Artist of the Month exhibition: Louise Reeves

December 1 through 31, 2018

Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of photographs by North Brunswick, New Jersey-based artist Louise Reeves, on view December 1 through 31. Admission is free, and the artist’s works are available for purchase.

Meet the artist at a free opening reception on Saturday, December 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

An award-winning photographer whose work has been exhibited in galleries throughout New Jersey, Louise’s subjects of choice cover the various landscapes, architecture and rural vistas of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Tennessee, as well as classic cars and motorcycles. Her photography has been featured three times on Ovation TV as promotional commercials for the channel, including as the winner of their Art is Everywhere Initiative.

Says Louise, “I’ve been an artist since childhood and always imagined I would make my career as such. But as the saying goes, life is what happens when you’ve made other plans. After several dead-end jobs, I went back to school for Visual Communications (graphic design, etc.) and that is when I renewed my passion. I worked for a portrait studio as a designer and retoucher, and in my spare time I took pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.”

She continued, “My design and retouching skills came into play in a big way and I began experimenting with different software and various approaches to transform my photographs. The results have paid off. My artist’s statement is simple: I shoot (photos of) things then I make them pretty.”

Louise’s work has been recognized with several awards, solo shows in East Brunswick and North Brunswick, participation in many galleries, a front-page story in Bordentown’s weekly newspaper, the Current. Known as the “Door Lady,” she has done popular door collage prints for Bordentown, Lambertville, Highland Park, Metuchen and Burlington. 

Shop Gallery on Main online at Etsy and Chairish sites

All of your favorite Downtown Somerville stores and restaurants offer incredible opportunities to shop from the comfort of your home, or in between those pesky meetings at work... Look out for special deals, and best of all — support small local businesses!

You can shop Gallery on Main 24/7 through our Etsy site, where you’ll find a variety of very cool vintage items. Also, we now offer selected pieces of furniture on Chairish, the leading online marketplace for design lovers to buy and sell chic vintage decor, furniture and art. (For example this gorgeous 1930s Art Deco tall chest with drawers — check out the beautiful grain on it!)

Once an item sells, Chairish orchestrates shipping the item from the seller to the buyer. You can pick your purchase up in person here at Gallery on Main if you like, or you can opt to have Chairish do the heavy lifting (literally) if you need it (and most folks do).

For more on Cyber Monday in Downtown Somerville, click here.

For the third year in a row, we've won Somerset County's "Best of the Best" in 2 categories: Best Art Gallery & Best Antique Shop!

The OFFICIAL List has been Announced: Gallery On Main in Somerville, is honored to announce that for the third consecutive year we were selected by Courier-News readers as THE BEST OF THE BEST for 2018 in two categories: BEST ART GALLERY and BEST ANTIQUE SHOP. A huge THANK YOU to EVERYONE who voted to give us this honor!

See the complete list of winners here.

Artist of the Month: Dana Edelson

Our Artist of the Month exhibition series continues with photographs by Dana Edelson.

Dana Edelson graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Fine Arts. In her senior year, she landed an internship with the NBC-TV photography department, working with Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Upon graduation, she was offered a position as one of their still photographers. For the next sixteen years, Dana had the opportunity to offer her creativity in providing photography of hundreds of celebrities, and her portraits now line the walls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. These photographs have been showcased on the cover of The New York Times, projected in the background of a Bee Gees concert, and exhibited in the heart of New York City on 5th Avenue.

When time allows, Dana, who lives in New York City, travels extensively and takes scenic shots in exotic locations. Her true passion is wildlife and nature, and she has always enjoyed documenting the beauty of the outdoors. This exhibition will focus primarily on images from Peru, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. These locations are all vastly visually different but equally stunning.

Dana’s works, which are available for purchase, will be on view at Gallery on Main throughout November.

Artist of the Month exhibition: Jacqueline Keener

Opening reception: Friday, October 5, 2018 at 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of works by Princeton, New Jersey-based artist Jacqueline Keener, on view October 1 through 30. Admission is free, and the artist’s works are available for purchase.

Jacqueline, who studied fine arts at the University of Utah and whose work has been purchased by Utah’s Bountiful Historical Museum, works in a variety of media. 

She says, “Efforts to capture form and light with a minimum of brush strokes dominate my work, and dry-brush scumbling will always remain a favorite technique. Currently, I am exploring a minimalistic abstract approach on a very different substrate—wooden panels—and have incorporated the use of a variety of tools with cold wax and oils sticks. With an impassioned awareness, I continue to be inspired by the simplistic nuances and subtleties of all that nature and this world offer.

Jacqueline continues, “Those who are familiar with my work know that both as an artist and as an individual, I am in a constant state of exploration and discovery of the simplicity of form and line—drawn to the stark contrasts of black-and-white photography, the technical aspects of lithography, the intricacies of color and light, and the complexities of a variety of mediums.”

