Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Winter Semester Begins
2025-01-06 | NJ
Winter semester begins on January 6! Click here for more information and to register!

Winter Break Workshops for Adults
2025-01-02 - 2025-01-05 | NJ
7532 Painting from Still Lives
Instructor: Mary Jean Canziani
In this one-day workshop, students will have the opportunity to view a variety of still life paintings from history and be inspired to create their very own still life painting. Students will learn the basic rules of composition, arrange their own setup of props, make a sketch identifying basic shapes and values, and more.
Thursday, 1/2, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $28
7521 Torch Enameling
Instructor: Sue Sachs
Torch enameling is a fantastic way to add vibrant colors to your copper or fine silver pieces without the need for a kiln. In this fun and direct process, watch enamels transform from powder to colorful glass as your piece changes temperature with heat from a torch. Different techniques of torch enameling will be discussed, as well as methods for setting finished pieces. No experience is necessary. Students who wish to work in silver should purchase fine silver sheet (not sterling).
Thursday, 1/2, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $37
7533 NEW! Poinsettia Watercolor Painting
Instructor: Kat Block
Enroll in this one-day workshop to bring poinsettias to life with watercolor. Students will incorporate color, shape, line, light and more to create a dynamic painting. The instructor will cover a variety of watercolor techniques such as creating warm tones and the “wet on wet” process to enhance colors of the flower.
Friday, 1/3, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $23
7534 NEW! The Basics of Silkscreen Printing
Instructor: Stephanie Bulante
Learn the basics of silkscreen printing, one of the most widely used printmaking methods. In this one-day workshop, the instructor will cover how to create a stencil with light sensitive emulsion, exposing a screen, and making a one layer image with water based inks for easy cleanup. Silkscreen printing is versatile and well suited to all styles and disciplines of artmaking, images can be hand drawn, photographic, digital (or all three). Students are encouraged to have an image in mind and to bring more than just paper, such as a shirt, tote bag, or another flat surface they may want to print on. Most materials provided.
Friday, 1/3, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $35
7511 Painting with Wool: Needle Felting a Winter Landscape
Instructor: Martha McDonald
Create a beautiful and unique winter wonderland scene entirely made of wool! Through demonstrations and step-by-step instruction, students will learn about the versatility of this medium by transforming colorful wool roving into amazing textured art. Students will be encouraged to use their own ideas and leave with a completed felted canvas.
Sunday, 1/5, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $32
7535/7538 Winter Break: Open Studio Ceramics
Are you eager to create in clay? Sign up for ceramics open studio! This ceramics open studio is designed for winter 2025 semester students who want to get a head start on some projects and already have some experience working in clay. There will be a studio monitor during both time frames to provide some assistance if needed. Limited spots available; registering ahead of time is recommended.
7535 Thursday, 1/2, 9:30 AM – 12 PM
7538 Friday, 1/3, 9:30 AM–12 PM
Fee: $25

Winter Break Art Workshops for Kids & Tweens
2024-12-26 10:00 - 2024-12-27 13:30 UTC | Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ, 07901, United States
Give the kid or tween in your life the gift of creativity this winter season! In each session, young artists will learn a variety of art techniques while creating fun winter-themed projects.
All art supplies are included.
Click here for more information and to register.

Jacadi Summit Sale
2024-11-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Jacadi Summit, 487 Springfield Ave, Summit, NJ, 07901
JACADI SUMMIT invites the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Community to a Holiday Shopping Event!
Enjoy Jacadi Paris Shopping, Light French Bites, & Shop to Fundraise for Visual Arts:
Jacadi Black Friday Sales Up to 30% Off a Selection!
Jacadi will Donate 5% of Event’s Sales to the Art Center’s Children’s Programming!
Thursday, November 21st 12-2pm
Jacadi Paris
487 Springfield Ave,
Summit NJ 07901
Please click here to RSVP by November 19th

Fall Exhibition Opening
2024-11-06 19:00 - 21:00 | NJ
Join us on Wednesday, November 6, from 7–9 PM, for a special opening of our fall exhibitions! Our newly renovated galleries will open with shows focusing on people impacted by mass incarceration and a special one-night storytelling event where speakers will share their stories, allowing a glimpse into the lives of those impacted by the criminal legal system. RSVP here and join us for a night celebrating our new exhibitions!

Save the Date: Children's Peace Festival
2024-11-02 14:00 - 17:00 | Children’s Peace Festival, 158 Southern Blvd,, Chatham Township, NJ, 07928
The second annual Children’s Peace Festival will be held Saturday, November 2, between 2–5 PM at the Chatham Summit Quaker meeting house in Chatham, NJ, and will include partners such as NJ Family, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, and youth performers from the Papermill Playhouse, Elefante Music & School for the Performing Arts, Kent Place School and more. This year’s event will build upon last year’s success and bring an expanded roster of youth performers, art projects, games, and peace-building activities including a Peace Garden community project.

