Wearing Your Heart on Their Plate

STARS (the South Trenton Area Residents' Society), is seeking Artists of all ages to decorate wooden hearts for their 1st Annual “Hearts and Stars” Silent Auction taking place at ARTWORKS on Saturday February 27 from 6:00 - 9:00pm. There are no rules about how these hearts can be decorated – they just ask that artists be creative! Plain hearts can be picked up at several Trenton business locations listed on the STARS website. (NOTE: Hearts are free and should be returned to any of these same locations before Saturday, February 20th. Hearts can be picked up starting Wednesday January 20th.)

STARS is also inviting artists working in all mediums (paintings, photographs, sculpture, poetry, found objects, etc.) to enter work in the one-day exhibition, "Depictions of Trenton," also taking place at ARTWORKS February 27. Artwork for this exhibit must include Trenton as the subject matter or theme of the piece. The “Depictions of Trenton” work must be for sale, with 75% going to the artist and a 25% commission going to support STARS.

This is a little complicated; so if you’re interested, check out the FAQ section of the STARS website for more information about this event.

All proceeds from the Hearts and from commission on sale of works in the Depictions of Trenton display will go to support STARS new community garden effort in South Trenton.

Truly "Off the Block"!

There's still time to make your reservation for the Arts Council of Princeton's gala "Dining by Design" fundraiser taking place October 24th -- or, if you prefer, to bid on one of the spectacular, mouth-watering dinners offered on-line in their silent auction. Here's a chance to dine at some of the more astonishing private homes in the area, on meals cooked by some of the region's top chefs, while supporting Arts Council programming for children. For more information, visit their website. To preview the "Off the Block" dream dinners being offered in the silent auction, click here.

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.