Anthony Marraccini '92 - Distinguished Service to the Community Award 2006

Anthony Marraccini was born in Passaic, NJ and moved to the Easton area in 1975.  He graduated from Easton Area High School in 1989 and received an associate’s degree in fine arts from NCC in 1992.  His experience at NCC gave him the confidence to enroll in the Tyler School of Art at Temple University where he completed a BFA in painting in 1997.

Anthony started his own design company with a college friend who was a graphic designer.  They officially organized themselves as Esoterik, Inc.  Things started off slow and eventually he went back to working in the creative field.  Early in 2001, he decided to focus all his energy into Esoterik and freelancing.  When September 11^th happened, he found it necessary to focus more of his attention on his own artwork and what that meant to him.  His first project was working with ACE on the “Building Community” mural that is in the municipal parking lot on the 200 block of Northampton Street.  Shortly afterwards, he began teaching classes and painting at the Riverview Arts Center in Phillipsburg, NJ in exchange for studio space.  Anthony’s first work was in 2002 of an Afghanistan gentleman and his grandson.  They are standing in a refugee camp displaced by the bombing of the Taliban.  He also worked on a large construction piece for the Northampton County 250^th Anniversary juried show for which he received an honorable mention.

In 2003, Alice Kwiatkowski and Anthony took over Connexions Gallery, one of the most venerable art galleries in the Valley.  Connexions has become a strong presence in the art scene and downtown Easton overall.

Anthony is the vice president of the Easton Riverside Festival and the President of the Arts Community of Easton (ACE) since 2004.  He volunteers with the Heritage Day Committee, helped initiate Easton’s Main Street Program where he serves on the Design and Promotions committees.  He was also chair of PRIDE and steered it towards what it is today, the Easton Business Association (EBA).  Anthony also initiated and is the chair of Easton’s First Weekend event.