The 2015 New Jersey Craft Arts Annual will feature works by 27 New Jersey-based artists. From wearable art, including jewelry and fashion-inspired works, to accessories for the home, such as furniture, sculpture, and other decorative works, the 60 objects in the exhibition will explore the concept of "accessorizing" both the person and the place. In showcasing craft artisans who epitomize both innovative design and a mastery of technique and craftsmanship, this show will celebrate traditional craft mediums that are presented in unique ways. The exhibition was juried by Ronald T. Labaco, Marcia Docter Curator, Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and Angela Sergonis-Melchionne, Associate Curator, Morris Museum. Accessorize-- The Person and The Place continues the Morris Museum's steadfast commitment to showcasing the creativity of contemporary craft artistans, and of New Jersey artists, in particular.
The New Jersey Arts Annual is a unique series of exhibitions highlighting the works of visual artists in the state. The series is cosponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in partnership with major museums throughout the state including the Morris Museum, the Montclair Art Museum, the Newark Museum, The Noyes Museum of Art, and the New Jersey State Museum. The exhibition was open to artists currently living or working in New Jersey.
Participating Artists
Jill Baker Gower (Sewell, NJ); Judy Beck (Essex Fells, NJ); Pamela Becker (Flemington, NJ); Marilyn Belford (Caldwell, NJ); Tom Biron (Chester, NJ); Clifford Blanchard (Morristown, NJ); Veronica Byun (Jersey City, NJ); Linda Rae Coughlin (Warren, NJ); Joan Cummings (Gillette, NJ); Gary DiBenedetto (Hillsborough, NJ); Linda Friedman Schmidt (Franklin Lakes, NJ); Buren Gilpin (Manasquan, NJ); Susan Holford (Denville, NJ); Liz Kuny (Morristown, NJ); Kevin Kurie (Sparta, NJ); Maria Lupo (Roseland, NJ); Kenneth MacBain (Morristown, NJ); Elizabeth Mackie (Frenchtown, NJ); Liz Mitchell (Pittstown, NJ); Andrew Pawlan (Asbury Park, NJ); Kathleen Rebek (Englewood, NJ); Thomas Ryder (Wyckoff, NJ); Randy Sheer (Little Falls, NJ); Ellen Weisbord (South Orange, NJ); Jennifer Wroblewski (Montclair, NJ); Bern Yates (Oxford, NJ); and Wendy Yothers (Garfield, NJ).
About The New Jersey State Council on the Arts
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the New Jersey Department of State. It receives funding in direct appropriations from the State of New Jersey through a dedicated Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The mission of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts is to improve the quality of life in this state, its people and communities by helping the arts flourish. For more information, please visit www.njartscouncil.org.
About the Morris Museum
Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. For more information, call (973) 971-3706, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.
PHOTO: Thomas Ryder, Reflections (Man Made Beauty), blown and sculpted glass, 13.5×6.5×14, 2013. Image courtesy of the artist.