As of January 2008, at the request of the County Administrator’s Office and the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Morris Arts assumed oversight for planning exhibitions at the Atrium Art Gallery, housed in the Morris County Administration & Records Building on Court Street in Morristown. Located on Floors 2-5 of the County’s Administration and Records Building, the Atrium Gallery offers 4-5 exhibits per year which showcase works in varied media by a wide variety of artists including African-American artists, high school students throughout the county (in a professionally juried show), emerging and established individual professional artists, artists with disabilities, Latin American artists, and member artists of various art associations within the county. The Gallery also includes a unique, multi-story open Atrium stairwell area which has allowed the inclusion of unusual art installations such as large mobiles, banners, quilts, and the like.
Most of the artwork is available for sale. Free catalogues, in both standard and LARGE PRINT versions (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. The Atrium Gallery is located in the Morris County Administration and Records Building on 12 Court Street, Morristown. The exhibit is free and open to the public during business hours, Mondays-Fridays from 8:30am-4:30pm. For more information, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert at Lsiebert@morrisarts.org or by phone at (973) 285-5115, ext. 10.
- Jamil Burton’s Cocoa Rhythm
- Rosalind Nzinga Nichol’s Golden Time of the Day
- Quientard DeGeneste’s Chadwick Bozeman/ Wakanda Forever
- Cathleen McCoy Bristol’s Church Concert
- Leroy Campbell’s Now’s the Time
- Jacqueline Collier’s The Arrangement
- Antoinette Ellis-Williams’ Nighttime Light
- Alicia Robinson’s Soul Explosion
Atrium Gallery’s Spring-Summer Exhibit opens May 18th
Over 125 people joined Morris Arts on Thursday, May 18, 2017, from 7-9pm at the free Opening Reception for the new Spring/Summer 2017 Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown. Featuring 237 works by member artists from the HUB Camera Club, ARTsee, the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, the Myhelan Artists Network, and the Drew Art Association, the exhibit showcases the creative talents of 79 artists working in wide variety of media (oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, pencil, paper, encaustic, watercolor, photography, etc.).
- Shirley Supp’s acrylic, When the Music Stopped
- Nora Winn’s watercolor, Drug of Choice
- Celia Shaflucas’ oil, Saffron Roses in front of Window (after Matisse)
- Liz Young’s ink on paper, Rougaroul
- Detail from Lia Wagner’s mixed media piece, Window
- Mia Mutascio’s photo, Fire Bucket Leaning on a Fence.
Click HERE to see the catalogue for the show.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday-Friday. The exhibit will run from May 18 through August 31, 2017. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
- Veda King Blachard’s oil, Together Apart
- Detail from Laura Shabazz’ upcycled book pages (naturally yellowed), Rhapsody in Monochrome
- Luz H. Gallo’s acrylic, mixed technique, Chaotyc Wisdom
- Sandra McTernan’s watercolor, Paris Through the Window (after Chagall)
- Detail from Anjali Shalit’s paper and pin work, Pinball Wizard
- Detail from Ann Piekarz’s watercolor, Lady in Gold (after Klimt)
29th annual Blackwell St. Juried Student Exhibit opened March 31st
Torrential rains and high winds didn’t prevent between 400-500 dedicated folks from attending the Opening Reception for the 29th annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Show at the Atrium Gallery on the evening of Friday, March 31, 2017. There was palpable excitement as these young, talented artists came with their families, teachers and friends to see their works on display and to participate in the awards ceremony.
Here are some photos from the evening:
L-R: Top- 2017 BEST IN SHOW, Zoe Paxos’ graphite on paper, Head of Hares (Roxbury); Valentina Giordano’s charcoal, Lost Boy (Madison); Jessica Murr’s white charcoal on black paper, Metal Flow (Mt. Olive);
L-R: Middle: Anthony McInnis, pastel, Really Really Bad (Butler); Lukas Scheidl’s ballpoint pen, Dali meets Bronzino (Mendham); Alexandra Leet’s acrylic on wood, Untitled (Butler);
L-R: Bottom: Dylan Pullara’s digital illustration, Dark & Light (Mt. Olive); Emily Grzesiowski’s stoneware, Slightly A Jar (Randolph); Haley Florio’s acrylic, Rachel (Butler).
A panel of five professional artists from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts comprised the jury selecting approximately 300 wall-hung works and 100 sculptures from nearly 800 submissions by talented high school students from throughout the County. The show was then organized, hung and administered by the all-volunteer members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, their friends and family and students. There are multiple ribbon categories, with Best In Show and the 1st Place ribbons receiving monetary prizes. The opening reception includes an awards presentation (on the 5th floor, in the Freeholder meeting room) and the opportunity to meet these talented young artists in person.
Clockwise from upper left: Alicia Oh’s acrylic, Free Spirit (Montville Twp); Max Scheidl’s lost wax bronze, Cuffed (Mendham); Bella Pisano’s tissue paper and board, The Joker (Jefferson Twp); Shayna Canning’s acrylic, Enigma (Boonton); Alia Macarios’ soapstone Polar Bear (Mendham); and Coral Coad’s mixed media, Byzantine Coal (Mendham).
Evolving from the 1988 exhibit that featured approximately 90 pieces of art, to this current, massive undertaking, the Juried Student Exhibit is unique in its democratic approach: there are no restrictions on the number of pieces a school can submit and submissions are open to public, private, parochial and home-schooled high school student artists from throughout Morris County. Each year, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and friends attend in support of these exceptional young artists.
- Tiara Herpriyonggo’s oil, The So Called Veil of Freedom (Mt. Olive)
- Juliette Fredericks’ ballpoint pen, Generations (Mendham)
- Josie Gutowski’s watercolor, Navona (Mendham)
- Emily Higgins collage, Dolly (Randolph)
- Charlie Tringall’s watercolor and Pitt pen, Gone Fishing (Mendham)
- Kevin Kahwaty’s stoneware Tree Bark (Montville Twp)
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday-Friday. The exhibit will run from March 31, 2017 through April 28, 2017. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
Winter 2017 Invitational Exhibit opened January 26, 2017
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On January 26, 2017 , more than 285 highly enthusiastic individuals joined Morris Arts at the free opening reception of the special Winter Invitational Exhibit at the Atrium Art Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building on 10 Court Street in Morristown. There, they met the 34 gifted artists and viewed 143 artworks that span styles from the contemporary abstract to plein air realism, created in a variety of media including oils, cut paper, 3-D works, photography, mixed media and acrylic.
To see the Exhibition Catalogue, click HERE.
- Todd L.W.Doney’s oil on linen, Venice #1
- Marsha Solomon’s acrylic Calyx & Pink
- Pat Brentano’s acrylic on paper, Complexity
- Natalia Pas acrylic, Begin in Chaos
- Charles Newman’s oil, Sunday Morning
- Adel Gorgy’s pirment ink print with 3D glasses, Dichotomy of Movement
- Adel Gorgy, pigment ink print, Sonnet for Love, Traces of Pollock and de Kooning
- Andrea Epstein, hand colored multiplate linocut and collograph, Broken Vessels – Black and Red
- Nina Nemeth’s fluid acrylic, fluid collage, NIghtfall
- Marsha Solomon acrylic, The School of Paris
- Jim Somers, photo on aluminum, Ice Approaching Waterfall, Booton
- Todd Doney’s oil on linen, Tree Shadows, Feb. 8, 5:15pm
Here are some photos from the reception:
- Joan Lisovicz, Gina Moran, Tara Skirzenski,Artist Elizabeth Gregory and her husband, Bob Gruen
- Artist Todd Doney with admirers
- Artist Marsha Solomon, art critic Mary Gorgy, Artist Annette Hannah
- Jim Somers with his prizewinning photo, Ice Approaching Waterfall, Boonton
- J. Michael Williams in front of his photo Swirling Leaves
- Dwight Hiscano shares juried awards for NJ Highlands Coalition submissions
- Crowds appreciate works on the 2nd floor
- Artist Marsha Solomon with some of her works
- Artist Todd Doney with crowds
- Fellow artist, Dan Fenelon, and friends support Artist Todd Doney
- Artist Charles Newman in front of his work
- Artist Andrea Epstein talks with Lynn Gorman and others about her work
The fifth floor captures the languid beauty of Venice in the rich, luminous oils by prize-winning and widely exhibited artist, Todd L.W. Doney (Gillette). In the fourth floor Atrium area, contemporary abstract artist Andrea Epstein (Berkeley Heights) excites the imagination with her bold colors, textures and intricate lines very much in the abstract expressionist tradition. In the fourth floor Hallway and Elevator Lobby, Adel Gorgy’s (Baldwin, NY) series of abstract photographic works, “Meditation in Five Dimensions,” presents meditative “mandalas for the 21st century.” His conceptual, visual, spatial construct allows the viewer to see his images as either two-dimensional or three-dimensional abstractions and challenges our perception of visual reality. Also in the fourth floor Hallway and Elevator Lobby, Marsha Solomon (Baldwin, NY) follows the tradition of classic New York Abstract Expressionism, but through her unique artistic voice. Her works, likened to those of Robert Motherwell and Helene Frankenthaler, combine the creative force of strong gestural painting surrounding soothing contemplative passages of soft paint. In the third floor Atrium area, acrylics, oils, and collages by award-winning Pat Brentano (Westfield) transform the space into a paradise of greenery, heightening awareness of nature’s layers of light and the infinite gradations of color in forested landscapes. In the 3rd floor Hallway area, New York artist Elizabeth Gregory Gruen’s “Cut Work” series is an evolving exploration of emotion initiated though free hand scalpel cut multilayered organic imagery – and yielding three dimensional geometric forms of great intricacy and spatial depth. Experiential, contemporary realist artist Charles Newman (Haddon Towne) paints en plein air (outdoors), harnessing light to evoke moods and emotions. Whether a forest scene, an industrial landscape or a domestic interior, Newman’s works are suffused with atmosphere, warmth and a sense of the moment. The second floor features an exhibit within an exhibit, curated by New Jersey photographer and Coalition trustee Dwight Hiscano, and juried by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Eliott Ruga (Senior Policy Analyst and Campaign Coordinator for the Highlands Coalition), Kristy Brucale Jach (director of Speakeasy Art Gallery in Boonton), and Anita Fickenburger (Senior Art Consultant for ArtPlus, corporate art consultants in Livingston, NJ), and judged by Alexandra Willis (Curator for the Morris Museum). The exhibit offers multiple artists an opportunity to reach a wide audience while showcasing the natural and cultural resources of the spectacular Highlands region.Most works are available for sale, with details and pricing provided in the free catalogues found in the elevator lobby areas on floors 2-5. The Atrium Art Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, 8:30am-4:30pm on Monday-Friday. The exhibit remains in place until March 16, 2017.
