Paint Newton a Success!

Last Saturday TraillWorks was host to artists from around the state who came to set up easels on Spring Street and "Paint Newton." The weather held for a great day of plein air painting, despite the heat. Though in our inaugural event 13 artists registered, we had a total of six actually attend. One of our artists, David Ohlerking, was stranded in Philadelphia with a broken windshield and was unfortunately not able to attend. 

Painting in progress by Alison Tuday

Painting in progress by Janet Howard-Fatta

Entry to the event was not juried, but awards were given in three categories: Grand Prize, Best Student / Amateur Artist, and a People's Choice award voted by passersby on the street. The paint out was held from noon - 5pm, at which point the artists came back to TraillWorks for an awards ceremony and reception, part of our opening for our current exhibit, Contemporary Landscapes. 

Participating artists were Alison Tuday of Bernardsville, NJ, Janet Howard-Fatta, of Warwick, NY, Judy Lock of Branchville, NJ, Marilyn Rose of West Caldwell, NJ, Wendy Stamer of Sparta, NJ, and Cole Longcor of Stillwater, NJ.

Painting by Wendy Stamer of Sparta, NJ

Marilyn Rose painting

The Grand Prize was juried by me and awarded to Marilyn Rose of West Caldwell, NJ, for her watercolor paintings of Newton. Best Student / Amateur Artist went to Alison Tuday, of Bernardsville, NJ. A student of David Ohlerking, Alison's vibrant works were mainly painted with her fingers. The People's Choice award went to Cole Longcor, and young budding artist from Sussex County. And finally, from the ballots entered in the People's Choice contest, a random voter was selected to win an artist's proof of one of my giclées. Congrats to Doug DeWitte of Newton for being drawn. 

Best Student / Amateur winner, Alison Tuday

Grand Prize winner, Marilyn Rose

People's Choice Award winner, Cole Longcor

Doug DeWitte, Winner of an AP Giclée, Homage to Julia by Jennie Traill Schaeffer

Several pieces by the winners are on display at TraillWorks and are available for sale. Special thanks to the sponsors of this event, the New Jersey Society of En Plein Air Painters, the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council, the Craft Creators, and the New Spring Street Group. For more about Paint Newton, read a review by The Alternative Press here.

NJ Arts Need your Help!

NJ is in a serious state and because of it, the arts are suffering. And, in Sussex County, NJ, where we've been trying to stimulate the arts, they are getting cut greatly. This week Governor Corzine froze state funding that was promised to state arts organizations, without warning, giving organizations no time for a plan "B." Both the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council and Peters Valley Craft Center, two organizations that have been instrumental in my career, are facing a grim future.

SCA&HC has developed exhibition opportunities for me early in my career as well as nurture some key relationships that have helped me grow as an artist. Additionally, Peters Valley, along with a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation partnership, provided me a one month residency in which to focus on my painting, giving me the realization to seek out studio space. I can credit these two organizations as the stepping stones to opening TraillWorks. They helped nurture an artist to think big and open a gallery and studio in a town on the verge of redevelopment. TraillWorks is helping the local economy and it was through the help of two prominent NJ arts organizations. Beyond me, these two groups do a lot for other arts organizations and provide many opportunities to many communities. It would be a disaster for our state and for our local economy to lose these organizations.

Here are some facts about the economic boost that arts provide (from the NJ State Council on the Arts, ):
• stimulate over $1.5 billion in economic activity
• return $36 Million in state tax revenues
• support 17,000 businesses and 82,000 jobs
• annually produce 34,000 events and attract 18 million attendees who spend over $400 million in the local economy

To learn more about the importance of the arts beyond the economic, visit http://www.njartscouncil.org.


HOW YOU CAN HELP:

The Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council needs to raise $20,000 within two weeks to remain in operation. To help them, visit www.scahc.org or call 973-383-1307.

Peters Valley has restructured and let go most of its teachers and staff in an effort to stay afloat. To help Peters Valley, you can make a donation by visiting their web site, www.petersvalley.org or call 973-948-5200.

At this time of year many organizations are seeking money. Even if you can offer a dollar it will mean the world to many organizations.