Raku-Fest 2024
2024-10-26 10:00 - 2024-10-27 15:30 | Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ, 07901, United States
Join us for Raku Fest! Raku Fest showcases a unique ceramic firing process in which red-hot ceramic pieces are transferred directly from the kiln into a container of combustible materials. The heat of the ceramic causes the materials to ignite, and the resulting smoke creates one-of-a-kind effects in the ceramic glaze.
Attend the Event—advance registration required (Registration Opens on 10/1/24)
A limited capacity audience can watch the action live as multiple raku firings take place throughout the day. Admission is available for either morning (10 AM–12:30 PM) or afternoon (1–3:30 PM) on both days. Attendees may arrive any time during their time window. Walk-ins the day of the event will be available only if capacity allows.
$5 per person admission fee. Children 17 & under are free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult. Maximum of two free children per paying adult, please.
Saturday Morning
Saturday Afternoon
Sunday Morning
Sunday Afternoon
Glaze Items for Purchase
An assortment of pre-made ceramic pieces will be available for purchase for participants to glaze and have fired during the event. Items available for purchase and glazing include: jewelry pieces, plates, and pots of varying sizes.
Jewelry Piece: $12
Plate: $25
Bring Your Own Student Piece: $20
Wheel-thrown Pot: $30

Dikra Gem Sale
2024-10-15 19:00 - 22:00 | NJ
Looking for the perfect stone to complete your piece? Dikra Gem Inc. will visit the Art Center on Tuesday, October 15, from 7–10 PM, to offer their collection of faceted and cabochon stones, beads, pearls, and more for purchase. Both students and faculty are welcome to attend!
For more than a decade the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has enjoyed a special relationship with Dikra Gem. Once a year, they bring their collection to the Art Center to give our jewelry students the opportunity to purchase quality, unique gems at fair prices to add the perfect finishing touch to a piece or spark inspiration for a new one. Don’t miss out—join us on October 15!

Self-Expression Through Art: A Workshop for Teens
2024-09-30 15:30 - 17:00 | Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ, 07901, United States
Trying to balance it all as a teen can feel overwhelming, and at times, difficult to put into words. Using art as a tool for expression can help to identify, manage, and cope with various sources of stress and anxiety. Come join art therapist Megan Tuttle in a safe space to create and have open and honest conversation! After graduating with her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Art Therapy, Megan began working with teens as a Behavioral Health Counselor and eventually began working with various populations providing art classes and art therapy. In all of her programs, she strives to create an environment that promotes a sense of freedom and self-discovery where there is no such thing as a “bad” emotion.
Classes will take place on Mondays, from 3:30–5 PM, 9/30–11/11 (no classes on 10/14).
Click Here To Register
Scholarships are available for eligible candidates. For more information please reach out to Rachel Aponte, Director of Education & Community Engagement at raponte@artcenternj.org.

Fall Semester Begins
2024-09-16 | NJ
Fall semester begins on Monday, September 16. Click here to register!

Arts + Cars 2024
2024-09-15 10:00 - 16:00 | NJ
Join VACNJ, Summit Downtown, and Peotter’s Auto Body & Spa for a day of great food, live music, activities for the whole family, and, of course, fine art and classic cars! Want to display and sell your own work? Click here to learn more about the application process!

Summer Art Camp: Week 10
2024-08-19 - 2024-08-23 | NJ
AT THE CIRCUS (ages 5–9) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 19–23, 10 AM–3 PM
Art takes center stage at this week of camp, featuring projects inspired by a trip to the circus. Kids will create projects that capture the whimsy and amusements of a classic circus, such as a mixed-media circus bunting and a painted carousel horse.
EVERYTHING CLAY AND ESSENTIAL DRAWING & PAINTING (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 19–23, 10 AM–3 PM
Everything Clay: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to explore various types of clay. During the week, tweens will get to use the pottery wheel to throw and embellish a functional ceramic piece that will be glazed and fired in the kiln. Tweens will also learn the techniques for working with paper clay, from building an armature to give the clay structure to ways to decorate their creations using paint, decoupage, or other materials. Finally, tweens will explore polymer clay by making everyday objects in miniature.
Essential Drawing & Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Tweens will use their observational skills and gain familiarity with diverse media—such as graphite, charcoal, acrylics, and watercolors—through drawing exercises that may include gesture drawings, blind contours, and contour drawings. Linear perspective, color theory, and building form with light and shadow will also be covered as tweens render their artistic creations.
PRINTMAKING TECHNIQUES & FIBER ARTS (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 19–23, 10 AM–3 PM
Printmaking Techniques: In this unique camp, tweens will create their own limited-edition prints on our professional presses. Learn various techniques, styles, and tools of the printmaking trade through demonstrations and hands-on practice. This camp will cover techniques including plexiglass drypoint and mono-printing as we create original prints that are either one-of-a-kind or editionable!
Fiber Arts: Vibrant fibers and textures surround us—explore the wonderful world of fiber arts! Campers will be creating several skill-building projects during this exciting week of camp. A variety of fiber techniques will be visited and may include weaving, hand sewing, embroidery, felting, pom-pom making, and more. Let the creativity unfold!
PRINTMAKING TECHNIQUES & FIBER ARTS (ages 13+)
August 19–23, 10 AM–3 PM
Printmaking Techniques: In this unique camp, teens will create their own limited-edition prints on our professional presses. Learn various techniques, styles, and tools of the printmaking trade through demonstrations and hands-on practice. This camp will cover techniques including plexiglass drypoint and monoprinting as we create original prints that are either one-of-a-kind or editionable!
Fiber Arts: Vibrant fibers and textures surround us—explore the wonderful world of fiber arts! Campers will create several skill-building projects during this exciting week of camp. A variety of fiber arts will be visited and may include weaving, hand sewing, embroidery, felting, pom-pom making, and more. Let the creativity unfold!

