HAC hosts ‘Downtown Hammonton’ themed show

The Hammonton Arts Center hosted their monthly awards event on January 16. This month’s exhibit was sponsored by MainStreet Hammonton. Many community members and artists attended the event to appreciate the impressive artwork on display.

There were two categories: one in photography, and one in “2D” art. Submissions in each category needed to be relevant to Downtown Hammonton.

Later in the evening, Hammonton Arts Center President D.J. Haslett presented the winning artists with their prize. Edward Garvey won first place in the “2D” category for his very detailed oil painting, “El Mariachi Nuevo Loco.” Brenda Ruth won first place in the photography category for her photo, “Hammonton Water Tower.”

Haslett thanked MainStreet for sponsoring the exhibit and reminded attendees that the Arts Center is a proud member of the MainStreet program. The Hammonton Arts Center welcomes anyone to stop by for their next monthly show, “Food and Drink,” with a reception on Thursday, February 20 at 5 p.m. Interested artists can submit their work from January 25 to February 1 to be featured in the next show. The Hammonton Arts Center is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Below is a list of all of the winners, along with the judge’s remarks.

2D: First Place Edward Garvey, “El Mariachi Nuevo Loco,” Oil-Nice composition. Lots of interesting details that allow the viewers to see all of the interesting stories captured in a moment of time; Second Place Stephen Tullio, “10 S. 2nd St. 2021,” Oil-Nice perspective.

Good use of color. I love the variation of colors in the shadows. It brings life to the painting; Third Place Cathy DeMarco, “My Studio Space,” Digital Painting-Good composition. Nice contrast between light and dark. The geometric patterns captured don’t pull focus from the figure in the window; Hon. Men. Mike McGrane, Watercolor, “Hammonton Water Tower”; Hon. Men. Anne McManus, Watercolor, “Coffee With a Friend”; Hon. Men. Betty Domenico, “The Gazette,” Preliminary Drawing, Graphite on Paper

PHOTOGRAPHY: First Place Brenda Ruth, “Hammonton Water Tower”-Beautiful color. Nice composition. I really like the scale of the water tower dwarfing the building in the foreground; Second Place Charles Branigan, “Back Alley”-Love the angle of the image. All of the lines direct the viewer inward. Good balance of light and shadow; Third Place Donna Mae Bruno, “Funky Cow’s Reindeer”-The lights really pop against the dark background. Classic composition; Hon. Men. Leslie LoSasso, “Bird’s Eye View—Artist Studio Window”; Hon. Men. D. J. Haslett, “Down on the Corner”; Hon. Men. Joseph Bruno, Downtown Tree Lighting.