Rosemary Howlett Passes
The Art League of the Chathams lost a valuable leader. Rosemary Howlett was the backbone of the Art League of the Chathams.
She was the courageous person who was at the helm to merge both Chathams, the Township and Borough‘s talented artist communities to become “The Art League of the Chathams”.
She was a watercolorist and her interest in that medium drew her to join the Art League. A longtime fascination with Asian art led her to study Chinese brush painting in China. Rosemary was a former member of Essex Watercolor and the Pen and Brush Society in NYC. In 2004, one of her Chinese brush paintings won the Salmagundi Club Award.
Serving more than six years (2007-2009; 2013-2016) as its President, she took pride in the League’s accomplishments during that period. Aside from merging the two Chathams, she instituted the Arts Scholarship, an annual award given to a Chatham High School senior who is continuing to pursue art after graduation. The Art League scholarship will be known as “The Rosemary Howlett Scholarship”.
During her tenure as President, the League strengthened its financial position. The organization celebrated its 20th and 25th anniversaries during that time period, holding events that were both fun and financially successful. She included utilizing the hallway in the rear of the Township Municipal Building for solo art shows as the “Lundt-Glover” Gallery expanded. To this day, a member artist can have his or her own art exhibit without additional cost to them.
In 2010, the Chatham Township Mayor Nicole Hagner requested a mural be painted at one of the entrances of the Township Municipal building. A committee was formed and four artists stepped forward. Rosemary Howlett, Ed Schuh, Celeste Fondaco and Frank McDonough. They succeeded in having all walls of the entrance muraled. Over 500 hours of work was spent on the painting. Later on that year, the ALC was awarded the Morris County Arts Award.
She was born in Mt Clemens, MI and graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit. She met her husband, John, when they both worked at AT&T in Southfield, MI. They have a son, J.P., and daughter, Amy, married to John Enright and two grandsons, Raven (12) and Ryan (9).
For the Howletts, participation in the Art League has been a family affair. Her husband John served as treasurer for many years, and both continued helping to organize the exhibits at Chatham Township Hall.
Courtesy photo
