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MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS
Free Outdoor World Music Concert Series, 2010
The Mayo
Center and the Arts Council of the Morris Area present:
June 15, 2010: 12:15-1pm on the Morristown Green
Fula Flute Trio - West African Music
with a trio of
balafon (African xylophone), Kora and tambin(African
flute)

"Transcendent, hypnotic, haunting" are the terms applied to the
tambin flute whose unique tone quality blends with kora (plucked harp) and
balafon (African xylophone), bringing the sound of West Africa to
Morristown. Members of the group performed a special preview concert
when Carnegie Hall's new Zankel Hall opened in 2003 and continue to earn
critical acclaim for their outstanding work.
June 29, 2010: 12:15-1pm on the Morristown Green
The Conroy Warren Duo - Music of the Caribbean
with a duo of guitar and steel pan

A native of Antigua and graduate of the
Berklee School of Music in Boston, Conroy Warren has performed
internationally with some of the top names in Caribbean music. Currently, he
plays with the Melvin Dean Ensemble, Coastal Zone and Rhythm Nation in
addition to teaching and conducting music and cultural workshops throughout
the tri-state area.
July 13, 2010: 6-7pm on The Community Theatre Plaza
Los Ciegos Del Barrio - multi-genre Latin music

Featuring keyboard, Latin percussion and voice, "The Blind
Boys of the Neighborhood" (most of whom are legally blind) perform Merengue,
Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton and Rock in both English and Spanish. They
have enjoyed major hits, including a #1 hit on the former MP3.com website. In
2007, Los Ciegos Del Barrio's tracks were featured on "Sound in Sight Volume
1," a compilation sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind which
features different blind artists from around the USA.
July 27, 2010: 6-7pm on the Community Theatre Plaza
The East Winds Ensemble/Taikoza - Japanese music with taiko drums, fue flute

Internationally acclaimed, The East Winds Ensemble has
presented its dramatic and highly athletic taiko drumming, and powerful
Japanese fue flute performances in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Madison
Square Garden, Symphony Space and Lincoln Center as well as sol-out houses
in Russia and Europe.
We hope
you will spend a lunch time or early evening with us, savoring the sounds
and sampling the world’s cultural richness right here in Morristown!
SAVE THE DATE:
June 27, 2010
GIRALDA 2010
Music and Arts Festival

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L-R: Jeffrey Grogan conducts the New
Jersey Symphony Orchestra at Giralda; The New Jersey Jewelers' Guild at the
art show/sale; the Coral Belles, Chatham Chapter of the Red Hats enjoying
Giralda.
Start the summer right by attending with
the Arts Council of the Morris Area's fabulous Giralda Music and Arts
Festival on Sunday, June 27, 2010. Held in Madison, NJ on the gracious lawns
of Giralda Farms Corporate Park (the former Geraldine R. Dodge estate), this
event features a spectacular outdoor concert by The New Jersey Symphony
Orchestra. Conducted by Jeffrey Grogan, and featuring soloists from
Opera New Jersey (Inna Dukach, Ava Pine, Andrew Garland and Batthew Boehler),
the program will include selections from
Guonod's
Faust
Donizetti's Don Pasquale
Mozart's Don Giovanni
Lloyd-Webber's The Phantom of
the Opera
Gershwin's Girl Crazy and Porgy
and Bess
Arlen's "Over the Rainbow" from the
Wizard of Oz
Williams' Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone
and Berlin's God Bless America

L-R: A prizewinning picnic, "Symphony by
the Sea"; What flavor ice cream should I get, daddy?; view of the art
show/sale at Giralda.
In addition, there will be an art/show and
sale, an alternative rock/folk band, children's activities, various arts
demonstrations (for adults and for children), a weaving demonstration, face
painting, the annual picnic contest (with prizes of dinners for two, show
tickets, concert tickets, etc.) along with ice
cream, popcorn and other dessert treats,
as well as beverages, available for sale. There will also be the fabulous
50/50 raffle (in support of the Arts Council's scholarship programs) where
some lucky winner can pocket over $1,000 that very day!
Bring your friends, families, classmates,
neighbors or come by yourself to help welcome summer with the Arts
Council in this fun and very affordable way!
Time: Gates open at 3pm, concert
starts at 6pm
Where: Giralda Farms Corporate
Park, Dodge Drive and Madison Ave. (Rt. 124), Madison
Tickets:
In Advance: $12
adults, $4 students; children under 4, free
Group tickets (for 10 or more at once)
available at $10 per ticket (NO discount for student tickets). Group tickets
are only available through the Arts Council...not at any other ticket
outlet locations.
At the Gate: $15 adults, $5 students; children under 4, free
Giralda
tickets can be purchased at:
-Courtesy desks in Kings Supermarkets in Morristown, Chatham and Florham
Park
-Gary’s Wine and Marketplace (Madison) as well as from
-the Arts Council offices, 14 Maple Ave., Suite 301, Morristown, NJ 07960.
Tickets are also available by mailing your ticket request and check (payable
to “Arts Council of the Morris Area”) NO LATER THAN JUNE 11th
to: The Arts Council of the Morris Area, 14 Maple Ave., Suite 301,
Morristown, NJ 07960.
All proceeds benefit the many programs and
services provided to artists, arts organizations, schools and the community
by the Arts Council of the Morris Area.

L-R: Prizewinning Americana themed picnic; Artist
Christian Markovic with his greeting cards; Prizewinning Victorian Picnic;
Avery Benjamin leaps with joy to the music.
For more information: Check this website (www.morrisarts.org)
for updates or call (973) 285-5115, ext. 18 for updated, detailed information.
To speak to our Administrative Program Assistant, contact
kbecker@morrisarts.org or call
(973) 285-5115, ext. 14.
Rainsite: 6pm Concert
ONLY (no activities, picnics, etc.) at Madison High School, Ridgedale Ave.,
Madison. If the weather is questionable on the day of the
concert, please check this website (www.morrisarts.org)
or call (973) 285-5115, ext. 14 or ext. 18 AFTER 1 PM for the
latest updates and details on the concert
location.
The
Arts Council wishes to thank the following corporations of Giralda Farms,
whose contributions and support make this event possible:
Open Spaces Management Association; RXR et al;
Pfizer; Maersk Inc.; and GRC Management Corp..
This event is also sponsored in part by BASF – The
Chemical Company, Investors Savings Bank and the Morris County Tourism
Bureau. Additionally, the Arts Council thanks our sponsors: Kings
Supermarkets, Whole Foods Markets, David and Dorothy Clair, the Daily Record
as well as John Weber of J. Weber Designs, who donated the graphic design
for this event.


Additional
photos from Giralda 2009:

L-R: "Carmen" sings of love and Fate;
Artist Carol Manochio; sculpture by Dan Fenelon;
Prize winning Elegant Victorian Picnic.

L-R: Vintage ice cream truck;
Prizewinning Picnic in Provence; Jewelers Studio Guild tent;
Artist Susan Sumner.

L-R: ; 50-40 Raffle winner Suzanne
G. Tice with Arts Council Executive Director, Anne Aronovitch; 50-50
raffle sellers Craig Dodd and Dr. Don Siebert.
L-R: Purple Hat- Coral Belles
chapter member; Michele Para with prizewinning God Bless America picnic; artist
George Hunter.


