Sparta - Hallways, the all purpose room and the library at Hilltop Country Day School were transformed into a spacious gallery for the 30th annual Art Exhibition and Sale. The reception on Friday, Oct. 12, was packed with patrons and many of the artists, including featured artist Rita Baragona of Knowlton Township. Kathy Prevete, one of the chairs, said Baragona was chosen because of her body of work and how charming and friendly she is. Prevete and her co-chairs, Nina Romano and Mitzi Brettler, explained in their ad journal they expanded the handmade jewelry and sculpture areas. Drawing and portfolio instructor at Blair Academy, Baragona has taught a number of Hilltop graduates. Her flower and garden paintings filled the foyer of the school. The show ad journal said: “Her floral paintings and oceans communicate the artist’s personal life-affirming connection with nature. Flowers unfold slowly, oceans change quickly and her color patterns are inviting.” Baragona and her husband, St. Clair Sullivan, paint in adjoining studios on their Warren County farm. In Art in America, Jed Perl wrote: “What a nature painter must do is to impose some human logic or private poetry on the natural world. By this measure, Baragona is a very interesting painter.” Other area artists in the show included Bennett Bean of Johnsonburg who presented not only one of his gilded pots, but also a painting. Thayer Hutchinson of Frelinghuysen was represented by a drawing and three paintings. Karen Klein who runs art classes at Art Magic in Stanhope, submitted dioramas to the show. Sullivan had five paintings in the show. A number of parents and friends of the school helped. The co-chairs listed the individuals and businesses they thanked: Andre’s Restaurant; Casa Bellisima; Krave Restaurant; Ronteco, Inc.; Mark McGee; Nan Katzenbach; Angela Menna-Bell; Mr. and Mrs. John Kovacs, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Dario Dollar; Mr. and Mrs. John Witte, Sr.; Mr. and Mrs. Ken Ernsting; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cramer; Cheddar Alley; Black Forest Restaurant; Jerry’s Seafood; Perona Farms; John Daly - Skylands Press; Weichert Realtors; Lisa Will; Target; Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Wilson; Henry Morgan; Mr. and Mrs. Terry Novak; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sellinger and Café Peierrot.