Marblehead artists converge on Abbot Hall for festival

MARBLEHEAD – The top artists from the Marblehead Festival of Arts were awarded Thursday night for their achievements and talent.It was the cream of the crop of artists who were awarded outside Abbot Hall. Ranging from painting to photography to the written word, all different types of art was on display.?It is awesome. It is very rewarding,” said Ilona Gelpey who won outstanding work in oil painting about winning. The Danvers native has been painting on and off for 10 years but has gotten serious about it in the last 3 years.Gelpey?s co-workers have been pushing the artist to enter the Marblehead Festival of the Arts for years and finally, this year, she listened. “They kept being like you have to do it. It is a big deal,” said Gelpey. “I have put many hours into it. It is great to know other people enjoy it. It doesn?t feel like work to me.”Gelpey was inspired artistically when she would go to different art museums and marvel at the works of art. “I would look at them and wonder how is that possible,” said Gelpey. Eventually, she picked up a pencil and started to draw. “I didn?t even know if I could. It just happened,” said Gelpey. It was her husband who convinced her to start painting. “He said, ?We know you can draw. Let?s see if you can paint,?” said Gelpey. “God gave me a gift.”While some artists were new to the world of art, others have lived in it their whole lives. Artist Alexis Baliotis grew up around painting since her parents owned an art galley. The Marblehead native won outstanding in painting for a portrait. The portrait was of one of her close friends.This is the second year the 24 year old has been in the festival. “The entire town gets involved,” Baliotis said about what makes the festival special. “It shuts down for it.”Growing up around art, Baliotis views art more as something she has to do then a hobby. “It is like an itch you have to scratch,” said Baliotis. “It is something I have to do.”Marblehead native Lauren Nolhety won a $500 scholarship for her work in the performing arts. “I am so pleased to get this award,” she said.Thanks to the award the budding vocalist got to spend four days at Berklee College of Music enhancing her craft and even working with the vocal coach from the hit television show “American Idol.”?It was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” said Nolhety. “I am really happy I got the award.”Even artists who weren?t in the festival wanted to show off their work. Andrew Carr was showing off his portrait of Ted Kennedy. The portrait was denied entry into the festival because it was inches over the fixed dimensions. “It was just collecting dust in my studio so I thought I would show it off,” said Carr.The young artist who grew up in Salem studying his craft under the late Ken Herwitz wore a “Denied” sign around his neck. “I really want to be a local painter,” said Carr. “I was in New York for many years and wanted to come back here.”Carr has been in the festival in year prior and has even won best in show. “It is one of the higher end festivals around,” said Carr.While Carr was denied entry, he is not protesting the festival. “I am not out to get the festival,” said Carr. “I love the festival.”