Residents compete in 55th annual art show

VERNON — The Highland Lakes “salute to the arts” came off smoothly and without a hitch as hundreds of residents and guests enjoyed both the professional exhibition and the yearly resident’s art competition.

The events marked the 55th Annual Highland Lakes Art Show.

The theme for this year’s show included the 200th anniversary of the creation of The Star Spangled Banner, the most iconic of American symbols – the national anthem — by lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key.

The Sunday presentation was begun with all those present singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge of allegiance.

Not only was the theme carried through in the amateur division, but in the professional exhibition as well, with early paintings by world-renowned artist Philip Pearlstein. His paintings included four scenes that the artist created while he served in the Army during World War II.

Mary Ann Mastrangelo was the volunteer chairwoman of this special recurring community presentation.