Back by popular demand, this
year's
Great Conversations took place
March 25, 2010 at The Madison
Hotel, 1 Convent Rd., Morristown
BE SURE TO SAVE THE DATE
FOR NEXT YEAR'S GREAT CONVERSATIONS:
March 31, 2011
Great Conversations is the Arts Council of
the Morris Area's fund-raising event - an unforgettable evening of fine dining
and stimulating conversation, connecting leaders in the arts with prominent
individuals from all walks of life who contribute to creating
our vibrant
community. This year's event introduced 29 dynamic and accomplished
individuals from the arts, medicine, sports, business, and education
to 200+ enthusiastic and influential Arts Council supporters.
Our 2010 Host
Conversationalists included the following distinguished invidiuals:
-
Stephan Briganti
(President & CEO, The
Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.)
-
Susan Cole, Ph.D.
(President, Montclair
State University)
-
Kevin Cummings
(President & CEO,
Investors Savings Bank)
-
Kathleen DiChiara
(President & CEO,
Community FoodBank of New Jersey)
-
Suzzanne Douglas
(Actor, Singer)
-
Greg Egan
(Owner, Gallery
MacEgan & Artist)
-
David C. Felton
(Executive Chef,
Ninety Acres at Natirar)
-
The Right Reverend Giles P. Hayes, OSB (Abbot,
St. Mary's Abbey & President, Delbarton School)
-
Lawrence P. Goldman
(President & CEO, New
Jersey Performing Arts Center)
-
Joseph P. Goryeb
(Founder, Champion
Mortgage)
Peter Keller
(Owner, The Madison Hotel)
-
Alison Larena
(Executive Director,
The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts)
-
Honorable Kenneth MacKenzie
(New Jersey Superior
Court Judge, retired)
-
Bonnie Monte
(Artistic Director,
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey)
-
Robert E. Mulcahy III
(former President &
CEO, Meadowlands; former Director, Rutgers University Athletic Department)
-
Susan Palma-Nidel
(Flutist, Orpheus
Chamber Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra and Speculum Musicae)
-
Grant V.S. Parr, M.D.
(Board Certified
Thoracic Surgeon and Physician-in-Chief of the Gagnon Cardiovascular
Institute; Chair Emeritus, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Morristown
Memorial Hospital)
-
James Quirk
(National Football
League Umpire, retired)
-
Philip Scheffler
(Journalist, Executive
Editor of 60 Minutes, retired)
-
James Shine
(former FBI agent,
involved in post 9/11 air surveillance)
Valerie Sinclair
(New Jersey Food
Critic)
Don Jay Smith (Executive Director, New Jersey
Hall of Fame)
Eric Stiles (Chief
Operating Officer & Vice President, Conservation & Stewardship, New Jersey
Audubon)
Dr. Joseph A. Trunfio
(President & CEO,
Atlantic Health)
Marc Van Cauwenbnergh (Abstract Artist)
Richard Vezza (Publisher, The Star-Ledger)
John C. Weber (Chief Creative Officer/Principal, J.
Weber Design, LLC)
Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq.
(former Secretary of
State of New Jersey)
Dr. Edward J. Yaw
(President, County
College of Morris).
This
year's GREAT CONVERSATIONS was generously sponsored by
Atlantic Health, The Madison Hotel and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Schaenen, Jr..
Here are some scenes from this year's Great
Conversations.... March 25, 2010

L-R: Arts Council Board President Alan Levitan talking with Trustee Hon. Tim
Smith; Arts Council Executive Director Anne Aronovitch with Conversationalists
John Weber and Marc Van Cauwenbergh; Conversationalists Bonnie Monte and Nina
Mitchell Wells; Arts Council Trustee Cheryl Ellis with guests Susan Fischer and
Beth Layman.

L-R: Event Co-Chairs, Peter Mancuso and Joen
Luy Ferrari; Conversationalists David C. Felton and Valerie Sinclair;
Conversationalist Don Jay Smith with Melanie Levitan; Guests Dr. Don Siebert
with Julia Somers.
With this unique evening, the Arts
Council stepped away from high speed electronic interactions, fashion statements
and passive entertainment and instead returned to the highly valued art of
conversation for a stimulating and delightful evening. The Arts Council brought
together a diverse group of accomplished people who have contribute
significantly to the vibrancy of our community and who offered a wealth of
interests and information as the starting points for great conversations.

L-R: Conversationalists Dr. Grant V.S. Parr, Joseph Goryeb, Valerie Sinclair and
Dr. Joseph A. Trunfio; Drs. Susan and William Neigher flanking
Conversationalists Lawrence P. Goldman; Guests Shirley Zitomer and friends;
Co-Chair Peter Mancuso with Conversationalists Allison Larena and Joseph Goryeb.
L-R: Conversationalist Suzzanne Douglas
with Arts Council Trustee Dawn Dupak; Guests enjoying reception in the
Conversatory; Conversationalist Eric Stiles talking with guest Woody
Kerkeslager.
It was an evening
full of opportunity to explore new ideas and discover new interests beginning
with a reception attended by all the Conversationalists and dinner guests. The
reception was followed by a dinner at which each Conversationalist was seated
with a number of guests to explore ideas and share thoughts. Everyone was
encouraged to participate.
L-R: Conversationalists John Weber
and Susan Palma-Nidel, guest Richard Nidel and Arts Council Trustee Cheryl
Ellis; Conversationalists Marc Van Cauwenbergh and Suzzanne Douglas;
Conversationalists Richard Vezza, Nina Mitchell Wells and Lawrence P. Goldman.
Great Conversations also offered the Arts
Council the opportunity to demonstrate the connection between the arts and the
rest of our world. The arts enrich our lives in multiple ways – as a critical
element in our children’s education, stimulating our economy, strengthening our
communities, teaching us understanding and providing a source of inspiration and
healing.
Atrium Gallery
As of January 2008, at the request of the County Administrator's Office
and the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Arts Council assumed oversight
for planning exhibitions at the Atrium Art Gallery, housed in the Morris
County Administration & Records Building on Court Street in Morristown.
The Atrium Gallery,
located on floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records
Building, Court Street, Morristown,
is free and open to the public.
Exhibits are on view during regular business hours (9am-5pm,
Monday-Friday). There
are 4-5 exhibits per year. Most of the artwork is available for sale.
Free catalogues (with information on the artists and the works on
display) are available to the public in the elevator lobby of each floor
and on tables in the seating area on the fifth floor.
For additional information about the exhibits, please contact the Arts
Council of the Morris Area, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or
Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
Annual
Arts & Humanities Proclamation
Since October is National Arts & Humanities Month, the Arts Council
obtains an annual proclamation from the Morris County Board of Chosen
Freeholders, declaring a select week in October as Arts & Humanities Week in
Morris County. Each year, representatives from the county's many arts
organizations as well as individual artists support and participate in the
event.
County Freeholders herald Arts
and Humanities Week with Proclamation

L-R: Arts Council Executive Director Anne
Aronovitch receives proclamation from Freeholder Director Gene Feyl; Lending
their support were representatives from Morris County's arts and cultural
organizations including Acorn Hall, The Community Children's Museum, Blackwell
Street Artists, Morris County Tourism Bureau, The Hickory Tree Chorus, Morris
Choral Society, Morris Music Men, Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Harmonium,
The Colonial Symphony, The Community Theatre/Mayo Center for the Performing
Arts, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Hanover Wind Symphony, Music at
Morristown United Methodist Church, The Morris County Park Commission/ Historic
Sites and the Arts Council of the Morris Area.
On October 14, 2009 in
keeping with its mission to bring the arts to the center of community life,
Arts Council of the Morris Area received a Proclamation from the Board of Chosen
Freeholders on behalf of the county’s arts and cultural organizations to mark
October 17-24, 2009 as Arts & Humanities Week in Morris County. Freeholder
Director Gene Feyl presented the Proclamation to Anne Aronovitch, Executive
Director of the Arts Council on behalf of arts and humanities organizations in
Morris County.
Part of the Proclamation
states: "The arts and humanities bring people together to share the enjoyment of
originality, talent, self-expression, beauty, imagination and to explore what it
means to be human…" The Proclamation also urges county citizens to "celebrate
and participate in the many outstanding cultural opportunities Morris County has
to offer and to honor and support those individuals and organizations that make
them possible."
The Morris County Proclamation
coordinates with the designation of October as national "Arts and Humanities
Month," a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America.
Coordinated by the organization Americans for the Arts, this represents the
largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. From art
center open houses to local and county governmental proclamations to banners and
media coverage, communities across the United States join together to recognize
the importance of arts and culture to citizens’ daily lives.
First Night® Morris County
New Jersey’s biggest and brightest
New Year’s Eve non-alcoholic celebration of the arts, has featured more than 300
artists, 90+ events in 25 venues - representing dance, drama, music, visual arts
and children's events. Since the inception
of First Night®
Morris County,
The Arts Council of the Morris Area has been the artistic programmer for
the event, researching and securing a wide range of
high caliber performing artists for New Year's Eve. Drawing on local,
regional and national talent, the Arts Council strives to create a
rich, multi-cultural event that blends participation in and enjoyment of the
arts with top quality performers - to make the marking of the New Year an
inspiring, community-centered arts celebration.
For more information,
please call (973) 285-5115. Visit the First Night®
website at
www.firstnightmorris.com
or call (973) 455-0708 for additional information on the December
31st event.

