BY KAREN F. RILEY
Correspondent
PLUMSTED — When one thinks of art, galleries with pictures hanging on the walls usually come to mind.
The Plumsted Council for the Arts decided to close their season with just such an exhibition that opened on Oct. 4 at the Plumsted library. The exhibition will run through the end of October.
Instead of paintings by esteemed masters, however, photographs taken by area residents adorned the walls.
The council chose to end its season of artistic events with a photo contest in which entrants were asked to “do your best to capture what living here means to you.” More than 70 entries were received.
Photographs ranged from flowers to farm fields, ducks to deer, magnificent scenes of Oakford Lake in the fall to snow-covered buildings in town. Recent pictures of the stores along Main Street mingled with scenes of buildings under water during the 1978 flood that ravaged New Egypt. Some photographers used professional cameras with close-up lenses to tightly frame their shots; others submitted candid shots of family members taken with “point-and-shoot” automatic cameras.
Chairwoman Lori Parsells was clearly pleased with the range and number of entries received.
“We have had tremendous support from the public and local businesses, which we are very grateful for,” she said. “That’s the only way the council can function. We’ve been fortunate to have a terrific group of members who work very hard to make the council what it is.”
Photographs were judged by Cream Ridge resident and professional photographer June Taylor-Jackson and professional photographer Jeff Martin of Allentown.
The first-place winner was Amanda Roveda for her untitled photograph of a lakeside scene.
“Wet and Wild in Plumsted” by Audrey Magee took the second-place ribbon. It featured a woman spraying a young boy and two dogs with a garden hose.
Third place went to Pauline Orsag for her photograph of the Oakford Lake waterfall bathed in autumn color.
Those who turned out for the exhibition were invited to select a photograph for the “People’s Choice” award category. The winner was Denise Beverly for her “Spring Delight” photograph of a tulip.
Photographs will remain on display at the library throughout October. Several photographs will appear in a calendar that the council is preparing to be sold as a fund-raiser before the holidays.
In addition to the special events, the council tries to host a speaker for each of its monthly meetings, held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at 31 Main St.
For the December meeting, local musician and songwriter Robbie MacReynolds will be appearing. MacReynolds wrote a 9/11 tribute that he performed at the council’s talent show a few years ago.
The council is looking for volunteers and members to help with bookkeeping, grant writing, making telephone calls and fund-raising, as well as artists who can contribute their talents to the events being planned.
Feedback on the type of events and music that the community would like for next year’s summer concert series is always welcome.
In addition, the council is looking for a permanent home where meetings can be held, as well as workshops and special events.
The Council for the Arts can be reached at (609) 758-2241, ext. 144 or through the organization’s e-mail, at [email protected].