Caratozzolo (Honorable Mention, Amateur). 
• Jackson: Grace Hagemann (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Kenilworth: Matthew DiDonato (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Linden: Angelito David (First Place, Professional); Donna Farrell (Second Place, Amateur); Lauren Maldonado (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Christine Marti-Millward (First Place, Youth 12 and Under); Adrianna Rendon (Third Place, Teen 13-18);Victoria Rendon (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); and Charlene Rieger-Velli (Honorable Mention, Intermediate). 
• Martinsville: Kayla Stasil (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under).
• North Bergen: Gabriella Marino (Second Place, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Old Bridge: Allana McQueen (Second Place, Youth 12 and Under).
•  Phillipsburg: Angelina Saggese (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). 
• Plainfield: Faith Williamson (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under).
• Port Redding: Jeffrey Kubu (Best in Show, Professional). 
• Rahway: Jeremy Betros (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under) and Gabriella Lynch (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under).
• Roselle Park: Kennedy Taveras (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Miranda Taveras (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under) and Sophia Taveras (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Scotch Plains: Charles Rubin (Honorable Mention, Intermediate). 
• Somerset: Tiina Nummela (Second Place, Intermediate). 
• Springfield: Ross Bergen (Honorable Mention, Amateur). 
• Summit: Patzy Gutierrez (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). 
• Teaneck: Deborah Pires (Honorable Mention, Intermediate). 
• Union: Kathleen Kakaletris (Third Place, Amateur).
• Wall: Carolyn Herbert (Honorable Mention, Professional); Michael Herbert (First Place, Amateur) and Mikayla Herbert (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). 
• Westfield: Richard Earl (Second Place, Professional); Jackson Gagliardi (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Bruce Long (First Place, Intermediate); Jimmy McCutcheon (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); Nereida Paparella (Honorable Mention, Amateur); Sabrina Paparella (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18); and Victoria Paparella (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18).

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