Summer Art Camp: Week 9
2024-08-12 - 2024-08-16 | NJ
NEW! DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (ages 5–9) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 12–16, 10 AM–3 PM
This ALL NEW week of camp is inspired by the prehistoric world of dinosaurs and cavemen. Campers will create projects like a woolly mammoth sculpture, a T-Rex watercolor, and a stegosaurus collage.
NEW! 2D COMICS, CARTOONS & ANIME AND 3D CARTOOM CLAY (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 12–16, 10 AM–3 PM
Comics, Cartoons & Anime: Calling all comic, cartoon, and anime lovers! Tweens will explore drawing popular characters and work on simple and effective techniques for creating their own character concepts. Master a unique style of creating cartoon, anime, and comic art.
3D Cartoon Clay: Let’s bring those characters to life! Campers will have the opportunity to utilize design thinking skills and foundational art skills as they create a 3D character of themselves, an original character, or recreate their favorites by adding unique personality traits and features. A variety of materials and techniques will be utilized.
NEW! COLLAGE & MIXED MEDIA AND ESSENTIAL DRAWING & PAINTING (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 12–16, 10 AM–3 PM
Collage & Mixed Media: Mixing it up is what collage and mixed media is all about! Campers will have the opportunity to use a variety of supplies such as paint, patterned paper, fabric, fibers, and more. During this camp week, students will learn about shape, color, texture, and light, all while creating both representational and abstract works of art.
Essential Drawing & Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Tweens will use their observational skills and gain familiarity with diverse media—such as graphite, charcoal, acrylics, and watercolors— through drawing exercises that may include gesture drawings, blind contours, and contour drawings. Linear perspective, color theory, and building form with light and shadow will also be covered as tweens render their artistic creations.
NEW! COLLAGE & MIXED MEDIA AND ESSENTIAL DRAWING & PAINTING (ages 13+)
August 12–16, 10 AM–3 PM
Collage & Mixed Media: Mixing it up is what collage and mixed media is all about! Campers will have the opportunity to use a variety of supplies such as paint, patterned paper, fabric, fibers, and more. During this camp week, students will learn about shape, color, texture, and light, all while creating both representational and abstract works of art.
Essential Drawing & Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the teen looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Campers will use their observational skills and gain familiarity with diverse media, such as graphite, charcoal, acrylics, and watercolors, through drawing exercises that may include gesture drawings, blind contours, and contour drawings. Linear perspective, color theory, and building form with light and shadow will also be covered as tweens render their artistic creations.