Atrium Gallery opened its Fall/Winter Invitational Exhibit on September 29, 2016
Don’t miss the chance to see the exciting and special Fall/Winter 2016-17 Invitational Exhibit at the Atrium Art Gallery, before it closes on January 5, 2016. The Gallery is located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building on 10 Court Street in Morristown and open to the public Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30 and will be open on New Year’s Eve, from 7pm until midnight as part of the 25th anniversary First Night Morris County.
Visitors can enjoy seeing the 273 artworks by 7 outstanding New Jersey/New York artists (Sean Carney, Doug DePice, Nicholas Gamarello, Cheryl Safren, Raymond Sicignano, Gail Winbury and Etty Yaniv) and which span styles from the contemporary abstract to precise realism, created in a variety of media including oils, acrylic, pen and ink, charcoal, carved wood and mixed media on copper.
Click HERE to see the catalogue of this special exhibit.
L-R top row: Gail Winbury’s oil, Rites of Spring; Doug DePice’s oil, Portrait of Rembrandt; Nicholas Gamarello’s acrylic on canvas, American Wolfpack; L-R middle row: Sean Carney’s wood stain and dremel on wood, Old City Hall; Raymond Sicignano’s oil, Denny’s Ice Cream; Etty Yaniv’s mixed media on paper, What Makes a Good Twit;Bottom row: Cheryl Safren’s oil on copper, Habitation 5: Rainforest.
A good friend of artist Nicholas Gamarello, Executive Chef David Martone, added some special delicacies to the evening’s refreshments, including filet mignon with balsamic glaze and shrimp cocktail. A variety of delicious items – including fudge with homegrown lavender and German Springerle cookies, vegetables, chocolates and other delights – also graced the refreshment table.
Here are some photos from the evening’s festivities:
- Attendees admiring the art
- Artist Nicholas Gamarello with his work
- German Springerle cookies by Mary Gamarello
- Artist Etty Yaniv with her husband
- Dr. Don Siebert with Artist Ray Sicignano
- Chocolate covered strawberries
- Filet mignon with balsamic glaze
- Artist Doug DePice with his wife Marilyn and Artist Gail Winbury
- Artists Etty Yaniv and Raymond Sicignano
- Artist Nicholas Gamarello with Chef David Martone
- Artist Cheryl Safren with guests
- wonderful refreshments
- Artist Sean Carney with his work
- Aritsts Doug DePice and Gail Winbury surround Marily DePice
The fifth floor features the dramatic, brilliantly colored abstract oils by prize-winning and widely exhibited artist, Gail Winbury (Westfield). In the fourth floor Atrium area, prolific artist (and veteran teacher) Doug DePice (Secaucus), astonishes with a sampling from his vast output – with its extraordinary variety, energy, and skill. And, in the fourth floor Hallway and Elevator Lobby, internationally acclaimed Israeli born-artist Etty Yaniv (Brooklyn) shares her fluid, intriguing, almost surreal yet precise drawings and watercolors of contemporary life. With clients like Steven Spielberg, Mel Blanc, comedian David Brenner and as the subject of a feature article in the NY Times, artist Nicholas Gamarello paints on canvas and, distinctively, on leather bomber jackets, guitar cases and other unconventional media to capture the spirit of WWII fighter pilots, of heroism in and out of war, Native American themes, military history, vintage 1940s-style pinups, classic rock stars, equestrian competitions, and other, contemporary themes. Gamarello’s works grace the third floor Atrium while the intricate depictions of landmarks, NJ streetscapes and iconic scenes, all strikingly crafted in wood (using only dremel and water based stains) by artist Sean Carney (Robbinsville), fascinate and delight the eye in the 3rd floor Hallway and Elevator Lobby. The second floor Atrium area features the stunning multimedia works by Cheryl Safren (Valley Stream, NY) which explore the intersection of science and art, utilizing paint and multimedia on copper and on canvas. And, in the 2nd floor Hallway area, military engineer and fine artist Raymond Sicignano (Englewood) combines his talents and training in his vibrantly colored, highly detailed and precise canvases which convey his fascination with unique and rapidly vanishing streetscapes of modern urban life.
Most works are available for sale, with details and pricing provided in the free catalogues found in the elevator lobby areas on floors 2-5. The Atrium Art Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, 8:30am-4:30pm on Monday-Friday and will be open from 7pm-midnight at First Night Morris County on New Year’s Eve. The exhibit remains in place until January 5, 2017.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
Catch it while you can: Atrium Gallery Spring/Summer exhibit closes September 1, 2016
If you haven’t seen it, don’t miss the final weeks of the Spring/Summer 2016 Exhibit which will be closing on September 1, 2016. Located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown, the Atrium Gallery is currently featuring 200 works by member artists from the HUB Camera Club, ARTsee, the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, the Myhelan Artists Network, and the Drew Art Association, the exhibit showcases the creative talents of 85 artists working in wide variety of media (oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, colored pencil, paper, encaustic, watercolor, photography, etc.). All of the works are for sale and several have already been purchased.
Clockwise from top left: Robert Peterson’s photograph, New Orleans Openings; Alex Bigotti’s oil on canvas, alla prima, Motley Crue; Liz Young’s acrylic on canvas, Tree 1.; Celia Shaflucas’ version (oil) of Cezanne’s Glass and Apples; Andrew Bobeck’s version (acrylic) of Matisse’s Madame Matisse; Peggy Dressel’s watercolor, Purple Lilacs I.
To see the catalogue (and price list) for the show, click HERE.
Clockwise from top left; Lia Wagner’s mixed media on MDF, Berlin Blue; Detail from Ann Piekarz’s version (watercolor) of Gustav Klimt’s (Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer) Lady in Gold; Shirley Supp’s acrylic, The Spectator; Luz H. Gallo’s acrylic, Rufous Capped Warbler; Michelle Cirotti’s oil, Just Think; Meeta Garg’s mixed media, Woods.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am – 4:30pm on Monday-Friday. The exhibit will run from May 20 through September 1, 2016. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
L-R: Clockwise from top left: Jean Leigh’s acrylic, Spring! Wonderful Spring!; Michelle Cirotti’s oil, One Night; Mary D. Guidetti-McColl’s pastel, After the Storm; Andrew Bobeck’s canvas giclee version of Leroy Neiman’s Marilyn; Ann Piekarz’s version (watercolor) of Van Gogh’s Irises; Celeste Fondaco’s version (oil) of Monet’s A Windmill at Zandaam.
Blackwell Street Juried Student Exhibit Marks 28th year with April 1, 2016 opening
Blackwell Street Juried Student Exhibit Marks 28th year with April 1 opening
Sheets of rain and blustery winds did not deter the more than 400 enthusiastic people who attended the April 1, 2016 Opening Reception for the 28th annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Show at the Atrium Gallery (Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown). The young artists, their teachers, families, fans and friends as well as the general public were inspired by the extensive exhibit and the sheer talent evident at every turn. Embracing a very wide variety of media (sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, etching, charcoal, pen and ink, graphite, photography, etc.), the artworks are a stunning tribute to the creativity, skill and passion of these young artists from throughout Morris County.
