(MONTCLAIR, NJ) --  Studio Montclair will present “Inspired by Dance,” its first in-person exhibit since SMI’s public gallery was closed in March 2020 due to Covid19. The exhibit will be open for public viewing from September 11 through October 16 at Studio Montclair Gallery, 127 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ. A welcoming reception will take place on Sunday, September 13 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

Please note that SMI will be following strict guidelines for indoor gatherings—masks will be required and the number of people in the gallery will be limited. For those not yet comfortable with viewing in public, an online tour of the exhibit, including audio, will be available on our website.

“Inspired by Dance” features artwork—both literal and metaphorical--relating to movement and dance in its many forms and is comprised of multiple artistic genres including painting, sculpture, photography, video, mixed media, and others.

The exhibit is the third in SMI’s Community Partnership Exhibition Program created by cofounder and past president Virginia S. Block. This particular partnership manifests a visual dialogue between SMI members and contemporary dance company Freespace Dance, who provided the opportunity for artists to attend their dance rehearsals and respond creatively to the performances they witnessed.

The exhibit follows the trajectory of work of visual artists—particularly those of the 19th and 20th centuries--who used dance and movement as their muse:  Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Stuart Davis, Wassily Kandinsky, Alexander Calder, Gino Severini, Oskar Schlemmer, Jackson Pollock, and many others. The works of art in “Inspired by Dance” will similarly present a broad interpretation of the relationship between dance and the visual arts to fashion an exhibit that is moving, passionate, inspiring, and delightful.

Freespace Dance is a contemporary modern dance company renowned for creating emotionally driven work with a bold, athletic signature style. Comprising exceptionally strong and seasoned performers, this vibrant company continues to create humanistic works. Artistic Director Donna Scro collaborates with composers, dancers, musicians, visual artists, designers, etc. The vision is to open the doors to all artists to come and create, rediscovering dance with each collaboration.

Studio Montclair’s Virginia S. Block Community Partnership Exhibition Program

SMI’s Community Partnership Exhibition Program aims to reach out to other nonprofit organizations each year to create a collaborative exhibition designed to inspire our members, create new connections, and reach new audiences.

Participating Artists include: Maureen Bennett, Carol Black-Lemon, Nell Breyer, Bob Calleja, Virginia Carroll, Gwen Charles, Jodie Fink, David Fitzgerald, Andrea Fortunoff, Yolanda Fundora, MJ Hoehn, Helen Hosking, Patricia Hutchinson, Shoshana Kertesz, Kathleen Liao, John Masi, Aidan Mirowsky, Mandi Moerland, Ruth Bauer Neustadter, Jean-Paul Picard, Joseph Schembri, Lubomir Tomaszewski, Cindy Wagner, Lisa G Westheimer, Nalla Wollen, Luther Wright 

Studio Montclair is an inclusive, nationwide non-profit organization of exhibiting, professional, and emerging artists and others interested in the visual arts. The mission of the organization is to promote culture, education, equality, and tolerance through art. Studio Montclair is committed to diversity at every level. Founded in 1997, the organization includes over 500 members. 

IMAGES: (TOP) Carol Black-Lemon, Born to Krump, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 30; (MIDDLE) Andrea Fortunoff, Dance the Story: Generations in Rhythm, Photo Archival Color C print; (BOTTOM) Helen Hosking, Dancer in Studio, Bronze, marble, and wood