 Of her formative experience as an artist at the University of Utah, she says, “Much of the work focused on the traditional approach to painting on canvas by duplicating the Old Masters and drawing the human body. This foundation informed my approach as I delved into other techniques and genres.”

To learn more, visit Gallery on Main or call us at 908-722-4234.

Mural project in memory of Jerome Luis Gonzalez

Our friend Jerome Gonzalez

Our friend Jerome Gonzalez

The New Jersey art community, friends and family recently lost someone very near and dear to us: Jerome Luis Gonzalez. He passed away unexpectedly on 2/17/2018 at the age of only 44, while competing in an endurance run. Jerome was a beloved father of 2 young children, a son, a brother, a friend, a painter, a published author, an athlete, an advocate for the arts, a mentor, and a community leader. In the words of local journalist Rod Hirsch, Jerome was “the heart and soul of (Somerville’s) burgeoning downtown arts community,” and a true modern-day Renaissance man.

 In Jerome’s memory, Arts On Division, a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation in Somerville, is organizing a mural in tribute to him. We invite and encourage you to be a part of it! You can do so by contributing directly to the fundraising campaign, or purchasing one of the prints mentioned below.

We are grateful to the Borough of Somerville for their support and encouragement with this project, which recognizes Jerome's positive impact on the community and how much he is missed.  We would also like to give a huge THANK YOU to Dimitrios "Jimmy" Stathatos, the owner of the PHOENIX CAFE, for graciously allowing us to put the mural on the side of his building.

Muhammad Ali, Eye of the Tiger

By Jerome Gonzalez

Jerome "Cuzo" Gonzalez

By Alejandro (Alex) Medina, a.k.a. Elan Wonder

To execute this project, we are seeking funds to cover the costs of the paint, materials and the insurance. The size of the mural is approximately 90 feet x 18 feet. We are looking to do this project in the coming months, and we will announce a start date when we can. The artists who will do the painting are donating their time and skills: Adrian Collazo (Jerome's cousin), Alex Medina (a.k.a. Elan Wonder) and Leon Rainbow, who have worked with Jerome on art projects in the past. 

Any funds exceeding this goal amount will go towards Jerome's children's education.

Two prints are available for purchase to support the mural project, with 100% of the proceeds going towards funding the project.

•  A print of Jerome’s painting “Muhammad Ali, Eye of the Tiger.” For a donation of $25 or more, you can get your print at the ART ALL DAY festival on Saturday, September 15 on Division Street in Somerville, or anytime at Gallery on Main.

• A portrait entitled “Jerome ‘Cuzo’ Gonzalez,” created by artist Alejandro (Alex) Medina, a.k.a. Elan Wonder. In tribute to his positivity, generous spirit and beautiful soul, an image of Jerome is surrounded by phrases he was known to embrace and live by, such as “Always give back,” “Love over hate,” “Work hard” and “Speak truth.” The 11" x 14" limited-edition prints, which are hand-signed by the artist, are available for $25 at elanone.com/store/jeromecuzogonzalez. 

To make a donation or for additional details, visit gofundme.com/jerome-gonzalez-mural-project.

Thank you for your support and participation!

Artist of the Month exhibition: Vikki Sarah Margulies — extended!

Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of photography by Hopewell Valley, New Jersey-based artist Vikki Sarah Margulies, on view August 1 through September 28. Admission is free, and the artist’s works are available for purchase.

Join us for a free opening reception on Saturday, August 4, from 6:00–8:00 pm.

Vikki's passion for photography evolved organically as the perfect synthesis of her love for nature and the spiritual connection she feels while outdoors. During long walks with her sheltie Charlemain, she began capturing with a camera and her artist’s eye the beauty she saw all around her.  She wanted to bring this beauty to others whom she felt might otherwise overlook what she saw or who simply did not experience nature as she did. 

Says Vikki, “My latest images remind me of the work of Maxfield Parrish, as he, like me, has created altered realities with splendid use of color.” 

Vikki was "discovered" by fellow artist and friend NJ DeVico.  NJ exclaimed, "Your work must be seen!" as she persuaded Vikki to exhibit her work.  Taking the heed of her contemporary, she has exhibited her work since October 2015 at venues including the Earislie Museum in Trenton, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, and the Blawenburg Cafe, to name a few.

Vikki dedicates this exhibition at Gallery on Main to her dear friend NJ, who passed away on July 11, 2018.  

To learn more, call us at 908-722-4234 or follow Gallery on Main on facebook.com/GalleryOnMainSomerville.

