Wall Showcases Students’ Beach-tag Art

AVALON – Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi unveiled a brand-new wall inside Borough Hall that honors students who have created artwork for annual beach tags in the community.
According to a release, the tags have been photographed and enlarged, showing all of the artwork of the students who have created art for beach tags dating back to 1999. The wall also includes space for artwork by future honorees.
“This beach tag art program conducted by the Avalon Elementary School is a legacy project in the borough,” stated Pagliughi. “We are very proud of the students whose artwork was chosen for the beach tags and this wall will honor past and future winners, of the beach tag art contest.”
The concept for the wall was developed by longtime borough employee Kimberly Mastriana. Photos of past beach tags were taken on the beach this spring by Avalon Business Administrator Scott Wahl. The wall was painted and framed by Dave Garafolo of the Avalon Department of Public Works.
All of the photos were converted to a small canvas picture and adorn the wall inside the foyer of Borough Hall. Pagliughi welcomed all of the honorees before the June 26 Borough Council meeting and unveiled the wall to the public.
The wall also includes a plaque that recognizes all of the winners of the annual beach tag art contest at the Avalon Elementary School. The very first beach tag art contest winner, Holly Stone, was recognized by Pagliughi at the event.
Past winners of the Avalon Beach Tag Art Contest are:
1999 – Holly Stone; 2000 – Fred Sylvester; 2001 – Logan Sykes; 2002 – Jennifer Perrotta; 2003 – Christopher Romeo; 2004 – Ashlynne Martorana; 2005 – Noel Wright; 2006 – Victoria Deever; 2007 – Kaitlin Bailey; 2008 – Chris Convery; 2009 – Michael Fazio; 2010 – Holly Schall; 2011 – Cara Heenan; 2012 – Kaitlin Bailey; 2013 – Matthew Metzler; 2014 – Zachary Willuski; 2015 – Lindsay Ettlinger; 2016 – Anna Bond; 2017 – Nynoshka Vazquez; 2018 – Aiden Foxx; 2019 – Dylan Villano