ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of paintings and textile designs by Cranford artist Dianna Strom in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Floral Impressions” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until June 1. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
“We are delighted to display Dianna Strom’s beautiful floral paintings and fabrics,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “I have had the pleasure of viewing Dianna’s creations a number of times in recent years. The quality of her work is well known in this area, and we are very glad to present it at the Pearl Street Gallery,”
Dianna Strom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles and Clothing from the University of Delaware. She has 13 years of experience in the fashion industry as assistant director of color and print design for a major textile company, Allied Chemical, and as a fabric stylist at Dan River, both in New York City. Diana has studied art with Rosemary Gatto in Cranford, Lito David and Fernando Catague at the Visual Arts Center in Summit, and with Carolyn Herbert at Union County College.
For the past 15 years, Ms. Strom has run a home decorating business creating custom pillow designs and floral watercolor paintings. She also creates and sells custom fabric artwear at juried craft shows including the Pierro Gallery in South Orange, and the 2003 Millburn Art Association Fall Craft Show. Dianna also sold her artwear at the 2001 Trunk Show at Henri Bendels in New York City, and has shown at the Cranford Artist Open Studio Tour and the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Member Show.
In 2009, Dianna won first place (textile design) and in 2011 a third place prize (watercolor painting) in the National Arts Program® Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families. Her husband, Dr. B. Ivan Strom, is a Professor of Astronomy at Union County College in Cranford.
Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Free on-site parking is available. Telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. E-mail to:culturalinfo@ucnj.org.
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