WESTFORD – The Parish Center for the Arts held its Westford Regional Art Event, an annual staple in the community for over 20 years.
The PCA invited Westford residents to submit their artwork for the WRAE to be entered into the competition and then presented at the event for the delight of the town. The PCA held the gala to present the submitted pieces on March 28 for the adult reception and March 29 for the children’s reception.
The gala and awards receptions for both the adult and children artists had live music, complimentary drinks and appetizers, and ended with an award ceremony announcing the first, second, third and honorable mentions of each art category.
Amateur and professional artists were welcomed to enter the competition in categories including oil, acrylic, drawing, pastel, water-based, computer-generated art, fiber art, metals and jewelry, mixed media, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
In previous years the WRAE has featured over 350 artists and has exhibited over 500 works of art. This event was a semi formal gala for guests of all ages to enjoy the WRAE submissions which were displayed from wall to wall in the PCA gallery.
Many category winners also attended the event including Margaret McWade who won first place in the metals and jewelry category. McWade is 98 years old and has been doing metal work since 1948. Art has been a big part of her life as she also paints, weaves baskets, paints porcelain, oil paints, watercolors and creates fiber art.
“I think [art] makes you more aware of your surroundings and things you see, you more aware of your contact with the basic things in life,” McWade said.
The event was also attended by Best in Show winners Gianna Lucrezia, in the Young Adult section for her drawing titled “Honey,” and Jim Ricca, in the Adult section for his oil painting “Kenna, Born of Fire.” (Pictured above).
Lucrezia said she turns to Pinterest for much of her inspiration being drawn to images that have a lot of fine details. Lucrezia is planning to go to UMass Lowell and continue to pursue art. She said that it felt really good to have won Best in Show and hopes that it inspires others.
“I hope it inspires others to draw and not give up, anyone can draw, it just takes time,” Lucrezia said.
Ricca, the other Best in Show winner, studied art in college but never pursued it and took a 40-year hiatus. He then began again right before the pandemic and has been painting constantly since. Ricca said that he likes making art pieces of people and that this particular subject intrigued him. He said that his piece was a combination of photography, AI modeling, and oil painting.
“The name Kenna actually translates to ‘born of fire’ and I just thought that the look she had looked very determined and that it was a suitable title,” Ricca said.
Ricca also won first place for another piece in the oil painting category and said that he was proud of his wins and very appreciative to have been considered among many other talented artists.
“It feels fantastic, there’s so many great people here that it feels great to be in good company and to still come out with a win,” Ricca said.
If you did not get a chance to attend either event, the pieces will be on display at the PCA through April 6.
