Main Street Artists Network Gallery reception set for Saturday

BY PAT SUMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

What the song says is true: June is "bustin' out all over" — and that includes the art world. The seasonal exuberance that goes with weddings, graduations and other milestones also causes creative types to re-double their efforts.

For proof, come to the Second Saturday reception of the Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network this weekend. For their monthly exhibition, titled "Milestones," network members have worked in mediums that include cut paper, fiber, ceramics, watercolor, fused glass and photography.

And that's just the eight members whose work will be featured this month. Others in the 30-member collective work in oils, acrylics and gouache, charcoal, pen and ink, silk — and more. Operational only since late last year, the Network has moved quickly on many fronts.

The group's gallery takes up one floor of the converted store front, which also houses classrooms and studio space upstairs. Beyond classes for kids and adults, a summer art camp will start soon. (For details, visit www.LawrencevilleMainStreet.com, click on the Network logo at left, then on classes. Those interested can download a pfd of the camp brochure, including a registration.)

Accessibly located on Main Street (a.k.a. Route 206) in beautiful downtown Lawrence, the group's gallery even has a landmark — member Susan Strassberg's bright green, child-high pear on the front lawn. The brick steps lead to the gallery's first of four rooms, where featured artists' work will be on view.

Carine Fram, who lives in Lawrence with her family, took up bead making and creating fused-glass objects since retiring as a computer systems analyst. Each of her glass pieces is one-of-a-kind, food-safe and hand-washable. Her deep bowls, shallow platters and bread trays will be on view.

"I love animals — brightly colored, real or imagined, in motion," says Roseanne Kanter. The exhibit's pencil drawing of a fox and the paper cut out based on it will readily be attributed to Kanter. The Lawrence resident also works in gouache and acrylic, and loves color.

Rummaging through a basement storage cabinet, Bill McCarroll found his father's water color paint box and thought it might be fun to give it a try. For the then-recently retired Rider chemistry prof, that find began a whole new career path: painting landscapes of local scenes, the Delaware Bay area and travel sites.

A confirmed artist since age 11, when he took an adult school life drawing class, David Morhaim drew on his art interests and training wherever he worked. Now, after two decades in advertising, he's seeking a publisher for children's books he wrote and illustrated. He'll show digital collages at the reception.

Formerly an art director and product designer, Tamara Morhaim discovered her current artful business, Buttonhedz, the year she made "holiday monster dolls" for friends and relatives. Her fabric creations evidence her commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle. She lives in Lawrence.

Another Lawrenceville resident, Denise Schwartz, does beading and using semi precious stones and freshwater pearls, makes earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

The gift of a Nikon 35 mm camera about eight years ago started Suzanne Stevenson on her route to macro photography. Another gift, a Nikon digital, allowed even greater creativity. Speaking of the "texture, depth and light in each flower," she loves "stepping into the delicate beauty that surrounds us."

Describing herself as "a typical Dutch ‘crafty' child," Netherlands-born Janneke Van der Ree initially studied textile arts and drawing to become a teacher. Once in the US, she studied quilting in Pennsylvania Dutch country, adding to that her whimsical color sense. She lives in Pennington with her family.

Among the happy events associated with June, we can count this weekend's 2nd Saturday artists reception in Lawrenceville with its fitting theme, "Milestones."

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Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network Gallery. 2683 Main Street at Gordon Ave. Open Wednesday 11-2, Thursday 5-9, Friday and Saturday 11-7 pm; Sunday 11-5 pm. Phone (Lawrenceville Main Street Office) 609-219-9300; go to www.LawrencevilleMainStreet.com/art. 2nd Saturday artists reception "Milestones," June 12, 4-7 pm. (Free children's art class 4:30-5:30 pm; pre-registration not required.)

Freelance writer Pat Summers also blogs at AnimalBeat.blogspot.com.