New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Elects Two New Board Members

originally published: 07/06/2021


(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Tharanga Goonetilleke and Rachel G. Wilf were recently elected to the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s (VACNJ) Board of Trustees at the Art Center’s most recent board meeting, held on June 21, 2021. Both new board members will start serving immediately and their terms will run through November 2024.

"I am excited to welcome Rachel and Tharanga to the board of trustees,” said VACNJ’s Executive Director Melanie Cohn. “Their skills and passion for the arts make them both wonderful new additions and their leadership will help guide the Art Center as it continues growing and strengthening its museum and studio school programs."

Tharanga Goonetilleke is an opera singer and visual artist based in Short Hills, NJ. Goonetilleke, who was born in Badulla, Sri Lanka, but grew up in Ratmalana, is the first woman from Sri Lanka to attend The Juilliard School, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world. In 2010 she joined the New York City Opera, and has since performed in numerous operas, including Il trittico, Dialogues of the Carmelites, La bohème, Die Zauberflöte, Iphigénie en Aulide, and Ariodante.

Rachel G. Wilf is an alumna the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a bachelor’s degree in art history and communications in 2008, and of NYU, where she received her Master of Arts degree in 2013. She launched her career as an account manager at Gurr Johns, Inc., a London-headquartered art advisory company, followed by appointments at Haunch of Venison gallery and the New York-based art gallery Hauser & Wirth. Wilf sits on the board of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey, the Next Generation Committee of the Wilf Family Foundation, and the NYU Institute of Fine Arts. She is a current member of the ADAA Art Show Young Collectors Committee of the Henry Street Settlement and a former member of The Artist’s Council at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

For over 85 years, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has been exclusively dedicated to viewing, making, and learning about contemporary art. Recognized as a leading non-profit arts organization, the Art Center’s renowned Studio School, acclaimed exhibitions, and educational outreach initiatives serve thousands of youth, families, seniors, and people with special needs every year.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is located at 68 Elm Street in Summit, NJ. Gallery hours: Monday– Thursday, 10:00am - 8:00pm; Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm; and Saturday & Sunday, 11 :00am-4:00pm. Admission must be reserved in advance. Please call 908.273.9121 to confirm holiday hours.  Major support for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is provided in part by the Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation; the Wilf Family Foundations; and Art Center members and donors.



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Art

Art on Screen: The Danish Collector

Monday, July 14, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: art

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Gallery

Gallery at HACPAC presents Colorblind, a solo exhibition of paintings by Val DeAppolonio

(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Ruth Bauer Neustadter Gallery at Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) presents Colorblind, a solo exhibition of paintings by Val DeAppolonio from July 7 through August 29, 2025. Val is a self-taught, colorblind artist from Northern NJ whose bold abstracts pulse with energy and motion.



Akwaaba

Akwaaba Gallery presents Martryce Roach Solo Exhibition Reflecting the Great Migration

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Akwaaba Gallery is proud to present "Patterns: People in Transition," the second solo exhibition of New Jersey born artist, Martryce Roach. The exhibition features a collection of brand new paintings, ranging in size, that explore the rich history of the Great Migration and its synergy with blues music. The exhibition will be on view through August 15, 2025 with an opening reception on Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.



Art

Art by Sydnei SmithJordan is Part of Exhibition in West Deptford

(WEST DEPTFORD, NJ) -- The vibrant, story-driven artwork of celebrated Cape May-area visual artist Sydnei SmithJordan will be part of the featured lineup in an exhibition at the Riverwinds Community Center in West Deptford. Running July 1 to August 30, 2025, the dynamic show will include the work of SmithJordan — known for her unique pop fusion style oil paintings of historical figures and future newsmakers— alongside pieces by fellow artists Gloria Gammage Davis, Quinton Greene and Robyn Huber.



Geoffrey

Geoffrey Doig-Marx's "Portraits in Color and Light" opens at the Gallery at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey - A Fusion of Comedy and Heart

(MADISON, NJ) -- New York-based artist, educator, choreographer, and self-described "Renaissance Man" Geoffrey Doig-Marx (GDM) brings his dynamic exhibition Portraits in Color and Light to The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey as the second art installation in the Theatre's 2025 Season. This striking collection of twenty-six original paintings debuts with the Theatre's production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], running July 9–27. It's a pairing that promises a bold celebration of irreverence, reflection, and artistic energy.



Union

Union County presents "Art of All Abilities Exhibit" in Celebration of Disability Pride Month

(ELIZABETH, NJ) -- July is Disability Pride Month, and in recognition of the occasion, the Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to visit the 2025 Art for All Abilities Exhibit. This special exhibit features 20 original works created by Union County residents of all abilities and will be on display throughout the month of July at the Commissioner's Gallery.