PHOTOS: Art on the Avenue

The work of more than three dozen artists and crafters lined Bloomfield Avenue Saturday for the Caldwell Merchants Association's annual Art on the Avenue.

Awards were presented at the Winner's Circle on the Green for Best in Show ($500), as well as Awards of Excellence ($150), Awards of Merit ($50) and Honorable Mentions ($25). (See winnners below.)

Among the artists was Caldwell resident Brian Bromborsky, a 2001 graduate. This was the first Art on the Avenue for the illustrator who attended Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida and teaches kindergarten through eighth grade at Ann Street School in Newark. 

Bromborsky said his style ranges from subconscious to free flowing to representational. In addition to drawings, he displayed skateboards he designed as well as sculptures on Saturday.

The artist illustrated Shot Down Over Italy, by John Lanza, and is currently working on illustrating a children's book. 

Bromborsky said he studied at the studio of the , who was a major influence on his work and career path. 

"I was going to him since I was in the sixth grade through college," Bromborsky said. "I'm pretty much trying to do what he was doing."

Other artists from the Caldwells included Lisa Palombo, Elyssa Warner and Dave Basna of Caldwell, Steve Van Zandt, Carmel Bongiovanni, Christina Havens and Pat Flaherty of North Caldwell, and Janet Markman and Godfrey Racioppi of West Caldwell. 

Artists came from nearby towns such as Livingston, West Orange and Essex Fells, as well as around the state and New York and Pennsylvania.

Artwork was displayed by 16- to 21-year-old students from The Children's Institute in Verona. A painting of a cat by TCI student Danielle, a resident of Caldwell, was chosen for the Winner's Circle.

The Women's Club of Caldwell also sponsored a student art contest with local schools, with entries from kindergarteners through 12th graders. 

The show was judged by Anne Kullaf, a faculty member of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, the Hunterdon Museum of Art and the Center for Contemporary Art Museum, and Joel Tidey, who teaches life drawing and anatomy at the Joe Kubert School and The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. 

Volunteers lined the avenue selling 50/50 raffle tickets and helping out with the event, which stretched from the intersection of Bloomfield and Roseland avenues to Gould Place.

2012 Art on the Avenue Award Winners

Best in Show
Pat Flaherty, "Barns," Oil

Awards of Excellence
Lisa Budd, "Metro Bakery," Watercolor
Carmel Bongiovanni, "Collage," Paper

Awards of Merit
June Schott, "Fog #11," Watercolor
Steve Van Zandt, "Fire Escape," Photograph
Geofrey Racioppi, "Mountain Range," Oil 
Lisa Palombo, "Poppy," Acrylic

Honorable Mentions
Isabella Pizzano, "Beach," Paper
Daniella Clark, "Kitten," Acrylic
Wei Biao Yan, "Boats," Oil
Celeste Fonaco, "Black River Farm," Oil
Joseph Esposito, "Vintage," Photograph
Gretchen Prater, "Landscape," Watercolor