The Princeton Artists Alliance Is Celebrating 25 Years of Artistry
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For more information about the Princeton Artists Alliance please contact: Marie Sturken at - [email protected] Hetty Baiz at - [email protected] Shellie Jacobson - [email protected] ACP exhibitions and related educational programs are supported by funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Discover New Jersey Arts The Princeton Artists Alliance is Celebrating 25 Years of Artistry Paul Robeson Center for the Arts 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542-3204 609-924-8777 • www.artscouncilofprinceton.org Princeton Artists Alliance Members: Joanne Augustine 1 Hetty Baiz 2 Joy Barth 3 Anita Benarde 4 Zenna Broomer 5 Jennifer Cadoff 6 Rajie Cook 7 Clem Fiori 8 1989 / 2014 Thomas Francisco 9 Carol Hanson 10 Shellie Jacobson 11 Margaret Kennard Johnson 12 Nancy Lee Kern 13 Charles McVicker 14 Lucy Graves McVicker 15 Harry I Naar 16 James Perry 17 Richard Sanders 18 Madelaine Shellaby 19 Marie Sturken 20 Barbara Watts 21 Former members: 22 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRINCETON ARTISTS ALLIANCE Twenty-five years ago, painter Charles McVicker felt isolated. He had heard tales of the Impressionist painters meeting in the cafes of Paris, and the Abstract Expressionists having heated discussions at the Cedar Tavern in Greenwich Village. But there was no such gathering place for the artists of Princeton. Hoping to change this situation, he asked four prominent local artists, Margaret Johnson, Marie Sturken, Jane Eccles, and Joanne Scott to meet for a brain - storming session. They all agreed that a working artists’ group would be a vital addition to the Princeton community. But how to start? Each of these artists, who would go on to become the founding members of the Princeton Artists Alliance, started by making a list of fellow artists they admired. The lists were compared and compiled, and selected artists were asked if they’d be interested in joining such a group. The number 20 was thought to be manageable. And thus, in 1989, the Princeton Artists Alliance sprang into existence, with its first official meeting. The new group included painters, sculptors, printmakers, and photographers, each having their own style and unique approach to the creation of art. Some were recognized nationally, others even internationally. What united them was the desire to enrich the Princeton community with talks, open studios, art demonstrations and exhibitions. As they started to meet more regularly – eventually monthly meetings were established. The artists also discovered that consistently discussing and critiquing each others’ work often inspired them to push their own creative boundaries even more . The Alliance first had exhibits wherever they could: empty stores, model homes, and corporate galleries. Each artist showed their best work, and the art was exceedingly diverse, to say the least! Then one day, someone suggested a show based on a “theme”. Professor Robert Fagles, of Princeton University, had just published a highly regarded translation of Homer’s “Odyssey.” The group was inspired by the idea of using this classical text Princeton Artists Alliance, 1990 as the springboard for an exhibition. The beauty of this concept was that the artists would be free to express them - selves entirely in their own way, but the “theme” unified the exhibit. This show was well received and from it’s original venue at the Bristol Myers Squibb Gallery, went on to The Newark Museum, several university galleries, The Lobby Gallery , Deutsche Bank, and The Foundation of Hellenic Culture, New York City . Through the years, theme exhibits have been inspired by the Pine Barrens (at the Noyes Museum), the preservation of the Trenton Marsh, and, most recently, an exhibit at the D&R Greenway showing the havoc to our natural environment caused by hurricane Sandy. Several years ago, an exhibit at the State Museum in Trenton high - lighted the collaboration between artists and poets, and this fall, members of the Artists Alliance will be taking part in another show at the Museum entitled “America.” Over the years, the membership of Princeton Artists Alliance has naturally evolved. As members leave the group, new artists are added. But what never changes is the organization’s dedication to high quality art exhibits. As with the Impressionists, and the Abstract Expressionists, life-long friendships have been made in the Princeton Artists Alliance, and we look forward to the next 25 years of encouraging each other, and the entire Princeton community, to be inspired by art . Joanne Augustine Hetty Baiz “Sun-Seed II” • Watercolor, 36"x44" “Reflections of Nature” • Mixed media on paper, 28"x36" 1 http://www.coryellgallery.com/artists/v/augustine • [email protected] hettybaiz.artspan.com • [email protected] 2 Joy Barth Anita Benarde “Sea Dreams” • Oil and sand on canvas, 25” x 36” “TThe Markets Up II” • Hand made paper, 35” x 25” 3 joybarth.artspan.com • [email protected] benardeart.weebly.com • [email protected] 4 Zenna Broomer Jennifer Cadoff “Street Music SFO” • Serigraph, stencil and steel shavings on birch panel, 60”x30” “That’s Life” • Ink on watercolor paper, 22” x30” 5 zennabroomer.com • [email protected] jennifercadoff.com • [email protected] 6 Rajie Cook Clem Fiori “Skittles” • Mixed medium, 13.75" x18” x8 ” "Ice in Rock Brook" • Digital photograph, 28" x3 5" 7 rajie.org • [email protected] fioriworks.com • [email protected] 8 Thomas Francisco Carol Hanson “The Swimmer” • Mixed media: photography, plaster, wood, collage 42” x42x 7” "End of Winter, Pretty Brook" • Oil on Canvas, 20" x2 0" 9 thomasfranciscophotography.com • [email protected] • [email protected] 10 Shellie Jacobson Margaret Kennard Johnson “Dessert Series-Moonlight” • Stoneware, hand built, glazes, stains, low fire, metal additions, 45"x10" x24" “From Under Sifting Sands—Egyptian Series • Intaglio/relief, original print 22.5 0”x2 8.50” 11 shelliejacobson.com • [email protected] wmgallery.com/johnson.html • [email protected] 12 Nancy Kern Charles McVicker “Inspiration” • Oil on canvas, 31.2 5”x3 8.75” “Low Tide, Vinalhaven” • Acrylic, 28” x23” 13 nancykern.com • [email protected] charlesmcvicker.com • [email protected] 14 Lucy Graves McVicker Harry I Naar “Deep Water’s Treasures” • Acrylic, 22”x15” “Waves at Matsushima” • Oil on canvas, 43” x42” 15 lucygravesmcvicker.com • [email protected] harrynaar.com • [email protected] 16 James Perry Richard Sanders “Genesis” • Mahogany, 31” x3 6” x28 “Whorled Warrior" • Wood, neoprene rubber, 8' x4' 17 jimperrystudio.com • [email protected] richardsanders.carbonmade.com • [email protected] 18 Madelaine Shellaby Marie Sturken “From the Night Garden” • Photography, 20” x16” “Paper Tapestry” • Hand made paper with inclusions, 22” x2 8” 19 madelaineshellaby.com • [email protected] mariesturken.com • [email protected] 20 Former Members of PAA: Dorothy Bissell Jane Eccles Daniel Finaldi Susan Hockaday Marsha Levin-Rojer Marge Levine Lore Lindenfeld Elizabeth Lombardi Pat Martin Ruane Miller Barbara Osterman Jeanne Pasley Linda Pochesci Michael Ramus David Raymond Tina Salvesen Jules Schaeffer Joanne Scott Leonid Seviriver Madhvi Subramanian William Vandever Barbara Watts Peter Vanni “Debut” • Watercolor, 21.50” x 25” 21 [email protected] 22.