Summer Art Camp: Week 8
2024-08-05 - 2024-08-09 | NJ
APPETITE FOR ART (ages 5–9)
August 5–9, 10 AM–3 PM
Dig in! This week of camp will feature art projects inspired by delicious foods and snacks. Campers will learn several art techniques while cooking up projects like avocado toast drawings and banana splits in pastel.
EVERYTHING CLAY AND PAPERMAKING & MIXED MEDIA (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 5–9, 10 AM–3 PM
Everything Clay: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to explore various types of clay. During the week, tweens will get to use the pottery wheel to throw and embellish a functional ceramic piece that will be glazed and fired in the kiln. Tweens will also learn the techniques for working with paper clay from building an armature to give the clay structure to ways to decorate their creations using paint, decoupage, or other materials. Finally, tweens will explore polymer clay by making everyday objects in miniature.
Papermaking & Mixed Media: Open up a world of possibilities with mixed media! In this camp, tweens will start by learning how to make paper and then use it as the basis of their mixed media project. They will learn techniques such as layering paper, mono-printing, and collage. Teens will have the choice to use interesting materials such as yarn, fabric, dried flowers, pages from old books, paint, and more to create their mixed media artwork.
ASSEMBLAGE AND ESSENTIAL DRAWING & PAINTING (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 5–9, 10 AM–3 PM
Assemblage: Tweens will transform everyday items into expressive, personal sculptures! Imagine all the artistic possibilities in combining materials such as paper, plastic, clay, and wire with found objects. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, tweens will learn various techniques to manipulate the materials and create one-of-a-kind sculptures.
Essential Drawing & Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Tweens will use their observational skills and gain familiarity with diverse media—such as graphite, charcoal, acrylics, and watercolors—through drawing exercises that may include gesture drawings, blind contours, and contour drawings. Linear perspective, color theory, and building form with light and shadow will also be covered as tweens render their artistic creations.
ASSEMBLAGE AND ESSENTIAL DRAWING & PAINTING (ages 13+) (WAITLIST ONLY)
August 5–9, 10 AM–3 PM
Assemblage: Teens will transform everyday items into expressive, personal sculptures! Imagine all the artistic possibilities in combining materials such as paper, plastic, clay, and wire with found objects. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, teens will learn various techniques to manipulate the materials and create one-of-a-kind sculptures.
Essential Drawing & Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the teen looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Campers will use their observational skills and gain familiarity with diverse media, such as graphite, charcoal, acrylics, and watercolors, through drawing exercises that may include gesture drawings, blind contours, and contour drawings. Linear perspective, color theory, and building form with light and shadow will also be covered as teens render their artistic creations.

Summer Art Camp: Week 7
2024-07-29 - 2024-08-02 | NJ
ART AROUND THE WORLD (ages 5–9)
July 29–August 2, 10 AM–3 PM
Pack your bags! Kids will “travel” the world and learn how different cultures create art. Make a Niagra Falls diorama, create a paper collage inspired by Turkish mosaics, and draw unique Ukrainian pysanky eggs.
JEWELRY AND DRAWING WITH PEN & INK (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 29– August 2, 10 AM–3 PM
Jewelry Design: Make wearable art! Tweens will experiment with jewelry-making techniques to create pendants and bracelets of their own original designs. After starting with a sketch, the instructor will guide tweens on using the best materials to create their vision. Projects may include, but are not limited to: wrapped wire pendants, polymer clay canes, and recycled paper beads.
Drawing with Pen & Ink: From quick sketches to detailed drawings, this camp will teach tweens the tips and tricks of pen and ink! Tweens will explore techniques such as loose sketching, cross-hatching, and stippling as they learn to create contrast with texture and ink. Tweens will also learn to create softer drawings using ink and a brush. Some basic drawing skills will also be covered.
EVERYTHING CLAY AND CHARACTER DESIGN (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 29– August 2, 10 AM–3 PM
Everything Clay: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to explore various types of clay. During the week, tweens will get to use the pottery wheel to throw and embellish a functional ceramic piece that will be glazed and fired in the kiln. Tweens will also learn the techniques for working with paper clay from building an armature to give the clay structure to ways to decorate their creations using paint, decoupage, or other materials. Finally, tweens will explore polymer clay by making everyday objects in miniature.
Character Design: During this week of camp, tweens will learn to design their own character(s) for comic books, graphic novels, or cartoons. They will focus on personality and expression plus learn anatomy and posing using the human body as reference. Tweens will also have a chance to explore costume design for their character. All this will come together in a project that features the character(s) they created.
JEWELRY DESIGN AND DRAWING WITH PEN & INK (ages 13+) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 29– August 2, 10 AM–3 PM
Jewelry Design: Make wearable art! Teens will experiment with jewelry-making techniques to create pendants and bracelets of their own original designs. After starting with a sketch, the instructor will guide tweens on using the best materials to create their vision. Projects may include, but are not limited to, wrapped wire pendants, polymer clay canes, and recycled paper beads.
Drawing with Pen & Ink: From quick sketches to detailed drawings, this camp will teach teens the tips and tricks of pen & ink! Teens will explore techniques such as loose sketching, cross hatching, and stippling as they learn to create contrast with texture and ink. Teens will also learn to create softer drawings using ink and a brush. Some basic drawing skills will also be covered.

Vivid Stage Summer Solos 2024—I F***ing Hate Shakespeare
2024-07-24 18:30 - 20:00 | NJ
The weekly solo reading series returns to the Art Center this summer! All tickets are $23 (advance sales only) and readings will be done on the lawn of the Art Center. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs, picnic, and/or snacks!

