BIG Show TONIGHT

Tonight is the opening reception for "The First 40..." -- a retrospective exhibition of works from Mercer County's permanent collection. About 170 works will be on display, spanning the 40 years since the County's Cultural and Heritage Commission was first established in 1970. Less than 1/2 of the work collected over the years is on display, and artists are inquiring: "Is my piece included?" Below is the list of artists included in THIS exhibit. We, of course, hope to do more in the future!

The exhibit takes place at ARTWORKS, 19 Everett Alley in Trenton, NJ, tonight, July 9, from 6 - 9 pm. (The terrific ARTWORKS center is located just off of Rte. 1 South (the Market Street exit), directly across Stockton Street from the state's DMV building. This is a "see and be seen event", so we hope to "see" you all there!

R. Albe



Aprilette Angster


Joanne Augustine


Angela A. Barbalace


Cynthia Bearce-Maffini


Kevin Berry


Anne Bevan


Jacqui Bonavito


Valerie Bowe


John Boyd


Katrina Brooks


Robert Bruschini


Patrick Budd


Marek Bulaj


Jean Burdick


Thomas Butterfoss


Jennifer Cadoff


Karen Tozzi Caldwell


Marcello Calo


Carl J. Carter


Robert J Cartica


Linda J. Catano


Marge Chavoosian


Elizabeth Childs


Sue Chiu


Vicky Chu Moy


Lou (L.D.) Cicchini


James Claussen


Anthony (Toj) Colavita


James Alan Colman


Susan A. Cook


Catherine DeChico


Anne Demarais


Sergey Demo


Fame P. Dileo


Marguerite Doernbach


Mary Dolan


Joanne Donnelly Seglem


Carol Drummond


Debra J. Duke


Robert Ellis


John Emerick


Jeff Epstein


Susan Ezzo


Matt Farkas


Judy Fillipponi


Barbara Fine


Eric Fowler


Gerald J. Fowler


Stuart Goldstein


M. Jay Goodkind


Ruth Goodman


Jonnylee R. Gore


Cathy Stein Greenblat


Judith B. Gross


Beth Gross


Jack F. Harris


Deborah Hockstein


Eileen Hohmuth


Edward Holman


Shari Holmes


Sue M. Howard


Ilse Johnson


Margaret Kennard Johnson


K. Jones


Ken Kaplowitz


Jules Katz


Ruth A. Kaufman


Robert Kausch


Judy Kaye


Joseph Kazimierczyk


Scott Keidong


Jody Kendall


Ron Kernast


Ken Kishler


Karen J. Kominsky


Lorraine Kudelka


Renee Kumar


Jane Lawrence


Martin Levine


Jean Purdy Lindabury


Michael Littwin


Susan Luty


Christopher MacKinnon


Thomas (Tom) Malloy


David Manion


Janet Marie


Coleen Marks


Bill Mathesius


Deirdre McGrail


Terri McNichol


Laura McPhee


Lucy Graves McVicker


Marge Miccio


Robin Middleman


Arlene Gale Milgram


Ruane Miller


John Monahan


Florence Moonan


Jennifer Moore


Quentin Moseley


Hiroshi Murata


Tom Murphy


Jere Myrick


Susan Neider


Cynthia Neilssen-Nihart


Joanne Nestor


Beverly S. Nickel


Trena Noval


George Olexa


Emerald Ong


Dave Orban


Frances Orlando


Shirley Kane Orr


Will Ostergaard


Lauren Otis


Joan Pachuta


Miquel Pagliere


Larry Parsons


Ted Peck


William S. Plank, Jr.


Mircea Popescu


Shelley Rae Powsner


Theresa Prashad


Bonnie Christine Randall


Lorraine Raywood


Thalia Richman


Steve Richman


Bruce Rigby


Howard Rosenfeld


Liz Roszel


Gary Saretzky


Gary & Nicholas Saretzky


Marilyn Scasserra


Jules Schaeffer


Sandra Shapiro


Deirdre Sheean


Madelaine Shellaby


M. Teresa Simao


David Simchock


Frank Simons


Leah Sinkus


Michael Alan Smith


David Smith


Chris Stadelmeier


Jessica Stearns


Marie Sturken


Lynn Sulpy


Heidi Summers


Robert Sussna


Deborah Sussna


Judy Tobie


Susan Twardas


Mary Vaughan


Martha Vaughn


Steven Veach


Sharie A. Verdu


Edward Ward


Mary Ann Weisser


Karen Winner


Anne Lord Witt


Taj Worley


Phyllis Wright


Holly Wright


Ingeburg Wurzler


Al Zima

ARTWORKS Gambles on Its Future

Trenton's Rotary Foundation says all bets are ON when it comes to ARTWORKS, Trenton's community art center. And to help put their money where their mouths are, they're hosting a benefit Casino Night on Friday, May 21. It'll take place at the West Trenton Ballroom on Upper Ferry Rd. in Ewing. A $55 ticket gets you dinner, entry to the silent auction, live jazz music, the chance to take a chance at a few gaming tables -- and $50 worth of chips to get you started. All (yes, 100%!!!) of the proceeds goes towards helping to fix-up that beautiful ARTWORKS building. So, don't let the winds of fate "roll the dice" on the future of this great cultural center; come on out for a great evening of fun. Go to the ARTWORKS website for more information.

In other news, ARTWORKS is hosting an Art-making event for people who are interested in creating something to enter in this year's Art All Night event. And, speaking of Art All Night -- they're still looking for volunteers! Go to their website to sign up and learn more about this fun event!