DECEMBER 31, 2009
World class artists came to Morristown on New Year's Eve at
FIRST NIGHT®
MORRIS COUNTY
On December 31, 2009, thousands came to Morristown to usher in the New
Year and enjoyed five hours of the full power and splendor of the arts at
First Night® Morris, New Jersey’s biggest and brightest alcohol-free New
Year’s Eve celebration. Since First Night’s inception 18 years ago, the Arts
Council of the Morris Area has served as its artistic programmer, selecting
and scheduling hundreds of artists performing in 26 sites throughout
Morristown. Representing multiple artistic disciplines, the live
performances, exhibits, activities and demonstrations this year range in
style from the popular to the classical, from western to world cultures -
for all ages, from young child through adult.
L-R: Pianist Laryssa Krupa; Harmonium Choral Society; Katherine Harris
and Christopher Kenniff of Duo Cantiga; New Philharmonic of NJ
conductor, Leon Hyman.
L-R: Organist Jim Hicks; Lyrica Chamber Music;
Kris Lamb of The Early Music Players; Solid Brass.
For those who love CLASSICAL MUSIC, this year’s
event offered a veritable feast of talents from which to select: the
superlative Duo Cantiga, featuring soprano Katherine Harris and guitarist
Christopher Kenniff (in a delicious program including music of Dowland,
Brahms and Granados), the acclaimed a cappella
Harmonium Choral Society ; the virtuoso pianist Laryssa Krupa (with soprano
and clarinettist friends); organist James Hicks ; the well known
Masterwork Chorus; the polished Lyrica Chamber Music; perennial favorite,
Solid Brass (with "Where in the world is Solid Brass" and brass music from
the Middle Ages to the Beach Boys); the award-winning Hickory Tree Chorus
(women's barbershop group), the renowned New Philharmonic of New Jersey
Orchestra; and Music from the time of Columbus with the Early Music Players.
L-R:
Rio Clemente, the Bishop of Jazz; Stephane Wrembel, gypsy jazz guitar; The
Aaron Weinstein, jazz violinist (with Tedd Firth on piano);
Beaucoup Blue (father/son blues duo);
guitar great Frank Vignola with his Trio; The Dixie Rascals (Dixieland).
L-R:
Silk City (bluegrass); The VooDUDES (zydeco, funk); the James L. Dean
Orchestra (Swing dance band with jazz singer Patti Dunham); The Blaire
Reinhard Band (rock,funk,soul).
Aficionados of POP AND JAZZ
delighted in the heartstopping jazz piano of "the Bishop of Jazz," Rio
Clemente; experience awe at the astonishing high velocity, genre-bending
virtuosity of guitarist Frank Vignola and his Trio (whom Les Paul called one
of the top five in the world); tap their toes with the Dixieland and hot
jazz of The Dixie Rascals; groove to the hot version of the American
Songbook interpreted by jazz violin wizard Aaron Weinstein (of NPR fame)
with pianist Tedd Firth; savor the moody blues of the father/son duo,
Beaucoup Blue; rejoice in the New Orleans zydeco, funk and rock by The
VooDUDES; and appreciate the sultry blues/funk and rock star quality of the
highly acclaimed Blaire Reinhard Band (our local gal done good); while James
L. Dean’s big band swing (with vocalist Patti Dunham) – provides just the
right music for dancing in the New Year.

L-R: The Russian Duo; Rich Reiter’s African Drumming Circle; The Pipes
and Drums of the Atlantic Watch; folk singer/songwriter Spook Handy (photo
by Econosmith).

L-R: BALAM (Balinese) Dance Theatre; The Naill O’Leary Irish Dance
Troupe; The Bells of India, South Indian dance; Matt Sullivan, master
oboist.
Those with more ECLECTIC MUSICAL TASTES and an
interest in WORLD MUSIC and DANCE will thrill to the stirring sounds
and formations of the Atlantic Watch Pipe and Drum Band (modeled on
Scotland’s fabled Black Watch) and the virtuosity of Russian folk
instrumentalists Tamara Volskaya with Anatoliy Trofimov of The Russian Duo;
Novices were welcome to experience West African drumming firsthand with
Richard Reiter’s Participatory African Drumming Circle. Others enjoyed the
unique experience of a lesson in Balinese dance provided by the BALAM
Balinese Dance Theater which will perform not only a classic E. Asian epic
but also humorous blend of hip hop and traditional Balinese dance. Some
savored Irish and Indian cultures with the Niall O’Leary Irish Dance
Troupe’s traditional Irish step dancing or The Bells of India’s exquisite
South Indian classical dance. Music lovers traveled back to the Classical
Era with Beethoven, as Meet the Musicians' own actor/musician Dennis Kobray
steps into character as the famed composer himself. Amazement accompanied
virtuoso Matt Sullivan, electro-acoustic oboist, who produced sounds you
never thought you’d hear from an oboe. Others savored the sweet, poignant
and pointed lyrics and melodies of Americana/folk singer–songwriter Spook
Handy.


L-R: Meeting of the
Macabre, with readings of Poe and Stoker; Dennis Kobray as Beethoven (Meet
the Musicians); Naomi Miller (Love, Marriage, Children, and Liposuction);
Faustwork’s The Mask Messenger; The Harlem Wizards duo demonstrating
basketball prowess
Those who love DRAMATIC ARTS/COMEDY/FILM
shared a last laugh of the year with Naomi Miller’s music/comedy program,
Love Marriage, Children and Liposuction
while those who treasure classic horror couldn't miss Meeting of the Macabre
where "Edgar Allen Poe" and "Bram Stoker" read from their spooky
masterworks, The Tell Tale Heart and Dracula.
Those seeking exercise wore their sneakers and tested their skills against
three stars from the famed Harlem Wizards or just gott tired watching MOMIX
and Pilobolus veteran Tim Latta change identities in his
tour de force
theatre piece, The Mask Messenger. For those who craved a calmer
night, the Bickford Theatre offered a double feature of two favorite
films for New Year’s Eve, The Apartment (with Jack Lemmon) and
When Harry Met Sally (with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal).

L-R: Keith Torgan and Barbara Seisel
present Green Golly and her Golden Flute; Mr. Fish and Phenomenal
Physics; John Hadfield with Monkeys in the House

L-R; Kit’s Interactive Theatre,
Grace, the Irish Pirate; Carol Titus and Ken Galipeau, master
storytellers; Patrick Garner’s American Adventure with Lewis & Clark;
Sadecky’s Puppets in
Castlemania.
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES learned
science as longtime professional circus performer Mr. Fish juggled eggs,
threw boomerangs and cracked whips in Phenomenal Physics.
Some headed for the high seas, challenged Blackbeard and sang sea shanties
with Kit’s Interactive Family Theatre's Grace, the Irish Pirate, (where
audience members were cast right into the show)! Audiences laughed out loud
at the zany antics of robot monkeys and Ringling Brothers clown, juggler and
magician, John Hadfield and his Monkeys in the
House. Rapunzel got a new twist
with Keith Torgan and Barbara Seisel’s Green Golly and her Golden Flute
while storytellers Carol Titus and Ken Galipeau transported their audiences
into new worlds with their words. The hardships and excitements of Lewis &
Clark’s groundbreaking explorations came alive with TV veteran Patrick
Garner while Sadecky’s whimsical and humorous puppets blended multiple
classic fairy tales in
Castlemania. New teen talents in music, poetry and other arts were on
display at the Teen Coffeehouse and, for the younger set, The Children’s Fun
Festival and traveling street performers brought the joys of face painting,
airbrush tattoos, wizards, magicians, balloon artists, stilwalkers and
costumed characters to all the young at heart.

L-R: at the Atrium Gallery: Kitchen Interior, oil by Charles
Newman; Tulips and Vase, oil by Celia Shafluacas; Saturn (Tearing
through the rings), oil by Gianluca Bianchino; Skylands Manor, Cherry
Tree, photo by George M. Aronson; at Art Upstairs:
Golden Light 2, pastel by Dannielle Mick.
The VISUAL ARTS were represented with two separate
exhibits: Art Upstairs! offers an exhibit entitled Show Stoppers:
Contours, Colors and Contrasts with works by Jenny Reinhardt, Laurie
Kalb, Becky Santora, Carol Magnatta and Dannielle Mick. A second exhibit,
presented by The Arts Council of the Morris Area at the Atrium Gallery
(floors 2-5 of the County Administration and Records Building), features
works by Latin American Artists (from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican
Republic, Venezuela and Spain) - on the 2nd
floor, by realist artist Charles Newman and members of the Hope House art
program - on the 3rd floor, by photographer George M. Aronson,
botanical artist Mindy Lighthipe and Italian artist Gianluca Bianchino – on
the 4th floor and works by members of the Drew Art Association –
on the 5th floor.
The evening also included TWO rounds of FIREWORKS (one at 9 and one at
midnight).
Our thanks to all our sponsors and volunteers without
whom this fabulous night would never happen!!
           