Gina Femia is a playwright. William Shakespeare is a playwright, too—maybe you’ve heard of him? In I F***ing Hate Shakespeare, through the lens of different Shakespeare plays, and juxtaposing him with the abusive relationships that defined her coming of age, Gina discusses how her experience with the Bard has shaped her origin story as a playwright.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Summer Art Camp: Week 6
2024-07-22 - 2024-07-26 | NJ
COMICS, CARTOONS & CHARACTERS (ages 5–9) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 22–26, 10 AM–3 PM
Delve into the world of cartoons, comics, and popular characters in everyone’s favorite camp! Create super fun art projects of familiar friends like Star Wars collages, Winnie the Pooh pastels, and Olaf watercolors.
NEW! DRAWING PORTRAITS AND COLLAGE & MIXED MEDIA (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 22–26, 10 AM–3 PM
Drawing Portraits: Take observational drawing skills to the next level! Tweens will draw directly from a clothed life portrait model, focusing on the features of the human face. This camp will explore light and shadow, allowing tweens to gain a better understanding of the facial structure through demonstration and drawing exercises.
Collage & Mixed Media: Mixing it up is what collage and mixed media is all about! Campers will have the opportunity to use a variety of supplies such as paint, patterned paper, fabric, fibers, and more. During this camp week, students will learn about shape, color, texture, and light, all while creating both representational and abstract works of art.
FIBER SCULPTURE AND JEWELRY DESIGN (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 22–26, 10 AM–3 PM
Fiber Sculpture: Incorporate pattern and texture into sculpture through the use of fiber! Campers will learn to bring their ideas and sketches to life, creating anything from plushies to abstract sculptures. While basic sewing may be involved, we will also explore other techniques to build their fiber sculptures. Pre-made patterns will be available but, with the guidance of their instructor, teens can also create their own templates for original designs.
Jewelry Design: Make wearable art! Tweens will experiment with jewelry-making techniques to create pendants and bracelets of their own original designs. After starting with a sketch, the instructor will help tweens use a variety of materials to create their vision. Projects may include, but are not limited to: wrapped wire pendants, polymer clay canes, and recycled paper beads.
FIBER SCULPTURE AND JEWELRY DESIGN (ages 13+) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 22–26, 10 AM–3 PM
Fiber Sculpture: Incorporate pattern and texture into sculpture through the use of fiber! Teens will learn to bring their ideas and sketches to life, creating anything from plushies to abstract sculptures. While basic sewing may be involved, teens will also explore other techniques to build their fiber sculptures. Pre-made patterns will be available but, with the guidance of their instructor, teens can also create their own templates for original designs.
Jewelry Design: Make wearable art! Teens will experiment with jewelry-making techniques to create pendants and bracelets of their own original designs. After starting with a sketch, the instructor will help teens use a variety of materials to create their vision. Projects may include, but are not limited to, wrapped wire pendants, polymer clay canes, and recycled paper beads.

Vivid Stage Summer Solos 2024—What I Thought I Knew
2024-07-17 18:30 - 20:00 | NJ
NOTE: Due to the weather forecast, tonight’s event will be held at Vivid Stage’s indoor location, the Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit.
The weekly solo reading series returns to the Art Center this summer! All tickets are $23 (advance sales only) and readings will be done on the lawn of the Art Center. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs, picnic, and/or snacks!

In What I Thought I Knews by Alice Eve Cohen, everything 44-year-old Alice thought she knew is turned upside-down when an emergency CAT scan reveals that she’s six months pregnant. A dark comedy performed by one actress playing forty roles, Alice faces the most wrenching decision a woman can make, in her odyssey through doubt, a broken health-care system, the complexities of reproductive rights, and the infinite unpredictability of parenthood. An O’Neill finalist and Jane Chambers Award Honorable Mention, What I Thought I Knew is adapted from Cohen’s acclaimed memoir—winner of Oprah magazine’s 25 Best Books of Summer and Elle Literary Grand Prize for Nonfiction.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Summer Semester Begins
2024-07-15 | NJ
Summer semester begins on Monday, July 15. Click here to register!