A panel of five professional artists from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts comprises the jury selecting approximately 300 wall-hung works and 100 sculptures from nearly 800 submissions by talented high school students from throughout the County. The show is then organized, hung and administered by the all-volunteer members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, their friends and family and students. There will be multiple ribbon categories, with Best In Show and the 1st Place ribbons receiving monetary prizes. The opening reception includes an awards presentation (on the 5th floor, in the Freeholder meeting room) and the opportunity to meet these talented young artists in person.
- Kate Vialet’s earthenware and glaze, Hulde van Renee Magritte (Jefferson Twp)
- Alex Jassin’s sculpture,-blackout poetry, Gag (Madison)
- Nick Fett’s earthenware clay & glaze, Mystery Gift (Jefferson Twp)
- Ella Cusano’s mixed media, Concentration (Mendham)
- Coral Coad’s hand painted rice paper, plastic bags and coffee filters Cabinet of Curiosities (Mendham)
- Carolline Morales’ acrylic, The Breakfast Brunch (Mt. Olive)
Evolving from an exhibit that, in 1988, featured approximately 90 pieces of art, to this current, massive undertaking, the Juried Student Exhibit is unique in its democratic approach: there are no restrictions on the number of pieces a school can submit and submissions are open to public, private, parochial and home-schooled high school student artists from throughout Morris County. Each year, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and friends attend in support of these exceptional young artists.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am – 4:30pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from April 1, 2016 through April 29, 2016. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
Visual Griot, African American Exhibit by Art in the Atrium
January 29-March 16, 2016
Over 300 people joined Morris Arts and Art in the Atrium at January 29th’s free public opening on January 29th – for New Jersey’s largest exhibition of African-American art, curated and assembled by Art in the Atrium. The exhibit, entitled VISUAL GRIOT, incorporated 150 artworks by 30 outstanding African American artists. At the reception, crowds flocked to hear the talk by featured artist Alonzo Adams and they enjoyed the food, music and the opportunity to purchase artworks by many of the artists in the exhibit.
Here are some photos from the opening reception:
- Artwork for sale
- Artworks for sale
- Delicious buffet
- crowds at Alonzo Adams’ talk
- More crowds at Alonzo Adams’ talk
- Artists whose works were in the exhibit
- photographer Howard Cash with this work, Going Home
- Alonzo Adams (R) with his wife and collectors of his works, the Williams
And here are some photos of artwork in the exhibit:
- Alonzo Adams oil, I am the N Word
- Alonzo Adams’ The match
- Alonzo Adams’ oil, Biggest Fan
Running through March 16, the exhibit is entitled Visual Griot and highlights the work of Plainfield artist Alonzo Adams, as well as works by nearly 30 outstanding local and internationally known African American artists including Lavette Ballard, Bisa Butler, Leroy Campbell, Howard Cash, Stephen B. Ellis, Leslie Floyd, April Harrison, Janice Jamison, Julio Mejia, Maceo Mitchell, Janet Taylor Pickett, Ellaree Pray; Deborah Shedrick, Sandra P. Smith, and Ceaphus Stubbs, among others.
- Rosalind Nzinga Nichol’s Bouquet
- Sandra P. Smith’s No Do Overs
- Bisa Butler’s Benin Beautiful
- Leroy Campbell’s Courtship
- Deborah Shedrick’s Reigning Queen #2
- Janet Taylor Pickett’s And She Watches
L-R: Rosalind Nzinga Nichol’s Bouquet; Sandra P. Smith’s No Do Overs; Bisa Butler’s quilt, Benin Beautiful; Leroy Campbell’s Courtship; Deborah Shedrick’sReigning Queen #2; Janet Taylor Pickett’s And She Watches.
Born in 1961 in Harlem, NY and raised in Plainfield, NJ, Alonzo Adams’ passion for art was nurtured from the streets of Plainfield to the country roads of North Carolina and enriched by trips to France and Spain. He was inspired by such greats as Charles White, Henry O. Tanner, L’Hermitte, John Singer Sargent and Rembrandt. Adams credits artist David Driskell with mentorship early in his career which helped define his ultimate direction and goals as an artist. With over 25 years as a professional award-winning artist, Adams hold a BFA from Rutgers, an MFA from University of Pennsylvania and had additional training at the Ducret School of the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. One of the first African American artists to become an Absolut Artist, Adams was featured in theBlack Romance exhibit at the Studio Museum of Harlem and three of his original oils were auctioned at Sotheby’s, with phenomenal response. He was also one of the first inductees into the Rutgers African American Alumnae Association Hall of Fame. His work is in various museum and private collections including that of Maya Angelou. Additionally, numerous publications have featured articles on Adams, including Art Business News, Black Enterprise, Images Magazine, Upscale Magazine and ESPN Magazine.
Previously, he served on the board of Plainfield NJ’s Ducret School of Art. He resides in Plainfield with his wife and two sons.
- April Harrison’s Belle
- Kara S. Rice’s Dust
- detail from Viki Craig’s Afro Princesses
- Leslie Floyd’s Stanley
- Charly Palmer’s Voting Booth
- Ellaree Pray’s Square Biz
L-R: April Harrison’s Belle; Kara Rice’s Dust; detail from Janice Jamison’s quilt, Afro Princesses; Leslie Floyd’s Stanley; Charly Palmer’s Voting Booth; Ellaree Pray’s Square Biz.
Art in the Atrium’s annual exhibition is the largest of its kind in the state. “It really helps to expand people’s idea of what African-American art can be,’’ says Craig. “We have works in all mediums and genres. It’s not just figurative paintings with a mask in them.’’ The non-profit organization, Art in the Atrium, began in 1992 after Victoria Craig’s husband, attorney Charles Craig, noticed that no art works exhibited in the Morristown administration building were by African-American artists. Dedicated to exhibiting works by emerging and established black artists, Art in the Atrium is a nonprofit volunteer organization whose annual exhibit at the Atrium Gallery is now the largest of its kind in New Jersey, growing from a single floor to currently occupying 4 full floors of the County Administration & Records Building. Art in the Atrium has also expanded to include seminars, jazz brunches, collectors’ workshops and cosponsored artist residencies in the Morris School District, benefitting 200 to 500 students each year. It also awards an annual scholarship to a student artist, whose work is often exhibited in the show. For more information, visit www.artintheatrium.org.
The exhibition is made possible in part by funds from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Fall/Winter Exhibit
October 2, 2015-January 7, 2016
- Janet Boltax’s oil, Arno Roland
- Sharon Pitts’ watercolor, Floral Burst
- Elaine Kurie’s oil, Glass Bottle with Wheat
- Fran Wood’s oil, French Connection
- Peter Tilgner’s merged image photo art, Blue Man (Berlin series)
- Double Dome, oil and acrylic by Mitchell Rosenzweig
- Christine Wagner’s Composition VII, gouache and ink on paper
Despite the threat of Hurricane Joaquin along with cold, rainy and windy weather, more than 75 people braved the elements to attend the October 2nd opening reception of the Fall/Winter 2015-16 Exhibit at the Atrium Art Gallery (located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building on 10 Court Street in Morristown). In place until January 7th, 2016, the exhibit includes 141 artworks by seven highly talented professional artists. On the fifth floor, viewers can marvel at contemporary realist artist Elaine Kurie’s ability to capture texture, light and line with astounding precision and elegance in her oils while prizewinning contemporary impressionist Fran Wood’s oils and watercolors shimmer with energy and emotional connection to their subject matter. By contrast, the forceful, dramatic and vibrant oil/acrylic and mixed media paintings by Mitchell Rosenzweig splash the 4th floor with vivid color, abstract forms and highlight his three dimensional, multi-layered approach to painting. The Atrium area of the 3rd floor features Sharon Pitts’ elegantly refined, subtle hued and distinctively large-scale watercolors while, the 3rd floor Hallway area features works by photographer Peter Tilgner who creates thought-provoking photo art by merging “the unplanned” and combining “images of everyday people, places and things into content driven images.” The 3rd floor Elevator Lobby features works by Christine Wagner, whose works feature bright basic colors, both linear geometric and fluid organic forms, and evoke both Mondrian and Miro. On the 2nd floor, Janet Boltax’s moving and penetrating series, Aging in America, features intriguing oil portraits and accompanying interviews with each painting’s subject – capturing, in both words and images, the richness of long lives.
