March was National Women’s History month, an annual celebration that highlights the contributions of women in our society. During a meeting held March 12th at the Cranford Community Center the Crane’s Ford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Cynthia A. Dawley, a Cranford artist, with the NSDAR Women in the Arts National Recognition Award.
The purpose of the Women in the Arts Recognition Award is to recognize and honor a woman who has made significant achievements at the community level in her artistic field. The recipient is expected to have contributed to her artistic field in an outstanding manner beyond mastery of technique. The NSDAR criteria for this award are strict, and not all nominations are successful.
Cindy Dawley started painting nearly 30 years ago and today she continues to paint in her father’s studio in Cranford. Her father, Joseph Dawley, was a renowned artist for which he received prestigious awards. Major collectors acquired his work including University of Notre Dame and the Mayo Clinic. Many of Cindy’s paintings depict scenes around Cranford and the surrounding towns. She has often been commissioned to paint a particular scene for clients.
At the DAR meeting Ms. Dawley presented a slide presentation of her art and spoke about her father and the influence he had on her becoming the artist she is today.
Also celebrated was the chapter’s 72nd Anniversary. Crane’s Ford Chapter was organized on March 7, 1944 in Cranford. The chapter is one of 48 DAR chapters in NJ.
(above, l-r) Carolyn Youngs, Program Chair, Mary Leonard, Regent & Cynthia Dawley.