...Join the Campfire Girls

OPENING TONIGHT at

ARTWORKS IN TRENTON

Around the Campfire:
A show of ceramic work at Artworks

There will be a public reception on Saturday, March 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. with music by the band "WINDJAMMER," featuring Andrew Weiss, who has either been a member of or worked with the Rollins Band, Ween, Yoko Ono, Pigface and Café’ Tacuba among others.

Around the Campfire, scheduled to coincide with the National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts' annual conference in Philly, opens tonight and will remain on view March 6 through April 17 at Artworks’ main gallery, Stockton St., Trenton (just off Rte. 1 across from the DMV). The show is curated by Debbie Reichard, who is also exhibiting. Other participating artists include: Lesley Baker, Emily Bivens, Danielle Bursk, James Jansma, Tom Lauerman, Rory Mahon, Kathleen Preziosi, Paul Henry Ramirez, Rob Raphael, Jerilyn Virden and Julie Wills. The show will also feature a “Wall of Voodoo,” where ceramic mugs and affordable objects by local artists will be for sale.

Debbie is also hosting a "Slide Slam" for ceramics artists on March 27. Interested artists should contact her at debbiereichard@yahoo.com.

Call the Shots for ART ALL NIGHT 2010

photograph by Frank Jacobs

ARTWORKS, the visual arts center of Trenton is looking for the next director for Art All Night, their 24-hour arts extravaganza which will celebrate its fourth year this coming June. It's a great opportunity for someone with mad organizing skills who's cool under pressure and revels in working with hundreds of artists, musicians, volunteers, and the arts-loving public! ARTWORKS is describing it as "... a volunteer position with a $5,000 honorarium..." It's a lot of work (think of it as a 1/2 time job through May and a full time job in June!), but it's also a great experience for those of you with the time, interest, availability, and energy. Click here for a detailed description of the job. Interested candidates should send a brief resume and cover letter to the executive director of ARTWORKS, Michael Gumpert, at mgumpert@artworkstrenton.org All questions should be directed to Michael, as well.

Update: This position has been filled; but if you're interested in helping out as a volunteer at this year's Art All Night event, please email Michael.

Meta-More-Something!

polaroid by Neil Larson

Meta-More-Faces, an exhibition featuring photographs by Ricardo Barros, Ilya Genin, Neil Larsen and Andrew Wilkinson and curated by photographer/author Jon Naar, opens with a reception January 9 (6-9 pm) and will remain up through February 21, 2010 (11 Everett Alley/on Stockton St, Trenton, N.J.). For more information, visit the ARTWORKS website.

MONSTERS' ALERT!!!

Monsters Ball

Artworks' Halloween Party Fundraiser

Friday, October 30

...8 pm til the wolves howl!!!!!!!!!!

Terrified by the idea of a capital city without any art? Join fellow art lovers and for a monster-ously great time on Friday, October 30 and exorcise those demons together. The same people and creative energy that's brought you "Art All Night" are promising an equally spectacular Halloween event. And, with three really affordable ticket levels, not even the recession should stop you from showing this organization 'a little love.'

Here's what's on tap for the night: “Artworks' unique, soaring space will be decked out in its scariest finery, courtesy of Fannelli Design Group, the lighting designers who did the magical lighting of the Museum of Contemporary Science for Art All Night.

“A delicious spread of food, as well as beer, wine (ID required at the door) and other non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Outside, creatures of all sorts can gather around the fires lit in giant steel tikis and steel wire firebowls created by artists Glenn Moore and Peter Abrams.”

Outside in the ARTWORKS’ parking lot, Trenton’s own “Thriller Dancers” help set the tone as they join groups worldwide in reenacting the entire 14 minute dance from Michael Jackson's 1983 Thriller music video. (If you know the routine, and are in ghoulish costume, join in!) Throughout the night you will also be dancing to the evil sounds of DJ Maddtronix; making-your-own scary art project; thrilling to professionally told ghost stories; watching classic scary movies playing all night long, including Nosferatu and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre; and entering costume contest (the winner gets six free art classes at Artworks or two months use of its shared studio space.)

Michael Gumpert's so committed to making this event special, he's having plastic surgery to complete his costume. You'll get to witness the grand unveiling at the party. Tickets are $10 (costume required! and buy your own drinks after the first), $45, and $75. For full information, and to buy tickets now, visit the ARTWORKS website or call them at 609-394-9436.

Burooo-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!!! And for those of you itching to "to get your ghoul on" a little early, ARTWORKS has several events leading up to their spectacular MONSTERS' BALL coming up on Friday, October 30. Those of you who feel that one day of costumes just isn't enough are invited to join fellow ghouls, ghosts, gypsies and beasties for a “guerilla marketing” blitz of Joe’s Mill Hill Saloon on Friday, October 23. Folks will be meeting, in costume, at ARTWORKS at 9 pm and will walk over to the Mill Hill together.

If you prefer to exorcise your inner demons from the comfort of your own home, consider creating an entry for ARTWORKS’ Monsters’ Ball Poster Contest. ARTWORKS’ executive director, Michael Gumpert, invites artists of all ages to try to “Terrorize the competition with your talent” in designing the poster for ARTWORKS' 2010 Monsters’ Ball Halloween Party Fundraiser! The winning poster will be selected by guests at this year's party. (NOTE: Participants are encouraged but not required to attend the party.) For rules and information on the contest, click here.