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Third Saturdays at Morris
View With funding from the Morris County Board of Chosen
Freeholders, the Arts Council provides artistic programming for a
monthly concert series held at the county's Morris View Healthcare
Center. Programming is varied and brings everything from choral
groups and jazz musicians to classical chamber groups, dancers,
magicians and folk singers to Morris View, providing entertainment
and stimulation for the residents, staff and visitors on the third
Saturday of each month, year round.
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Celebrate the
Arts, Awards Event
This annual event recognizes those individuals and organizations who
have contributed significantly to the artistic vitality of our
community. Based on nominations, awards are given in the categories
of Outstanding Arts Organization, Outstanding Arts Educator (The
Joyce Talbot Award), Outstanding Corporation (The Robert Maass
Award), Outstand Arts Advocate (The Josephine Margetts Award) and
Outstanding Professional in the Arts. Additionally, the two
graduating high school senior winners of the Ehlers and Coladarci
Arts Scholarships are announced and formally introduced to the
larger arts community.
CELEBRATE THE ARTS
May 13, 2010

L-R:
2009 Scholarship Winners Alessandra Altieri (Coladarci), Daniel Knapp
(Ehlers) and Thomas Carle (Honorable Mention); Roxbury High School Art
Teacher Joanne Hughes (Outstanding Arts School)); Thomas Carle (Honorable
Mention); Alessandra Altieri (Coladarci Arts Scholarship winner); Daniel
Knapp (Ehlers Arts Scholarship Winner); Kathy Ronca and Jody Marcus from The
Community Children’s Museum (Outstanding Arts Organization); Maria Lupo
(Outstanding Professional in the Arts); Dr. Virginia Fabbri Butera
(Outstanding Arts Advocate); Richard Vezza from The Star-Ledger (Outstanding
Corporation).
May We Have the Envelope Please? Arts
Council of the Morris Area announces Awards at CELEBRATE THE ARTS
On May 13th, in the
restored gardens and Gilded Age Mansion at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the
Arts Council of the Morris Area held its annual Celebrate the Arts event and
presented its 2010 Awards for Outstanding Arts Advocate: Dr. Virginia
Fabbri Butera; Outstanding Arts Organization: The Community
Children’s Museum; Outstanding Corporation/Business: The
Star-Ledger; Outstanding Arts Educator/School: Roxbury High School;
and Outstanding Professional in the Arts: Maria Lupo. The event
was sponsored by The MCM Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Nearly 200
members of the arts community shared in this heady and exciting celebration of
the arts – an evening of tribute to the power of the arts to inspire, heal and
teach. Elizabeth Christopherson, President and CEO of The Rita Allen Foundation,
presented the awards.

L-R: Star-Ledger publisher, Richard
Vezza, chats with Elizabeth Christopherson, President and CEO of The Rita Allen
Foundation; Art Historian Dr. Diane Fischer with Outstanding Arts Advocate Dr.
Virginia Fabbri Butera, and Butera’s mother, art critic Anna Fabbri; Jane Kurek,
Provident Bank’s Assistant Vice President, Community Relations Manager for the
Morris Region, June Van Thoen, Director of Music Ministries and Coordinator of
Music at Morristown United Methodist Church, and Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika, Executive
Director of Acorn Hall/Morris County Historical Society.
The event was also an
occasion to celebrate the future, introducing this year's talented graduating
high school seniors who won the Arts Council’s two scholarships. Ballroom and
Latin Dancer Daniel Knapp, a Morristown resident and valedictorian of his
graduating class at Morristown High School, won the 2010 Elaine Ehlers Arts
Scholarship ($4,500). Operatic soprano Alessandra Altieri, a resident of
Randolph graduating from Randolph High School, won the Eugenie Coladarci Arts
Scholarship ($1,250). Operatic tenor, Thomas Carle, also a graduating senior at
Randolph High School, won Honorable Mention. In the fall, Daniel will be
attending Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA and Alessandra will be attending
the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Thomas will be heading for an
opera program at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA.
The evening also included
video presentation of award-winning Roxbury High School’s mural art project, a
video of Ehlers Scholarship winner Daniel Knapp dancing the Viennese Waltz (with
teacher/partner Adriana Chessa) in a 2009 Showcase performance and a live
performance by Coladarci Scholarship winner, Alessandra Altieri of Mozart’s
Un Moto Di Gioia and Copland’s Laurie’s Song, accompanied by Evelyn
McNair. It was truly a night to be inspired!

L-R: Guests entering
the reception area; Thomas Hoffman, Therese Maloney and Louise Murray-Hoffman.
Additional photos:

L-R: Scholarship Winners Alessandra Altieri (Coladarci), Daniel Knapp (Ehlers)
and Thomas Carle (Honorable Mention)
L-R: Scholarship Winners Alessandra Altieri (Coladarci); Daniel Knapp
(Ehlers) at podium and holding award and flowers.