Summer Art Camp: Week 5
2024-07-15 - 2024-07-19 | NJ
MINI MASTERS (ages 5–9)
July 15–19, 10 AM–3 PM
Kids become mini masters while experimenting with art media and techniques used by famous artists. While learning about art history, campers will expand their creative horizons by painting like Paul Cézanne, collaging like Matisse, and sculpting like Jeff Koons.
SCULPTURE TECHNIQUES AND ART JOURNALING (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 15–19, 10 AM–3 PM
Sculpture Techniques: Create art in the round! Tweens will learn to use sculpting tools and techniques to create 3D sculptures. Tweens will go beyond handbuilding—they will learn more advanced techniques to refine and build their sculptures. Students will work with a variety of sculpture materials and complete a 3D sculpture during this camp.
Art Journaling: Art journaling is a wonderful habit for everyone! Keeping a journal that contains one’s inspirations, frustrations, dreams, and fears is a way to creatively process everyday life. Tweens will make their own journal with simple bookbinding techniques and fill its pages both inside and outside of camp. We’ll also encourage tweens to share their journaling journey during camp.
FULL-DAY EXPERIMENTAL FASHION (ages 13+) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 15–19, 10 AM–3 PM
Full-Day Experimental Fashion: Teens will explore traditional and non-traditional fashion design including sketching concepts and bringing them to fruition, making anything from everyday clothing items to cosplay. Multiple sewing and fabricating techniques will be covered while we create wearable art. Students will also have the opportunity to design their own t-shirt during this week of camp.
FULL-DAY PAINTING WITH ACRYLICS (ages 13+) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 15–19, 10 AM –3 PM
Full-Day Painting with Acrylics: Additional week added due to popular demand! Spend the whole week focusing on this one versatile medium. Teens will spend both morning and afternoon sessions learning how to paint with acrylics. Teens will learn how to block in a composition and see it come to life as they add paint to their canvas. They will learn the fundamentals of painting, including brush techniques, how to create light and shadow, and color mixing. Teens will also learn how to handle the materials properly. Students should wear clothes that can get messy—acrylics don’t wash out of clothes!

Vivid Stage Summer Solos 2024—Equally Divine
2024-07-10 18:30 - 20:00 | NJ
The weekly solo reading series returns to the Art Center this summer! All tickets are $23 (advance sales only) and readings will be done on the lawn of the Art Center. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs, picnic, and/or snacks!

Told from the point of view of the world’s most famous painting, this true-crime whodunit begins with the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum in Paris. Police question everyone from J.P Morgan to Pablo Picasso but cannot crack the case. Soon the story travels back in time to 1503, introducing us to the visionary artist Leonardo da Vinci, the apprentice who would become his lover, and the secrets behind the creation of La Gioconda. Along the way, the woman in the portrait solves mysteries that have baffled fans and stumped scholars for centuries: Why Leonardo never delivered the painting to the man who commissioned it. Who she is. And why she’s smiling. Equally Divine is a time-hopping, gender-bending drama about art, inspiration, and becoming who we are.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Summer Art Camp: Week 4
2024-07-08 - 2024-07-12 | NJ
NEW! UNDER THE SEA (ages 5–9) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 8–12, 10 AM–3 PM
Join us for an ALL NEW week of art camp, where the projects are drawn from the undersea world! Dive into fun projects like a papier-mâché pirate ship and a giant shark painting.
FIBER ARTS AND COMICS, CARTOONS & ANIME (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 8–12, 10 AM–3 PM
Fiber Arts: Vibrant fibers and textures surround us—explore the wonderful world of fiber arts! Campers will create several skill-building projects during this exciting week of camp. A variety of fiber techniques will be visited and may include weaving, hand sewing, embroidery, felting, pom-pom making, and more. Let the creativity unfold!
Comics, Cartoons & Anime: Calling all comic, cartoon, and anime lovers! Tweens will explore drawing popular characters and work on simple and effective techniques for creating their own character concepts. Master a unique style of creating cartoon, anime, and comic art.
NEW! OIL PAINTING AND SOFT SCULPTURE (ages 13+)
July 8–12, 10 AM–3 PM
Oil Painting: Painting can seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! Teens will learn the foundational skills of painting in oils. This camp will cover the basics, including blocking in a composition, color mixing, value studies, and proper handling of materials. Students should wear clothes that can get messy.
Soft Sculpture: This camp takes the best of fiber arts and sculpture and merges them into a whole new art form: soft sculpture! Using textural materials such as felt, fibers, and notions—along with imagination and creativity—campers will design, prototype, and create both relief sculpture and sculpture in the round. Being able to sew is a bonus, but not necessary, since multiple methods of soft sculpture construction will be covered. Teens will create several projects ranging in scale over the course of the week.

Vivid Stage Summer Solos 2024—Summer Shorts
2024-07-01 18:30 - 20:00 | NJ
The weekly solo reading series returns to the Art Center this summer! All tickets are $23 (advance sales only) and readings will be done on the lawn of the Art Center. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs, picnic, and/or snacks!

