Every day at Arts Access is full of exciting achievements and creative freedom. This year was filled with new opportunities to share our artists’ work with the world. Join us for a review of some of this year’s most memorable moments.
EVENTS
VIRTUAL EXHIBITS AND PERFORMANCES
Winter Blues II
Returning for its second iteration, Winter Blues II celebrated the beauty, calm, and comfort of the winter season. The exhibition presented a range of artistic techniques from sweeping abstractions and strong geometric forms to precise mark-making and subtle explorations of color. Though distinct in style, these paintings are anchored by one commonality: A blue color palette.
Read more about Winter Blues II.
In Like a Lion
This year, Arts Access presented a special two-part exhibition inspired by the proverb, “In like a lion, out like a lamb,” to celebrate the arrival of spring.
In Like a Lion highlighted paintings that reflect the roaring and uncertain weather of early spring. The paintings were connected through their gestural, chaotic, and seemingly uncalculated nature.
Read more about In Like a Lion
Out Like a Lamb
The second half of our special two-part spring exhibition, Out Like a Lamb featured paintings that focused on more subtle qualities color and composition. This collection was both meditative and fascinating, and provoked the viewer to pause and reflect on their simplicity.
Read more about Out Like a Lamb
International Dance Day
On Friday, April 29, Arts Access and Matheny celebrated International Dance Day with a special virtual performance of dances choreographed by Ellen Kane, James Lane, and Nancy Soto.
Watch the performances:
Ellen’s Dance: https://vimeo.com/818484282
James’ Dance: https://youtu.be/wAhs2j5eSh8
Nancy’s Dance: https://vimeo.com/805179506
In-Person Exhibits and Performances
Plays By People 2023
Plays By People finally made its triumphant return as an in-person event this year! Not only that, but for the first time this year we had two performances of this exciting event.
Five Arts Access playwrights were featured in this year’s event, including Jess Evans, Cheryl Chapin, Chris Saglimbene, Mike Cornely, and Luis Rodriguez.
Read more about Plays By People.
For Art’s Sake
In the spring of 2023, Arts Access was delighted to have an exhibit in the Nilson Gallery at the Monmouth Museum in Lincroft, NJ. For Art’s Sake, featured acrylic paintings and drawings by 20 talented artists from Arts Access who embody the idea that art is created for the purpose of art itself, and for enjoying the process of creating it.
Read more about the exhibit.
13th Annual Rutgers NJMS Collaborative ARTS Exhibit
Collaboration in the arts is always an exciting endeavor, and we are so proud to have been part of the Collaborative ARTS Exhibit at Rutgers NJMS for 13 years now! Once again, the artists from Arts Access and JSDD’s WAE Center brought their incredible talents together for another truly inspiring exhibition. Additionally, we were so excited to offer this exhibit as a hybrid event, with both in-person and virtual options for viewing the art.
Read more about the Collaborative ARTS Exhibit.
Read more about the virtual reception.
Windows at Studio Montclair
During the month of August, eight Arts Access artists displayed their work in the Windows at Studio Montclair! The Windows at Studio Montclair Gallery is an exciting alternative venue for members to curate small group and solo exhibits.
Read more about the exhibit.
Counterpoint at CCA
In the fall of 2023, Arts Access was thrilled to have an exhibit at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster, NJ. Counterpoint featured 27 acrylic paintings by 17 talented artists from Arts Access.
Read more about the exhibit.
Full Circle 2023: Reemergence
One of the most highly anticipated events at Arts Access, Full Circle is a multi-disciplinary fine arts showcase featuring original work created by the Arts Access artists. This year, Full Circle returned for the first time as an in-person celebration of the Arts Access artists since before the start of the pandemic!
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday, November 4th for Full Circle 2023: Reemergence.
Learn more about the event.
Read the full event recap.
ART IN THE COMMUNITY
Exposing our artists’ work to outside galleries, organizations, and collectors is an important part of our mission. Here are all of the wonderful juried exhibitions, group shows, and other opportunities and arts events that our artists’ work was featured in this year:
Mike Martin featured in Rockland Arts Festival 2023
Nancy Soto performs at Show Up & Dance 2023
Dani Urso-King featured in Wizards of Age at JSDD’s Heidi Gallery
Tammy Heppner featured in Fantasies and Fairytales at Farmstead Arts Center
Artist Talk with Isabell Villacis at the Center for Contemporary Art
Paul Santo featured in the Members Art Show at the Visual Arts Center of NJ
Several artists featured in Boys of Summer exhibit at Montclair Real Estate Law Group
PROJECTS
Arts Access Celebrates 30 Years
To celebrate three incredible decades, we asked all of you to share with us your most memorable events, exhibits, performances, and merchandise throughout the years. We haven’t finished tallying all the results yet, so check back soon for the final count!
New Artist Merchandise
This year, we introduced five new items to the Arts Access merchandise collection! Including:
- The new Arts Access coaster set, featuring artwork by Paul Santo, Nancy Soto, Karen Frascella, and Lloyd Decker
- The third Arts Access note card collection, featuring artwork by Cindy Shanks, Isabell Villacis, and Tammy Heppner
- Two new silk scarves by Andy Lash and Cheryl Chapin
- A new silk tie by James Lane
- A brand new wall calendar for 2024, featuring artwork by 12 different Arts Access artists
These new merchandise items not only widened the selection of merchandise items in our Art Shop, but also provided more vocational opportunities to our artists.
Visit our art shop to browse the new merchandise.
Fourth Annual Artists Sunday
This fall, Arts Access joined artists and organizations across the country for the fourth annual Artists Sunday, a nationwide event the Sunday after Thanksgiving, encouraging consumers to shop with artists and craftspeople.
Read more about Artists Sunday.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
14th Annual CAN Awards
On Thursday, June 15th, Arts Access attended and performed at this annual awards ceremony honoring excellence in cultural access throughout NJ. Ellen Kane and James Lane performed their dances from this year’s International Dance Day celebration for an appreciative and enthusiastic audience!
Art in the Park
On Sunday, September 17th, Arts Access participated in Peapack-Gladstone’s 23rd annual Art in the Park event. We loved meeting new faces, reconnecting with old friends, and selling Arts Access merchandise along the way!
IN THE MEDIA
Arts Access profiled on Exhibbit.com
Arts Access was honored to be the first organization featured in Exhibbit’s new User Story article series. Exhibbit co-founder Amanda Lane spoke with Julia Halsey (our Exhibits and Collections Coordinator) about how we use Exhibbit to share our artists work online.
Arts Access featured on NJ.com
Andre Malik from NJ.com visited the arts center this year and put together a beautiful piece about Karen Yates’ work in our program.
FACILITATION
Virtual Facilitation
Since its development during the spring of 2020, our virtual facilitation program has continued to grow and flourish! More and more artists are returning to Arts Access via their computers and we have welcomed some entirely new artists to our program thanks to the accessibility and flexibility that virtual facilitation offers.
View highlights from virtual facilitation sessions
Returning to the Studio
While virtual facilitation has continued to remain a vital part of our program, we were thrilled to continue to welcome back even more of our artists to the arts center in person this year.
We’d like to say a very special thank you to all of our supporters for helping us continue to create great opportunities like the ones listed here for our artists. Thanks for a memorable and unique year!
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