Find of the week: Asparagus bunching tool

A really great, feel-good story happened at Gallery on Main today, giving us a new twist on "find of the week." A woman named Norma walked in the door and said she saw something that we had online for sale, and she points it out. It was mounted on the wall, and she says she wants to purchase it: It's an antique farming tool that bunches asparagus. Norma proceeds to tell us that her great, great grandfather — Elias R. Watts — invented it, patented it, and made it in his blacksmith shop in Keyport, New Jersey in 1887.

Norma was only aware of two that were ever made. One was with the Historical Society in Keyport, and one was at a museum in South Jersey that got wiped out during Hurricane Sandy, so that one she believed to be lost forever. She was doing research on Elias for genealogy purposes and stumbled across our listing of the item for sale in our Etsy shop. She found out our business address and drove to the Gallery to purchase and acquire it for the family. I have NEVER seen someone so happy to acquire a piece of family history before. We are sooo glad it is going the the right home and will be cherished. And Thank you to the Golden Nugget Flea Market dealer for finding it and selling it to us, so we could get it back "home!"

— Shaun Daley

Artist of the Month exhibition: Janet Rockware, July 1–30

Janet Rockware, “Dance with Joy”

18" x 24", resin, 2017. Works by Rockware will be on view, and available for purchase, at Gallery on Main in Somerville throughout the month of July. Image © Moonkusser Art, used with permission.

Janet Rockware, “It's A Splash”

16" x 40", acrylic and resin, 2017. Works by Rockware will be on view, and available for purchase, at Gallery on Main in Somerville throughout July 2018. Image © Moonkusser Art, used with permission.

Janet Rockware, “Blue Blood” (detail)

12” x 12”, acrylic and resin, 2017. Works by Rockware will be on view, and available for purchase, at Gallery on Main in Somerville throughout the month of July. Image © Moonkusser Art, used with permission.

Janet Rockware, “Tickled Pink”

40" x 16", resin, 2017. Works by Rockware will be on view, and available for purchase, at Gallery on Main in Somerville throughout the July 2018. Image © Moonkusser Art, used with permission.

Janet Rockware, artist

Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of works by Annandale, New Jersey-based artist Janet Rockware, on view July 1 through 30. Admission is free, and the artist’s works are available for purchase.

Join us for an opening reception on Saturday, July 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

An accomplished artist, Rockware was inspired by abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock’s drip method of painting. Born and raised in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, she has avidly been plying her artistic talents for 40-plus years. Her artistic talents are broad reaching in mediums, inclusive of watercolor, stencil work, acrylic, oil, ceramic, nature photography and, most recently, epoxy resin.

Finding the beauty in abstract art has a different meaning for each person appreciating it, Janet’s focus has currently been utilizing this form of composition as it is open to individual interpretation.

Artist of the Month exhibition: Dion Hitchings, “Portraits on Recycled Trash”

Dion Hitchings, "Ghost Hawk," 2016.

Dion Hitchings, "Lizzie Bull Tongue," 2016.

Dion Hitchings, "Packs the Hat," 2016.

Dion Hitchings, "Dreamer," 2016.

Dion Hitchings, "Curly Bear," 2016.

Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of mixed-media portraiture by Milford, New Jersey-based artist Dion Hitchings, on view May 1 through 30. Admission is free, and the artist’s works are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, May 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Dion Hitchings, whose work has been featured in numerous group shows and solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, creates artistically sophisticated works using what he calls “untraditional media” — various children’s art supplies including crayons, magic markers, highlighters and colored pens. He explains, “Using consumer boxes, discarded furniture and  ‘trash’ instead of traditional drawing surfaces has enabled me to break down pre-existing print, images and textures, while allowing the type and pictures from the recycled object to become organically part of the portrait. During the creative process, I discovered the need to deconstruct then reconstruct the face to fit within the shape of the surface. The results are portraits that have a shattered appearance with broken and missing pieces but also form a more powerful, interesting and often disturbing viewpoint.”

Hitchings’ inspirations are “varied and vast, everything from dreams and Indians, nuns and demons, the Jerry Springer Show and chickens to sins and celebrities.” He describes his art as reflecting his world: “Guaranteed to be colorful, self-revealing, emotional, childlike and an ‘eyefull.’”

Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, Hitchings says, “My mother found out she was pregnant with me two weeks after my father’s funeral. She always told me she found me under a rock. I took up drawing at age 3 and never put the crayons down.”

After graduating from Washington University in Saint Louis, Hitchings worked as a fashion illustrator, which led him to a successful career as a fashion advertising art director, though he never stopped drawing. After living and working in Chicago and New York City, tired of city living he and his longtime partner moved to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, where he purchased his first home. But things changed within a four-year period.

“I lost my boyfriend of 23 years to a car accident. Lived through 9/11. And was laid off. My priorities changed, and what was important shifted. So I put the pieces back together, got a new job, met someone new, and after a trip to Kentuck Festival of Arts in Alabama, I realized I needed to draw again and try to fulfill my dream to be a full-time artist.”