Ridgewood NJ, The RHS Department of Fine & Applied Arts is hosting the tenth annual Alumni Art Show, of work created after graduating from RHS. The show is mounted in the Carroll Art Gallery, Room 137, through January 9, 2015. An artists’ reception wil be held on Thursday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. All students, alumni, friends, family and staff are invited to the reception as well as to view the exhibition during school hours.
Questions may be directed to the Department of Fine & Applied Arts at 201-670-2800, ext. 20542, or email the department in care of [email protected].
Event information and other news is continually updated on the Arts at Ridgewood Public Schools’ Twitter profile: @Arts_at_RPS and Facebook account page, www.facebook.com/TheArtsatRPS.
It is with great pride that we announce the revitalization of the Ridgewood Arts Council (RAC), as it proudly assumes official council status within the Village of Ridgewood. RAC’s mission is to promote and support the vital part that all arts play in enriching our lives, and the lives of our children and the Ridgewood community at large.
The first accomplishment of RAC is a “one-stop-shop” community arts calendar which is housed on the new Village of Ridgewood website. The RAC calendar allows Ridgewood organizations to post all their arts-related happenings on one site and for residents to search for detailed event descriptions by date. What’s going on in Ridgewood this weekend? Simply go to rac.ridgewoodnj.net to find out! The more groups post about their theater, dance, instrumental, voice, literary, culinary and fine arts happenings, the more people will know about them and be able to attend! Detailed instructions on how to post events can be found directly below the calendar on the RAC homepage, rac.ridgewoodnj.net.
RAC’s second major goal is to install a permanent art display throughout Ridgewood’s Village Hall. The purpose of this installation will be to celebrate the wealth of artistic talent among our residents — past and present, old and young. Submission information and selection guidelines will be released shortly.
Of course, nothing happens without the hard work of volunteers and generous donations from patrons. To show your support for the arts in Ridgewood, please become a patron of RAC. Donations will allow us to support existing community arts programs, to host our own arts-related events and, eventually, to offer scholarship programs for Ridgewood students. Please make checks payable to The Ridgewood Arts Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 183, Ridgewood, NJ 07451 — 501(c)(3) status pending — or go to rac.ridgewoodnj.net and donate by utilizing the Paypal button. As a token of appreciation, all patrons donating $100 or more to RAC will be invited to a special patron/artist preview at our gala launch event held at Village Hall in 2015. Anyone interested in joining the RAC volunteer board, please email [email protected] (subject line: RAC Board Member Info).
Mysterious Statue Hidden for Decades Set to make Reappearance at Village Hall
December 4,2014
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Authorize Expenditure of Funds for and Placement of Federrici
Sculpture at Village Hall ( $2,500.) plus.
Where did this come from?Where is this statue now? How long have we owned it? What is the statue of? Where is it going to place in or on Village Hall grounds? Is Village Hall going to be the surrogate Arts Center that our Mayor
promised during his re election?
After several decades of being hidden from public view a Village owned Federrici Sculpture will be placed on front lawn near flag pole at Village Hall (secured in place there).
Sources tell the Ridgewood blog that the statue has been in storage at a location that is being kept under wraps to prevent item from being vandalized or stolen (reportedly it’s worth a fortune).
Sources also tell us that the Village has owned it for over 50 years and it was formerly installed at the old fire house on Hudson Street. The statue was taken down when building was demolished in 1990’s and placed in storage.
We know a photo was held up at the Council meeting last night, but I was too far away to see it.
We also know that the Ridgewood News attempted to get a photo today but was unable to.
The council does not want anyone to know where it is because they think it will be vandalized or stolen to which a tax payer has suggested it be moved inside somewhere, but so far the council has not heeded this lowly taxpayer.
Sources say the Library’s Ridgewood History room has a photo when it was mounted on the old Village Hall.
Federici, Gaetano
b. 1880
d. 1964
By Joseph D. McCaffrey
Star-Ledger Staff
March 14, 1997
In front of St. John’s Cathedral in Paterson stands a statue of Irish priest Dean William McNulty, comforting a barefoot orphan boy. The statue, completed in 1923, has come to symbolize nationally the pastoral role of priests in a working-class city like Paterson. It is also one of the best-known works of sculptor Gaetano Federici, whose outdoor sculptures abound in Paterson and other parts of North Jersey.