A collection of short romantic comedies by Vivid’s Artistic Director Laura Ekstrand, showcasing the talents of some outstanding actors. It’s not a Solo, but sometimes ya gotta break the rules…
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Summer Art Camp: Week 3
2024-07-01 - 2024-07-03 | NJ
ART AROUND AMERICA (3 DAYS) (ages 5–9)
July 1–3, 10 AM–3 PM
Celebrate Independence Day through artwork inspired by American artists and famous during this patriotic week, we’ll make art projects such as a seascape painting inspired by Winslow Homer and a landscape drawing featuring an all-American barn.
WATERCOLOR EXPLORATION AND COMICS, CARTOONS & ANIME (3 DAYS) (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 1–3, 10 AM–3 PM
Watercolor Exploration: Watercolor is a classic painting medium that builds upon drawing skills while also incorporating color theory. The foundations of watercolor painting and color mixing will be explored as tweens are introduced to a variety of techniques, including basic washes, layering of paints, and how to create strong compositions with the interplay of dark and light values.
Comics, Cartoons & Anime: Calling all comic, cartoon, and anime lovers! Tweens will explore drawing popular characters and work on simple and effective techniques for creating their own character concepts. Master a unique style of creating cartoon, anime, and comic art.
NEW! TINY WEEK AND PAINTING WITH PASTELS ( 3 DAYS) (ages 13+)
July 1–3, 10 AM–3 PM
Tiny Week: It’s a short week, so let’s get small! Students will use multiple mediums to create unique sculptures and figures while exploring the art world at a miniature level. Have fun creating tiny art you can hold in your hand!
Painting with Pastels: Pastels straddle the line between painting and drawing. During this camp, teens will be introduced to the essentials needed to create using pastels. This will include fundamentals such as drawing, light and shadow, composition, color theory, and basic perspective. Both still life and landscapes will be incorporated to create finished works of art.

Summer Art Camp: Week 2
2024-06-24 - 2024-06-28 | NJ
ANIMALS & WILDLIFE ART (ages 5–9) (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 24–28, 10 AM–3 PM
This week of camp is like taking a trip to the zoo, but so much more creative! Explore the exciting world of animals and their amazing habitats. Kids will create projects such as woodland watercolors, chameleons in pastel, and mixed-media birdhouses.
EVERYTHING CLAY AND ESSENTIAL DRAWING & PAINTING TECHNIQUES (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 24–28, 10 AM–3 PM
Everything Clay: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to explore various types of clay. During the week, tweens will get to use the pottery wheel to throw and embellish a functional ceramic piece that will be glazed and fired in the kiln. Tweens will also learn the techniques for working with paper clay, from building an armature to give the clay structure to ways to decorate their creations using paint, decoupage, or other materials. Finally, tweens will explore polymer clay by making everyday objects in miniature.
Essential Drawing & Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the tween looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Tweens will use their observational skills and gain familiarity with diverse media, such as graphite, charcoal, and acrylics, through drawing exercises that may include gesture drawings, blind contours, and contour drawings. Linear perspective, color theory, and building form with light and shadow will also be covered as tweens render their artistic creations.
NEW! THE MAGIC OF MACHE AND FIBER ARTS (ages 13+)
June 24 –28, 10 AM–3 PM
The Magic of Mâché: This week is devoted to the art of taking ordinary items and transforming them into sculptures. Aluminum foil, glue, paper, and cloth with a heavy sprinkle of creativity is all that is needed. Exposure to different ways of creating three-dimensional forms opens the mind to different ways of problem-solving for creative inspiration. Have some fun and get your hands dirty!
Fiber Arts: Vibrant fibers and textures surround us—explore the wonderful world of fiber arts! Campers will be creating several skill-building projects during this exciting week of camp. A variety of fiber arts will be visited and may include weaving, hand sewing, embroidery, felting, pom-pom making, and more. Let the creativity unfold!

Summer Art Camp: Week 1
2024-06-17 - 2024-06-21 | NJ
SUMMER SAMPLER (ages 5–9) (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
Try it all! Our Summer Sampler includes an art project from each of this summer’s camp themes, plus a few projects inspired by classic summer pastimes. Projects will not be repeated later in the summer if your camper is lucky enough to join us for multiple weeks!
SCULPTURE TECHNIQUES AND ART JOURNALING (ages 10–12) (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
Sculpture Techniques: Create art in the round! Tweens will learn to use sculpting tools and techniques to create 3D sculptures. Tweens will go beyond handbuilding—they will learn more advanced techniques to refine and build their sculptures. Students will work with a variety of sculpture materials and complete a 3D sculpture during this camp.
Art Journaling: Art journaling is a wonderful habit for everyone! Keeping a journal that contains one’s inspirations, frustrations, dreams, and fears is a way to creatively process everyday life. Tweens will make their own journal with simple bookbinding techniques and fill its pages both inside and outside of camp. We’ll also encourage tweens to share their journaling journey during camp.
NEW! FULL-DAY SCREEN PRINTING (ages 13+)
June 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
Full-Day Screen Printing: Create amazing screen prints during both morning and afternoon sessions! Teens will learn basic screenprinting techniques, from image-making, screen, and material preparation, to the use of screen printing as a creative outlet, including monoprinting and edition printing. Campers will develop prints on paper while experimenting with the possibilities of screen printing.
FULL-DAY PAINTING WITH ACRYLICS (ages 13+)
June 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
Full-Day Painting with Acrylics: Additional week added due to popular demand! Spend the whole week focusing on this one versatile medium. Teens will spend both morning and afternoon sessions learning how to paint with acrylics. Teens will learn how to block in a composition and see it come to life as they add paint to their canvas. They will learn the fundamentals of painting, including brush techniques, how to create light and shadow, and color mixing. Teens will also learn how to handle the materials properly. Students should wear clothes that can get messy—acrylics don’t wash out of clothes!

