-By Phil Orlandella
Long time Nazzaro Art Instructor Josephine Lepore surrounded by some of her prize pupils
Over 40 boys and girls ages 6-14, all members of the Nazzaro Community Center participated in an award ceremonystemming from a month long artwork contest held in conjunction with the Public Action for the Arts and Education agency.
Each Participant was given a small piece of plywood, donated by Jim Shampine of SPS Construction, treated it with a base coat of paint and then adorned it with a piece of artwork and an inspirational quote and a final last coat of glaze and hung on a wall in the Center’s drop in area.
Prizes were given in four age categories as well as one overall honorable mention to Alexis Scalia.
Winners 6-7 year olds: 1st Jenna Pittorre, 2nd Maria Perez, 3rd Michael Buttiri.
Winners 8-9 year olds: 1st Lucy Edelstein, 2nd Griffin Black, 3rd Antonio Romano.
Winners 10-11 year olds: 1st Nikki Saitta, 2nd Danielle Sheehan, 3rd Wesler Dolcine.
Winners 12 and up: 1st Christopher Troiano, 2nd Samantha O’Brien, 3rd Alena Coppola.
Burger King gift certificates were given to all other participants.
Judging the contest were PAAE members, longtime supporters of the Center’s art program.
The Nazzaro center “wall of quotesâ€
Art Director for the Center Josephine Lepore presided over the award ceremony. She also announced that the next art project would be an oil on canvas project with a similar process of determining the winners.
Prizes will include gift certificates to Abercrombie and Fitch, two Red Sox tickets and professional sports equipment.