Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

How to Fly: A virtual event for MLK Jr. Day
2021-01-18 13:00 - 15:00 UTC
On Monday, January 18, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will participate in Summit’s Day of Justice, Equality, and Service to Others. From 1-3 PM, the Art Center will host a virtual community project titled, How to Fly. The project will entail decorating individual paper feathers with artwork and the words of MLK Jr. It will explore how working together, we can create wings; how the contribution of the individual creates the whole; and how, as a group, we can elevate each other to greater heights. Children and adults are invited to create artwork or write text on large paper feathers (download the template here) that will be arranged into a wall hanging, that will later be hung in Summit. You can attend the event anytime between 1-3 PM and stay as long or short as you’d like.
This event is free and open to the public. Register here.

Artist Talk: Community Storytelling Through Contemporary Art
2021-01-12 19:00 - 20:30
Please join us on January 12 at 7 PM for a conversation between Art Center Curator, Mary Birmingham, artist Yvette Molina, and artist Elisabeth Smolarz as they discuss the communal storytelling projects currently on view at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey.
Click here to sign up now.

Winter Break Workshops for Adults & Teens
2021-01-04 - 2021-01-07
Sign up now and start the season by focusing on sculpture, photography, drawing, printmaking, and more! And with both in-person and online options, there’s a safe, inspirational workshop to fit your every need.
Click here to find out more and to register.

Fall Exhibitions: Timed Entry – January
2021-01-02 - 2021-01-19
On Saturday, October 3, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will reopen its spring exhibitions that were closed this past March due to Covid-19. To provide the safest viewing experience possible, visitors must make reservations through artcenternj.org for limited, one-hour time slots. All four exhibitions—Hillerbrand + Magsamen: The Devices Project; Yvette Molina: Big Bang Votive; Elisabeth Smolarz: The Encyclopedia of Things; and Adrienne Wheeler: White Dress Narratives—will be on view through January 18, 2021.
Click here to reserve a timeslot during the month of January.

Winter Break Workshops for Kids & Tweens
2020-12-28 - 2020-12-30
Give the kid or tween in your life the gift of creativity this winter season! This year, our popular winter-break art workshops will be taught by our talented teaching artists live on Zoom. Each session, young artists will learn techniques in a featured media while creating an artistic project from the comfort of their own homes. Each session offers a different project, allowing students to join multiple workshops without the worry of repeats!
Click here for more info and to register.

Artist Talk: On Collaborative Practice
2020-12-08 19:00 - 20:00
Join artists Adam Eckstrom and Lauren Was of Ghost of a Dream, David Anthone and Ron Norsworthy of DARNstudio, and Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magsamen of Hillerbrand+Magsamen in a discussion about the process of creating art through collaboration.

Radical LeWitt
2020-12-04 13:00 - 14:00
Join Jason Rulnick and Veronica Roberts in exploring the radical nature of Sol LeWitt’s art. Rulnick and Roberts both worked with LeWitt and discuss their recent contributions to a book devoted to a little-known body of drawings LeWitt made by folding and tearing paper, that he wished to be sold for no more than $100. Arguably Sol’s most radical works on paper, discover their context and influence within a larger practice, rooted in rethinking what art could be. They will be joined by Lindsay Aveilhe who will introduce a new, free Sol LeWitt app. The conversation will be moderated by Mary Birmingham.

Fall Exhibitions: Timed Entry - December
2020-12-01 - 2020-12-31
On Saturday, October 3, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will reopen its spring exhibitions that were closed this past March due to Covid-19. To provide the safest viewing experience possible, visitors must make reservations through artcenternj.org for limited, one-hour time slots. All four exhibitions—Hillerbrand + Magsamen: The Devices Project; Yvette Molina: Big Bang Votive; Elisabeth Smolarz: The Encyclopedia of Things; and Adrienne Wheeler: White Dress Narratives—will be on view through January 18, 2021.
Click here to reserve a timeslot during the month of December.

VACNJ Virtual Fall Fundraiser
2020-11-20 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for a virtual conversation with Yvette Molina and the unique opportunity to purchase your own night-sky panel. Collect it as is or schedule a session with the artist to create a personalized symbol for yourself or as a gift!
Register for the zoom event here.
Purchase a panel here.

Fall Exhibitions: Timed Entry - November
2020-11-01 - 2020-11-30
On Saturday, October 3, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will reopen its spring exhibitions that were closed this past March due to Covid-19. To provide the safest viewing experience possible, visitors must make reservations through artcenternj.org for limited, one-hour time slots. All four exhibitions—Hillerbrand + Magsamen: The Devices Project; Yvette Molina: Big Bang Votive; Elisabeth Smolarz: The Encyclopedia of Things; and Adrienne Wheeler: White Dress Narratives—will be on view through January 18, 2021.
Click here to reserve a timeslot during the month of November.

The Adjacent Possible
2020-10-22 13:00 - 14:00
Join the Art Center for The Adjacent Possible, a virtual experience that mixes music, improvisational performance, storytelling, and technology to transform the audience into an orchestra. This project, conceived by artist Joshua-Michele Ross and brought to life through a partnership with Adam Brick and Adam Lucas, allows participants to collaborate with the help of a “conductor” to create a completely unique piece of music.
No music-making experience is necessary.
Click here to reserve your ticket.

Adrienne Wheeler Artist Talk
2020-10-20 19:00 - 21:00
Join exhibiting artist Adrienne Wheeler for this virtual conversation about her work, specifically White Dress Narratives, on display in the Art Center’s main staircase.
Click here to register.

Sip & Cinema: Art Edition - The Gates
2020-10-16 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a discussion of the documentary film, “The Gates” and a consideration of the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Art Center curator Mary Birmingham will be joined by Linda Blumberg, a prominent leader in the arts, who had a working relationship with Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Having worked at the Central Park Conservancy during the “Gates” project, she will share her memories of the artists and the project. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_raa5gbOuTPWrLUULeZh9oQ

Watch the film at your leisure prior to our virtual discussion on October 16. Rent the film here:
https://kinomarquee.com/…/5cc8a3…/film-society-of-summit

Fall Exhibitions: Timed Entry - October
2020-10-03 - 2020-10-31
On Saturday, October 3, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will reopen its spring exhibitions that were closed this past March due to Covid-19. To provide the safest viewing experience possible, visitors must make reservations through artcenternj.org for limited, one-hour time slots. All four exhibitions—Hillerbrand + Magsamen: The Devices Project; Yvette Molina: Big Bang Votive; Elisabeth Smolarz: The Encyclopedia of Things; and Adrienne Wheeler: White Dress Narratives—will be on view through January 18, 2021.
Click here to reserve a timeslot during the month of October.

Fall Semester Adult Fiber & Special Subject Classes
2020-09-21 08:00 - 23:59
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the adult fiber classes being offered. Click here to see all the adult special subject classes being offered.

Fall Semester Adult Digital Media Classes
2020-09-21 08:00 - 23:59
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the digital media classes and workshops being offered.

Fall Semester Teen Classes & Workshops
2020-09-21 08:00 - 23:59
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the teen classes and workshops being offered. Click here to see all the online classes and workshops being offered for teens.

Fall Semester Begins
2020-09-21 08:00 - 23:59
Fall semester classes begin on September 21. Registration is now open. Sign up today and reconnect with your inner artist. Click here to learn more.

Fall Semester Kid Classes & Workshops
2020-09-21
Fall semester classes begin September 21. Click here to see all the kid classes and workshops being offered. Click here to see all the online classes and workshops being offered for kids.

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
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.