Spring Exhibitions Last Look
2024-05-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ, 07901, United States
Join us for a last look at our winter/spring exhibitions celebrating Gallery Aferro, the Newark-based arts organization that recently closed its doors after 20 years. Founded by visionary artists and changemakers Evonne M. Davis and Emma Wilcox, Gallery Aferro was a platform for the exchange of ideas in service of advancing human dignity and beauty, with a focus on visual arts as the vehicle. This event is free and open to the public and will feature informal talks by several of the exhibiting artists.

An Evening of Conversation with Edwin Ramoran, Evonne Davis, and Emma Wilcox
2024-05-08 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Join us for a virtual night of conversation as curator Edwin Ramoran speaks with Gallery Aferro founders Evonne Davis and Emma Wilcox about the indelible mark Gallery Aferro has left on the New Jersey arts community and the artists that have worked within its walls.
Edwin Ramoran is an independent curator who has significantly contributed to the Newark arts scene as the previous Director of Exhibitions and Programs at Aljira.
Evonne Davis and Emma Wilcox are co-founders of Gallery Aferro, who have together developed hundreds of exhibitions, residencies, education programs, public art initiatives, and publications.
VACNJ is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Spring Curator Talk
Time: May 8, 2024 7 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85938065836?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 859 3806 5836
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Teacher's Professional Development Symposium - The Suggestive Power of Oil Painting
2024-05-03 09:00 - 15:00 | Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ, 07901, United States
The Suggestive Power of Oil Painting
This symposium is led by artist Duane Lutsko
Explore an oil painting approach that uses the power of suggestion to teach to success while refreshing your personal and professional painting practice. We will use an earth-colored ground, an Imprimatura, to complete a one-off monochrome painting, a Grisaille, using doable steps with practical goals.
A traditional Grisaille is a finished monochrome painting, painted over a semi-transparent, dry, earth-hued, tonal-ground. We vary this practice by working into a wet transparent ground, the Imprimatura, using a limited palette and pulling out lights or painting-in darks.
We will investigate a myriad of ways painting can be developed by focusing on the relationships of shapes as value, proportion, alignment, and texture, rather than by trying to paint things and objects.
We will incorporate abstract thinking by using blocking and the tonal properties of the Imprimatura to build imagery from elements that suggest forms into more comprehensive details. The goal is to embed the practice of painting into actionable open-ended problem-solving skills that have application in your art room, as well as in your personal practice.
All VACNJ Teacher’s symposium events offer unique professional development opportunities for art educators to come together and learn new creative skills to bring back to their classroom. The programs include:

Presentation by the leading contemporary artist
Hands-on artmaking workshop with the artist
Gallery exercises exploring ways to view and interpret contemporary art
Six professional development hours upon completion of the symposium
Lesson plans as a take home

Registration fees are $75 and include a light breakfast and all materials.
Click here to register.
PLEASE NOTE: If your school needs to be invoiced in order to pay for this program, please contact us to register. Call 908.273.9121 ext. 213 or at raponte@artcenternj.org, and speak with Director of Education & Community Engagement Rachel Aponte.

Teacher's Professional Development Symposium - Plein Air Painting
2024-05-02 09:00 - 15:00 | Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ, 07901, United States
Plein Air Painting
This symposium is led by artist Duane Lutsko
Throughout history, the dramatic potential of changing light and those expressive possibilities have captivated artists such as Whistler, Van Gogh, Ryder, and Turner. In this course, suitable for all levels, students explore oil painting techniques for quickly rendering light and atmosphere in the plein air landscape. The inherent simplicity of this approach offers unique opportunities for success with quick studies, as well as with more extended compositions. After mastering the basics of depicting form through value, students will explore the nuances of color palettes and paint applications to render the emotive qualities of the landscape. Outside assignments will challenge the student to explore different light situations throughout the day. The class will travel to various local painting sites to work outdoors.
All VACNJ Teacher’s symposium events offer unique professional development opportunities for art educators to come together and learn new creative skills to bring back to their classroom. The programs include:

Presentation by the leading contemporary artist
Hands-on artmaking workshop with the artist
Gallery exercises exploring ways to view and interpret contemporary art
Six professional development hours upon completion of the symposium
Lesson plans as a take home

Registration fees are $75 and include a light breakfast and all materials.
Click here to register.
PLEASE NOTE: If your school needs to be invoiced in order to pay for this program, please contact us to register. Call 908.273.9121 ext. 213 or at raponte@artcenternj.org, and speak with Director of Education & Community Engagement Rachel Aponte.