L-R: Award winning Roxbury High School lead art teacher, Joanne
Hughes with Maria Lupo (Outstanding Professional in the Arts); Guests enjoying
the reception; Anne Fabbri, guest and mother of Outstanding Arts Advocate Dr.
Virginia Fabbri Butera; longterm Arts Council supporter, William Keefauver
talking with Arts Education director, Barbara Reuther.
Texts of Award Speeches:
The Josephine Margetts
Award
2010 OUTSTANDING ARTS ADVOCATE
Dr. Virginia Fabbri Butera
A selfless, dedicated and deeply caring
individual who uses her keen mind, formidable intellect and insightful vision to
promote the arts on multiple levels, Dr. Virginia Butera has enriched us all
with her enlightened and highly effective arts advocacy.
With a BA in Renaissance Studies from
Trinity, an MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins and a PhD in Art History from
the City University of New York, Dr. Butera serves as Chairperson of the Art and
Music Departments, Director of the Therese A. Maloney Art Gallery and Professor
of Art History at the College of St. Elizabeth. Despite that daunting workload,
she has managed to inspire and promote her students and her faculty colleagues,
as well as inspire the college community and the larger public privileged to
attend the outstanding exhibits she has curated. Her dedicated teaching shows
others, by example, how to mentor talent, manage time, handle pressure, launch
important innovations, do what needs doing and yet remain a caring, nurturing
presence, passionate about the arts. "This is a person whose entire life, day
and night, is devoted to her students, her departments, and the arts," said one
faculty colleague.
Not surprisingly, Dr. Butera’s advocacy
reaches far beyond the campus of St. Elizabeth. She gives freely of her
expertise to serve the wider community. She has worked at and/or curated
exhibitions for over thirty years at institutions such as the National Gallery
of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Print Center in Philadelphia, the
Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Toledo Museum of Art and the Yale
University Art Gallery. She has been a consultant at the Jersey City Museum and
has chaired the Exhibition Review Panel of the Center for Visual Arts of New
Jersey. Additionally, Dr. Butera has lectured and published widely on many
topics in modern and contemporary art.
According to a faculty colleague and
professional artist, "She has selflessly and energetically dedicated her life to
promoting and growing art awareness in the State of New Jersey…teaching and
encouraging students in the arts, assisting and guiding artists throughout the
state…and creating an environment where social discourse and art philosophy can
flourish and grow." Despite her extremely
demanding work schedule, she somehow makes the time to attend community art
openings and concerts in support of colleagues, organizations and students.
To quote one of the many nominators,
"Dr. Butera’s curatorial skills, art history expertise and love of the arts
continue to have a significant impact on the New Jersey arts community. All of
us, individuals as well as organizations, have become enriched through our
contact with Ginny Butera."
Another colleague echoes the common thread
of the many tributes: "Dr. Butera is a tireless advocate of the arts and artists
both professionally and personally. Her unending dedication to furthering
awareness of the arts on all levels is beyond compare. She has the respect and
admiration of all those fortunate enough to work with her in every aspect of the
arts. She richly deserves this recognition for her dedication and efforts."
Therefore, for her dedication, her tireless efforts on behalf of the arts, and
her "giving presence and energy which has enhanced the lives of students,
artists, art patrons and the public in the State of New Jersey," the Arts
Council of the Morris Area is honored to award the 2010 Josephine Margetts Award
for Outstanding Arts Advocate to Dr. Virginia Fabbri Butera.
2010 OUTSTANDING ARTS ORGANIZATION AWARD
The Community Children’s Museum
Nominator Kathleen Ronca captures the essence of this special arts institution
with her statement: "The Community Children’s Museum is a celebration of
childhood. It was created with the belief that a children’s museum should be
alive and fluid and that children learn best and remember the most when they
interact with their environment. The Community Children’s Museum was designed
most carefully as a place where children are free and safe to experience the
arts in a fun, creative age-appropriate and hands-on way."
Currently celebrating its fifth anniversary, this wonderful
organization is centrally located in Dover and serves not only Morris County
children but children from throughout Northern New Jersey. Its programs are
inventive, engaging and highly innovative and inspiring to young minds on many
levels. At the museum itself, a child can visit the Van Gogh Bedroom Exhibit,
learning about the artist’s life and art. They can draw in the drawing studio
just like Van Gogh did when he was in art school…and can even walk into a life
size reproduction of his famous bedroom painting and get a sense of what it was
like to live in the 1800s. At the Clay Heads Exhibit, children can create
their own sculptures, while, at the Little Theatre, they can sing, talk,
dance, dream and dress up to perform on the stage and see themselves on the big
screen TV. The Homes Around the World Exhibit allows children to explore
what it would be like to live in another part of the world or learn another
culture. They can even climb into a full scale replica of John Glenn’s
Friendship 7 Space Capsule and pretend they are astronauts taking a ride to
outer space.
The Museum’s outreach programs include a Hospital Pediatric
Art Program (since 1998) which provides sick children with a way to express
themselves creatively while in the hospital. Another is a Space Exploration
Program that brings a dynamic presentation to a variety of venues to excite
children about science and space.
The Museum also offers an outstanding special needs program
and has worked hard to make its services and site accessible to those with
different abilities. Diane Gagliardi of the Early Childhood Learning Community
of NJ (offering services/schooling for the learning disabled) writes, " ..The
teachers and students were delighted with the hands-on exhibits. Your guides
were knowledgeable, organized and extremely patient with our students…." and the
Special Children’s School (Sparta, NJ), added, "…the visit to the museum stands
out as a special one for our students…Your museum gave our students varied
opportunities to see, hear, and touch, fostering a multi-sensory approach to
learning. Your staff was attentive, caring and respectful of our students and
their special needs…."
The Community Children’s Museum has also partnered with the
Girls Scouts of Northern New Jersey to offer quality badge programs to thousands
of Girl Scouts in the region. According to Laurie Howell of the Girl Scouts, the
Museum’s "programs are thoughtful, creative and inspiring …Of all the dozens of
organizations and museum that I work with, I would say that the commitment the
Community Children’s Museum exhibits is outstanding…." Marlene Martell, a
teacher in the Morris School District states, "There are few other organizations
that offer such high quality experiences for children in this area…" and El
Primer Paso, a nonprofit community-based preschool in Dover, adds, "The variety
of quality visual and performing arts exhibits and programs the museum offers
preschool children fills an important need in the community," and a parent
wrote: "It is our home away from home and we are so grateful that we have such a
wonderful resource in our area." Multiple testimonials from community leaders,
educators, and families paint a vivid portrait of an institution whose visionary
offerings and dedicated staff bring the gift of the arts to thousands of
children. One grandparent called the Museum "really remarkable, vibrant" and
added, "Messages about art, messages about diversity, messages about nature,
science and nutrition are only some of those conveyed at the Museum…The
Community Children’s Museum is without peer."
Therefore, for its inspired presentation of the arts, culture
and learning, for its extraordinary outreach programs, for its dedication to
access for all and for its caring and sensitive staff, the Arts Council of the
Morris Area is proud to present the Community Children’s Museum with the 2010
Outstanding Arts Organization Award.
The Joyce Talbot Award
2010 OUTSTANDING SCHOOL
Roxbury High School
"Compassion is the
greatest form of love humans have to offer. According to Webster’s
Dictionary compassion means a feeling of sympathy for another’s misfortune.
My definition of compassion is forgiving, loving, helping, leading and
showing mercy for others. I have this theory that if one person can go out
of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the
same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go."
These words were from a high school essay written by Rachel
Scott, the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her
acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries
have become the foundation of a school program presented across the country in
schools and community centers by Rachel’s father. In his presentation, he asks
students to be leaders not only to express compassion for others but to accept
"Rachel’s Challenge" and "think good thoughts, say kind words, do good deeds,
start a chain reaction".
After experiencing this powerful program at their school, the
art students at Roxbury High School embarked on a creative response to "Rachel’s
Challenge". Through an artist’s residency, the students worked with "Spiritree"
artists, Marco Giammetti and Carol Hendrickson, to create the design for a
mural.
Starting with discussions and reviewing artists and styles
ranging from Australian aborigine art to works by Miro, Kandinsky and Keith
Haring, they soon realized what inspired them most was the work of Dan Fenelon,
a local contemporary muralist whose work they were able to experience firsthand
at the Montclair Art Museum. Brainstorming led to constant refining and
reconfiguration by as many as 60 art students. Senior Christian Peslak who was
already working in a style very similar to Dan’s, came up with the chain design
central to the mural. The links of the chain are faces and outstretched arms
which say "think good thoughts, say kind words, do good deeds". Other students’
images, lettering styles and ideas were incorporated into the mural design and
border.
Together, the art students at Roxbury High School achieved a
mural design, expressing their vision of how communities can live together in a
spirit of compassion. Choosing to have this mural installed outside on the
façade of the school speaks to their desire to communicate their message
publicly. These students and their teachers have created art that matters – art
that speaks out – a stunning piece of art work.
We’d like to share with you a short presentation about the
creation of this mural, so sit back and enjoy this outpouring of joyous
creativity. (video presentation)
As you can imagine, for a work of art of this scale (32 feet
by 16 feet) and quality to be accomplished in a high school setting is amazing.
It was made possible by:
1. An outstanding art department which not only
encourages student skill development but, at Roxbury High School, also has
six dedicated art teachers who are willing to initiate meaningful,
labor-intensive special projects (such as this mural), over and above their
regular duties.
2. An administration that values and supports the arts
as an integral part of education, supporting the teachers, students
and teaching artists in their endeavors. The Rachel’s Challenge mural was
the second mural that the "Spiritree" artists created with the Roxbury high
school students. Last year, through another artists’ residency, the students
created a large mural with the theme of "Past, Present and Future of
Roxbury".
3. Talented, motivated art students who were
willing to put many other activities "on hold" to undertake and complete a
project such as this mural.
Perhaps the single most important factor was the ability of
everyone -- students, teachers, administration, "Spiritree" artists, Dan Fenelon
-- to work collaboratively. Everyone contributed their time, their ideas
and their talents in the spirit of communal art-making. The Roxbury High School
artists set off their chain reaction working together in Rachel’s spirit:
acceptance, peace, kindness, friendship and compassion.
Therefore, for their exceptional commitment to promoting the
arts, for dedicating resources and staff for large scale creative projects and
for providing an atmosphere where students can successfully undertake such bold
and unique projects, the Arts Council of the Morris Area is proud to recognize
Roxbury High School with the 2010 Joyce Talbot Award for an Outstanding School.
The Robert Maass Award
2010 OUTSTANDING CORPORATION
The Star-Ledger
From its modest beginnings as the Newark Daily Advertiser in 1832, The
Star-Ledger merged with other papers and grew to become the newspaper with
the largest circulation in the state of New Jersey. Known for quality reporting,
The Star-Ledger received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting
in 2005 for its comprehensive and thorough coverage of NJ Governor McGreevey’s
resignation. Previously, The National Press Foundation named then-editor Jim
Willse its 1999 recipient of the George Beveridge Editor of the Year Award in
recognition of the Ledger’s coverage of racial profiling by NJ State police.
However, what most people may not realize is that, throughout
its distinguished history, The Star-Ledger has been a steadfast supporter
of the arts, offering insightful and serious coverage of the performing and
visual arts, providing arts scholarships and, in recent years, offering
invaluable in-kind assistance as a sponsor of First Night Morris County.
For the past 11 years, Star-Ledger has invested in the future
of the arts through its Star-Ledger Scholarship for the Performing Arts.
Spotlighting Newark’s brightest young talents, the Star-Ledger awards merit
scholarships totaling $80,000 each year to the 3 top winners - in the areas of
vocal music, instrumental music, acting or dance – enabling these talented young
people to realize their dreams of attending four year colleges of their choice.
Also in recent years, The Star-Ledger has generously
supported First Night Morris County with free ads, multiple online and print
articles about the event, blogs and even video clips, all designed to spotlight
this wonderful New Year’s Eve festival of the arts and its many outstanding
performers. Additionally, the paper also designs and prints the beautiful, 12-15
page program for First Night which not only appears as a supplemental section in
Morris County’s circulation but also serves as the official program given to all
ticket buyers for the event. This program contains color photos and biographies
of all performers, a master schedule grid and a map of the event’s many venues.
This level of support has been invaluable and critical to the success of First
Night Morris County.
From the new publisher, Richard Vezza, who graciously served
as a host conversationalist at the Arts Council’s recent fundraiser, Great
Conversations, to the Essex/Morris/Sussex Bureau Chief, Robin Wilson-Glover, who
strongly supports arts coverage, to Susan Kronberg, who
designs the layout for the
First Night Morris County Program, to MorristownGreen.com for its focus on the
Morristown art scene, and to the exceptional arts writers like Peggy McGlone and
her gifted colleagues, The Star-Ledger has played a positive and critical
role in supporting the arts in Morris County and in our State.
Therefore, because of its quality coverage of the arts, its
remarkable arts scholarship program, its generous support for arts-centered
events like First Night Morris County, and its longstanding and clear commitment
to the arts in the broadest sense, the Arts Council of the Morris Area is
pleased to honor The Star-Ledger with its 2010 Outstanding Corporation
Award.
2010 OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL IN THE ARTS AWARD
Maria Lupo
An internationally recognized artist, Maria Lupo was born and raised in
Newark, NJ. She holds a BFA from Rutgers and also undertook sculpture studies in
Cennina, Italy. Her time in Tuscany proved to be a major influence on her work
as well as a new artistic direction for the artist. "I found my cultural roots
