The Watchung Arts Center will present the annual members show of the Contemporary Art Group in its Upper Gallery. In the Lower Gallery, sculptor Michael Cooper will display his work in an exhibition entitled “Conception to Completion.” The exhibitions will be on display until May 30, 2018. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
The Contemporay Art Group show represents 32 artists exhibiting painting, pastels, fine art photography, sculpture and ceramics. Participating artists are: Margaret McCrary Anderson, Dorothy Bellew, Ruth Brown, Virginia Carroll, Inna Chabanova, Alicia Flynn Cotter, Lesya Hanenko Dovbenko, Maryann Ficker, Diane Gallo, Tamara Hanenko, Avi Kiriakatis, Constantine Kiriakatis, Don Kuhn, Linda Lam, Sheilia Lenga, James Long, Tom Martin, Charlann Meluso, Kathleen Nademus, Monica Schraiber Otero, Ghanshaym Patel, Tom Perri, Doris Prial, Eugene Prial, Linnea W. Rhodes, Sandy Ruda, Linda Schwartz, Cecilly Sullivan, Rosalia Verdun, Cynthia Walling, Cynthia Weiss, and Chris Winslow.
The Contemporary Art Group is a non-profit group of about 50 artists from central New Jersey who meet regularly at The Watchung Art Center to discuss art and support the creative endeavors of its members. CAG is a supportive group where there is mutual respect among members, where members exchange ideas, provide information about exhibit opportunities and share their own artistic development. More information about Contemporary Art Group can be found at contemporaryartgroup.org.
Michael Cooper is a visual artist working in the fine and commercial fields. His work is not dictated by any one medium or style, but rather his art designs point him to the method of creation for each piece His visual ideas translate primarily into sculptures, but paintings and drawings as well.
For the past several years, he has explored simple and graphic shapes in his work. His commercial art in many cases has to be bold and eye catching using simple designs, shapes and colors. The sculptures in this exhibit reflect those elements. However, these seemingly simple forms become intriguing in their positive and negative shapes and their interaction with each other and the environment around them.
In this series of sculptures, he works with wood and metal creating simple shapes that suggest some playfulness with gravity and intersecting. Contrasting colors help accentuate certain shapes and/ or areas. Reflections add another level of depth. His work is intended not to just sit on earth or a pedestal but to interact with the earth and pedestal. Some pieces suggest figurative notions, and all have geometric shapes interacting.
The Watchung Arts Center is located on the circle at 18 Stirling Road, Watchung, New Jersey. The Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information go to watchungarts.org or call 908-753-0190.
(above) Don Kuhn “Morning”
(above) Kathleen Nademus “Laundry Day.”
(above) Michael Cooper “Pivot”
(above) Michael Cooper “Recreating the Wheel”
(above) Michael Cooper “Two Arcs”
