One of the main events at the Romeo Peach Festival is the Thumb Area Artists’ Exhibition presented by the Romeo Guild of Art. That exhibit is not the only one the guild sponsors. It presents other ones like the show entitled "Art Bridges the Generation Gap," which took place on April 18, 1969 at the Romeo Youth Center. This is the subject of this week's photo.
The April 17, 1969 issue of The Romeo Observer discussed the exhibition in more detail. Specifically, the show was sponsored by the Romeo Guild of Art, and it featured sculpture, oils, water colors, mixed media, and crafts by Romeo Junior High and St. Clement students as well as Guild members.
Mike Church - head of the division of cultural activities of the University of Michigan Extension Service - judged the adult categories. The winning entry would be displayed at the Ann Arbor Regional Conference along with other winners from all over Michigan in July.
The Observer revealed the winners from the "Art Bridges the Generation Gap" show on the front cover of its April 24 issue. One of them was Velma Sadaj seen in the photo above standing next to her work. She was a Romeo Guild of Art member. Her oil painting Country Changing, which shows some of the interpace works on Powell Road - took Best in Show. She also won first place in the mixed media adult division with a piece called Vino.
As a result, her winning piece was to be displayed at that year's Ann Arbor Regional Conference.
Good for Velma! I'm sure she would have felt proud. Sadly, she passed away a few years later in 1973.
Nonetheless, the Romeo Guild of Art still lives on with its various art exhibitions including the one at the Peach Festival.
To learn more about Velma Sadaj and the Romeo Guild of Art, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890.
Source: The Romeo Observer, April 17, 1969, p.3-A, April 24, 1969, p.1-A, and August 2, 1973 p.2-A