April
2002
View
from the Hill: Art Exhibition
By
Brian Hill
The
season of Art Exhibition at the Museum of the City of Trenton
extends from September (usually the second or third week) through
June (second week). With the support of the City of Trenton, the
Museum Society provides what can now only be described as a jam-packed
series of concerts, exhibits, children's programs lectures, and
a museum store that is the best.
Last
year, we had Garden State Watercolor, Marge Chavooshian, Marguerite
Dorenbach and Molly Merlino. We started 2002 with Arts Bridge,
and currently have, until April 14, Gyuri Hollosy and Tomi Urayama.
At
the end of this month, we will have on display the Annual Ellarslie
Open. This year it will mark the 20th in the series. The museum
has been operating for 28 years, so it is safe to assume that
this wonderful tradition is all Ben Whitmire's fault. He's the
one that started it, followed by Duncan LaPlante and most recently
by Terri McNichols. I have been entrusted to carry on this tradition
since March of 1998.
As
a natural metamorphosis and a traditional American philosophy,
each year we have always got to do it better, cleaner and with
higher quality, and we strive to draw the very best in the representation
from the artists involved.
So
what's different this year? Instead of doing the regular slide
submission, we are going to jury from actual work. By the time
you read this, it will already be accomplished. I am sure we will
all be exhausted. Slides are a lot of work, but moving around
300+ works (including sculpture) for the juror is going to take
a lot of energy and I am fortunate to have the Museum Society's
support.
We
will pick about 55 works of art for the exhibit this year. As
in the past we have no idea how many will be delivered on March
22 and 23. We will just sit and wait. And yes, I do get nervous
about it. The prizes this year will also be bigger, better and
with more support. Already we have the Urban Word/Conduit One-Person
Exhibit and reception, and Café Olé Exhibit, lined
up along with Triangle Art ($200 gift certificate) and Presidents,
Directors and Tawa Awards (cash).
I
have called on the community for several more awards so we can
change the list to include a best in show for sculpture, painting,
photography and printmaking-and that list is not finalized. We
are looking for ten to twelve this year. Most importantly, the
Museum Society has started a purchase award. This means the winner
of this award will be included in the Museum Society Collection.
Kudos to the Museum Society in looking to the future for their
collection.
Speaking
of the Museum Society and all the support they supply for the
Museum, Beth Feltus is chair of a fundraising event she has called
Hattitude. It will take place on May 11, the day before Mother's
Day. There will be prizes for best hats, refreshments, and a promenade
of hats and with the community support this will be a wholesome
fun-packed day in the park suitable for all age groups.
The
event is being sponsored in part by Sandra's HatBox, Originals
by Teresa, A New You, the Virtual Makeover Studio and Boutique
and Boochies Boutique. What a great idea and just before Mother's
Day. If you are interested give Beth a call at 393-1556.
Want
to get notices about this event and be on our mailing list? Join
now with a basic membership of $35.00. You will get all the info
and newsletters notices to openings and concerts delivered to
your door.
To
conclude, we end the exhibit season on a very high note. In early
May there is the Hundredth Anniversary at Cadwalader Park, with
lots of family entertainment, from a fireworks display and horse
and buggy rides to memorabilia and May Pole events. Heritage Days
is going to be here soon and the city is in high gear with easier
access through the tunnel, the Commons being removed, the Hotel
opening up and exploding with culture and the arts. The View just
gets better all the time.
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Brian
Hill is director of Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum.