as well as my artistic heritage as a sculptress in Cennina," remarked Ms. Lupo.
After completing an MFA in sculpture from Hunter College, Ms. Lupo received her
Post-Masters Specialization in Art Therapy from Caldwell College and is a
candidate for a second Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. A recipient of a
NJ State Council on the Arts fellowship award, Ms. Lupo’s work is found
in many public and private collections, including the Morris Museum, the
Montclair Art Museum, the New Jersey State Museum, and the Zimmerli Museum,
among others.
Featured in numerous gallery, museum and university exhibits
across the nation, Ms. Lupo’s art spans the genres of printmaking, wearable art,
natural materials, fantasy, sculpture, and healing arts.
With a deep concern for "healing our planet, healing
ourselves," Maria Lupo devotes herself to using her art in the service of
healing and has developed numerous programs to bring art – both its exhibition
and its creation - to places of healing. She initiated the first employee art
exhibition at Atlantic Health facilities in Morris County and directs the
ongoing visual art exhibits at both Overlook Hospital and Morristown’s Carol
Simon Cancer Center. These exhibits benefit the patients - bringing visually
beautiful and soothing images to treatment areas – as
well as providing opportunities for local artists to gain visibility and
the satisfaction of knowing their work is helping others to heal.
Dealing with her own celiac disease, the artist states
candidly, "I hope to bring the message of healing and hope …to others. I
understand the healing properties of the field and I encourage others to find
and use the creative resources that exist within us all." Making art promotes a
sense of identity and emotional growth, helps manage pain, improves a sense of
control and offers an effective means of nonverbal communication. Simply put,
making art heals.
Maria Lupo’s own work is rooted in ecological cycles of
nature and one's relationship to the natural world. Handcrafted and archetypal,
the images feature places and creatures both real and imagined. She uses
tactile, natural materials such as grass seed, Spanish moss, topsoil, sequins,
beads, buttons, children’s toys, feathers and other media, fusing ecology and
mythology, bearing witness to nature's power as well as its vulnerability.
Therefore, for her artistic excellence, her deep dedication
to using the arts as a healing force and her efforts to help others discover
that the arts are found in every aspect of life, the Arts Council of the Morris
Area is proud to recognize Maria Lupo with its 2010 Award for Outstanding
Professional in the Arts.
THE 2010 ELAINE EHLERS ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
Ballroom and Latin Dancer, DANIEL KNAPP
I am Dick Eger, A Trustee on the Arts Council Board, and it is my pleasure
tonight to present the Arts Council of the Morris Area’s two arts scholarship
winners.
Nine years ago, The Arts Council of the Morris Area
collaborated with Elaine Ehlers’ family to initiate a second scholarship to be
given annually to foster new artistic talent, helping a graduating Morris County
high school senior who possesses artistic talent to pursue further study in an
area related to the arts. Created as a tribute to the memory of my late wife,
Elaine Ehlers, the scholarship is an enduring legacy to recognize artistic
excellence and encourage the artists of the future. Elaine, a health-care
administrator by profession, had a voracious appetite for all things artistic
and musical. She derived intellectual and emotional sustenance from the arts,
and received great pleasure when she took young people to concerts, the theater
and museums.
The Arts Council invites young artists of Morris County who
exhibited artistic excellence in the areas of dance, drama, music and the visual
arts to compete for this scholarship. The applications were evaluated by a
distinguished panel of professional artists: Dr. Patricia Pongracz, Curator of
the Museum of Biblical Art in NYC and member the art faculty at The College of
St. Elizabeth; Susan McCutcheon Coutts, Choreographer and Director of Dance
Innovations; David Gruol, professional photographer and Director of the
Blackwell Street Center for the Arts; Arthur T. Wilson, Arts Educator, Author,
and Performing Artist; and Dr. Lynn Siebert, Director of Arts Participation and
Communication for the Arts Council of the Morris Area, a professional violinist
and a member of the music faculty at the College of St. Elizabeth.
I am pleased to announce that this year’s Elaine Ehlers Arts
Scholarship award winner of $4,500 is Daniel Knapp, a graduating senior at
Morristown High School.
This extraordinary young ballroom and Latin Dancer has
trained for over 10 years, competing and winning numerous national and world
championships. In her glowing recommendation, Daniel’s dance teacher present a
portrait of a highly gifted, versatile, humble, and hardworking young dancer: "Daniel
has acquired the titles of World Pro-Am Rhythm and Smooth Champion and has
placed in the top five of the Latin and Ballroom divisions in the most
prestigious competition in the United States. What is more amazing than gaining
these world titles is that he competes against other students who only focus on
one or two styles of dancing which gives them more opportunity to excel in their
particular style. For most of his years of training, Daniel has studied all of
the four possible styles of ballroom dancing and has excelled at each of
them….What impresses me most about Daniel is that throughout his successes
he has remained a humble and gracious person…he shows great sportsmanship
and has a positive attitude even if he is not the winner that day. He is
genuinely happy for the winner and takes the experience as a learning
opportunity for what he can improve in the next competition. As any true
champion does, he continuously looks to improve himself and doesn’t become
complacent when he wins." She adds, "…he was the only student I never had
to worry about which was surprising since he was the only child competitor
amongst adults in our studio."
Admirably, Daniel has used his talent to give back to others,
donating his time in many fundraising events and helping to raise over $60,000
for Parkinson’s disease research, The Hurricane Katrina Fund, and Everybody’s
Children Foundation (for foster children). His teacher added, "I cannot think of
a more deserving individual to get something back for all he has done, for all
the lives he has touched…"
Daniel’s passion for the art of ballroom dance is evident in
his own eloquent works: "I believe in the beat. When my shoes touch the wooden
floor, a rhythm within beats with fervor….There is only one way to describe my
passion for dance: complete ecstasy. I cannot imagine living without ballroom
dance because it has consumed more than half of my life.…For me, dancing is
about the soul, not the accolades….I hope to continue dancing until my body
wills it not…I belong on the floor. It is only there, that I can truly be free."
Nor is dancing his only area of excellence. An outstanding
competitor in Forensics (Speech and Debate), Daniel is a National Forensics
League All-American (2009), the 2009 NJ State Champion in Original Oratory, a
Harvard International National Forensics League Finalist, and winner of a 2009
NJ Governor’s Award in the Arts for his forensics skills. In her recommendation,
his calculus teacher called Daniel "a true intellectual…Daniel loves to learn.
…he is curious about the world around him and, as a result, misses little….He is
articulate, tactful, upbeat, respectful…his integrity is firm and unwavering."
Daniel will be attending Stanford University in the fall.
The panel was greatly impressed by Daniel’s artistry, his
grace, commanding posture and physical precision, his sense of line and gesture,
his speed and agility in executing difficult footwork, his ability to navigate
effortlessly on a crowded dance floor and his sheer joy in performing.
For a truly special treat this evening, we will share a short
clip of Daniel Knapp dancing a Viennese Waltz with his teacher and partner,
Adriana Chessa, in a March 2009 Showcase. Were it not for time constraints this
evening, we would have happily highlighted his exciting dancing of the tango,
fox trot, rumba, cha cha, paso doble, samba and jive. Please enjoy this tiny
sampling of our Ehlers Scholarlship winner, Daniel Knapp, "in action."
Therefore, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Arts
Council of the Morris Area, it is my great pleasure and privilege to award the
ninth annual Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship to this wonderfully gifted young
dancer, Daniel Knapp. May 13, 2010
THE 2010 EUGENIE COLADARCI ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
Operatic Soprano, ALESSANDRA ALTIERI
Twelve years ago, as a part of our 25th anniversary celebration, The
Arts Council of the Morris Area collaborated with the Coladarci family and
initiated what has become a $1,250 scholarship award to be given annually to a
graduating Morris County high school senior who plans to pursue further study in
an area related to the arts. Created as a tribute to the memory of our former
Board Chair, Eugenie Coladarci, who was Vice President of Marketing and Public
Relations for Chase Manhattan Bank and an active member of the Arts Council of
the Morris Area for eleven years, the scholarship recognizes artistic excellence
and encourages the artists of the future, in keeping with the Arts Council’s
mission and with Genie Coladarci’s role as a statewide champion of the
arts who actively encouraged the development of
young artists and strongly believed the arts were essential to the quality of
life.
I am pleased to announce that this year’s award winner is
Alessandra Altieri, a gifted soprano who lives in Randolph and is soon to
graduate from Randolph High School.
Inspired to excel as a singer by her first visit to The
Metropolitan Opera (hearing The Barber of Seville), Alessandra describe
the impact of that moment thus:
"As we sat in our seats and the light fixtures rose before
the beginning of the performance, I could hardly keep still. Though the back of
every seat had a screen with translations, I barely looked at mine because I was
simply captivated by the raw emotion emanating from the stage. It was almost as
if I didn’t have to know what they were saying - I could feel it."
From that moment, Alessandra has applied herself to
developing her vocal skills, studying privately, competing and being selected
for Regional and All State Choirs, training with the Brightest Star Summer Camp
and, in summer 2009, being accepted into the prestigious Interlochen Summer Arts
Camp Vocal Soloist Studies Program. To raise money for the Interlochen tuition,
she planned a fundraising recital for which she spent months working on
repertoire, preparing a program with translations and biographical information
on each composer and then performing in front of an audience of 200 friends and
family members. According to her private voice teacher, "the repertoire chosen
for the recital was both challenging and diverse, including sets of Italian,
French, German and English art songs as well as Leonard Berstein’s demanding
I Hate Music cycle…Alessandra’s professionalism in executing this program is
a clear testimony to the professionalism that she assumes in all of her
endeavors." Her experience at Interlochen was extremely intense and gave her the
opportunity to study with outstanding faculty and to gain a glimpse of
conservatory life.
Alessandra will be pursuing a 4 year conservatory degree,
after which she intends to work towards a master’s degree in music, stating, "I
am aware that spending the extra years in school will be necessary because of
the time it takes for a voice to mature." She eventually hopes to audition for
various opera companies and would also love to have the opportunity to " touch
someone else’s life" in the same way hers was touched by her music mentors. Next
fall, Alessandra will be pursuing her vocal training at The Manhattan School of
Music in New York City.
The scholarship panel was particularly impressed by
Alessandra’s lovely voice quality, her superb diction, well-supported tone
production, excellent intonation, expressiveness and technical agility. She
offered a touching performance of Copland’s "Laurie’s Song" (which we will hear
tonight) and an exceptional performance (with flawless French) of the highly
chromatic and difficult "Mandoline" by Faur é.
Her musicianship and ability to convey the meaning of each work were
outstanding.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Arts Council of the
Morris Area, it is my great pleasure to award the twelfth annual Eugenie
Coladarci Arts Scholarship to Alessandra Altieri.
2010 Arts Scholarship Honorable Mention:
Operatic Tenor, THOMAS CARLE
The Arts Council’s scholarship panel also selected one applicant whose
exceptional work merited Honorable Mention recognition:
Thomas Carle, an outstanding young operatic tenor graduating from Randolph
High School, has studied piano for 9 years, taken AP Music Theory, was selected
for the competitive All Eastern Chorus and, this past summer, attended the
highly selective Interlochen Vocal Soloist program. In her recommendation, his
voice teacher said, "in my experience as a teacher and singer, I have never come
across a 17 year old tenor with the specific vocal ability that Mr. Carle
possesses."
Had there been a third scholarship, there is no doubt the panel would have
selected Mr. Carle as its winner. Thomas will be attending Bucknell University
in Lewisburg, PA where he has been offered a place in the Bucknell University
Opera Company (an honor not usually offered to a freshman voice major).
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Eugenie Coladarci & Elaine Ehlers Arts
Scholarships
CLICK
HERE
for downloadable application materials.
Offered annually by the
Arts Council of the Morris Area to two graduating high school
seniors who demonstrate artistic excellence in dance, drama, music
or visual arts and plan to pursue further study in an area related
to the arts.
The Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship (in the amount of $1,250)
was established in memory of Eugenie Coladarci, Vice
President of Marketing and Public Relations, Chase Manhattan Bank
who was an active member of the Arts Council of the Morris Area for
eleven years and was completing her first term as Board Chair when
she passed away in 1997. As a statewide champion of the arts, Gene
encouraged the development of young artists and believed in the
value of the arts to the quality of life. The idea of a scholarship
to assist talented young people wishing to continue their study in
the arts was very important to her.
The
Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship
(now in the amount of $4,500) was
established in memory of Elaine Ehlers (1953-2001), a health-care
administrator by profession, who had a voracious appetite for all
things artistic and musical. She derived intellectual and emotional
sustenance from the arts and she supported programs at many museums
and musical institutions. By establishing this scholarship, an
enduring legacy has been created to reward those who possess
artistic talent and who plan to further their arts education.
Applicants must be Morris County residents who plan to pursue
post-secondary studies at an accredited institution or acknowledged
arts school or fine arts program and have demonstrated artistic
excellence in dance, drama, music, or visual arts.
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Arts
Mentoring Program at Morristown High School
Funded by Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Grant, the Art Mentoring
program assists selected, highly talented art students who need
additional support in refining their artistic skills, developing
their own personal style and assembling a strong art portfolio
which, in turn, enhances their ability to compete for admission into
quality art schools, college, a career in visual arts and/or
scholarship aid. Two professional artists meet with the
students for 12 weeks, assigning work tailored to each student's
needs. Additionally, the students receive instruction in Art
History, Life Drawing, Still Life Drawing and Computer Arts.
Graduates of this program have been highly successful in meeting
their career goals. A highlight of this year’s program was a
November 8th Field Trip to NY’s Museum of Modern Art.
“I’m sure the experience will resonate for our students for a very
long time, and may even have been life altering,” said Mira
Morrison, Chair of the Art Department of Morristown High.

