The Newton Art Association celebrated many of the city’s talented artists on Wednesday night with an awards ceremony and reception at the Cooper Center.

Guests included Mayor Marc Laredo and leaders from the New Art Center, and the guest presenter and juror was Joshua Jade, director of the Clark Gallery in Lincoln. Jade helped select the winners and honorable mentions from a vast array of creations, which can be seen hanging from the walls of the Cooper Center this month.

“This is my third time doing this. It’s one of my favorite things to do,” Jade said as he excitedly prepared to announce the winners.

There were winners, there were honorable mentions, and there was an atmosphere of appreciation for Newton’s dedication to the arts as the city starts a new year.

The Newton Art Association was formed by a small group of artists in 1949 and, in recent years, has expanded to encompass more than 200 members citywide. It’s sort of a collective. It’s sort of a collaboration. And it can be a cure for the loneliness found all-too-often in the art world.

“Artists tend to work in isolation with whatever they’re working on,” NAA Board President Judith Hurwitz said. “And people like to collaborate with each other. We have courses. We have our demos, we have demonstrations of art techniques.”

One example: An artist may create a masterpiece on canvas and not have a clue how to frame it. Another artist may be an expert in framing. So, the latter leads a workshop on framing, the former learns something new, and they both make new acquaintances in Newton’s art community.

The NAA also finds and secures spaces for exhibits, such as the Cooper Center, so artists can be seen by a much larger audience than if they showed their work alone.

And artists have to eat. Most artwork shown—NAA has six major exhibits a year—is for sale. Having more eyes on a piece of art makes it more likely to sell.

“I think the word here is the ecosystem,” Exhibitions Co-Chair Christina Yee said. “We want to create an ecosystem for the artists.”

Adding to that ecosystem this year, the organization is hosting small, in-person meet-ups.

“We call them a meet-and-mingle,” Hurwitz said. “So artists get together because, during the pandemic, everything was online, and now people are saying, ‘I want to meet people and be with a community.’ So we’re working on building this community.”

As things in the national and global zeitgeist get grim, Newton is getting artsier. Former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller elevated the arts and culture community throughout her eight-year tenure, and new Mayor Marc Laredo is awaiting approval for a whole new Arts & Culture Department, separating art from Parks and Recreation.

“We were so pleased that the mayor decided to create this department,” Hurwitz said. “If you put parks, recreation, art and culture all together, it doesn’t give you the same feeling as if you have a department specifically focusing on art and culture. So I think it’s going to make a difference, and Meryl (Kessler) is incredible. She’s been chosen by Mayor Laredo to lead the proposed  Arts & Culture department.

The NAA board sent a questionnaire to members asking what they’d like to see added to the NAA’s offerings, and this year’s programs are based on what members said. And smaller meetings was a popular request.

“Sometimes shows like this are a little intimidating because there are too many people,” Yee said, motioning to the crowds in the room. “I’m new to this, so I came in and I’m like, ‘I feel so lost. I don’t know where to begin. I don’t know what it’s doing for me.’ And so having a smaller group really helps. And on top of that, Judith is trying a lot of new things.”

The NAA offers scholarships to high school students interested in pursuing art. That’s just one way the organization helps the community, and Hurwitz and Yee want to see that community cooperation grow even more as the city leans into its creative edge.

“I would like to see Newton be the art and culture capital of Massachusetts,” Hurwitz said.

You can check out the exhibit from now through the end of the month at the Cooper Center for Active Living.

PHOTOS

“Sunlit Petals,” by Barbara Marder, was selected as a winner at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Joshua Jade, director of the Clark Gallery in Lincoln, presents awards at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

“Soaking it up,” by John N. Riccardi, was one of the winners at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

“A Garden in Brooklyn,” by Rochelle Acker, earned an honorable mention at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

“Thinking Outside the Box,” by Keith Tornheim, earned an honorable mention at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

“Yellow House,” by Kevin Dailor, earned an honorable mention at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

“Breathe, Believe, and Become,” by Vidya Shyamsundar, earned an honorable mention at the Newton Art Association awards reception on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle