Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Fall Semester Adult Ceramics Classes
2020-09-21
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the adult ceramics classes being offered.

Fall Semester Adult Sculpture Classes
2020-09-21
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the adult sculpture classes being offered.

Fall Semester Adult Jewelry Classes
2020-09-21
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the adult drawing and painting classes being offered.

Fall Semester Adult Printmaking Classes
2020-09-21
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the adult printmaking classes being offered.

Fall Semester Adult Online Classes
2020-09-21
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the adult online classes being offered.

Fall Semester Adult Painting & Drawing Classes
2020-09-21

In-Person Art Camp: Week 8
2020-08-24 - 2020-08-28
Kid Art Camp
Comics, Cartoons & Characters >

August 24–28, 10 AM–3 PM
Explore the world of cartoons, comics, and popular characters in this popular week of camp! Create fun art projects like a mixed-media superhero and a 3D Garfield the Cat made from papier mâché.

Tween Art Camp
Abstract Explorations in Drawing and Painting and Printmaking Techniques >
August 24–28, 10 AM–3 PM
Abstract Explorations in Drawing and Painting: Explore different techniques and styles that make great abstract works of art, as well as how the traditional Elements of Art and color theory affect the creation of such works. Tweens will practice applying the techniques in their own artwork to achieve their desired aesthetic in abstraction.
Printmaking Techniques: In this unique camp, tweens will create their own limited-edition prints on our professional presses! Tweens will learn various techniques, styles, and tools of the printmaking trade through demonstrations and hands-on practice. This camp will cover techniques including plexi-glass etching and mono-printing, as tweens create original prints that are either one-of-a-kind or editionable!

Teen Art Camp
Essential Drawing and Painting Techniques and Digital Arts >
August 24–28, 10 AM–3 PM
Essential Drawing and Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the teen looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Teens 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.
Digital Arts: Dive into digital! In our fully-equipped digital lab, teens will use software to explore the concept of fine art in the digital realm. Teens will analyze elements of art and learn how to apply them to create digital art. This camp will also cover artistic concepts of composition and idea development. Students must have a portable storage device, such as a thumb drive, as a backup for saving their progress in class.

Focus Forward Virtual Artist Talk
2020-08-19 17:00 - 18:00 UTC
Focus Forward Virtual Artist Talk!
Join the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey (VACNJ) for a Zoom presentation of the current virtual exhibition, Focus Forward, featuring work by members of the New Jersey Photography Forum (NJPF). Curator Mary Birmingham will be presenting an overview of the exhibition and many of the artists will be present to discuss their work while answering questions from the audience. Please register in advance at the link below.
Co-founded by Nancy Ori and the late Michael Creem, the NJPF has been dedicated to furthering the interests of fine art photographers in New Jersey for the past 25 years and has held their regular meetings at the VACNJ. Working as a team, Mary Birmingham (Curator), Kimberly Fisher (Exhibitions Manager), and Sarah Walko (Director of Programs and Community Engagement) invited NJPF members to submit recent work that would illustrate where they hoped to take their photographic practices in the future. This exhibition was originally planned as an in-person show to be featured in the VACNJ’s Main Gallery but was converted into a virtual exhibition as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. It is on view on the Art Center’s website July 10 through August 30, 2020.
The work presented highlights the photography of 26 NJPF members, including Ron Brown, Ruth Brown, Sarah Canfield, Jamin Chen, Glenn Clark, Ken Curtis, Paul Donohoe, Ralph Greene, Theresa Hood, Marv Kaminsky, Kathleen Kirchner, Dorothy Kuehn, Parvathi Kumar, John Markanich, Paul Marvuglio, Leonard McDonald, Charlann Meluso, Charles Miller, Kathleen Nademus, Nancy Ori, Phyllis Raffelson, Mitchell Speert, Tom Stillman, Heidi Sussman, Christine Truhe, and Russ Wills.
Register in advance for this event here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom event.

In-Person Art Camp: Week 7
2020-08-17 - 2020-08-21
Kid Art Camp
New! Art In Action: Sports & Games >
August 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
On your mark, get set, create! This NEW week of camp will feature art projects inspired by favorite sports and games. Campers will use a variety of art media and techniques to create projects such as pastel soccer balls, painted checker boards, and illustrated self-portrait baseball cards.

Tween Art Camp
Graffiti and Functional Ceramics (3 day) & Comic Book Illustration (2 day) >
August 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
NEW! Graffiti: Make art with your mark! Tweens will create their own tag using soft and sharp shapes, wild style, or Gothic font. Learn how to create 3D letters using perspective and make connected letters that flow. Tweens will draw a background setting and arrange graffiti into an aesthetically pleasing composition. Finally, tweens will build their own 3D graffiti wall and tag it! Fine art concepts such as composition, perspective, color theory, and sculpting methods will all be taught alongside graffiti techniques.
Functional Ceramics (3 day): Our most popular week of camp! Tweens will learn the fundamentals of hand-building, wheel throwing, and applying glazes while creating functional ceramic items, such as cups, mugs, bowls, and plates.
Comic Book Illustration (2 day): Tweens will imagine and bring to life their own comic book characters! Campers will learn different illustration techniques and styles to help them create an expressive and unique cast of characters. Once students have designed and developed their characters, they will create a comic strip featuring their newly imagined cast.

Teen Art Camp
Textile and Surface Design and Art Journaling >
August 17–21, 10 AM–3 PM
Textile and Surface Design: Discover the basics of textile and fabric design. Teens will use a variety of mediums and explore different mark-making techniques in this camp to create unique textile patterns. Teens will gather inspiration, sketch patterns, and execute designs to create fabric swatches of their patterns, as well as a tote bag created from their fabric pattern of choice.
Art Journaling: Art journaling is a wonderful habit for everyone, not just artists! Keeping a journal that contains one’s inspirations, frustrations, dreams, and fears is a way to creatively process everyday life. Teens will make their own journal with simple bookbinding techniques and will fill its pages both inside and outside of camp. We’ll also encourage teens to share their journaling journey during camp.

In-Person Art Camp: Week 6
2020-08-10 - 2020-08-14
Kid Art Camp
Art Around The World >

August 10–14, 10 AM–3 PM
Pack your bags! Kids will “travel” the world and learn how different cultures create art. Sculpt clay penguins from Antarctica, discover the architecture of India through a Taj Mahal painting, and create vibrant African safari sunsets. Your camper will become fluent in the universal language of art!

Tween Art Camp
Expressive Ceramics (3 day) & Fine Art Mixed Media Collage (2 day) and Art Journaling >

August 10–14, 10 AM–3 PM
Expressive Ceramics (3 day): Tweens will learn the fundamentals of hand-building, wheel throwing, and applying glazes while creating expressive works of art in clay.
Fine Art Mixed Media Collage (2 day): Explore the possibilities of collage! Utilizing a variety of materials, tweens will investigate different approaches and techniques to the art of collage. Materials may include textiles, magazines, scrapbook paper, and construction paper, as well as tween’s own photographs or hand-painted paper. The possibilities are endless!
Art Journaling: Art journaling is a wonderful habit for everyone, not just artists! 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 will fill its pages both inside and outside of camp. We’ll also encourage tweens to share their journaling journey during camp.

Teen Art Camp
Silk Screen Printing and Drawing Portraits >

August 10–14, 10 AM–3 PM
NEW! Silk Screen Printing: Create amazing screen prints! Teens will learn all the basic screen printing techniques, from image-making, screen and material preparation, to the use of silkscreen printing as a creative outlet, including mono-printing and edition printing. Teens will develop prints while exploring the ins-and-outs of the rich world of silkscreen printing.
Drawing Portraits: Take your observational drawing skills to the next level! Teens will draw directly from a life-portrait model, focusing on the features of the human face. This camp will explore light and shading, allowing teens to gain a better understanding of the facial structure through demonstration and drawing exercises.

In-Person Art Camp: Week 5
2020-08-03 - 2020-08-07
Kid Art Camp
Art & Nature >

August 3–7, 10 AM–3 PM
Summer is the perfect time to find beauty in our natural world and celebrate it through art. Kids will be inspired by nature to create projects such as nature echo drawings, tropical fish sculptures, and paintings of dandelion puffs on a windy day.

Tween Art Camp
Experimental Fashion & Jewelry Design >
August 3–7, 10 AM–3 PM
Experimental Fashion: Create fashion! Tweens 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 tweens create their own wearable art. Pre-made clothing templates will be available, but students will also have the opportunity to design their own patterns with the instructor’s guidance.
Jewelry Design: Make your own jewelry! 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.

Teen Art Camp
Functional Ceramics (3 day) & Fine Art Mixed Media Collage (2 day) and Soft Sculpture

August 3–7, 10 AM–3 PM
Functional Ceramics (3 day): Our most popular week of camp! Teens will learn the fundamentals of hand-building, wheel throwing, and applying glazes while creating functional ceramic items, such as cups, mugs, bowls, and plates.
Fine Art Mixed Media Collage (2 day): Explore the possibilities of collage! Utilizing a variety of materials, teens will investigate different approaches and techniques to the art of collage. Materials may include textiles, magazines, scrapbook paper, construction paper, hand-painted paper, or even the teen camper’s own photographs.
NEW! Soft Sculpture: This camp takes the best of fiber arts and sculpture and merges them into a whole new art form: soft sculpture! Artists from Richard Serra to Louise Bourgeois have explored this unique medium. Using textural materials such as felt, fibers, and embellishment, 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. Campers will create several projects ranging in scale over the course of the week.

Online Art Camp: Week 7
2020-08-03 - 2020-08-07
Kid Art Camp: Mini Masters
August 3–7, 1–4:30 PM (ages 6–7)
August 3–7, 1–4:30 PM (ages 8–9)
Kids become mini masters while experimenting with art media used by famous artists. Create a Monet-inspired watercolor painting and a drawing in the style of Joan Miro, among other projects celebrating art history. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: computer, tablet, or phone with access to internet and Zoom: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup), 1 container for mixing papier-mâché paste about the size of a mixing bowl (could be disposable such as a foil baking tray).

Tween Art Camp: Assemblage
August 3–7, 1–4:30 PM
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. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup), and a series of found objects (in addition to what we’re providing) that you can find around your home or in your family junk drawer to personalize your work. Examples of this are small broken toys, Lego bricks, paper clips, nuts and bolts, buttons, small pieces of wood, old costume jewelry, etc.

In-Person Art Camp: Week 4
2020-07-27 - 2020-07-31
Kid Art Camp
New! Creative Creatures >

July 27–31, 10 AM–3 PM
Let your imagination run wild! In this NEW week of camp, campers will make art featuring wildly creative creatures. Join us to make exciting projects such as unicorn prints, dragon illustrations, and mermaid paintings.

Tween Art Camp
Digital Arts and Art Journaling >

July 27–31, 10 AM–3 PM
Digital Arts: Dive into digital! In our fully-equipped digital lab, tweens will use software to explore the concept of fine art in the digital realm. Tweens will analyze elements of art and learn how to apply them to create digital art. This camp will also cover artistic concepts of composition and idea development. Students must have a portable storage device, such as a thumb drive, as a backup for saving their progress in class.
Art Journaling: Art journaling is a wonderful habit for everyone, not just artists! 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 will fill its pages both inside and outside of camp. We’ll also encourage tweens to share their journaling journey during camp.

Teen Art Camp
Essential Drawing and Painting Techniques and Sculpture Techniques
July 27–31, 10 AM–3 PM
Essential Drawing and Painting Techniques: This camp is perfect for the teen looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting. Teens 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.
Sculpture Techniques: Create art in the round! Teens will learn to use sculpting tools and techniques to create 3D sculptures. Teens will go beyond just the hand-building process—they will learn more advanced techniques to refine and build their sculptures with carving tools. Students will work with a variety of sculpture materials and complete a 3D sculpture.

Online Art Camp: Week 6
2020-07-27 - 2020-07-31
Kid Art Camp: Color Explosion
July 27–31, 1–4:30 PM (ages 6–7)
July 27–31, 1–4:30 PM (ages 8–9)
Explore color! This camp introduces kids to the fun pop-art movement and other ways in which bright and bold colors can be used in artwork. Kids will create projects that play with the use of colors, such as landscape paintings using basics of color theory and complementary color illustrations. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup).

Tween Art Camp: Illustration and Character Design
July 27–31, 1–4:30 PM
Create your own characters for comics and storybooks! Tweens will explore gesture drawing, perspective, foreshortening, and figurative anatomy in order to draw amazing comics. Instruction will also cover illustrating facial expressions for characters, as well as developing facial features and structure. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic table cloth, etc.), 1 pencil, 1 eraser, and 1 pencil sharpener.

Sip and Cinema - Ursula Von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own
2020-07-24 17:00 - 18:00
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is once again partnering with The Film Society of Summit for a virtual Sip and Cinema: Art Edition for the film “Ursula Von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own.”
Ursula von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own is an artistic biography of one of the few women in the world working in monumental sculpture.

This edition will take place on Zoom on Friday, July 24, from 5–6 PM. VACNJ curator Mary Birmingham will lead our happy hour discussion. Please check back soon for possible wine pairings!

Please watch the film at your leisure prior to the discussion. (Visit https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ursulaatfss to rent and stream the film).

The Zoom virtual discussion is free to join. Please visit
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsce6hrDgvE9KbYJGjCUw6hAbZ6YJ0SYRx to register.

In-Person Art Camp: Week 3
2020-07-20 - 2020-07-24
Kid Art Camp
Mini Masters >

July 20–24, 10 AM–3 PM
Kids become mini masters while experimenting with art media used by famous artists. Create a Monet-inspired watercolor painting, a clay sculpture based on the work of Salvador Dali, and a drawing in the style of Joan Miro, among other projects celebrating art history.

Tween Art Camp
Illustration and Character Design and Sculpture Techniques

July 20–24, 10 AM–3 PM
Illustration and Character Design: Create your own characters for comics and story books! Tweens will explore gesture drawing, perspective, foreshortening, and figurative anatomy in order to draw amazing comics. Instruction will also cover illustrating facial expressions for characters, as well as developing facial features and structure.
Sculpture Techniques: Create art in the round! Tweens will learn to use sculpting tools and techniques to create 3D sculptures. Tweens will go beyond just the hand-building process—they will learn more advanced techniques to refine and build their sculptures with carving tools. Students will work with a variety of sculpture materials and complete a 3D sculpture during
this camp.

Teen Art Camp
Graffiti and Jewelry Design >

July 20–24, 10 AM–3 PM
NEW! Graffiti: Make art with your mark! Teens will create their own tag using soft and sharp shapes, wild style, or Gothic font. Learn how to create 3D letters using perspective and make connected letters that flow. Teens will draw a background setting and arrange graffiti into an aesthetically pleasing composition. Finally, teens will build their own 3D- graffiti wall and tag it! Fine art concepts such as composition, perspective, color theory, and sculpting methods will all be taught alongside graffiti techniques.
Jewelry Design: Make your own jewelry! Teens will experiment with jewelry-making techniques to create rings, pendants, and bracelets of their own original designs. After starting with a sketch, the instructor will help campers use a variety of materials to create their vision. Projects may include, but are not limited to, wrapped wire pendants and rings, polymer clay canes, and recycled paper beads.

Online Art Camp: Week 5
2020-07-20 - 2020-07-24
Kid Art Camp Animals & Wildlife Art
July 20–24, 1–4:30 PM (ages 6–7)
July 20–24, 1–4:30 PM (ages 8–9)
This week of camp is like taking a trip to the zoo, but way more creative! Explore the exciting world of animals and their amazing habitats. Kids will create projects such as koala bears in pastel, colorful elephant drawings, and giraffe sculptures. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: computer, tablet, or phone with access to internet and Zoom: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup), 1 container for mixing papier-mâché paste about the size of a mixing bowl (could be disposable such as a foil baking tray).

Tween Art Camp: Essential Drawing and Painting Techniques
July 20–24, 1–4:30 PM
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. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup).

Make Your Charitable Dollars Go Further
2020-07-14 13:00 - 13:30
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and Point View Wealth Management invite you to learn how to benefit your favorite charity while reducing your own tax bill. Point View’s David Dietze and Claire Toth will share strategies to do good and save money.
Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nn1BLTUMRg2ge7-KdAXSDA

In-Person Art Camp: Week 2
2020-07-13 - 2020-07-17
Kid Art Camp
Color Explosion >
July 13–17, 10 AM–3 PM
Explore color! This camp introduces kids to the fun pop-art movement and other ways in which bright and bold colors can be used in artwork. Kids will create projects that play with the use of colors, such as landscape paintings using basics of color theory and complementary color illustrations.

Tween Art Camp
Drawing Portraits and Watercolor Exploration

July 13–17, 10 AM–3 PM
Drawing Portraits: Take your observational drawing skills to the next level! Tweens will draw directly from a life portrait model, focusing on the features of the human face. This camp will explore light and shading, allowing tweens to gain a better understanding of the facial structure through demonstration and drawing exercises.
NEW! Watercolor Exploration: Watercolor is a classic painting medium that builds upon drawing skills while also incorporating principles of 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.

Teen Art Camp
Printmaking Techniques and Experimental Fashion >
July 13–17, 10 AM–3 PM
Printmaking Techniques: In this unique camp, teens will create their own limited-edition prints on our professional presses! Teens will learn various techniques, styles, and tools of the printmaking trade through demonstrations and hands-on practice. This camp will cover techniques including plexi-glass etching and mono-printing, as teens create original prints that are either one-of-a-kind or editionable!
Experimental Fashion: Create 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 teens create their own wearable art. Pre-made clothing templates will be available, but students will also have the opportunity to design their own patterns with the instructor’s guidance.

Online Art Camp: Week 4
2020-07-13 - 2020-07-17
Kid Art Camp: Summer Fun
July 13–17, 1–4:30 PM (ages 6–7)
July 13–17, 1–4:30 PM (ages 8–9)
Imagine all the possibilities of summer! At this online camp, kids will create art inspired by classic summer pastimes, including a 3D-sunbather sculpture, a mixed-media flip-flop collage, and a watercolor-bicycle painting. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup).

Tween Art Camp: Sculpture Techniques
July 13–17, 1–4:30 PM
Create art in the round! Tweens will learn to use sculpting tools and techniques to create 3D sculptures. Tweens will go beyond just the hand-building process—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. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup), 3¬–4 feet of aluminum foil, and 1 rolling pin or something you can use as a roller such as a tall cup or a wooden dowel.

Summer Semester Begins
2020-07-08
Summer semester classes begin on July 8 and in addition to the wonderful art instruction you’ve come to love, our summer semester will feature enhanced safety measures, including enrollment caps to ensure smaller classes, face masks worn by all students and instructors, and social distancing in the studio. Smaller classes mean fewer students and spots are filling fast. Give yourself the creative summer you’ve been waiting for. Sign up today!

In-Person Art Camp: Week 1
2020-07-06 - 2020-07-10
Kid Art Camp
Animals & Wildlife Art >
July 6–10, 10 AM–3 PM
This week of camp is like taking a trip to the zoo, but way more creative! Explore the exciting world of animals and their amazing habitats. Kids will create projects such as koala bears in pastel, colorful elephant drawings, and clay fish sculptures.

Tween Art Camp
Fiber Sculptures and Intro to Webcomics >

July 6–10, 10 AM–3 PM
Fiber Sculptures: Incorporate pattern and texture into sculpture through the use of fiber! Tweens will learn to bring their ideas and sketches to life, creating anything from plushies to abstract sculptures! While basic sewing may be involved, tweens will also explore other techniques to build their fiber sculptures. Pre-made patterns will be available, but with the guidance of their instructor, tweens can also create their own templates for original designs.
Intro to Webcomics: Explore the world of webcomics! Tweens will learn various techniques for comics, as well as discuss strategies for starting and maintaining a successful project on the web. Campers will focus on improving their artistic skills, and will touch on ways in which they can safely and effectively use the web to their advantage. They will also discuss the best ways to manage consistent updates of their work online.

Teen Art Camp
Expressive Ceramics (3 day) & Comic Book Illustration (2 day) and Assemblage >

July 6–10, 10 AM–3 PM
Expressive Ceramics (3 day): Campers will start with the fundamentals of hand-building, wheel throwing, and applying glazes, as teens create expressive works of art in clay.
Comic Book Illustration (2 day): Teens will imagine and bring to life their own comic book characters! Teens will learn different illustration techniques and styles to help them create an expressive and unique cast of characters. Once students have designed and developed their characters, they will create a comic strip featuring their newly imagined cast.
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.

Online Art Camp: Week 3
2020-07-06 - 2020-07-10
Kid Art Camp: Art Around America
July 6–10, 1–4:30 PM (ages 6–7)
July 6–10, 1–4:30 PM (ages 8–9)
Celebrate Independence Day through artwork inspired by American artists and famous landmarks. During this holiday week, we’ll make art projects such as a papier-mâché bald-eagle sculpture and a painting inspired by American artist Alexander Calder. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup), and 1 container for mixing papier-mâché paste about the size of a mixing bowl (could be disposable such as a foil baking tray).

Tween Art Camp: Art Journaling
July 6–10, 1–4:30 PM
Art journaling is a wonderful habit for everyone, not just artists! 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 will fill its pages both inside and outside of camp. We’ll also encourage tweens to share their journaling journey during camp. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup), newspaper and magazines that you can cut up.

Online Art Camp: Week 2
2020-06-29 - 2020-07-03
Kid Art Camp: Art & Nature
Morning Session (ages 6–7): June 29–July 3, 9–12:30 PM
Morning Session (ages 8–9): June 29–July 3, 9–12:30 PM
Afternoon Session (ages 6–7): June 29–July 3, 1–4:30 PM
Afternoon Session (ages 8–9): June 29–July 3, 1–4:30 PM
Summer is the perfect time to find beauty in our natural world and celebrate it through art. Kids will be inspired by nature to create projects such as nature-echo drawings and paintings of dandelion puffs on a windy day. This week has schedule options for morning camp and afternoon camp (the same lessons will be offered in the morning and afternoon sessions.) In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic tablecloth, etc.), 1 pair of scissors, 1 ruler, and 1 small container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup).

Tween Art Camp: Essential Drawing and Painting Techniques
June 29–July 3, 1–4:30 PM
This camp is perfect for the tween looking to develop the foundational skills of drawing and painting who is ready for more in-depth instruction. Tweens will experience a combination of a live hour and a half of online instruction through Zoom and daily video lessons that the student will use to help them complete independent assignments that the instructor will review during the week. 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. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic table cloth, etc.), 1 pencil, 1 eraser, and 1 container for paint water (such as a single serving yogurt cup).

Teen Art Camp: Figure Drawing
June 29–July 3, 1–4:30 PM
Refine your observational drawing skills! Through observational studies of a clothed life figure model, teens will learn to draw the human form. This camp will explore light and shading, as well as study major forms and contours, to gain a better understanding of anatomical accuracy in figural renderings. All work will be completed in black and white. In addition to the art supplies in this week’s supply kit, you will need to have the following: something to cover your work surface (newspaper, plastic table cloth, etc.), 1 pencil, 1 eraser, 1 pencil sharpener.

Sip and Cinema - Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint
2020-05-29 17:00 - 18:00
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is partnering with The Film Society of Summit for a series of art films in May. This virtual Sip and Cinema: Art Edition will take place on Zoom every other Friday from 5–6 PM. VACNJ curator Mary Birmingham will lead our next happy hour discussion with Director Halina Dryschka on Friday, May 29 about her film Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint. Please check back soon for possible wine pairings!
Please watch the film at your leisure prior to the discussion. Visit the Film Society of Summit’s website for instructions to rent and stream the film (www.summitfilmsociety.com). A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to FLAG – Summit’s ‘Front Line Appreciation Group.’
The Zoom virtual discussion is free to join. Please use this link to register for the Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint Sip and Cinema: Art Edition Zoom Discussion.

Sip and Cinema - The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism
2020-05-15 17:00 - 18:00
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is partnering with The Film Society of Summit for a series of art films in May. This virtual Sip and Cinema: Art Edition will take place on Zoom every other Friday from 5–6 PM. VACNJ curator Mary Birmingham will lead our next happy hour discussion on Friday, May 15th about a film by Exhibitions on Screen: The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism. To pair with the viewing, we suggest an American wine that pairs with a garden-in-bloom: For whites, try a New York State Finger Lakes Riesling, a Pinot Gris from Oregon, or even a Viognier from Virginia. If you are looking for a floral red, go with a Finger Lakes Pinot Noir or Oregon Gamay (www.cambridgewinesnj.com).
Please watch the film at your leisure prior to the discussion. Visit the Film Society of Summit’s website for instructions to rent and stream the film (www.summitfilmsociety.com). A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to FLAG – Summit’s ‘Front Line Appreciation Group. Art Center members can get a discount on the rental by using the code “VACSipCin” at checkout.
The Zoom virtual discussion is free to join. Please use this link to register for The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism Sip and Cinema: Art Edition Zoom Discussion.

Sip and Cinema - Matisse: From MoMA and Tate Modern
2020-05-01 17:00 - 18:00
The Film Society of Summit and the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey are partnering for a series of art films in May, starting this week! This virtual Sip and Cinema: Art Edition will take place on Zoom every other Friday from 5–6 PM. Join us this Friday, May 1st for happy hour to discuss Matisse: From MoMA and Tate Modern and enjoy these possible wine pairings from the South of France where Matisse spent much of his time. Stuart Cohn, the Art Center’s resident sommelier, recommends a Provençal rosé or a Languedoc-Roussillon red to accompany this film. (www.cambridgewinesnj.com)
Please visit the Film Society of Summit’s website for instructions to rent the film as well as register for the free Zoom event with the Art Center’s curator Mary Birmingham. (www.summitfilmsociety.com)
