Stunningly professional portraits of five current and one former Township Committee members were unveiled for them and the public to see Tuesday night at the Township Committee meeting.
The works were the products of students of Kevin Murphy, founder and director of the Art Academy of Hillsborough. Students from the school two from Hillsborough and four from other communities took on his challenge.
The portraits come at no expense to the taxpayers and will become part of the public collection of the township. The materials, time and labor all were donated by the Art Academy and its students.
Jackie Ferrentino, of Basking Ridge, said she put the finishing touches on her portrait of Carl Suraci on Sunday, she said. A student at the Rhode Island School of Design, she concentrated on the painting while home in December.
Hillsborough’s Kathleen Fritz, who last year painted a portrait of a young Doris Duke for the township collection, captured Doug Tomson. Zoe Zylowski, also from Hillsborough, captured former Committeeman Anthony Ferrera.
Other paintings, paired with their subjects, are Grace Cheung (Basking Ridge) and Gloria McCauley; Erica Gavzy (Montgomery) and Robert Wagner; Jackie Lin (Bridgewater) and Frank DelCore.
The Hillsborough Public Art Collection is an extension of the annual art and photo exhibit hosted by the township Cultural Arts Commission.