Here are some additional photos of the artwork and gallery spaces:
- Sharon Pitts’ watercolor Irises in the Garden
- Elaine Kurie’s oil, Peony on white paper
- view of 4th floor, works by Mitchell Rosezweig
- view of Sharon Pitts’ watercolors, 3rd floor atrium area
- Views of 5th and 4th floors, Kurie and Rosenzweig works
- Peter Tilgner’s photos, 3rd floor hall
- Christine Wagner’s works, elevator lobby, 3rd floor
- 4th floor atrium Mitchell Rosenzweig’s works
- Janet Boltax portraits on 2nd floor
Click HERE for the catalogue of the exhibit and HERE for the flier.
Here are some photos from the opening reception
- Donna Compton and friend flank Elliott Ruga
- Artist Janet Boltax (w. nametag) and friends
- Artist Janet Boltax in front of one of her portraits
- appreciative viewers on 2nd floor
- enjoying the exhibit
- Morris Arts board member Dawn Dupak with artist friend, Sandy Di Cristofaro
- admiring works by Sharon Pitts on 3rd floor
- public enjoying exhibit on floors 2, 3
- Artist Christine Wagner (R) with her husband, in front of her works
- Tjelda van der Meijden with friends
Most works are available for sale, with details and pricing provided in the free catalogues found in the elevator lobby areas on floors 2-5. The Atrium Art Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, 8am-5pm on Mondays-Fridays and will be open from 7pm-midnight at First Night Morris County on New Year’s Eve. The exhibit remains in place until January 7, 2016.
2015 Spring/Summer Exhibit at Atrium Gallery
May 14 – September 11, 2015
Nearly 120 people attended the opening reception for the new Spring/Summer 2015 Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown. Featuring 245 works by 76 member artists from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, the Contemporary Art Group, the Myhelan Artists Network, Arts Unbound and ARTsee, the exhibit showcases the creative talents of these artists working in wide variety of media (oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, pen and ink, origami, beadwork, photography, etc.). The exhibit runs through September 11, 2105.
Click HERE to view the catalogue of the exhibit.
Click HERE to read the article about the opening reception by Kevin Coughlin, Editor of MorristownGreen.com.
Here are some photos of works in the exhibit:
- Marianne Trent, acrylic, paper on wood panel, Yellow River Valley
- Sandra Cerchio’s oil on black canvas, Tulip
- Linda Lam’s oil, Pink Peonies
- Kathleen Kirchner’s photography, archival Urban Wall Composition II
- Maryann Ficker’s oil, On the Path (St. Barbara)
- Joy Ann Cabanos’s mixed media-origami, Crescent-Reclaim
- Sharon Reed’s oil, Squawk
- Maxine King’s Becky’s Night Out (Sumi Ink and Wash)
- Don Kuhn’s oil, Winter, Study in Grey and Brown
- Cynthia Walling’s oil, African Still Life
- Tammy DeVoe’s acrylic drip, NY Subway Platform
- Gail Mardfin’s giclee of original acrylic painting, Vinchat
- Jolanta Talaikiene, acrylic, Memories of Childhood
- Linda Aldrich’s colored ink, Remains in the Afternoon
- Nora Winn’s watercolor, Summer Trellis
- Brad Friedman’s oil, And Now, Presenting, Live in Art
Here are some photos from the opening reception:
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am – 4:30pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from May 14 through September 11, 2015. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
Top Student Artworks at
27th Blackwell Juried Student Exhibit
March 27-April 24, 2015
On Friday, March 27, 2015, over 450 young artists, their teachers, family and friends, along with the general public and artists attended the Opening Reception of the 27th annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery. Located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown, the exhibit includes over 350 works of art by top students from approximately 20 high schools throughout Morris County and beyond. Embracing a very wide variety of media (sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, etching, charcoal, pen and ink, graphite, photography, etc.), the artworks are a stunning tribute to the creativity, skill and passion of these young artists.
Mary Ann St. Jacques, a Photography and 3D Design teacher at Madison High School, commented: “My students, their parents, and I all had a wonderful evening. I saw so many students from opposing schools complementing each other’s work and talking about their projects and inspiration. It was a great forum for young artists to see the importance of collaboration and exposure to different techniques and approaches to similar projects…My kids are already brainstorming for next year!”
A panel of five professional artists from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts comprises the jury selecting approximately 350 works from nearly 800 submissions by talented high school students from throughout the County. The show was then organized, hung and administered by the all-volunteer members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, their friends and family. There were multiple ribbon categories, with Best In Show and the 1st Place ribbons receiving monetary prizes. The opening reception included an awards presentation (on the 5th floor, in the Freeholder meeting room), music, food, and the opportunity to meet these talented young artists in person.
Above: Best in Show: Butler HS student Rachel D’Agnilli’s charcoal, Untitled.
Evolving from an exhibit that, in 1988, featured approximately 90 pieces of art, to this current, massive undertaking, the Juried Student Show is unique in its democratic approach: there are no restrictions on the number of pieces a school can submit and submissions are open to public, private, parochial and home-schooled high school student artists from throughout Morris County. Each year, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and friends attend in support of these exceptional young artists.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am – 4:30pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from March 27 through April 24, 2015. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
L-R: Nicole Ramirez’s scratchboard work, Reflections (Madison); Sarah Cecere’s mixed media, Shark Week (Mendham); Garrett Temple’s ceramic work, Soft and Hard (Roxbury).
L-R: Maureen Shelley’s oil, Na Pali Coast (Mendham); Oliva Kuchta’s charcoal and chalk pastel work, Cold Feet (Morris Knolls); Carlo Zarro’s stoneware & high fire glaze, Carl’s Rhino (Randolph); Maggie Walter’s acrylic, Super Moon in Dublin (Mendham); Elizabeth Davalos’ collage, Antiquities (Mt. Olive).
L-R: Kendra Nola’s oil, Hot & Cold (Butler); Lauren Bromley’s oil,En Grisaille (Mendham);Jordan Seagrave’s watercolor & graphite,After Duchamps (Roxbury); Rosa Chang’s acrylic,The Need for Restraint(Mt. Olive); Danielle Winkler’s pencil work Untitled (Butler).
Below, L-R: Miu Sakamoto’s scratchboard work, Life (Mountain Lakes); Maxwell Creager’s ballpoint, Picasso meets Vermeer (Mendham); Jennifer Cappuccio’s paper mache sculpture, Drops of Hope (Montville Township); Brooke Downe’s oil, Courtney (Mountain Lakes); Julia Penny’s pastel, Rotten Fruit (Academy of St. Elizabeth).
Photos from the Opening Reception:
Best in show artist Rachel D’Agnilli (middle) with the winning artwork and her parents; The Blackwell Street Center for the Arts artists who do the “heavy lifting” for this show – L-R: Dave Gruol, Peggy Dressel, Annette Hannah, Elaine Provost and Roy Provost.
Below: Some of the crowds at the Opening Reception; Standing room only at the award ceremony:
African American Art Exhibit, Ancient Rhythms Remixed, opened January 23rd
On January 23rd, over 200 people attended the free public opening of New Jersey’s largest exhibition of African-American art, curated and assembled by Art in the Atrium held at the Atrium Gallery, floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration & Records Building, 10 Court Street, Morristown, NJ.
Running through March 15, the exhibit is entitled “Ancient Rhythms Remixed” and features the work of West Orange fine art quilter Bisa Butler, as well as works by more than 20 additional prominent black artists including Alonzo Adams, James Denmark, Janet Taylor Pickett, Maceo Mitchell, Leroy Campbell, Deborah Willis, Dwight Carter, Barbara Bullock and Norman Lewis, among others.
Above: Bisa Butler’s quilt, The Radiant One
Influenced by her mother’s and grandmother’s love of fabric art, featured artist Butler switched from painting to fabric and developed new techniques and approaches to fine art quilt making. A formally trained artist, cum laude graduate of Howard University (BFA) with an MA in teaching from Montclair State, Butler studied the works of Romare Bearden, Faith Ringgold and Henry O. Tanner and tapped into quilting traditions such as evoking memories by using fabrics belonging to loved ones, utilizing patterns to transmit news or messages (used during slavery) and creating innovative designs to produce painterly, modernist portraits of figures like Josephine Baker, Nelson Mandela, Marvin Gaye and Jean-Michael Basquiat. In Butler’s hands, fabric communicates emotion, heritage, and beauty. Her art has been exhibited at both the Smithsonian and Epcott Center in Disney World.
“Bisa’s pieces appeal to many different audiences and because they are created from fabric, it gives the show added texture,’’ says Victoria Craig, director of administration for Art in the Atrium.
Art in the Atrium’s school arts program, which is tied to the show, will also take on an added dimension when Butler, a teacher in the Newark public school system, visits classrooms in advance of the show to help children appreciate the experience of seeing an art exhibition. In the past, artists spoke with children after their trip.
Art in the Atrium’s annual exhibition is the largest of its kind in the state. “It really helps to expand people’s idea of what African-American art can be,’’ says Craig. “We have works in all mediums and genres. It’s not just figurative paintings with a mask in them.’’
