YOUNGSTOWN — What happens when you marry art and legally manufactured cannabis?

You get colorful and black-and-white pieces from people such as Cory Wright and Elisha Watts.

“I like black-and-gray realism, and also a little of everything to present,” Wright, 33, of Warren, said.

What Wright presented had paid artistic dividends, because he was the winner among more than 100 applicants from Ohio and the U.S. who entered an art contest earlier this year. He and Watts also were honored during an event Wednesday afternoon at Casa Di Canzonetta restaurant, 44 E. Federal St., downtown. It was formerly known as Bistro 1907. Watts, of Columbus, was runner-up.

Wright’s two pieces were a black-and-white rendition of an eagle and a lion, as well as a colored motif of a combination of flowers.

The two-hour gathering also was to celebrate the downtown corridor’s continued reopening amid numerous street closures and the May 28 natural gas explosion that destroyed the Realty Tower building next door, killing Chase Bank employee Akil Drake, 27, and causing the closure of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in which the restaurant is housed. In addition, the event celebrated Casa Di Canzonetta’s new menu.

The art competition was in conjunction with Riviera Creek, a 72,000-square-foot, high-tech facility in Youngstown that grows and manufactures legally regulated cannabis products. The business began about seven years ago, Brian Kessler, Riviera Creek’s board chairman, said.

Two of Wright’s pieces of art and one of Watts’ were displayed on Stambaugh limited edition premium tins from Riviera Creek.

Wright, a tattoo artist who works at Niles-based 1st Order Tattoo Co., had “natural drawing ability” in high school. He drew in his spare time, but, for the most part, later sidelined his interest for a while because he worried that, beyond becoming a teacher, the art world would present few career opportunities, he recalled.

Thanks in part to a friend, however, Wright discovered he likely had a talent in tattoo artistry. He entered the contest in January and, four months later, learned that he had taken first-place honors.

“I was ecstatic; I was over the moon,” Wright said, adding that, perhaps more importantly, the experience has boosted his self-confidence and made the young artist realize he could expand his creative horizons however he chooses.

“I’ve always been a creative person, but I didn’t really expand on that until 2016 or 2017,” Watts, 29, said.

Watts, whose winning work was an untitled piece she loosely calls “Starry Skies,” enjoys delving in fluid art, which entails mixing acrylic paint with other mediums for better flow. She also incorporated epoxy resin to her works to develop “a signature spacey style,” Watts explained.

In addition, her approach to art encompasses musical influences and inspiration from the likes of Stevie Nicks and Pink Floyd, Watts said, adding that one of her favorite artists is Alex Grey, a visual artist perhaps best known for creating psychedelic and spiritual works.

After being exposed to some of Watts’ artwork, a friend who works for a cannabis dispensary that sells Riviera Creek products sent Watts a link to the contest, she remembered.

“She was like, ‘You need to apply for this,'” Watts said, adding, “(The contest) made me realize the impact I can make as an artist.”

“Youngstown, unfortunately, went through some rough times,” Kessler said, noting that, despite having moved to Los Angeles about 30 years ago, he has kept his business presence in the Mahoning Valley.

Kessler, an inventor by trade who also is Los Angeles-based SBL Venture Capital LLC’s CEO, said he began making inroads about 12 years ago in the legal cannabis industry. He also intended to connect the region’s arts community with Stambaugh, the company’s premium type of cannabis, Kessler said.He added that many of Riviera Creek’s products are named after Youngstown landmarks, such as Wildcat, one of the two iconic Idora Park roller coasters.

Unlike many dispensaries, Riviera Creek grows cannabis suspended in air, relying also on water, light and nutrients, and without pesticides.

“We’re the top quality producer in the state, which we’re really proud of,” Kessler said.

Another piece to the city’s revitalization and progress is Casa Di Canzonetta’s opening about two months ago, he added.