An all-virtual format did not deter 58 Camden County senior artists from submitting their work to the Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission’s 2020 Senior Citizens Juried Art Contest and Exhibition. Unlike prior years, the 2020 event is occurring virtually, due to COVID-19 concerns and social distancing restrictions.
View the virtual art gallery here
“This is a great opportunity for our seniors to share their talents with the county,” said Freeholder Melinda Kane, liaison to the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission. “We have some amazing senior artists in Camden County and this is their chance to have their works viewed and appreciated by a larger audience.”
County residents age 60 and older, at any level of skill or experience, were invited to participate, including amateurs and non-professionals as well as working artists. Categories of work include acrylic painting; craft; digital art; mixed media; oil painting; pastel; print; photography; sculpture; watercolor; and works on paper (drawing).
Artists completed an online form and submitted digital images, which were adjudicated by an independent panel of professional artists. First place winners in all categories at the County level will advance to compete at the state level in the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show, also to be held virtually, in fall 2020.
First place winners are Robin Brownfield of Collingswood, Non-professional, Craft; Bonnie Burbank of Cherry Hill, Non-professional, Mixed Media; Henry J. Cummings of Laurel Springs, Professional, Sculpture; Peter Ehlinger of Haddonfield, Professional, Water Color; Carol Gooberman of Haddonfield, Professional, Oil Painting; Nancy Schmidt, Sicklerville, Professional, Mixed Media; Gerard Iannelli of Haddon Heights, Non-professional, Oil Painting; William Lane of Haddonfield, Non-professional, Watercolor; Michael Leathem of Cherry Hill, Non-professional, Works on Paper; Jay Miller of Voorhees, Non-professional, Acrylic Painting; Richard Montemurro of Runnemede, Professional, Digital Art; Annette Rinker of Waterford Township, Professional, Print; Bonnie Rovere of Voorhees, Professional, Photography; Janet Brenda Sellers of Pine Hill, Professional, Acrylic Painting; Howard Shivers of Haddonfield, Non-professional, Pastel; Riccardo Veggian of Laurel Springs, Professional, Works on Paper; and Rita Wood of Waterford Township, Non-professional, Photography.
The Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission, founded in 1972, recognizes the role of the arts and local history in making our communities dynamic places to live and work. The Commission was established by the Board of Freeholders to act as the designated agency in Camden County to receive and administer the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Local Arts Program and the New Jersey Historical Commission County History Partnership Program.