Here are some photos from the exhibit and from the opening reception:
- Bisa Butler discussing The Chain Gang quilt
- Bisa Butler in front of her large quilt
- Bisa Butler (R) with her daughter
- Bisa Butler with poster of The Radiant One
- Leroy Campbell’s Practice
- Lavett Ballard’s mixed media, Soul Sanctuary
- James Denmark’s Elegant Lady
- Gerry Lynn’s Royalty
- Debra Shedrick’s Made of Eight
- Charly Palmer’s Long Day
- Anthony Boone’s Incredible
- Bisa Butler,s art quilt, We Cool
- Bisa Butler’s The Kiss, art quilt
- Bisa Butler’s quilt, Samo Lives
- Bisa Butler’s quilt, Lupita
- Bisa Butler art quilt: Pops! Mr. Louis Armstrong
- Alonzo Adams’ Soprano Serenade
- Alonzo Adams’ Makin’ His Way
- Jacquleine Collier’s linocut, All that Jazz
- After MIdnight: For Marvin with love (art quilt by Bisa Butler)
- Bisa Butler’s art quilt, Frances and Violette
- Anthony Boone with his work, Homage
- Quientard DeGeneste with his watercolor, Sunscape
- Crowds at opening
- Admiring the art at the opening
- The artists in the exhibit
- Crowds at Bisa’s talk
- Wonderful food served at opening
The non-profit organization Art in the Atrium began in 1992 after Victoria Craig’s husband, attorney Charles Craig, noticed that none of the art works exhibited in the Morristown administration building were by African-American artists. Dedicated to exhibiting works by emerging and established black artists, Art in the Atrium is a nonprofit volunteer organization whose annual exhibit at the Atrium Gallery is now the largest of its kind in New Jersey, growing from a single floor to currently occupying 4 full floors of the County Administration & Records Building. Art in the Atrium has also expanded to include seminars, jazz brunches, collectors’ workshops and also cosponsors artist residencies in the Morris School District, benefitting 200 to 500 students each year. It also awards an annual scholarship to a student artist, whose work is often exhibited in the show. For more information, visit www.artintheatrium.org.
The exhibition is made possible in part by funds from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
FALL/WINTER Exhibit 2014-15
September 19, 2014 – January 7, 2015
Approximately 200 people joined Morris Arts on Friday, September 19, 2014, at the free Opening Reception for the show at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown.
Embracing a wide variety of subject matter (contemporary, cyperpunk, veteran experiences, African motifs, etc.) and media (oil, acrylic, cement, glass, crystals, electronic components, paper made from military uniforms, etc.), the artworks highlight the creative energies of 36 artists whose 191 works are displayed on the four floors of the Gallery. Organically inspired, vividly colored paintings by Carlos Frias grace the fifth floor along with the powerfully dynamic impasto oils by Chris Kappmeier. Highly varied and intricate contemporary works in multiple media by Seven X Seven (from the Power of ElevenArts Collective, including artists Pauline Chernichaw, Penny Dell, Sandra Frech, Alice Harrison, Valerie Mankoff, Nancy Egol Nikkal, andRuth Bauer Neustadter) occupy the fourth floor. The PO7/11 artists will also hold a participatory Q&A program at 7pm on the night of the opening, on the 4th floor.
Above: Carlos Frias’ work, Honeycomb.
L-R:Chris Kappmeier’s oil, C.P.Yangs, NYC; Alice Harrison’s collage, Your Story 1; Ruth Bauer Neustadter’s multimedia work, Primus.
The third floor atrium and elevator lobby areas features prints by Combat Paper, showcasing powerful artworks by 25 veterans ( from Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan) who express their combat experiences through various printmaking processes (lino-cuts, silkscreens, etc.) which print images onto “combat paper” (paper handmade from soldier/artists’ military uniforms). John Tetz’ inspired, O-themed “feather piece” mobile floats in the stairwell between third and fourth floors. The third floor hallway features the intensely colorful and vibrant, African-inspired works by partner artists Béatrice
Lebreton (French) and Ibou Ndoye(Senegalese), including works from their Elementiks series (pictorially representing Air, Earth, Water and Fire) as well as Ndoye’s intricate, traditional /contemporary Senegalese reverse paintings on glass. The dramatic contemporary, cyberpunk oils on steel (with electronic components and crystals) paintings, drawings and paintings on canvas by Michael Hannafill the second floor.
L-R: Jim Fallon’s silkscreen on combat paper, Orphan’s Opus ’68; Chris Arendt’s silkscreen on combat paper, How to Make Combat Paper; Béatrice Lebreton’s painting, Earth I; Michael Hanna’s oil on steel, electronic components and crystals, Hydra Crane.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8:30am –4:30pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run through January 7, 2015.
Click HERE to see the catalogue for this show.
Click HERE to see Ralph Bellantoni’s article on the exhibit from the Daily Record’s TGIF and HERE for post-opening writeup from MorristownGreen.com.
For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
Most works are available for sale, with details and pricing provided in the free catalogues found in the elevator lobby areas on floors 2-5. The Atrium Art Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, 8:30am-4:30pm on Mondays-Fridays and will be open from 7pm-midnight at First Night Morris County on New Year’s Eve. The exhibit remains in place until January 7, 2015.
L-R: Beatrice Lebreton’s work Air 10 fromthe series, Elementiks; Ibou Ndoye’s work Fire- IN from the series Elementiks; Combat Paper, print; Michael Hanna’s oil on steel, Unrestrained Essence.
Spring/Summer 2014 Exhibit
May 16-September 2, 2014
On Friday, May 16, 2014, crowds flocked to the opening of the Spring/Summer 2014 Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown.
Embracing a wide variety of subject matter (landscapes, abstracts, portraits, etc.) and media (oil, acrylic, photography, textiles, wood, etc.), the artworks highlight the creative energies of 93 artists whose 242 works are displayed on the four floors of the Gallery. Works by members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts grace the 5th floor atrium area while works by members of the Art Association in Roxbury occupy the seating area and elevator lobby of the 5th floor and the entire 4th floor. Viewers can enjoy artworks by members of the Myhelan Artists Network on the 3rd floor and art by members of the Contemporary Art Group displayed on the 2nd floor.
Left: Linda Lam’s oil, Orchid.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from May 16, 2014 through September 2, 2014.
L-R: Liza Smith-Simpson’s acrylic, Flight Paths II; Bob Sharen’s digital photomanipulation, Crone; Mef Gannon’s art quilt/bead embroidery, Third Eye Dance; Kristina Lloyd’s photo, Make a Wish; Linda Aldrich’s egg tempera, Summer Kitchen.
L-R: Diane Gallo’s pastel, The Dancer; Gail Mardfin’s acrylic, Midnight Tulips; Maxine King’s Sumi Ink & Wash, Remembrance; Dolores Bruzzi’s acrylic, Roman Villa; Dorothy Siclare’s oil, Let’s Tango .
Click HERE for the catalogue of the show.
For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
26th Blackwell Street Juried Student Exhibit
March 28-April 29, 2014
On Friday, Marche 28, 2014, from 8:30-9pm, over 400 people attended the Opening Reception for the 26th Annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown. Embracing a very wide variety of media (sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, drypoint etching, charcoal, pen and ink, graphite, photography, etc.), the artworks are a stunning tribute to the creativity, skill and passion of these young artists from throughout Morris County.
A panel of five professional artists (Elaine Provost, David Gruol, Annette Hanna, Linda Aldrich, John Power – with help from Roy Provost) from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts comprises the jury selecting approximately 300 works from nearly 650 submissions by talented high school students from throughout the County. The show is then organized, hung and administered by the all-volunteer members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, their friends and family. There were multiple ribbon categories, with Best In Show and the 1st Place ribbons receiving monetary prizes. The opening reception included an awards presentation (on the 5th floor, in the Freeholder meeting room) and the opportunity to meet these talented young artists in person.
Above: Best in Show, Joy Liu’s acrylic, April Rain (Mountain Lakes)
L-R: Aliston Duerwald’s pastel wash on board, Delicious ( Mendham); Katherine Lathrop’s oil, Sargent McQueen (Mendham); Tori Fessenden’s egg tempera, Tori; Michelle Mueller’s oil, David (Roxbury).
L-R: Joy Liu’s acrylic, The Starving Artist (Mountain Lakes); Ella Cusano’s paper and wood, Ballando Con Le Colori (Mendham); Sam Baker’s mixed media, Junkbot (Parsippany Hills); Taylor Hempstead’s acrylic, Step into my Shoes (Academy of St. Elizabeth).
L-R: Gabby Petrocelli’s ballpoint pen work, Rejected (Raphael meets Tim Burton) (Mendham); Peter Testa’s clay and glaze, Aldun (Roxbury); Danielle Winkler’s colored pencil, Untitled (Butler); Meghan Cooper’s bronze, Cephalopod (Mendham).
