Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
And there was plenty of beauty to behold at the Valley Arts Council’s “Delicious II” reception Thursday at Marco Pizzeria and Restaurant on New Haven Avenue in Derby.
There were realistic-looking paintings of plums, peaches, and apples as well as several tongue-in-cheek pieces of that evoked smiles from visitors.
“The artwork was an eclectic mix of oil, acrylic, and water color paintings, collages, and photographs adorning the walls. We were quite surprised at the quality of the work,” said Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo.
The judges had a difficult time selecting the Best in Show and Second Place winners, DiCarlo said.
“Everyone there participated in the People’s Choice balloting,” he said. “People’s Choice is a true testament that the piece worked. This year’s winner was Ansonia artist Greg Karas with his oil painting of Italian plums, done in the style of 17th century Flemish painters.
Naugatuck artist Martha Struber won Best in Show for what DiCarlo described as “an ultra-realistic rendition of a horizontal Coke bottle.”
Dr. Mark Previtt of New Haven took second place with his metal pizza wall sculpture, “Slice of Life.” Previtt has an orthodontic practice in Derby.
One of the judges was Tom Andrew, owner of Marco Pizzeria. He said since the exhibit contained such a variety of artwork “it made it hard to pick out the first and second place winners. One was just as nice as another.”
Andrew said, “I can’t express enough how interested the customers are in the art. The room we have is like a little gallery. People at lunch today were going over and looking at the art.”
He said the event not only benefited the restaurant by drawing attention to it but it also benefited “the arts council and the talented artists we have right here in the Valley.”
Shelton collage artist Dawn Kraemer helped DiCarlo hang the art work. She said she was impressed with the mix of media, paintings, photography and sculpture.
“There were some fun pieces and some serious pieces,” Kraemer said.
Andrew said he welcomes any local artists who would like to exhibit their work to use the room.
