The Watchung Arts Center was founded in 1978, providing the Watchung community with an eclectic mix of professional and emerging artists in the performing and visual arts. As the Center looks forward to its 40th season, and a gala anniversary, celebration, it is pleased to announce its performance and exhibition schedule for the fall of 2017.
The season will open on Friday, October 6 with an exciting jazz performance by piano virtuoso, Rio Clemente, known to his fans as “The Bishop of Jazz”. Whether performing as a soloist or with a guest artist or two, Rio never fails to impress, adding an amazing sense of creativity and interpretation to his music, and breathing new life into jazz and popular standards that sustain his growing legion of fans.
Two weeks later, on Saturday, October 21, another jazz artist will appear — this time, young Plainfield resident, Alexis Morrast. At the age of 16, Alexis has already performed at a wide range of jazz venues, including multiple appearances at the Apollo Theatre in New York, where she was the 2017 winner of the nationally televised FOX broadcast “Showtime at the Apollo”. She has also appeared at the U.S. Open in 2013; the 2015 Central Jersey Jazz Festival in New Brunswick featuring trumpet player Sean Jones; NJPAC with Christian McBride; as well as on Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center, and most recently abroad in Cape Town South Africa!
Saturday, October 28 will offer a change of pace, with an evening of the harmonies of the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, in “The Everly Set: Sean Altman & Jack Skuller Approximate The Everly Brothers”. New York based musicians Altman and Skuller have had successful musical careers individually, and have been performing as the Everly Set since 2015.
November 11 will offer an opportunity to celebrate with the Watchung Arts Center at its “40th Anniversary Gala”. Details are still being finalized, but it promises to be an evening of good food and fun, with musical performances by some of the WAC’s favorite artists.
2017 at the Watchung Arts Center will end with the “Annual Holiday Concert” on Saturday, December 9. What better way to celebrate the season of “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men” than with the music of “Amani”, whose name mean “peace” in Swahili”? Led by saxophonist Marty Eigen, “Amani” includes keyboardist Fred Fischer, vocalist Stephan Fuller and, on guitar, Flip Peters.
Each month, the Center displays the work of local artists in its two galleries, opening each show with a gala art reception, open to the public, usually on the first Sunday of the month. September will offer a group exhibit, “UNEXPECTED: What is a Painting?”, curated by Gail Winbury and Paul Pinkman, in the Heinz W. Otto Gallery, and “Reverie of Colors” by Indira Servaia in the Lower Gallery. The opening for these exhibits is on Sunday, September 10 from1 to 4 PM. Additional exhibits scheduled for the fall are:
- October – Unique Visions “Connections”; and Ross Wagner exhibit.
- November – New Jersey Photography Forum 23rd Annual Juried Photography Exhibit; and Green Brook artist Ghanshyam Patel.
- December – Annual Watchung Arts Center Members Juried Show
In addition to its performance and exhibit schedule, the Watchung Arts Center also features classes for adults and children. Children’s classes in Drawing and Painting Enrichment are slated to begin on September 26, with Teen Art Classes starting on September 25. Also beginning in September will be adult classes in Yoga and Zumba.
The WAC also provides meeting space for groups such as the Contemporary Art Group (CAG), the Unique Vision Workshop. The Watchung Arts Center is available for rental for parties and special events, and also offers Children’s Art Birthday Parties, hosted by art instructor Monica Otero.
The Watchung Arts Center is located on the circle at 18 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ. The office and galleries are open Tues.-Fri. noon-5pm and Sat. 10:00am-3:00pm. To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops, and monthly art exhibitions, please visit WatchungArts.org or call 908-753-0190.