Evolving from an exhibit that, in 1988, featured approximately 90 pieces of art, to this current, massive undertaking, the Juried Student Show is unique in its democratic approach: there are no restrictions on the number of pieces a school can submit and submissions are open to public, private, parochial and home-schooled high school student artists from throughout Morris County. Each year, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and friends attend in support of these exceptional young artists.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. Free parking is provided during the reception in the garage underneath the building (accessed via Schuyler Place). The exhibit will run from March 28 through April29, 2014. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
Hot off the press: Photos from the Opening Reception:
L-R: Best in Show artist Joy Liu with her mom in front of April Rain; SRO crowds at award ceremony; Blackwell St. artists Annette Hanna and David Gruol, two of the organizers of the exhibit; more crowds viewing artwork; Blackwell Street Center for the Arts organizers of the exhibit, Linda Aldrich, Dave Gruol, John Power, Roy Provost, Annette Hanna, and head of it all, Elaine Provost.
L-R: Crowds viewing the exhibit, on stairs and hallways; Mendham HS student Meghan Cooper with some of her prizewinning bronze sculptures; more crowds.
Art in the Atrium’s 22nd African American Exhibit
“Your Crown is Bought and Paid For”
January 24-March 14, 2014
Over 200 people attended the Opening Reception for the 22nd annual African American Art Show and Sale presented by Morris Arts’ grantee, Art in the Atrium, Inc. on January 24th, 2014 from 5-9pm. Located on floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration & Records Building, this year’s exhibit features renowned artist, James Denmark, whose collages, watercolors and woodcuts are in high demand throughout the art world and are found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A delightful and inspiring evening, the opening reception offered a chance to meet artists, view the art, hear James Denmark’s inspiring remarks (captured in Kevin Coughlin’s MorristownGreen.com article), enjoy the DJ’s music, and sample a delicious buffet (catered by Martin Little Catering and graciously served by Delta Sigma Theta alumnae)!
Celebrating the civil rights struggle and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, this exhibit runs from January 24th through March 14th. The title of the exhibition, is “Your Crown has Been Bought and Paid For…..,’’ a quote from African-American author James Baldwin. The second line is “… All you have to do it wear it.’’
“The theme celebrates the struggles we’ve been through and the efforts of civil rights workers,” says Victoria Craig, director of administration for Art in the Atrium.
Watercolors and collages by the exhibition’s featured artist, James Denmark of South Carolina, fill the entire 5th floor. Works by nearly 30 other top African-American artists, including Leroy Campbell, Maceo Mitchell, Bisa Butler, Janet Taylor Pickett, Sandra Smith, Dwight Carter and Alonzo Adams, fill floors 2-4. Additionally, this year’s show features the works of Andre Woolery, a Morristown High School graduate, who was named one of 40 African-American Artists to Watch in 2014 by the MSNBC website,theGrio.com, which features news for African-Americans. Works by Newark artist Jerry Gant, who is also on theGrio.com‘s list, are included in the exhibit as well.
Art in the Atrium’s annual exhibition, which showcases the work of African-American artists, is the largest of its kind in New Jersey. “It really helps to expand people’s idea of what African-American art can be,” says Craig. “We have works in all mediums and genres. It’s not just figurative paintings with a mask in them.” The non-profit organization began in 1992 after Craig’s husband, attorney Charles Craig, noticed that none of the art work exhibited in the Morris County Administration building was by African-American artists. Art in the Atrium was formed to mount an exhibition of black artists and has expanded to include other events such as seminars, jazz brunches and collectors’ workshops. The first exhibition was held on the second floor, but now, art work is displayed throughout the building.
In addition to its other programs, Art in the Atrium co-sponsors artist residencies in the Morris School District that benefit between 200 to 500 students each year. It also awards an annual scholarship to a student artist, whose work is often exhibited in the show.
Above: James Denmark’s Sheer Elegance.
James Denmark
James Denmark was born in Winter Haven, Florida on March 23, 1936 into a family of Artists. He was exposed to color and form at an early age by his grandmother, a wire sculptor and quilt artist, by his grandfather, a bricklayer noted for his unique custom design molds and his mother who was gifted with an intuitive feeling for design and a fastidiousness for detail which she expressed in all aspects of her daily life. This rich beginning is the root of James Denmark’s creative expression.
He attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida on a sports scholarship. While pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Art at FAMU, Denmark came under the tutelage of the artist and acclaimed African-American art historian, Dr. Samella Lewis, who exposed him to great traditions and accomplishments of the African-American art movement. After graduating from FAMU, Denmark moved to Brooklyn and began a career as an art teacher in the public school system.
From 1973 to 1976, Denmark earned his Master of Fine Art Degree at the prestigious Pratt Institute of Fine Art in New York. While at Pratt, Denmark met and was nurtured by an immensely talented community of artists. During this period he was heavily influenced by such abstract expressionists as Jackson Pollack, Clifford Still, Willem de Kooning. The African-American Masters Norman Lewis, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Ernest Crichlow instilled in him an appreciation of his African-American artistic heritage. He began experimenting with collage. Prior to this period, he worked primarily in watercolors and charcoal.
Denmark has a natural affinity for the difficult and largely improvisational medium of collage and quickly developed his own unique and easily identifiable style. With brightly hand colored papers, found papers, fabric and objects, Denmark creates compositions that go beyond the superficial and transitory and focuses, instead, on what is eternal and universal.
Denmark’s collages, watercolors, woodcuts and reproductions are consistently and eagerly sought after by galleries and collectors worldwide. His level of acclaim is reflected in the number of prestigious collections in which is works are represented most notable that of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
James and his wife, Ethel now enjoy living in rural Yemassee, South Carolina.
Denmark’s website ~ http://lowcountryartshop.com/
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from January 24 – March 14, 2014. For additional information about the show, visit www.artintheatrium.org or contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
Reception photos:
L-R: Artists and their works: James Denmark with Midnight Session; Bisa Butler with her art quilt, inawordfab; Jerry Gant with his work, Metal with Red Hat (photo by Kevin Coughlin, MorristownGreen.com).
L-R: Stephen Ellis with his painting of Serena Williams (photo by Kevin Coughlin, MorristownGreen.com); Ceaphus Stubbs with his work, Sincerely Deceitful (photo by Kevin Coughlin, MorristownGreen.com); Andre Woolery’s painting, Ali (Trust the Code).
L-R: Amira Feldman with her mom, Morristown Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman; Fascinated crowd at James Denmark’s presentation; Art in the Atrium Organizer Viki Craig with her granddaughter Victoria Charleigh and daugher Simone.
L-R: Kimmy Cantrell’s sculpture, What If? Bisa Butler’s art quilt, Paris is Burning, for Josephine Baker; Leroy Campbell’s Wisdom; James Denmark’s Royal Heritage.
Media Coverage:
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301240023
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/nyregion/events-in-new-jersey-for-jan-19-25-2014.html?_r=0
http://morristown.patch.com/groups/events/p/art-in-the-atrium-opening-reception
http://livemorristown.wordpress.com/
http://www.topix.com/wire/city/morristown-nj
http://njmonthly.com/events/29307.html
Atrium Gallery Reopens
FALL/WINTER 2013-14 EXHIBIT: 10/25/13-1/7/14
Opening Reception, October 25th
After closing for renovations all spring and summer, the Atrium Gallery is back with a dramatic Fall/Winter 2013-14 Exhibit, located on Floors 3-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown.
Left: Marsha Solomon’s acrylic, Tunnels in the Wood.
Embracing a wide variety of subject matter (landscapes, abstracts, portraits, etc.) and media (oil, acrylic, photography, “found object” installations, etc.), the artworks highlight the creative energies of 4 select artists 118 of whose works now appear on the top three floors of the Gallery. Dramatically vibrant oils by Karen Lundquist grace the 5th floor while a host of brilliantly colored abstracts and realist/figurative acrylic works by prizewinning artist Marsha Solomon occupy the 4th floor. On the 3rd floor, viewers will find Rebecca Zagoory’s powerful and striking architectural and fine art photographs. The creative and whimsical “found object” figurative sculptures and installations by award-winning artist Suprina were recently removed from the 2nd floor for courthouse security reasons but they are available in a “virtual exhibit” – via YouTube videos HERE. (Additionally, a portion of the sculptures are on exhibit at Gallery Aferro in Newark for the first portion of November.)
L-R:Karen Lundquist oil, July Afternoon in the Garden; Rebecca Zagoory’s photograph, Inside the Harp; Suprina’s sculpture, Toupée; Marsha Solomon’s acrylic, Still Life in Venetian Red.
