“Controlled Chaos,” a pen and ink on Bristol by Winston Young of Whippany

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The annual Carteret Comic Con Exhibit allows the community to explore the popular comic book medium, where comics are used to express ideas with images, often combined with text and other visual information. Comics speak to all ages in a way that they understand and identify with, and visitors to Central Jersey Arts Council's Blazing Star Cultural Arts Center (63 Carteret Ave) in Carteret, can continue to do that through the exhibit's close on October 31, 2024.

The exhibit, which opened September 13 and coincides with the New York Comic Con from October 17-20, brings both Eastern and Western art to the Arts Center, ranging from Marvel and DC comics to Manga, comics or graphic novels originating from Japan featuring an anime style of illustration.

“We’re very proud of our annual exhibits at the Central Jersey Arts Council because they’re a great example of how we continue to put the ‘art’ in Carteret along with our magnificent, world-class URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center,” Mayor Daniel J. Reiman said.

 “To Be Supreme,” an acrylic marker on gallery wrapped canvas by Dino ‘Commodore’ Gravato of Newark

“We are excited to continue the growth of the exhibit to something bigger every year, from viewing to purchasing comics, collectibles, or artwork to potentially bringing workshops into the mix and meet and greets from fellow cosplayers,” Central Jersey Arts Council Executive Director Elham Hussain added. “The limits are endless, and CJAC looks forward to providing endless options for art, culture and history to Carteret and surrounding communities.”

This year, Carteret Comic Exhibit features 15 different artists. Five of them are from Carteret: Shayna Jones, Edwin Duran, Sarai Ortiz, Maria Mojir and Priya Singh. Mojir and Singh are Carteret High School students. The other artists are: Soly Pena, Perth Amboy; Paige Connelly, Woodbridge; Javier Rodriguez, Linden; Jenica Rosenburg, Closter; Winston Young, Whippany; Jaylen Perez, Elizabeth; Jay “Tito” Bautista, Jersey City; Mi-Jin Park, Queens, N.Y., and Dino “Commodore” Gravato and Michael Paula, both Newark.

The exhibit provides an opportunity to shed light on artists within Carteret and beyond, Hussain said. This year’s exhibit focused on the artist’s work and various styles.

“Showcasing talents to the surrounding communities gives a chance for further exposure and for surrounding towns to get a chance to view all 15 artists all from the tristate area,” she said.

Exhibit hours are 4:00pm to 7:00pm on weekdays and weekends from 11:00am to 2:00pm.

“Mushroom Roper Miniature,” epoxy clay sculpture by Paige Connelly of Woodbridge

CJAC’s next exhibit will be up after Thanksgiving in celebration of the winter holidays. A display of collectibles will transform the Arts Center into a Winter Wonderland. The exhibit will be featured through December.

All Central Jersey Arts Council exhibits and events can be found at centraljerseyartscouncil.org.