The 4th Annual Union City Artist Awards

The 4th Annual Union City Artist Awards 

Classy Fun-filled Affair

The City of Union City’s Fourth Annual Union City Artist Awards held on Friday, June 19, 2015 at the William V. Musto Cultural Center in Union City, New Jersey was a classy fun-filled affair.  From the moment you approached the “museum” you knew you were in for a glorious night.  Outside the Center, attendees were greeted by several classic cars, a red carpet, and underneath a large white tent, theatrical lighting and killer dance music courtesy of a tall well-clad leading man type good looking DJ.  This is the most anticipated and most important art event held in the City every year... and probably the State.  Each year, the event brings together a who's who from the arts community.  If you're an artist, this is the place to be seen.

The awards honored some of the most talented and dedicated artists from all disciplines who have contributed to Union City's artistic fabric, and some honorees have succeeded at an international level.  

Inside, refreshments were served to the music of Bob DeBenedette.  Partygoers mingled and shared laughs.  The spirits were very high in anticipation of the awards ceremony themselves.  There were several politicians present and took turns in addressing the eager standing-room only crowd.  Also speaking were he City Historian, Gerard Karabin; City Poet Laureate, Jorge Luis Seco, and City Art Curator, Amado Mora.  Each spoke eloquently in explaining the importance of the arts in the community.

Commissioner of Public Affairs and also artist, Lucio Fernandez served as Master of Ceremony, and accompanying him as presenters were Taylor Schramm and Liliana Barrera.  However, the night belonged to the dozen honorees.  They varied from photographers to fashion designes to arts educators, but all were very accomplished individuals with an extensive list of credentials.  

(Commissioner Lucio Fernandez, Don Oriolo, and Donald Oriolo)

Highlights of the evening were posthumous presentations to Joseph “Joe” Oriolo and Michele Savoia of House of Savoia.  Joseph “Joe” Oriolo was an American cartoon animator, writer, director and producer, known as the co-creator of Casper the Friendly Ghost and the creator of the Felix the Cat TV series.  Joe’s son, Don Oriolo accompanied by grandson Donald, accepted on behalf of his father Joseph "Joe" Oriolo who passed away in 1985. After receiving the honor, Don pulled out a custom Felix the Cat guitar and sang the TV series’ theme song to an appreciative audience.  Later he presented to Commissioner Fernandez the guitar and a picture of his dad sitting at a drafting table surrounded by his two characters Casper and Felix the Cat.

(Michele Savoia)

Michele Savoia of House of Savoia was a renowned fashion designer who passed away in February 2014 in a tragic accident on The Hudson River in New York City. Savoia was a  MASTER TAILOR of MENSWEAR,  and a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. 

(Virginia Hildebrant & Steven Zivkovic)

Friends Virginia Hildebrant and Steven Zivkovic accepted the award on behalf on of Gabriella Savoia for her dad, Michele Savoia of House of Savoia.  The presentation was very moving due to the fact the City had wanted to honor him prior to his untimely death.

(Ray Machado & His Group)

Following the awards ceremony the packed  house danced the night away to the electrifying beats of Ray Machado & His Group. This was a most memorable evening, and having so many artist under one roof made it all even more special.

The honorees were:

Charles Bernard Murray

Ray Machado Gomez

Mouhsine Idrissi Janati

Alex Rask

Giovanni Calabrese

Orlando del Rio

Ray O. Machado Cruz

Joseph D. Fiorenza Conklin

Mrs. Eleanor Yaschak

Elizabeth Ann McLaughlin

Joseph "Joe" Oriolo Accepted by his son Don Oriolo 

&

Michele Savoia of House of Savoia

Virginia Hildebrant and Steven Zivkovic accepted the award on behalf on of Gabriella Savoia for her dad, Michele Savoia

The 4th Annual Union City Artist Awards

The 4th Annual Union City Artist Awards 

(Union City, NJ)  The City of Union City, Mayor Brian P. Stack & Board of Commissioners will be hosting the Fourth Annual Union City Artist Awards on Friday, June 19, 2015 Red Carpet at 7:00 PM & Ceremony at 8:00 PM at the William V. Musto Cultural Center, 420 - 15th Street in Union City, New Jersey.  This is the most anticipated and most important art event held in the City every year... and the most elegant.  Every year, the event brings together a who's who from the arts community.  If you're an artist, this is the place to be seen.

The awards will honor the most talented and dedicated artists from all disciplines who have contributed to Union City's artistic fabric, some artists have succeeded at an international level.  The elegant red carpet event will feature live music by The Ray Machado Group; as well as an art exhibit by renowned artist, Ines Berges. 

Mayor Brian P. Stack said, “We are excited to host the fourth annual Union City Artist Awards, which will continue to demonstrate our City's great appreciation for our artists and our flourishing arts community.  This event will be both a celebration and showcase of the many contributions that artists have made to local culture.”

This will be an evening not to be missed!!!

The Union City Artist Awards

Friday, June 19, 2015

7:00 PM Red Carpet

8:00 PM Ceremony

William V. Musto Cultural Center

420 - 15th Street 

Union City, New Jersey 

Live Music

Refreshments

Dress to Impress

Free Admission

Grace Theatre Spring Gala

Benefit Gala to Support Performing Arts Youth Group

The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc., a not-for-profit youth based organization dedicated to providing free classes in the performing arts to children is celebrating it's Fifteenth Anniversary, and will be holding their annual Spring Benefit Gala on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 7:00 PM at The Graycliff, 122 Moonachie Avenue, Moonachie, New Jersey.  The Gala will feature live performances, delicious dinner, dance music, and a great time.  The organization will also be presenting Community Service Awards to individuals who have contributed to the betterment of the community as a whole.  

Donations for the Spring Benefit Gala are $100.00 per person and can be purchased by visiting: 

http://www.gracetheatre.com/annualspringbene.html

Now into its fifteenth year, The Grace Theatre provides free classes in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap/Rhythm, Folkloric Dance/Salsa, Flamenco, Singing, and Acting to children from Hudson County as well as free admission to professional performances to the students and their families. This school year alone, over four hundred students received free classes at the Grace Theatre.

 

The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc. has received much critical acclaim for its professional theatrical productions and is the premiere presenter of bilingual and Spanish language theatre in the State of New Jersey.  This past year, the Grace Theatre produced the play "Comfort" at Lincoln Center in NYC; the NoHu International Film Festival at the Tribeca Screening Room in NYC; the short film "SAL"; and received various awards, including the prestigious ACE Award as well as the ATI Award.  Most recently it produced the highly acclaimed documentary feature film "Bay of Pigs, Our Perspective".

 

The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, and donations are tax deductible.  Any contribution is greatly appreciated.  If unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please log on to:  www.GraceTheatre.com

Or mail a check or money order payable to:

The Grace Theatre Workshop

P.O. Box 4412

Union City, NJ 07087

For more information, please visit:  www.GraceTheatre.com 

 

Please support the arts and our children.  

It will undoubtedly be a wonderful evening.