New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Elects New Board Members

originally published: 11/27/2023

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey (VACNJ) recently elected two new members to its board of Trustees at the Art Center’s most recent annual meeting, held on November 13, 2023. Anamaria LLanos and Philemona Williamson will begin serving immediately and their terms will run through November 2026.

“Welcoming newly elected trustees to the Art Center's board is always exciting," said Melanie Cohn, VACNJ’s Executive Director. "I am confident that the unique talents of Anamaria and Philemona will significantly contribute to the Art Center, and their joint enthusiasm for the arts and our institution will undoubtedly make them outstanding new assets."

Anamaria LLanos has been an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher for the past 27 years in New Jersey. After earning her bachelor’s degree in theater, Anamaria went back to school and received 32 post-baccalaureate credits to become an accredited ESL teacher. In 2010, she received her first master's degree from the University of Salamanca, Spain, and she finished her second master’s degree in arts, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in 2022. She is also a college professor, having worked for Union County College, Kean University, and Fairleigh Dickinson University, teaching all levels of ESL. She is the Chairperson of the ESL Department for the Halsey Academy in the Elizabeth School District, as well as a WIDA/ACCESS test administrator to new entrants at the high school welcome center. She also runs an attendance task force and an after-school tutoring mentoring program for freshman students.

Philemona Williamson is a nationally renowned contemporary artist who has, since the 1990s, had many solo shows and has been represented in significant group exhibitions alongside such contemporaries as Whitfield Lovell, Kerry James Marshall, and Kara Walker. Her work is in the collections of the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, Nebraska; the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina; Hampton University Museum in Hampton, Virginia; Mott-Warsh Art Collection, Flint, Michigan; Reader's Digest Art Collection; and AT&T, among others. Her Seasons (2007), a set of stained-glass windows, is on permanent public display at the Livonia Avenue (BMT Canarsie Line) subway station in New York City. Philemona has worked at Parsons School of Design, The Getty Institute for Education in the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Bard College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was awarded a Joan Mitchell Foundation grant in 2020. Other awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Painting (1987-1988), Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (1990), New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (2009), and New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship (2022).

 

For 90 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 youths, families, seniors, and people with special needs every year.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



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 & Saturday, 10:00am–5:00pm; and Sunday, 11:00am–4:00pm. Please call 908.273.9121 to confirm holiday hours.

Major support for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is provided by The Wilf Family Foundations; New Jersey State Council on the Arts; The Estate of Pamela Hauptfleisch; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; and the Art Center community of supporters.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info


FEATURED EVENTS

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


Theresa

Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience

Thursday, February 20, 2025 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: community


 

Miss

Miss Grand New Jersey

Sunday, February 23, 2025 @ 5:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: community


 

Artrageous

Artrageous 2025 - Sensory-Friendly Theater

Sunday, February 23, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: community


 

Stories

Stories of a Lifetime Workshop for Union County Seniors – UCPAC Legacy Arts Club

Monday, February 24, 2025 @ 5:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: community


 

Illusionist

Illusionist Rick Thomas - Mansion of Dreams

Friday, February 28, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: community


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Rahway

Rahway Hosts Inspiring Aviation Event Featuring Acclaimed African American Pilots

(RAHWAY, NJ) -- The City of Rahway is soaring to new heights with an aviation-focused event celebrating Black History Month. Hosted by the Social Justice Committee, along with Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe and the Rahway City Council, Career Day with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals offers a unique opportunity for residents to explore careers in aviation and aerospace. The event takes place on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at The Gallery Space (1670 Irving Street) in Rahway.



Follow

Follow Alice Paul's Path to Equality at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

(LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- Garden State native Alice Paul stands tall among the pioneers of women’s rights in America. In honor of Women's History Month, the Ocean County Library is pleased to present "Alice Paul: New Jersey's Crusader for Equality" at the OCL Lacey Branch on Thursday, March 13, 2025. The event begins at 3:30pm.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents A Night in Lights Benefit Gala

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey will host A Night in Lights: State Theatre New Jersey Benefit Gala on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Proceeds from the gala directly support its mission to provide transformative arts education programs, affordable ticketing initiatives, and community outreach efforts that bring the joy of live entertainment to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. Held at the historic State Theatre, the evening includes dinner, dancing, a silent auction, and an intimate performance by Tony® Award-winning Broadway star Kelli O'Hara.



Ocean

Ocean County College Hosts "The Homage Exhibit" for Black History Month

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- In celebration of Black History Month, Ocean County College will host "The Homage Exhibit" on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 on the College's main campus in Toms River. This special event is sponsored by OCC's Organization for Black Unity and Office of Student Life in collaboration with the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission.



Gloria

Gloria Gaynor to be Honored at bergenPAC's Annual Women's Spring Luncheon

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) has announced that two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Gaynor will be honored and serve as a guest speaker at its annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 11:30am.