Clinton Township Newsletter

2 4 j u n e 2 0 2 3 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M C3Q: Hello, Marjorie Nathanson, Executive Director of Hunterdon Art Museum. Recently, I received some postcards in the mail and was excited to read all of the upcoming events at the Hunterdon Art Museum this summer. There are so many good things – tell me more! MN: Well, First, we have HAM it Up! It's our annual fun family event on the terrace overlooking the Red Mill, Sunday, June 2 from 1-4 pm. It's an afternoon of fun for the whole family, and it's free! There are art demos, entertainment and a balloon man, and crafts for all ages. This year, we're thrilled that one of our currently exhibiting artists, Monica Ong, will be at HAM it up and doing projects and presentations that include poetry and her visual work. People should come by and have some great fun. For the adults, this summer, we have the ArtBar, which runs Friday nights on the Terrace, June-August, 6-9 pm, for museum members. This will be our second year hosting the Art Bar; the Clinton Guild presents Friday Night M u s i c d u r i n g t h e summer; there is a band a n d a b a r f o r M u s e u m members and their guests, so people can drink wine or beer and listen to music on the terrace. This year, we added a new three-month membership for $15, so that makes it very accessible for people. They can attend the ArtBar, and they can come into our galleries as many times as they like during the summer; t h e y c a n v i s i t t h e ArtZone, where there are always art project ideas and supplies to make art; and they get invitations to our art openings and guest passes. (There's a three day waiting period between becoming a member and access to the Art Bar; so register slightly in advance!) Last year, we began an event we're happy to continue this year, "The Artist's Closet: A Vintage Clothing Sale", June 17 and 18. It's a unique and fun event, with some amazing vintage finds. There are also Artful Sundays during the summer; six Sundays of artists selling their work (jewelry, ceramics, crafts), on sale on the terrace, rain or shine, June 25, July 9, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13. It's a wonderful chance to acquire some unique one-of-a-kind pieces and meet the artists selling their work. Of course, we are happy to have our Summer Art Camp on the Terrace, as well as Summer art classes and workshops for adults and teens. This will be the third year of outdoor summer camp under tents on the terrace. It runs for nine weeks, of half-day, either morning or afternoon, or a full-day option. There is a whole variety of offerings, from printmaking and painting, to cartooning and anime, set- design, storyboarding, pop- art themes. It's a lovely way to spend some time during the summer for 5-15 year olds. All of our teachers are professional artists and teaching artists who have a lot of experience teaching and are very talented. They provide a terrific level of instruction. Many return year after year, but we have some new faces this year as well. Lastly, we have three current exhibitions, which are all very different. "Claybash" includes over 40 artists, from all over the country, showcasing different ways to use clay. Monica Ong is a Connecticut-based artist, who is a poet and visual artist and quite well-known, so we are very excited about hosting her work. We also have an exhibition from artist Nona Hershey from Massachusetts, who is showing some watercolors with cloud and abstract imagery; very fascinating work. In mid-summer, there will be another exhibition which celebrates the museum's 70th Anniversary, with prints from that exhibition going to donors of the museum. As part of our exciting 70th A n n i v e r s a r y , w e have commissioned a n a r t i s t n a m e d Phillip Adams, who is doing a mural in September on the terrace "blackboard," a n d p e o p l e c a n interact with him as he creates the mural. We culminate the 70th Anniversary celebration with an ArtParty on October 27, which consists of a dinner and an auction. I love the Exhibition openings, (which are free to everyone, not just members), which happen several times a year, because the artist talks are so interesting, and you get to see work that is fresh that you haven't seen before. C3Q: My mother was an art teacher, and so I grew up thinking that creating art is a pretty essential activity for daily life. What would you say to encourage people who don't believe themselves to be particularly artistic, or have never been to the museum? MN: You don't have to be an artist to enjoy art; there is not 'one way' to look at art. Everybody comes with their own experiences, and that always influences the way they look at art. We try to have several exhibitions, so there is so much variety at the museum. Looking at art is a really fun experience, but it can also be a thoughtful process, and art is really for everyone. Every aspect of someone's life, even if they think they aren't artistic or that art doesn't have a connection to them, should realize that art touches every aspect of their lives: film, tv, images they experience, the clothing they dress themselves in, every written piece. It's all art, and has been touched by an artist in some way. Coming to an art museum opens you up to exciting things that artists are doing. Many artists are engaged in all sorts of contemporary issues; it's not just looking at a pretty picture; they are often thinking of wider issues or conflicts, and through art, you can really be opened up to different things that you are interested in. C3Q: Is there anything that you wished people knew about the museum, or would like to talk more about? MN: I think if people haven't been to the museum, they should come in and check it out this summer! We've got things for all ages. You may just be touched by something that you see here. We are a part of the community, and we love to have the community engaged with what we are doing. We specialize in contemporary arts, crafts and design, which is somewhat unique in our area, and we love the intersection where fine art and craft come together. Being a small museum makes it an intimate, special place to experience art, and seeing it in a 19th century building in an atmosphere of hand-hewn wooden beams and grain chutes from 1836, is simply extraordinary. C3Q: Thank you so much, Marjorie! Hope to catch you at the ArtBar, and browse some exhibits this summer! n Rachel Sprague, a resident of Clinton Township, has a degree in journalism from Rutgers. With her husband Russell, Rachel is raising two young children in the Clinton Township School District. She thinks that Clinton Township is a delightful place to live. HAM celebrates its 70 year anniversary this year Permanently installed on the Museum's Toshiko Takaezu Terrace are three bronzes by Takaezu, titled "The Three Graces" Instructor Martha Kelshaw's "You & Me Holiday Ornament Painting" workshop – so fun! Welcome to with Rachel Sprague * C linton ree Questions * "You don't have to be an artist to enjoy art; there is not 'one way' to look at art." – Marjorie Nathanson, Executive Director of Hunterdon Art Museum Young students having a blast in HAM's recent "Mix It Up" class with Liz Tracey!

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