Rose Marrotte Art Show taking place in Columbia

COLUMBIA — The Beckish Senior Center will hold its 10th annual art show in honor of Rose Marrotte.

On June 24, the registration period for the show will open.

According to the Beckish Senior Center Director of Senior Services & Transportation Bernadette Derring, the categories for artwork include paintings, wood carvings and photography.

Derring said there will be first, second and third place awards per category, as well as a popular vote. Community members can visit the art reception anytime between June 24 and June 27 to vote on which artwork they believe is the best.

Derring explained the process of how anyone interested in showcasing their art can participate. “They’ll have to show up on Monday, June 24 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to register their artwork, and we’ll display it all week long. Then on Thursday, after the art reception and the awards, we will hand them back their pieces,” Derring said

Voters will write down their favorite number per art category on a piece of paper and place it into a box. Derring said, on Thursday, senior center staff will tally the votes and find a popular vote per category.

“I’m amazed at the talent that we have here in our small town. I’m just really looking forward to seeing what everyone has been working on; they put so much time, effort and talent into it, and when it’s finally able to be displayed in June, we all look forward to that,” Derring said. “We have some amazing talent here for the arts; the arts are growing in Columbia quite a bit.”

Derring added anyone is welcome, as long as they’re at least 18 years old.

According to Derring, the Rose Marrotte art show was started by the Marrotte family.

“Rose Marrotte was one of the founding seniors of the Columbia senior organization, and that was about 27 years ago, and she was one of our local artists,” Derring said.

After Marrotte died, the Marrotte family wanted to start an art show in her memory.