Morris Arts’ Gallery at 14 Maple opens Move: Dance in Art I

In late September, 2022, Morris Arts officially opens its Gallery at 14 Maple’s twenty fifth exhibit entitled Move: Dance in Art I . Curated by Virginia Fabbri Butera, PhD, who explains, “member institutions in the Arts & Culture Collaborative, Morris County, have created a series of events and programs around the ancient and universal theme of dance. Morris Arts’ Gallery at 14 Maple and the Therese A. Maloney Art Gallery at Saint Elizabeth University are presenting: Move: Dance in Art I and II, both separate exhibitions but both building on the same theme.”

The Arts & Culture Collaborative’s Dance Connections initiative is a festival of events highlighting the dance performances and dance-related work of New Jersey artists and organizations. These events will run from September through early 2023 and feature multiple styles of dance and a diverse group of performers. . The events will take place in venues across Morris County, publicized via members’ websites, newsletters and social media. For a general event listing, visit the Dance Connections webpage: https://www.morrisarts.org/dance-connections.

For the Gallery at 14 Maple exhibit, curator Dr. Virginia Butera selected works created by 27 artists (paintings, watercolors, mixed media, bronze, prints, photographs, digital art, and collage) for display at the Gallery, a distinctive space located on the 3rd floor of the LEED certified “green” building at 14 Maple Ave., Morristown.

: Peter Allen’s Yoga Poses

: Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern’s The Garden, after Bosch

: Neal Korn’s Me and Dancing

: Linda Howe’s Light Dancer

: Robin Cross-Keller’s Naach Dancers 1

: Tammy Heppner’s Deers Dancing

The exhibit features works by the following artists: Peter Allen (Harding Township), Bette Blank (Madison), Serena Bocchino (Basking Ridge), Virginia Carroll (Plainfield), Lawrence Ciarallo (Hoboken), Robin Cross-Keller (Sussex), Pasquale Cuppari (Roselle Park), Nathalie de Zan (Jersey City), Ellen Denuto (Denville), Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern (Shrewsbury), Geri Hahn (Mountain Lakes), Alice Harrison (Morristown), Tammy Heppner (Peapack), MJ Hoehn (Montclair), Linda Howe (New Providence), Chris Kappmeier (Lyndhurst), Neal Korn (Union), Brian McCormick (Butler), Len Merlo (South Plainfield), Barbara Neibart (Rockaway), Wayne Roth (Mountain Lakes), Fausto Sevila (Elizabeth), Marcia Shiffman (Highland Park), Jimena Vega (Union City), Anthony Waldmann (Convent Station), Lisa Westheimer (West Orange), Sue Zwick (Summit).

: Nathalie de Zan’s Flying Trapeze ou le Trapéziste à ciel ouvert

: Ellen Denuto’s Ballet Shoes and Flowers

: Lisa Westheimer’s Lucy Can’t Dance

: Len Merlo’s Rain Dance

: Lawrence Ciarallo’s 1,2 Get Down

: Pasquale Cuppari’s Primite Dancers

There is an almost visceral desire to move when viewing this exhibit – a natural response to the dynamism and energy embodied in these artworks. The works are highly varied, reflecting each artist’s unique vision of the theme, encompassing leaping ballet dancers, dancing deer, moving forests, multi-cultural ceremonial dances, break dancing, aerial ballet, courtly dances and even humorously evoking dance from the perspective of the “dance-challenged.”

As Curator Butera adds, “All the works celebrate various eras and places while emphasizing each individual visual artist’s unique viewpoints, styles, materials and interpretations”….”There are early Australian aboriginal rock art images and tribal figures and views of other traditional native dances from around the world” and host of other works that reflect “the joy, the intensity, the solemnity, and the excitement of dancing”…an art form “that connects us all! Remember to Move, Dance and Celebrate with us this Fall!”

Morris Arts gratefully acknowledges support for this exhibit from

Free visitation to the gallery exhibit is by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment here. The exhibit will remain on display until February 14, 2023. Visit www.morrisarts.org or call (973) 285-5115, x10 for additional information. The exhibit catalogue, posted online, contains details and sale prices for the works. The Gallery at 14 Maple is a barrier-free facility. Individuals needing special accommodation should contact Jenna Castano at (973) 285-5115, x 12 or jcastano@morrisarts.org.