Passaic County Arts Center Hosts Art Exhibits Throughout The Summer
(HAWTHORNE, NJ) -- The Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House presents Goffle Brook Park: A Wellspring of Creativity, Journeys by Michael Gabriel, and Watercolors by Christine Calandra. The exhibits are currently on view and will run through September 5, 2021. Each exhibit will feature local artists; including those whose artistic expressions depict Goffle Brook Park in various stages of development and/or locations along the park’s 103 acres.
Poet William Carlos Williams opened his 1949 poem with the words “Goffle brook of a May day blossoms in the manner of antiquity.” For nearly a century, artists have been inspired by the natural beauty and evocative landscapes of Goffle Brook Park. The artists featured in A Wellspring of Creativity are as follows: Kathleen Anderson (Hawthorne), Audrey Yee Fink (Ridgewood), Jo Ann Jennings (Hawthorne), William Nicolosi (Hawthorne), Carolyn Operbeck (Midland Park), Dave Saunders (Hawthorne), Mark Philip Stone (Passaic), and student submissions from the Eastern Christian School in North Haledon.
Two more installations will be on display by artists Christine Calandra and Michael Gabriele. Calandra, a self-taught artist, has studied with many watercolor masters. She brings 35-years of experience as an artist and her love of New Jersey has been reflected in many of her paintings. Her painting entitled “Midnight Walk” was selected to be included in the book “To The Shore Once More Vol. III” in 2016. She was elected to be an exhibiting member of the New Jersey Watercolor Society in 2011.
Gabriele’s exhibit is entitled “Journeys.” His works, which include pastels, photographs and drawings, have been displayed at various New Jersey galleries, museums, and libraries since the late 1980s. An award-winning artist, Gabriele’s work was accepted at juried exhibitions sponsored by the Allied Artists of America.
“The process for my artwork starts with a series of drawings, and then using the drawings as a guide to experiment on pastel paper to achieve a finished work, said Gabriele. Much like a photographer, my aim as an artist is to ‘capture a moment.’ I’m inspired by landscape and still life.”
On Thursday, June 24th, from 5:30pm – 8:30pm, the County of Passaic is hosting an opening reception for Goffle Brook Park: A Wellspring of Creativity, Journeys by Michael Gabriel, and Watercolors by Christine Calandra.
The Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House opened in June 2019 and has been featuring local artists. Those interested in showcasing their works can submit proposals on a rolling basis. For more information, please visit pcartscenter.org. Entrance to the Arts Center and galleries is free.
