(DEAL PARK, NJ) -- The Gallery on Grant, located in the Axelrod Performing Arts Center, is pleased to exhibit Modern Panoramas, showcasing the work of two local artists, Mike Quon and Colin Goodall, from November 10 to January 31, 2024.
A wine and cheese reception with the artists will take place on Friday, November 17 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
Born into the world of art and design, Mike Quon learned the ropes early on from his father, Milton Quon, an animation director at Walt Disney Studios who worked on classics such as “Fantasia” and “Dumbo.” Mike Quon studied art and design at UCLA, where his teachers included abstract expressionist painter Richard Diebenkorn and pop artist Ed Ruscha. He moved to New York City in the ‘70s to work as an art director before launching an award-winning design firm in SOHO. His bold and bright promotional illustrations for advertising and editorial campaigns, graphic design and packaging have been seen around the world, helping promote events such as the Summer Olympics, World Cup Soccer and tourism campaigns for New York City and Tokyo.
“In my work, I seek to reinterpret familiar images through vibrant color, bold lines and mixed media,” said Quon. “My artistic exploration takes me places that often surprise me. I hope that the pieces I’ve produced take you on that journey too, to find joy and wonder in the possibility of art as a happy destination.”
The Fair Haven resident’s colorful paintings have been exhibited at the World Trade Center and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and are in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress. He is the author of two books – “Non-Traditional Design” and “Corporate Graphics.”
British-born Colin Goodall is a former professor of statistics at Princeton University and an alumnus of AT&T Bell Labs. With color and pattern, he explores the deeper mathematical relationships behind commonly used geometrical motifs in art. His work includes large scale, hands-on interactive pieces, with chess as one theme. This exhibit includes recent collaborative works with John Rubbo, a master woodworker with a deep 3D imagination; seamstress and creator Elisete Onuki, and It Takes a Village intern Rashan Lane.
A wonderful sensation of bright colors and freeform expressionist paintings by Quon are juxtaposed with geometrically precise abstractions by Goodall as their works are displayed together.
The art gallery has been at the Grant Ave location for more than 50 years. It was incorporated into the new wing when the Axelrod Performing Arts Center was built 15 years ago. The Gallery on Grant is managed by a committee that is part of the Axelrod PAC, a nonprofit arts organization with funding provided by the NJ State Council on the Arts.
Arlene Mollow served as chair of the Art Committee for over two decades and is a well-known artist in the area. Other artists and committee members have included Claire Boren, Mozelle Tawil, Sori Gottdenker and Shari Weiner, all of whom have exhibited in galleries in New York City and throughout the region. Other devoted committee members have been Nancy Frank and Judi Lewis. Axelrod Board Member Randye Krupnick is the current Chair/ Director of The Gallery on Grant.
The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is located at 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park, New Jersey.
Photos courtesy of Mike Quon