Here are some additional photos:
L-R: View of the 4th and 5th floor exhibits (Solomon and Lundquist art respectively); view of oils by Karen Lundquist – on 5th floor; 2 views of sculptures by Suprina on the 2nd floor, before removal; visitors examining photographs by Rebecca Zagoory.
L-R: The artists: Photographer Rebecca Zagoory answers questions about her work; Karen Lundquist in front of her oil, Redeemer; sculptor Suprina with videotaped “virtual exhibit” showing her sculpture, Seduction; Photographer Rebecca Zagoory with her photograph of Grand Central Station, entitled The Grand Hall; Michela Musolino, Adel and Mary Gorgy, the artist Marsha Solomon and Dr. Virginia Butera.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from October 25, 2013 through January 7, 2014. It will be open on the evening of December 31, 2012, from 7pm-midnight, for First Night Morris County.
Click HERE to see the catalogue for the exhibit.
For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for the Arts Council of the Morris Area, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
Blackwell St. Juried Student Exhibit celebrates 25th year with March 22nd opening
On Friday, March 22, 2013 nearly 400 people attended the Opening Reception for the 25th annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Show at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown. Embracing a very wide variety of media (sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, drypoint etching, charcoal, pen and ink, graphite, photography, etc.), the hunreds of artworks are a stunning tribute to the creativity, skill and passion of these young artists from throughout Morris County.
Left: Cara Peslak’s ceramic piece, Luna Sol.
A panel of five professional artists from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts (led by Elaine Provost, Dave Gruol and Annette Hanna) comprises the jury. This year, they had the daunting task of selecting 415 works from 759 submissions by talented students drawn from 20 high schools from throughout the County. The show was then organized, hung and administered by the all-volunteer members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, their friends and family. There were 16 ribbon categories, with Best In Show and the 1st Place ribbons receiving monetary prizes. The opening reception included an awards presentation (on the 5th floor, in the Freeholder meeting room) and the opportunity to meet these talented young artists in person.
L-R: Kramer Campisano’s oil, A Deeper Look On Life (Mountain Lakes HS); Leandra DeVito’s earthenware clay, glaze work, Octopus (Jefferson Township HS); Sarah Berek’s acrylic-watercolor-marker,Tree Pangolin (Mount Olive HS); ;Kyuri Park’s pencil work, Inside the Cathedral (Montville Township);Sydney Prusso’s mixed media Manhattan Matrix (Morristown).
Evolving from an exhibit that, in 1988, featured approximately 90 pieces of art, to this current, massive undertaking, the Juried Student Show is unique in its democratic approach: there are no restrictions on the number of pieces a school can submit and submissions are open to public, private, parochial and home-schooled high school student artists from throughout Morris County. Each year, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and friends attend in support of these exceptional young artists.
L-R: Best in Show, Meghan Cooper’s bronze, Cirque Acrobat (Mendham HS); Emily Niehoff’s oil, Untitled (Mendham HS); Mary Bond’s oil, Marie Calloway (Mendham HS); Michael Aromondo’s acrylic Self Portrait (Mendham HS).
L-R: Ashley Weber’s stoneware Fairy Tale Fish (Randolph HS); Juliana Balluffi-Fry’s scratch board piece, Peacock (Mountain Lakes HS); Caitlin Cavanaugh’s oil, Still Life (Mendham HS); Tom Geannakakes’ mixed media painting, Unicorn Self Portrait (Randolph HS).
Scenes from the opening reception, March 22nd…
L-R: Best in Show winner Meghan Cooper (Mendham HS), with her bronze, Cirque Acrobat; more young award winners with their ceramic works; 1st place in pencil drawing winner Ashley Granato (Whippany Park HS) in front of her work; a wall of beribboned art;.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. Free parking is provided during the reception in the garage underneath the building (accessed via Schuyler Place). This new exhibit will run from March 22 through April 26, 2013. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
On Friday, January 25, 2013, nearly 150 members of the public attended the free Opening Reception for the 21st Art in the Atrium African-American Art Exhibit entitled “Generation Next” at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown. The featured artist, Janet Taylor Pickett, whose works are on display on the 5th floor, gave a talk as part of the evening’s festivities. Many of the artists whose 183 works are on display were available to meet the public and discuss their art.
Distinguished guests attending the festivities included U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen along with members of the arts community including Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts.
Left: Featured artist Janet Taylor Pickett’s Patterns of Memory (fabric, acrylic & collage on canvas).
Embracing a wide variety of subject matter and media (oil, acrylic, collage, photography, fabric, multimedia, etc.), the artworks highlight the creative energies of over 30 artists drawn from throughout the United States, including Alonzo Adams, Peter Ambush, Indira Bailey, Terry Boddie, Bisa Butler,Lynn Cabbell, Leroy Campbell, Ray Clark, Jacqueline Collier, Viki Craig, Jerry Gant, Keidra Hoskins, Marian Howard, Cassandra Jennings Hall, Glenda Jones, Oliver Lake, Thomas Malloy, Ray Mobley, Rosalind Nzinga Nichol, Wannetta Philllips, Cephas Stubbs, Sandra Smith, Janet Taylor Pickett, Gwen Verner, and Bisa Washington, among others.
Art in the Atrium, Inc. (ATA) is a nonprofit, volunteer arts organization that has proudly exhibited African-American fine art in many venues throughout northern New Jersey since its founding in 1992 by Charles and Victoria Craig.
L-R:Janet Taylor Pickett’s acrylic on canvas, Spring Rain; Janet Taylor Pickett’s acrylic on wood panel, White Tulips; Bisa Butler’s artquilt, Afrodite.
L-R: Leroy Campbell’s Night Stroll; Rosalind Nzinga Nichol’s fabric work, The Day it Rained Butterflies; Ray Mobley’s Untitled.
Here are some shots from the January 25th, 2013 reception:
L-R: Indira Bailey with her painting, Marketplace; Cephas Stubbs with Pilgrimage 2011; artist Keidra Hoskins with her daughter Olivia; Bisa Butler with her quilt, Afrodite; B. Curtis Grayson with Rhythm of the Drum; Janet Taylor Pickett with Roots of Intention and Desire.
L-R: Delicious buffet service; Lauren Craig, Viki Craig and Janet Taylor Pickett; Former Executive Director of the Morris Museum, Steve Miller with his wife.
L-R: Viki Craig with Congressman Frelinghuysen and Morris Arts Executive Director Tom Werder; The Carcich Family; Crowd attending the Pickett talk.
Morris Arts manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from January 25-March 8, 2013. For additional information about the show, visit www.artintheatrium.org or contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for Morris Arts, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
Fall/Winter 2012-13 Exhibit Sept. 28, 2012- January 11, 2013
On Friday, September 28, 2012, approximately 150 people attended the Fall/Winter 2012 Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown.
Left: Detail from intricate embroidery,Flowers in the Window, by Natalia Margulis.
Embracing a wide variety of subject matter (landscapes, portraits, abstracts, etc.) and media (oil, acrylic, collage, photography, fabric/embroidery, etc.), the artworks highlighted the creative energies of 12 artists whose 260 works are displayed on the four floors of the Gallery.
On the fifth floor, the exquisitely detailed seascapes of Dennis Joseph Yanoski shared space with the intriguing, atmospheric multi-media oils of Robert Gagauf. The fifth floor stairwell featured colorful art quilts by Victoria C. Craig and Wannetta Phillips of Javiwa & Jo while the elevator lobby included a continuation of the photo/painting, joint exhibition by Laurie Harden and Pam Hasegawa which began on the second floor.
L-R: Dorrie Rifkin’s watercolor, Da Subway-168 Street, Bronx, NY; Dennis Joseph Yanoski oil, Before Irene; Pam Hasegawa photo, Ethiopian Man; Robert Gagauf oil, Sin City.
L-R: Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern’s oil, Booty; Nina Nemeth’s liquid acrylic/collage, Into the Day;Laurie Harden’s oil, Warrior;Jyoti Godhani’s rendition of Georgia O’Keefe’s Oriental Poppies; art quilt by Victoria C. Craig.
The fourth floor featured the brilliant cityscape watercolors of Dorrie Rifkin and vibrant landscapes and portraits in fluid acrylic/collage and drawing by Nina Nemeth. In the third floor Atrium area, Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern’s sly humor abounded in her silkscreens and oils while the Hallway area featured the exquisitely detailed and intricate embroidered “paintings” by renowned Russian-born fabric artist Natalia Margulis. Artist Jyoti Godhani filled the third floor elevator lobby with “fabulous fakes”…her excellent renditions of classic works by Van Gogh, O’Keefe, Renoir and Munch. On the second floor, Around the World: Memorable Faces and Less-Traveled Places was the subject of the joint photo/painting exhibit by photographer Pam Hasegawa and painter Laurie Harden (which also continues in the elevator lobby of the fifth floor). In the atrium stairwell area between the second and third floors, John Tetz’s showed his fascinating mobiles, Feather Pieces and wall-mounted Totems.
