Page 4 • Wednesday , November 3 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Hammonton Arts Center celebrating 25th anniversary
ARTS , from Page 1 money . No place to go , but Kitty was renting a place on Orchard Street , so we went in and she wasn ’ t using the first floor . We painted . We cleaned up the first floor and we had our first reception . We had musicians there and it was a great turnout , and actually two of the musicians are going to play here today . They were there for the first reception , Stephen Tullio and Michael McGarvey ,” Domenico said .
Today the Hammonton Arts Center ( HAC ) has over 100 members and is now located at 10 S . Second Street . HAC celebrated its 25th anniversary on October 23 with more than 15 local artists showcasing artwork , musicians playing music and children making crafts .
“ This is the sixth place we ’ ve been in , so we hope someday some art loving person will donate a lot of money and get us a permanent building in Hammonton . That ’ s the next 25-year goal ,” Domenico said .
Cathy DeMarco , one of the founding members and first president of HAC , said she likes their current space .
“ I like the space we ’ re in now . It feels very city-like to me . It ’ s small , but I like it ,” DeMarco said .
During the celebration , De- Marco sold hand-painted scarves and illustrations .
Robin D ’ Adamo , the current vice president of HAC , has been a member for about 10 years .
“ I started here when they were over where Mary ’ s is . I started there their last year there then I was there the whole time over at the old fire house . I actually had a studio up there . Once I retired [ after teaching art for 18 years ], she [ Annette Rinker ] got me to be vice president ,” D ’ Adamo said .
D ’ Adamo woke up early on October 23 to help people set up for HAC ’ s 25th Anniversary Celebration . During the celebration , D ’ Adamo sold painted cigar boxes , which can be used to store money , jewelry and more . Sharon Coil , who was selling nature-themed paintings , said it ’ s wonderful that the HAC is celebrating its 25th year .
“ It ’ s been here for that many years and it has survived through everything including good-old
COVID ,” Coil said .
“ It ’ s really nice to have an outlet where you can come and display your art or learn about art and they have classes and they have an open studio , which I enjoy twice a month ,” Coil said .
Joseph Bruno , who does photography , has been a HAC member for more than 10 years . He joined HAC after he retired from law enforcement .
“ When I was president , I used to say that we are an incubator . We had quite a few artists that started out with us and now they have gone on to far bigger and better things — but they started out with us . We like to nurture artists ,” Bruno said .
Bruno , 65 , said he would like to see younger members at HAC .
“ I love it when we get young people in . They kind of mock us older guys , but it ’ s OK . They bring in fresh ideas . They bring in energy ,” Bruno said .
John Irwin , 51 , sold wood carvings and paintings during the 25th Anniversary Celebration .
“ I think I ’ m one of the youngest members there maybe . There are a lot of older people and they seem to enjoy the company a lot ,” Irwin said .
“ When new people come , they always bring new ideas which is a wonderful thing ,” Domenico said . She joined HAC when she was 52 years old and today she is 77 .
D . J . Haslett , a photographer , painter , poet and musician , has been a member of HAC for four years .
“ Every month we have a differ- See CENTER , Page 10