(BERGEN COUNTY, NJ) -- The competition was fierce.  Artists lined up and created their art at the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's (NNJCF) ArtsBergen first Connect the Dots networking event featuring "Creative Conflicts: Live Art Battle".  Artist Robert Gratson's painting received the audience's Favorite Piece Award at the first Connect the Dots networking event held at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) in Englewood, New Jersey.

The Bergen County Neighborhood Network presented the local, visual artists in a head-to-head, multi-round, live art-making competition.  In each round, artists were given a new medium -- a marker and acrylic paint -- to add to their pieces in a time-controlled environment in two 45-minute rounds.  The audience experienced the creative process live and voted for a favorite piece. 

Gratson, a resident of North Arlington, is studying graphic design at William Paterson University.  The up-and-coming artist is known for drawing tentacles as a reoccurring theme in his paintings.  A graduate of North Arlington High School, he also attended Bergen Community College.

 “Creative Conflicts created an atmosphere of artistic energy and excitement that the NNJCF wants to bring to each of the Connect the Dots event.  The artists’ content in the paintings is fueled by the observers, who become a part of the works created.  Creativity breeds more creativity and ArtsBergen, an initiative of the NNJCF, encourages those exchanges.  We thank all the artists who contributed their artistry and congratulate Robert on winning the event," said Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, a not-for-profit organization based in Englewood, New Jersey.

The event drew artists, arts administrators, municipal and community leaders, business owners, and arts supporters living or working in Bergen County to bergenPAC.  The series' goals are to stimulate conversations with others in the county’s arts community, develop new relationships, present opportunities to work together, highlight unique arts experiences and informative speakers on relevant topics, and encourage creative placemaking throughout the county.  Creative placemaking is the practice of integrating arts and culture into a region, town or city block to add excitement, attract visitors, improve livability, and enhance the local economy.  

The Connect the Dots networking series will hold quarterly events.  The next networking event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.  More details will be released about the event in the coming month.  For further information about the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, ArtsBergen, and the Connect the Dots networking series, contact artsbergen@nnjcf.org or call 201-568-5608.

About Northern New Jersey Community Foundation

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF), a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Englewood, New Jersey, focuses primarily on education, public health, civic engagement, and the arts.  NNJCF works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups in Northern New Jersey to improve community life.  Foundation partners identify and resolve regional problems and opportunities by talking and learning from each other, by sharing ideas, best practices, services, and resources. 

For more information visit http://www.nnjcf.org.

About ArtsBergen

ArtsBergen, an initiative of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, is an emerging arts alliance in Bergen County, New Jersey.  The initiative's mission is to energize and unify artists and arts organizations and connect the Bergen County community to the arts.  ArtsBergen also supports and encourages creative placemaking, the practice of integrating arts and culture into a neighborhood, town, or region to build community and livability and boost the local economy.  

Photo: Robert Gratson received the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's ArtsBergen Connect the Dots networking series audience award at the Bergen Performing Arts Center. Photo Credit: Sam Lee