Federici died in 1964, at the age of 84, leaving a legacy of hundreds of public works.
Shortly after Federici died, his studio collection was sold by his family to an old friend and admirer, Clifton contractor John Saveriana. The studio collection includes models for some of Federici’s more famous statues, including Father McNulty, and for a World War I memorial in Paterson.
In 1978 Saveriana sold the items to Joseph Randazzo, a collector. Four years ago, Randazzo decided to sell all 215 pieces, and got in touch with an art auctioneer. A group of Paterson residents formed the Federici Collection Inc. in the hope of acquiring the collection. The Martini Foundation bought it on their behalf.
Federici, Paterson’s unofficial “sculptor laureate,” was one of New Jersey’s few native sculptors, according to one expert, and an extraordinarily prolific one. The Encyclopedia of American Biography in 1966 called Federici “an outstanding American sculptor . . . who won international acclaim for his work.”
According to Meredith Bzdak, New Jersey coordinator for a project called Save Outdoor Sculpture, Federici’s Collection is well worth saving. His works, she said, “are of great significance to us as a state in understanding our historical past.”
At least 40 of Federici’s major statues are within two miles of Paterson’s City Hall. Federici’s sculptures also are found in Cuba, New York, Hollywood, and in churches and cemeteries throughout the region. Bzdak said the studio collection represents the majority of Federici’s life work. “I feel the studio collection should remain intact – because it is one of the only collections of its kind. And because of the significance of Federici to us,” she said.
Fiorina said she remembered her grandfather as always at work in his studio. She has family snapshots of him, a short, sprightly man with a carefully trimmed goatee and a beret. The pictures are of a grandfatherly figure smiling warmly into the camera while working on huge figures in his studio.
Gaetano Federici was born in Castelgrande, Italy, in 1880. In 1887, he and his mother left their mountainous village to join his father, Antonio, in Paterson. Antonio Federici was a stone mason who had become a successful contractor in the booming industrial city.
Federici showed artistic promise as a Paterson High School student. By that time, his father could afford to allow the boy to get artistic training. As a young man Federici was apprenticed to some of the leading sculptors of his time. He studied in New York with the Art Students League.
According to Bzdak, Federici was trained in the academic tradition and would never stray far from it. Experts called him a conservative sculptor: While European sculptors were doing avant-garde work, Federici stayed with classical themes. He was painstaking in his attention to detail, yet always attempted to capture the personality of the subject.
Ridgewood Art Institute Holiday Show Reception Today 1pm
We have completed the construction and have been decorating the galleries – Please come and join us for our Holiday show at the Ridgewood Art Institute. Special thanks to our President Bob Lampert and all the board members for making the construction project go as smoothly as possible – the barn looks spectacular. In conjunction with the Holiday show we are having a special fundraiser of Small Works donated by our membership – all proceeds from the fundraiser go directly to the barn – come see our new renovations.
Ridgewood Art Institute 12 East Glen Avenue Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Ridgewood Art Institute Holiday and Small Works Show
Ridgewod NJ, The Ridgewood Art Institute Traditional Holiday Show and Small Works Show In addition to the Traditional Holiday show this year, the small works show will feature 8X10 framed paintings each donated by members of the Ridgewood Art Institute to sell for $150 each, well below their value.
Both Holiday and Small Works paintings will be displayed and may be viewed during regular scheduled class hours,
The sale of Small Works will start at the reception November 23 at 1pm.
Open Festive Holiday Reception November 23rd 1-4pm
Exhibit November 23rd- December 24th
The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
https://www.ridgewoodartinstitute.org
Or call 201-652-9615
OCTOBER 31, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014, 12:31 AM BY EILEEN LA FORGIA STAFF WRITER | THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Art Institute (RAI) is playing host to artists from the tri-state area who are exhibiting their work as part of the Pascack Art Association’s (PAA) Second Annual Juried Art Show. There are 42 artworks in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel as well as mixed media. Styles are both traditional and contemporary art. Cash and merchandise prizes were presented at a reception held last Sunday.
