Luciano Felicio of Union Wins Honors at State Art Show

(above) “American Eagle” by Luciano Felicio received an Honorable Mention, Sculpture by a Non-Professional artist, at the 55th annual New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show. Courtesy.

Luciano Felicio Wins Honors at State Art Show

Twelve artists from Union County have been selected as award winners in the 55th annual New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show. Luciano Felicio of Union won an Honorable Mention, Sculpture by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “American Eagle”. The 2021 New Jersey Senior Art Show can be viewed online at njseniorarts.com.

The 2021 New Jersey Senior Art Show includes more than 200 artworks created by both professional and non-professional artists, ages 60 and older, from 15 counties across the state. It is co-sponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Mercer County’s Division of Culture & Heritage, and is funded by the Council on the Arts with additional support from Mercer County and the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Union County’s annual Senior Art Exhibit is a project of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The 2021 Union County Exhibit is on view at ucnj.org/senior-art.

As the culmination of county-based senior art shows held this year, the New Jersey Senior Art Show features every artwork that was awarded first-place at the county level in their respective categories. The New Jersey show was juried by art experts Lynn Lymere, Aubrey Kaufmann and Martha Press.

The Union County awardees are:

  • Eileen Bonacci (Berkeley Heights) – Best in Show by a Professional; and 1st Place, Oil by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Day at the Beach”
  • Tina Berlin (Scotch Plains) – 1st Place, Acrylic by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Painted Girl”
  • Joe Manzella (Cranford) – 2nd Place, Digital Art by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Many Paths – One Destination”
  • Anne Castellano (Cranford) – 2nd Place, Pastel by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “The Cupcake Dog”
  • Betsy Fabricant (Elizabeth) – 3rd Place, Craft by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Covered Bridge, Williamsville, Vermont”
  • Natalie Gregorio (Elizabeth) – 3rd Place, Photography by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Sunflower Sunset”
  • Johnnye Hansford (Plainfield) – Honorable Mention, Craft by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Natural Sinamay and Purple Fascinator”
  • Cheryl Payne (Hillside) – Honorable Mention, Mixed Media by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Women in Their Seasons of Grace”
  • Indira Govindan (Springfield) – Honorable Mention, Mixed Media by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “World versus Corona”
  • Janice Metzger (Westfield) – Honorable Mention, Pastel by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Birdsong”
  • Paul Lachenauer (Cranford) – Honorable Mention, Photography by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Liberty State Park”
  • Luciano Felicio (Union) – Honorable Mention, Sculpture by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “American Eagle”