12x24" oil on canvas
Same as last year, the show was divided into adult and student categories, and just like last year, some the student work was really impressive. But the star of this year's show was last year’s grand prize winner from the student category, Gabrielle Fiorillo - she was commissioned by the Cultural Arts Commission to paint a portrait for the township's Public Art Collection. When the portrait was unveiled last night, it was hard to believe that this was the work of the 17 year old student standing next to it, it was that well done. It was a beautifully painted portrait of Hillsborough resident Anna Case, daughter of a South Branch blacksmith, who in the early 1900's, rose to become a star at the Metropolitan Opera, a best-selling Edison recording artist, an in-demand concert performer, and a pioneer in both radio and motion pictures. (I plagiarized that bit from Arts Commission chairman Greg Gillette who hosted the event last night).
The Hillsborough Art Show gets better every year, and when some of these students start entering in the adult category, I could be in trouble!