L-R: Mentors Charles
Perkalis, Mira Morrison, Dan Fenelon;
Standing: Cori Connolly, Samantha Storch,
Charles Perkalis, Kadie Dempsey, Dan Fenelon, Mike
Lewis, Mira Morrison/ Seated: LeDavia Taylor and
Travis Samuels.
On January
22, 2008, the 2007-08 Morristown
High School Art Mentoring
Program awarded Certificates of Completion to senior participants: Cori
Connolly, Michael Godoy, Michael Lewis, Travis Samuels, Samantha Storch and LeDavia Taylor.
Professional artists Dan Fenelon and Charles Perkalis
provided expert mentoring in this program managed by Kadie Dempsey, the Arts Council's Local Arts Director, and arranged by Mira
Morrison, Chair of the Art Dept. at Morristown High.

L-R:
Student with their art: Cori Connolly, Travis Samuels,
LeDavia
Taylor, Mike Lewis, Samantha
Storch
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Workshops for Arts Organizations and Individual Artists
The Arts Council periodically offers workshops to assist Arts
Organizations and Individual Artists in developing skills in
grantwriting, business/financial management and such. Typically
there will be one workshop in the Fall and one in the Spring on such
topics. Those interested should contact the Arts Council's Director
of Local Arts at (973) 285-5115, ext. 17.
The Arts Council's
MURAL ARTS PROJECT
On December 5th, 2008 from 5-7pm, the
community joined together at Morristown Neighborhood House to celebrate the
completion of the Mural Arts Project and dedication of the newly installed
mural. Nearly 150 people attended and had a chance to meet the artist and his
family, to honor those people whose support and funding made the mural a reality
and to mingle with the many who participated in painting the mural over the last
several months. The wonderful buffet, provided by The Hyatt Morristown was an
added treat. The Arts Council hopes that both the
process of creating a mural, as well as the mural itself, will inspire and
energize the community and underscore the value of the arts in our lives.