Click on Fall-Winter Exhibit, 2012-13 catalogue to see the full catalogue of the exhibit.
The exhibit ran from September 28, 2012 through January 11, 2013. It was open on the evenings of December 14, from 5-8pm, for Art Around the Park and on December 31, 2012, from 7pm-midnight, for First Night Morris County. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for the Arts Council of the Morris Area, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
Spring/Summer Exhibit runs from May 18-Sept. 5, 2012
Running from May 18-Sept. 5, 2012, the Spring/Summer 2012 Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery was located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown.
L-R: Carol Manochio’s oil, 42nd St. Evening Rush; detail from Theresa Kubert’s watercolor, Flower Girls; Linda Aldrich’s colored pen/ink, Reclamation; Nora Winn’s watercolor, Tricycle.
Embracing a very wide variety of subject matter (landscapes, portraits, abstracts, sculpture, etc.) and media (oil, acrylic, collage, photography, pen and ink, mixed media, etc.), the artworks highlighted the creative energies of artists whose 217 works were displayed on the four floors of the Gallery. On the fifth floor, the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts showcased 43 works by artists Linda Aldrich, Peggy Dressell, David Gruol, Mary Guidetti, Annette Hanna, John Power, Joe Terrone, and Nora Winn.
L-R: Details from Virginia Puskar’s watercolor, Rockland View; Pat Albee’s mixed media, Mushrooms; Susan Kadar’s oil, Storm Warnings over Normandy; Joe Wallace’s photo, Tell Me a Story.
On the third and fourth floors, the Art Association in Roxbury presented 103 works by artists Pat Albee, Marjorie Barrett, Dolores Bruzzi, Carol Campbell, Martin Chapkosky, Jean Davidson, Dee DeJuilio, Jerily DeWorken, Elmer Dey, Dorothy Fleming, Theresa Fleming, Terri Forester, Joseph Gilligan, Caroline Goldsmith, Rose M. Goldstein, Connie Lucas Halliwell, Nina Harlan, Daniel Herczak, Susan Kadar, June Knopf, Theresa Kubert, Donna Kusama, Annette Lange, Ruth Long, Anastasia Mancuso, Rose Mandala, Carol Manochio, Linda Olinger, Karen Paz, Jack Quinn, Lorraine Robertson, Leina’ala Schwartz, Doris Schwindt, Joyce Sciacca, Liza J. Smith-Simpson, Wendy Stamer, Roberta Tarnacki, Antoinette Troy, Norman Volz, Joe Wallace, and Joan Winter. The second floor featured 71 works by member artists of the Myhelan Artists Network, including art by Judi Case, Elmer Dey, Buel Ecker, Holly Fazelat, Abi Fellows, Mef Gannon, Kim Griswold, Kathleen Kirchner, Jean Leigh, Kristina Lloyd, Parvathi Kumar, Gail Mardfin, Sher Weston Stec, Shirley Supp, John Tetz, Marianne Trent. In the atrium stairwell area between the second and third floors, artist John Tetz’s fascinating mobiles, Feather Pieces and wall-mounted Totems were on display.
L-R: Shirley Supp’s acrylic on canvas on Indian Rug, The Ancestors: Elmer Dey’s mixed media, Rainbow Connection; detail from Mef Gannon’s mixed media art quilt, She Dreams; Gail Mardfin’s acrylic, Day Lilies in the Garden.
At the opening on May 31st, viewers enjoyed refreshments and the chance to meet many of the artists.
Click on MorristownGreen.com for additional coverage of the opening reception, with brief interviews of artists John Tetz, Annette Hanna and Sher Weston Stec in front of their works.
The Arts Council of the Morris Area manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from May 18 through September 5, 2012. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for the Arts Council of the Morris Area, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.
24th Annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Show ran from March 30th to May 11, 2012
On Friday, March 30, 2012, hundreds of young artists, art teachers and parents attended the Opening Reception for the 24th annual Blackwell Street Juried Student Show at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown. Embracing a very wide variety of media (sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage, multimedia, drypoint etching, charcoal, pen and ink, graphite, photography, etc.), the artworks are a stunning tribute to the creativity, skill and passion of these young artists from throughout Morris County.
L-R: Jae Huyn Cho’s book-foamcore-rope and glue piece, Information Pirates (Roxbury); Paulo Carandang’s acrylic, In the Fast Lane (Mt. Olive); Best In Show, Mike Kwilos’ etching, Reaching Heaven (Delbarton); Kathleen McGlynn’s acrylic, Jamie (Morris Knolls).
A panel of five professional artists from the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts comprised the jury selecting nearly 400 works from 600 submissions by talented high school students from 19 schools spread throughout the county. The show was then organized, hung and administered by the all-volunteer members of the Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, their friends and family. There were at least 14 ribbon categories, including a new one for paper sculpture. Best In Show and the 1st Place ribbons receiving monetary prizes. The opening reception included an awards presentation (on the 5thfloor, in the Freeholder meeting room) and the opportunity to meet these talented young artists in person.
L-R: Samantha Sernekos’ book-wire-glue piece, The Dragon from Down Under (Roxbury); Kelly O’Grady’s glazed ceramic Turkey Burger (Mountain Lakes); Yelitza Herrera’s Mosaic (Dover) and Rachel Powell’s oil, I.O.P. (Mendham).
To see a brief interview of Elaine Provost, guiding force behind the Blackwell Street Juried Student Exhibit, click HERE.
Evolving from an exhibit that, in 1988 (featured approximately 90 pieces of art) to this current, massive undertaking, the Juried Student Show is unique in its democratic approach: there are no restrictions on the number of pieces a school can submit and submissions are open to public, private, parochial and home-schooled high school student artists from throughout Morris County. Each year, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and friends attend in support of these exceptional young artists. Free parking is provided during the reception in the garage underneath the building (accessed via Schuyler Place).
L-R: Chuan-En Wong’s watercolor & ink, Program (Montville Township); Julia Rosenblatt’s oil, Storyteller (Butler); Marlaina Lutz’s multimedia, The Woman in Words (Roxbury); Kaleigh Hennet’s collage, The River Maiden (Montville Township). The Arts Council of the Morris Area manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit will run from March 16 through May 11, 2012. For additional information about the show, contact Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Gallery Director, and Director of Arts Participation & Communication for the Arts Council of the Morris Area, (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 or Lsiebert@morrisarts.org
Atrium Gallery’s Winter 2012 Exhibit
The Arts Council of the Morris Area’s Winter 2012 Exhibit before closed on March 13, 2012. Embracing a very wide variety of subject matter and media, the 181 artworks highlighted the creative energies of 8 artists whose works are exhibited on the four floors of the Gallery. On the fifth floor, Raymond Sicignano’s Urban Expressions features bold, colorful renderings of cityscapes captured the singularity and distinctiveness of neighborhoods all too often replaced by sterile franchises, malls and corporate logos. On the fourth floor, Adel Gorgy’s recent body of work, Seeing Art Anew, presented a collection of photographs whose subject is art itself, honing in on visual phrases from great paintings as the basis for new compositions or exploring the world or realism and abstraction. On the third floor, Michael Paxton’s photographs captured the serenity and devotion of monastic life in Laos and Myanmar (Burma) while Sandra P. Smith’s multimedia abstracts captured deep emotions and Karen Lundquist’s post -Impressionist oils burst forth in a riot of color and energy. In the atrium stairwell area between the second and third floors, artist John Tetz’s fascinating mobiles, Feather Pieces float on the air currents. Finally, on the second floor, viewers could see the unique “naïve” style of Romanian artist, Alex Chereches and the intriguing, contemporary canvasses of Jennifer Levine.
Located at the Atrium Gallery, located on Floors 2-5 of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street in Morristown, it offers 181 artworks by 8 artists.
To see the catalogue of this exhibit, click Winter 2012 Exhibit final catalogue.
To watch the Morris County Office of Public Information’s short video on the exhibit, click Morris Minutes.
L-R: Raymond Sicignano’s oil, Ideal Hosiery (featured above); Adel Gorgy’s photograph, A Hundred Veils Fall, after Matisse; Michael Paxton’s photograph, Columns; Sandra P. Smith’s multimedia work,Inner City.
L-R: Karen Lundquist’s oil, Deep Ravine, November; Jennifer Levine’s oil, Strolling on a Cloud; Raymond Sicignano’s oil, Baobab Tree; Alex Chereches’s reverse painting on glass, Wild Boar Hunting.
The Arts Council of the Morris Area manages the Atrium Art Gallery, selecting artists and scheduling exhibits on behalf of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Atrium Gallery is free and open to the public during business hours, from 8am – 5pm on Mondays-Fridays. The exhibit ran from January 20 through March 13, 2012.