Best in Show award went to Derek Cameron for an acrylic featuring two cars from times past in vibrant colors, called “Old Friends.” Other award winners were: Rita Agron’s pastel, “Country Road,” a pastoral scene showing a great play of light and shadow; Rebecca Leer’s oil still life, “Mr. Kelly’s Bandana;” Victoria Majestic’s oil still life, “Freshly Cut;” and “Rooster” by Mira Oliker, a watercolor showing loose painting with a lot of movement.
Show chair Joyce Levine said, “It’s a very stimulating exhibit giving an opportunity to meet with artists from the tri-state area.” Levine previously studied with Paul Burns at RAI and also at the Art Student League. She had a 25-year career in architectural illustration as an art director in New York City. “Pony Tail,” her watercolor, shows a little ballerina at a local outdoor ballet show.
Lou Spina is showing a large oil painting, “Jean-Michel et Ami,” a scene from an outdoor café in Paris – a man with his dog. “Artists bring a variety of styles and subject matter which makes for a very interesting exhibit,” he said. Spina is PAA president.
Central Business District Discussion Meeting – Role of Arts and Historic Preservation in CBD – October 29 at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 29th the Village Hall Court Room, 131 N. Maple Ave, from 7:30PM to 9PM – The conversation will continue regarding Ridgewood Central Business District. At 7PM there will be an opportunity for comments. At 7:30PM – a Panel will discuss the role of the Arts and Historic Preservation in the Central Business District.
October 3, 2014 Last updated: Friday, October 3, 2014, 12:31 AM
By Eileen La Forgia
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
“I paint in beautiful contemplative places, which lend peace to me and hopefully to those viewing my work,” said well-known watercolor artist Joel Popadics. The subjects include vistas depicting land and sea, some in bright sunlight or moody fog.
“When I look at each painting I can recall very vivid details about the day, the time and temperature and who I was with. The paintings almost become a journal or diary of my life that is not written, but painted or drawn out,” reflected Popadics.
Joel Popadics paints at the Jersey Shore.”Lobster Cove””Port Clyde”
He loves the coast of Maine with its harbors and coves. He has rented a house on seven acres of land in Cutler, an area known for hiking trails. The exhibit includes: “Lobster Cove” Boothbay Harbor, painted in autumn. “Waves at Western Point,” a scene at Acadia National Park and “Holmes Bay Low Tide,” painted during a drizzle.
Until her death earlier this year Dee Kersting was a member of the Ridgewood Art Institute (The Barn). She painted there for over fifty years. Dee studied under such renown artists as Arthur Maynard, Paul Burns and John Osborne. All had great influence and helped refine Dee’s painting talent.
Mrs. Kersting attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She also studied at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and The Chicago Academy of Fine Art. She apprenticed at Hoskinson Rohloff in Chicago. She was a fashion artist for Sterling Lindner Davis in Chicago. Over many years of painting she created a variety of Still Lifes, Landscapes and Portraits. She received numerous awards at Art Shows around the Bergen County area. Her art has been displayed at the Union League Club in New York, the Bergen Mall in New Jersey and many other locations in the Hudson River Valley.
Some of her creations will be displayed at the Ridgewood Art Institute. All Paintings are on Sale for $250 or best offer by the Kersting family and all proceeds will be donated to the Ridgewood Art Institute Childrens Scholarship or Awards fund.
Ridgewood Art Institute: Reminder to Pick Up Summer Show Paintings September 2, 2014 7:13 PM (19 hours ago)
Ridgewood NJ, With the ongoing construction, reduced storage and another show soon to take place, it would be very much appreciated if Summer Show exhibiting artists would retrieve all of their work during the scheduled pick up dates. Summer Show Pickup: September 2nd-5th
AUGUST 29, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014, 12:31 AM BY EILEEN LA FORGIA STAFF WRITER
“It is exciting to see the progress the young students make within one week at art camp,” said instructor Laura Paray.
