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originally published: 08/29/2022 

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- “Life and Landscape: Inspired by George Inness,” a dual exhibition on display from September 9 through November 6 at Studio Montclair’s Leach Gallery, 641 Bloomfield Avenue and Montclair Museum of Art (MAM), 3 South Mountain Ave, both in Montclair, NJ. The two venues are a convenient five-minute walk apart. Inspired by George Inness: Life and Landscape takes its cues from the upcoming exhibition of MAM’s renowned Inness collection.

The exhibit showcases the work of George Inness, Studio Montclair Members, and MAM instructors and staff. According to curator Virginia Block, “We are extremely pleased to be continuing our collaboration with Montclair Art Museum again this year for our Community Partnership exhibition. This year is especially exciting because we will be exhibiting 64 pieces of art in our newly acquired gallery at the former Leach building. The new space is comprised of 3,000 square feet of raw space with high ceilings. This allows us to exhibit very large format works of art, something which we were not able to do in the past. Another benefit of the Leach space is its proximity to the museum. Guests will be able to walk between the two spaces during the opening reception and throughout the duration of the dual exhibits which is a huge attraction.”

Says Ira Wagner, MAM’s executive director, “MAM is thrilled to be working together with Studio Montclair to present this collaborative exhibition opening together with a major reinstallation of MAM’s world-renown Inness collection, described by leading Inness scholar and Little Falls resident, Dr. Adrienne Baxter Bell, as the ‘greatest Inness collection in the world.’ George Inness said ‘Art is a subtle essence. It is not a thing of surfaces, but a moving spirit…’ It was wonderful to see how artists continue to carry forward that special spirit that is part of Inness’s work in many new directions. It is very clear that the legacy of George Inness is very much alive today and can inspire such a broad range of interpretation.  Visitors will have a unique opportunity to see Inness’ work together with a selection of over 100 works in MAM’s Vance Wall Education Arcades and SMI’s Leach Gallery which drew their inspiration from a master – an artist that was inspired by the beauty that is Montclair.”

Participating Artists at The Leach Gallery: Peter Allen, Ry An, Evangelia Anagnostopoulou, Bob Barnett, Donna Bassin, Robyn Burns, Virginia Carroll, Dennis Connors, Pamela Deitrich, Elizabeth Demarco, David Derr, Dj Dougherty, Harriet Finck, Jocelyn Fine, Rosemary Fineberg, Tim Folzenlogen, Leslie Ford, Karen Fuchs, Bruce Garrity, Marsha Heller, Martine Kasmin, Aubrey J Kauffman, Michael Kloepfer, Mary Millan Klunk, Ann Kraus, Fran Legman, Anni Lorenzini, John Markowitz, Pamela Moore, Howard Nathenson, Ruth Bauer Neustadter, John Patterson, Arthur Paxton, William Pew, Eric Reid, Matt Roberts,Paula Schiller, Ela Shah, Pat Sinatra, Linda Steinhardt Majzner, Heather Stivison, Peter Tilgner, Sue Eldridge Ward, Paul Weingarten, Bill Westheimer, Lisa G Westheimer.

Participating Artists at Montclair Museum of Art: Peter Allen, Ry An, Evangelia Anagnostopoulou, Bob Barnett, Donna Bassin, Mariette Boerstoel, Lynne Breitfeller, Elizabeth Demarco, Harriet Finck, Tim Folzenlogen, Leslie Ford, Karen Fuchs, Karen Goldberg, Marsha Heller, Nancy Iovino, Steven Kushner, Fran Legman, Yvette Lucas, Paul Mindell, Pamela Moore, Howard Nathenson, Matt Roberts, Joanne Ross, Francisco Silva, Pat Sinatra, Heather Stivison, Noaa Stoler, Lisa G Westheimer.

 

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An opening reception will take place at both settings on Friday, September 9 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. The exhibit is the fifth collaboration in Studio Montclair’s Virginia S. Block Community Partnership Exhibition Program, founded on the concept that an interface between artist and community can result in a flourishing of creativity.

About the Jurors: 

Virginia S. Block is a native of New Jersey. She holds a B.A. in Art Education and M.A. from William Paterson University. Ms. Block is one of the five co-founders of Studio Montclair and served as its first president from 1997 – 2002. She also served as Studio Montclair’s gallery director from 2010 – 2018. Block’s work is included in hundreds of corporate and private collections throughout the United States. She has had a long and varied art career, including positions in teaching, package and logo design and as director of incentive marketing for an advertising company. Throughout this time, she has continued to develop her career as a fine artist.

Ira Wagner, Executive Director, Montclair Art Museum, has been a Montclair resident for more than 30 years. After working on Wall Street for more than 25 years, Mr. Wagner began studying photography in 2008. With an interest in urban history and design, he has focused on photographing the urban landscape. He received his MFA from the Hartford Art School in 2013 and has taught photography at Monmouth University in NJ.  His project Houseraising, photographs of houses being razed on the Jersey Shore following Hurricane Sandy, was featured in The New Republic, National Geographic, and was released in a photobook by Daylight Books in 2018.  

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About Studio Montclair’s Virginia S. Block Community Partnership Exhibition Program: SMI’s Community Partnership Exhibition Program was created by cofounder and past president Virginia S. Block. The partnership 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.

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The Montclair Art Museum, together with its Vance Wall Art Education Center, engages our diverse community through distinctive exhibitions, educational programs, and collections of American and Native American art. Their mission is to inspire and engage people of all ages in their experience with art, including the rich inter-cultural and global connections throughout American history, and the continuing relevance of art to contemporary life.

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Studio Montclair is celebrating its 25th year as 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. Visit Studio Montclair’s flagship gallery (Studio Montclair Gallery), Leach Gallery, or virtual exhibit website to view and purchase contemporary art. Find out more about classes at SMI’s Art Academy here.

IMAGES: (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) DJ Dougherty, "Flatbrook Autumn", Oil on Canvas; Pamela Moore, "Tree View Wedding", Photography and Painting printed on Glass; Fran Legman, "Slippery Stones", Paper; Paul Weingarten, "Meadow Montclair", Oil on Canvas; Bob Barnett, "The Gathering", Encaustic wax; ink on paper mounted to board; Aubrey J Kauffman, "Break of Dawn", Archival Inkjet Print