(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- West Windsor Arts Council presents “Across the Board: Garden State Watercolor Society” an in person and online exhibition of original fine art for sale from July 13 to August 27, 2021. The exhibit spaces will be at West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction, NJ, with gallery hours by appointment, and at the new Whole World Arts in MarketFair Shopping Center, 3535 US-1, Princeton, NJ. The current hours of operation for this new location are Wednesday-Friday, 3:00pm-6:00pm and Saturday 1:00pm-4:00pm.

A virtual art Exhibit Opening will be held July 16, 7:15pm–9:00pm via Zoom. It will prove to be an interesting evening reviewing the work of the very talented Garden State Watercolor Society board members. This is a great time to learn the processes that the artists use while creating their art. The public is invited, but must register for the event, free, via the link on the Exhibit Opening web page.

Art is an important tool for sharing the artists’ observations and feelings. All the artists’ styles vary greatly but each is accomplished in her own right. The award-winning artists, who all happen to be women, include: Joanne Amantea (Treasurer), Linda Arnold, Clara Sue Beym, Joan Capaldo, Grace Chiarella, Tess Fields (President), Judith Hummer (Vice President), Monica Kennedy, Barbara March, Jinnie May (Secretary), Margaret Simpson, Chris Valente, Lynn Cheng Varga and Lois Westerfield. Garden State Watercolor Society’s Board of Directors and distinguished chairs’ art is available for sale in this exhibit online and in person. From sales, 30% becomes a donation to support West Windsor Art’s nonprofit mission of providing high-quality cultural programming. The art centers bring people together and transform the world around us by inspiring, educating and promoting the arts and art appreciation for our diverse community.

Tess Fields, Garden State Watercolor Society’s President, stated “I want to thank West Windsor Art Center for this great opportunity. To my knowledge this is the first time in over 50 years of its existence that the Board members of the Garden State Watercolor Society have had their own exhibit. We have developed wonderful friendships working together over the years and we are so happy to be collaborating on this special exhibit.”

The Garden State Watercolor Society was founded in 1969 by Dagmar Tribble, a noted watercolorist. Over its existence, GSWS has been a beacon whose award-winning artists have inspired generations. The nonprofit organization’s goal is to encourage painting in water media and provide educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of NJ, PA, NY or DE.  

West Windsor Arts Council began in 2002 when community members and West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh convened with plans to reinvigorate the historic Princeton Junction Firehouse into an arts center, and welcomed new audiences to connect, explore, and create. In 2004 the IRS granted the West Windsor Arts Council 501(c)(3) status. In 2010, after years of planning and fundraising by the community, the art center opened in the historic 1931 firehouse. The Center now serves as a gathering point for the greater West Windsor community and serves 14,500 people a year. It holds arts education classes and camps, community outreach events and offers rental space, select performances in theater, music, and dance, literary events, and art exhibitions. 

Building on collaborations and partnerships, WWA continued to expand in 2021 with Whole World Arts at MarketFair Shopping Center, Princeton. This new satellite location has exhibition space, an artisan market, classes and workshops, Drop-In Art Club for teens, art kits for purchase and space for art parties, partner programs and special events. The gallery will have rotated artworks from WWAC with advertised exhibits changing bimonthly.  

IMAGES: (TOP) Magnolias by Joan Capaldo, watercolor (BOTTOM) Afternoon at MOMA by Tess Fields, watercolor