Morristown Neighborhood House Mural, three views of installed
mural

Arts Council Executive Director Anne Aronovitch presents dedication plaque to
David Walker, Executive Director of Morristown Neighborhood House; Anne
Aronovitch honors supporters before enthusiastic crowd; Morristown Councilwoman
Michelle Harris-King with David Walker.
Mural Artists Cesar Viveros-Herrera and his wife/muralist Ana Palma; Girl Scouts
who painted mural ask for Cesar's autograph; the delicious buffet provided by
the Hyatt Morristown

Mural supporter, Marty Epstein, donated space in his bike shop, Marty's Reliable
Cycle for public painting sessions over several months - with Paul Miller;
Morristown Mayor Cresitello with Hyatt Senior Catering Manager, Carla Angel;
Kadie Dempsey, Local Arts Director for the Arts Council (foreground) oversaw the
entire Mural Arts Project...shown here with Neighborhood House personnel and
supporters of the mural project.
A little
history of the project:
The Arts Council of the Morris Area selected Philadelphia artist Cesar Viveros-Herrera
for this exciting mural arts residency to create a permanent 35’ x 35’ outdoor
mural on the Morristown Neighborhood House building at 12 Flagler Street. The
content of the mural was developed by the artist, based on community input and
the theme of the Neighborhood House’s mission over more than 100 years to help
new immigrants and to foster cross cultural acceptance.


Mural painting at the Family Service of Morris County's Time Out Adult Day Care
Center at Morris View
The artist Cesar Viveros-Herrera was chosen because of his outstanding
reputation and sizeable experience as a mural artist as well as his ability to
engage various sectors of the community throughout the mural making process.
A Steering Committee oversaw the mural design process and developed a plan for
engaging the community, including local artists and local youth with artistic
talent, in the process of the mural “creation.”
Other Murals conceived and executed by Mr. Viveros-Herrera as part of the large
scale mural project in the city of Philadelphia
The
Arts Council launched the project with a tent at the Morristown Fall Festival on
September 28, 2008. There, the artist brought several mural panels, inviting
public participation in painting the mural.
Even individuals with no artistic
talent are able and welcomed to join in painting the panels. During the ensuing
months, over 500 people from Scout troops, school
groups, participants in Adult Day Care, child day care, residents of Morris View
Healthcare Center, members of the Arts Council Staff and Board of Trustees and
the community at large participated in the painting efforts.
When all 49 panels were completed, the artist installed them on the side of the
Neighborhood House building.

L-R: Artist Dorothy Clair at Community Painting Day; Artist Cesar Viveros-Herrera
with mural design; Arts Council Board members at work

L-R: Residents
of Morris View Healthcare Center paint with Cesar (Arts Council Executive
Director Anne Aronovitch looks on); Morris View Residents with artist, Arts
Council and Morris View Staff
Steering
Committee Members:
David Walker, Executive
Director, Morristown Neighborhood House
Lashone Murphy, Director
of Arts & Recreation, Morristown Neighborhood House
Yvonne Ferise, Morristown
Neighborhood House
Rey Caudillo, Executive
Director, Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce
Xiomara Guevera, Executive
Director, Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs
Councilwoman Raline
Smith-Reid
Leanora
Gross, Housing Operations Administrator,
Morristown Housing
Authority
Maria Eugenia Vargas,
Program Coordinator, Wind of the Spirit
Paul Miller, Director of Sustainability, Morristown Partnership
Mira Morrison, Coordinator of Art, Music & Technology, Morristown High School
Anne Aronovitch, Executive
Director, Arts Council of the Morris Area
Kadie Dempsey, Local Arts
Director, Arts Council of the Morris Area
Funding:
The Arts Council
gratefully acknowledges that funding for the Morristown Neighborhood House Mural
Arts Project was provided by: Artists & Communities, a program of Mid Atlantic
Arts Foundation made possible by major funding from Johnson & Johnson, the New
Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Heinz Endowments, the William Penn
Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; and the Geraldine R. Dodge
Foundation; with the generous support of Reynolds Painting Group, LLC, Jay Favia
of Elite Corporate Housing, Marty’s Reliable Cycle, The Hyatt Morristown and
Thomas DeVita of United Rentals, Piscataway, NJ.
Midday/Evening Music on the Green
The Green Was Rockin' on June 26, 2008

L-R: front view of the band and crowds; The
Robert Murdock Band in full swing; crowds enjoying the concert
On June 26th,
the Trustees of the Morristown Green, in cooperation with the Arts Council of
the Morris Area, presented those fab classic rockers, the Robert Murdock
Band, in a free evening concert. Feet were tapping, hands were clapping, and
people were singing (and dancing) along with the band's exciting performance.
With note perfect arrangements, sizzling solos and amazing vocals, the band
delivered two + hours of nonstop rock classics - from the Beatles, Rolling
Stones, Donovan, Guess Who, to Creedence Clearwater, Moody Blues,
Herman's Hermits, the Mommas and the Poppas, the Monkeys and a
host of others...It was a concert no one wanted to end!

Lee Scott Howard lights a fire, photo by Bob Karp for The Daily
Record ©2007; Robert Murdock on vocals, photo by Bob Karp for The Daily Record,
©2007
Masters of classic
60’s and 70’s Beatles-era "British Invasion" and "American Response" rock ‘n
roll, the Robert Murdock Band generated a major buzz in the Morristown area when
they performed on the Green in October 2007 and, again, at the Community
Theatre/Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, as part of First Night® Morris
County. Guitar fireworks, especially those by the lead guitarist, Lee Scott Howard, complimented the outstanding singing and
dead-on, 4-piece arrangements. They do it all: everything from "I want to hold
your hand," to "Last train to Clarksville" or the iconic B side of Abbey Road.

L-R: More happy crowds enjoying the Band;
running and dancing on the Green; Robert Murdock in action; clapping along with
the music
Formed in the 1980s,
the Robert Murdock Band tours extensively in the Northeastern USA, opening for
such acts as New Riders of the Purple Sage, Leon Russell, Glen Burtnik (Styx),
John Eddie, Gary US Bonds and others. Appearing on nationally syndicated TV and
radio shows in England, Sweden, Germany and Chile, leader Murdock writes or
co-writes many of the group’s songs with guitarist Lee Scott Howard. The duo also writes songs for film and TV. In
addition, Robert has worked with notable producers Plinky Giglio (Glen Burnick/Styx),
David Prater (Firehouse), Frank Perevite (Dirty Dancing movie soundtrack) and
John Rollow (Kinks, Paul Young). His
formidable songwriting skills have earned Murdock multiple honorable mentions in
Billboard’s nationwide Song Contest and selection as one of only 25
songwriters (chosen from over 500 applicants) to participate in a recent ASCAP
Songwriting Seminar in NY. Whether performing original or "cover" tunes, the
group just plain rocks!
April Arts
This
biennial event is a most unique fundraiser. Approximately 20
prominent NJ artists "set up shop" and complete original artworks at
the reception. At the close of the reception, the artworks are
auctioned and then guests proceed to private dinners in the homes of
area hosts.
April Arts 2008 was in full bloom on April 5th
 
L-R: Co-Chairs Joen Ferrari (L) and
Dawn Dupak (in blue) with Board Chair Alan Levitan listen to artist Maria de Mos
explain her work; Arts Council Executive Director Anne Aronovitch with staffer
Kadie Dempsey and Barbara Moran.
L-R: Auctioneer Richard
Eger sells works by Chris Kappmeier, Joan Hierholzer
; Silent auction item by Kadie Dempsey
   

Artists
at work:
Top row L-R: Joan Hierholzer, Onelio
Marrero, Suzi Bethke; Chris Kappmeier
Bottom row L-R: Elissa Prystauk, Mary Ann Viola, Mary Ann Wentworth, Fran Wood
Proceeds from this
event support the extensive services and programs for artists, arts
organizations, schools, and the community provided by the Arts Council of the
Morris Area.
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Dinner
afterwards...Master Chef Gene Ferrari welcomes guests; Rio
Clemente, The Bishop of Jazz, entertains
The Arts Council gratefully acknowledges that the
beautiful location and elegant reception were generously sponsored by REXCORP REALTY
Community Service Arts Initiatives
This initiative provides creative, intellectually stimulating
and healing arts experiences to some of Morris County's most
vulnerable children and their families - those fighting poverty,
homelessness, hunger and neglect. This program is a vital and
growing piece of our program offerings, expanding the Arts Council's
reach beyond the classroom in several important ways: a)
advancing the range and quality of arts offerings provided to
families by social service agencies b) enlivening and revitalizing
neighborhoods through transformational community arts projects c)
deepening the skill sets of social service administrators an daycare
teachers
d) boosting the morale of families struggling to survive and e)
tapping the creative and intellectual potential of vulnerable
children in Morris County.
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L-R: Eve Jade Rivera and her dad
Joel Rivera painting a wooden bumblebee in the Head Start
woodworking workshop; Bira lansing, Katriece Davis, Courtney Terhune,
Shana Pearson and Adia Harris performed a stage reading of
their original play at Morristown High as part of CSAI initiative,
"Girls Surviving"; and Priscilla and her mom Monica Heller finish
making dinner plate as part of the ceramics workshop at Madison Day
Care. |

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