The oil painting summer session was held at the Ridgewood Art Institute’s East Studio the week of Aug. 18 to 22. This is the third summer that Paray has taught an oil painting summer session at Ridgewood Art Institute. The students paint from still life and from landscapes previously created en plein air.
“There is no better way to learn than from real life set ups, the three dimensional objects are there and the goal is to convey that on a two dimensional surface,” said Paray.
“The landscape sketches help them to see the colors used to create atmosphere in an outdoor scene, and eventually they can attempt to paint outdoors themselves using the information that is given – helping them to translate the complicated outdoors into an understanding of color and value and the reasoning behind the prismatic palette of the Ridgewood Art Institute.”
Paray teaches oil painting for young people on Sundays 12 to 2 p.m. during the year.
Exhibit in Ridgewood shows art’s therapeutic value
AUGUST 15, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014, 12:31 AM BY EILEEN LA FORGIA STAFF WRITER
West Bergen Mental Healthcare’s Third Annual Partial Care Consumer’s Art Show is being held at the Stable Art Gallery in Ridgewood through Aug. 27.
“Partial Care Consumers enjoy art groups which support their goals to wellness and recovery,” said Donna Marinaro, partial care director.
There are approximately 100 pieces by 50 individual artists created in specific therapeutic groups such as: Visual Arts for Self Expression, Dynamics through Art, Open Art Studio and Young Adult Expressive Arts. The art is created with a free choice of medium; whether oils, pastels, colored markers, pencil or acrylic oils on canvas, each piece is uniquely individual. They also enjoy mixed media, individual drawing, murals together and sculptural work and needlework for creative self-expression.
“This show represents the work of all the consumers,” said Julie Mansfield, who organized the artwork for the show. “The groups are facilitated by a team of clinical case managers offering exciting expressive art and music groups, social skills groups and vocational rehab and overall living and psychological educational groups.”
Ridgewood Library hosts art exhibit featuring scenes in Ridgewood
AUGUST 8, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2014, 12:31 AM BY EILEEN LA FORGIA STAFF WRITER
Adele Grodstein’s exhibit at the Ridgewood Public Library features oil paintings of scenes in Ridgewood as well as landscapes from travels, still lifes and even a portrait. The show is full of life and vivid color.
“Movement is always there – the struggle to keep everything in position for the brushstroke balancing the knowledge that when I look up again, the whole view will have changed slightly,” said Grodstein.
“Big Sky (Going to the Sun Road)” is a large painting from a family trip to Glacier National Park.
“I was very excited about the photo I took and wanted it to be a painting. Glacier National Park is so beautiful, a disappearing landscape,” she noted.
Ridgewood’s Duck Pond scene was painted in February and is called “No Skating.”
MAY 9, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014, 12:31 AM BY EILEEN LA FORGIA STAFF WRITER
“Art in the Family” features four generations of the Toan family with a unique exhibit at the Cottage Place Gallery.
Marion Toan Jones and her husband Bob have been well-known Ridgewood residents for the past 30 years. Marion worked as a clinical social worker and Bob has a PhD in social policy and administration. He has been president of the Children’s Aid and Family Services in Ridgewood for 29 years. Both have spent two years each as president of the Unitarian Society in Ridgewood.
This eclectic show was Marion’s idea. It displays artwork from her mother and aunt as well as that done by Marion and her two cousins, Debbie Patton and Meryl Toan. On exhibit are mixed media, photography, acrylic paintings, oil and batik artworks. Younger family members in the exhibit include Marion’s children Kim Tyner and Nick and her two grandson’s Ben and Finn, 7 and 4 years old. Debbie Patton’s son Ben and Meryl Toan’s daughter Emmy Toan are also part of the show.
“It’s a miracle – they didn’t expect Marion to live more than a year,” said Bob Jones about his wife’s participation in the art show. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in January 2008. As a result of the surgery, memory and speech were affected, but not artistic expression. Since the surgery, Marion has won a number of best in shows. She also had a successful solo show at the Cottage Place Gallery in 2012.
“Art is an emotional expression because she often doesn’t have the words,” Bob noted.
