the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Tom Wallace, an 85-year-old retired art teacher from the Ridgewood School District and a 45-year resident of Glen Ridge, is showcasing his artwork at the Glen Ridge Train Station until the end of August.
This intimate exhibition features 15 pieces, including paintings, textiles, and collages, many of which were created over 60 years ago while Wallace was a student at Montclair State Teachers College (now Montclair State University). Although Wallace rarely displays his work, Megan Giulianelli, the co-curator of the station’s gallery space, convinced him to share his art, and Wallace saw it as an opportunity to find an appreciative audience.
Initially, the exhibit was titled “65 Years of Art.” However, Wallace shared in a recent interview that his journey with art began much earlier.
“I started out at about 12 years old with a marionette theater and a few kids that helped me,” Wallace recalled. “My father built us a big stage on the third floor of our home, and we would give shows for other kids. The room was set up like a little theater, and my bedroom was up there too. The neighborhood children came on Saturday mornings for shows.”
Raised in Ridgewood, Wallace was inspired by his father, an NBC executive, and his father’s sister, the director of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, who introduced him to a Greenwich Village marionette company.
“As a curious kid, I think that’s what got me started,” he said about his visit to the puppet factory.
Wallace wrote scripts on large pieces of cardboard for his marionette performances, painted backdrops, made props, and created voices for the characters. His aunt sometimes helped make costumes, repurposing his mother’s discarded fox stole for “Little Red Riding Hood.”
“I did most of the work,” he said. “I was pretty adept in that way. I had gone to theater and opera as a kid, so I remembered a lot of visual things.”
Despite his early interest in art, Wallace became disenchanted with high school art classes, finding them lacking in creativity. It wasn’t until his senior year and college that he began to produce more artwork.
“Some of the works in the show are from 1959,” he said. “Most paintings are from 1960-62, when I was just finishing off college.”
Initially entering college to become a music teacher, Wallace switched to visual arts, taking classes in painting, sculpture, and weaving.
“You’ll see all those things in the show,” he said. “I was very interested in textiles. About half the show is tapestries, weaving, and stitching.”
After college, Wallace’s focus shifted primarily to teaching and managing a small raspberry farm, which he described as his true work.
“Teaching engulfs you,” he said. “And I bought a small raspberry farm. That is where my work is, taking care of plants, trees, and vines. I love plants.”
Wallace always knew he wanted to be a teacher, inspired by the idea of helping others. Many of his high school classmates also attended Montclair State Teachers College, albeit in different departments. As an art teacher, Wallace would guide students through technical aspects and then step back to watch them develop.
“Nurturing people is a two-way street,” he said.
The gallery co-curators are Megan Giulianelli and Stephanie Kosbuka. For gallery hours, call 973-748-2924. The opening night is Saturday, Aug. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Glen Ridge Train Station is located at 228 Ridgewood Ave.
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Mr. Wallace, you were my favorite teacher. One who made me love Art. Thank you!