Karen J. Waller, September Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's Artist of the Month series continues with “Black at Night and Read Allover,” an exhibition of acrylic paintings by Karen J. Waller from September 1 through 30. Admission is free, and the paintings are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, September 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

In this exhibition, Waller continues to hail the imaginative highway architecture, luminous signage, and notable sites that managed to survive a seemingly concerted effort by developers to make everything, everywhere all at once look pretty much the same. From New Jersey backyards to backroads, significantly historical or simply hysterical, these sites were initially captured in more than two decades of Waller’s personal photographs. The resulting paintings, says Waller, “may challenge our notion of the traditional landscape by their lack of natural breadth and beauty, but there is no denying that these are indeed the enchanted backdrops that spoke so persuasively to us in our youth and still whisper words of comfort and joy to us as we quietly age alongside of them.”

Waller has also included a painting entitled “Lost Vegas No. III,” featuring the graphic design and sign-making that embodied mid-twentieth-century America. This work is part of a series inspired by the giant roadside advertisements for casinos, hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment venues venerated in the sandy backlot of the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada in what is deemed “The Boneyard.” Based on pre-pandemic photographs from 2019, Waller appreciated the irony of the gaily colored signs resolute in the middle of the desert waiting for visitors to ponder the inevitability of evolution and obsolescence as well as the promise of resilience, reinvention, and recovery.

Karen Waller received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 from Montclair State College with a major in Fine Arts. After a hectic career in publication design and production as well as a stint as a muralist and decorative painter, she obtained her graduate degree in Studio Art from MSU studying with Peter Barnett and Amer Kobaslija. Recently retired from Bergen County Technical High School as an award-winning Visual & Graphic Design instructor, Waller is rediscovering her love of typography and acrylic landscape painting with an occasional dash of vintage found object collage work.

Waller was the recipient of a Governor’s Award in Arts Education in 2011 and an NEA Foundation Learning and Leadership grant in 2018. She counts among her painting highlights a large-scale, public mural donated to the Doo Wop Preservation League in Wildwood, New Jersey and her first one-woman show at the Belmar Arts Center entitled Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Jennifer Troulis, August Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's Artist of the Month series continues with an exhibition of pointillist paintings by Jennifer Troulis of Dunellen from August 1 through 31. Admission is free, and the paintings are available for purchase.

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

A writer as well as a sculptor and painter, Jennifer’s love of creating started in her childhood. In her early twenties, she took her only art class, Water Color Painting for Beginners, and participated in her first art show, winning first place for a clay sculpture titled “Beat-up Sneaker.” Inspired by the books she had read to her twins at bedtime, in 2003 and 2007 Jennifer wrote, illustrated, and published the first two middle-grade chapter books in a series about twin sisters who are witches.

Years later, when COVID hit, she once again picked up her paint brush. Inspired by post-impressionist artists Georges Seurat and Vincent Van Gogh and neo-impressionist artist Paul Signac, Jennifer decided to try her hand at pointillism. “Not only did I love painting with dots,” says Jennifer, but for the first time in my life, I felt like I really belonged to this creative process and it to me.”

Steve Sopko, July Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's Artist of the Month exhibition continues with paintings by award-winning artist Steve Sopko from July 1 through 31. Admission is free, and the paintings are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, July 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Born and raised in Manville, New Jersey, Steve Sopko says, “My eclectic art is inspired by the Impressionists and the wonders I have witnessed throughout my life. I dedicate my art to my three children: Ryan, my angel in heaven, and Megan and Kyle, my angels on earth.”

Sopko donates paintings yearly to charity auctions on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, his “winter home” where his Caribbean-inspired art reflects the island paradise.

After graduating from Immaculata High School in Somerville, he attended the Spectrum Institute for Advertising Arts, majoring in illustration.

Jan ten Broeke, "Biomorphic and Geomorphic Phenomena," May Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's is delighted to once again present paintings by our good friend, visionary painter Jan ten Broeke (1930–2019), whose “brush name” was Ten, from May 1 through 31. Admission is free, and Ten’s paintings are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, May 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Born in the Netherlands, Jan ten Broeke painted and studied art his entire life. His work has been exhibited in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, the British West Indies, Germany, and Canada. Aside from art and art history, Ten also gained inspiration from the origin of life, prehistory, anthropology, geology, and astrology.

Ten titled his work with his name and the date of execution, instead of traditionally titling them, because he believed traditional titles confuse one’s perception of his paintings rather than clarifying it.

His work is characterized by biomorphic shapes and evolutionary forces, combining structures with forms typically found in nature. The fluidity of the shapes as they push and pull against each other give it a lifelike appearance of organisms from a prehistoric time. The colors used also give an indication of the tension between construction and biology. The smoky, hazy darkness in conjunction with the undulating forms gives Ten’s work a sort of bleak atmosphere. Within this smoky hue there is also this natural color of blues and greens illustrating organic forces.

See Shaun on Pawn Stars!

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See our very own Shaun Daley, co-owner of Gallery on Main, on the recent “The Pawnerator” episode of Pawn Stars, the popular reality TV series on the History channel. Shaun traveled to Las Vegas to try to sell his find of a rare, Emerson Model 411 Mickey Mouse radio from 1936. He negotiated with Pawn Stars star Chumlee on a price for the radio, which originally listed for $14.95 back in the day. See an image of Shaun’s radio below, and watch the episode to see how much he got for it! Get a sneak preview.

See an example of a similar Emerson Model 411 radio and learn more about them.

Yahumara Cantero Iversen, April Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series features paintings by Woodbridge, New Jersey-based Yahumara Cantero Iversen from April 1 through 30. Admission is free, and the paintings are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, April 8, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

The artist, who describes herself as “a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend,” is a Cuban-born, naturalized American citizen. “What best describes a connection between my ethnicity and artwork,” she says, “is the tag of being a world citizen with an Afrocuban-American spine.”

Yahumara Cantero Iversen has been a teacher with the Jersey City Public Schools for over 18 years. “I'm a priestess, artist, educator, writer, tarot reader, jewelry maker, and foreign lawyer,” she says.

Cantero lived in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country of Spain, and studied at the The Basque Country Public University, where she graduated from law school. Immediately after graduation, she traveled to the U.S., which has been her home ever since.

“During the years,” says Cantero, “I've been learning how best wear all my hats. Here I earned my master's degree in education from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, and became a Priestess of the Afrocuban Religion of Rule of Ocha with deep roots in the religious believes and practices of the Yoruba People from the Nigeria nation in Africa.”

Stephanie Napholtz, March Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series features Greenbrook, New Jersey-based photographer Stephanie Napholtz from March 1 through 31. Admission is free, and the photographs are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, March 4, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Stephanie Napholtz describes herself as “a 34 year-old, Mexican/Native America, fully self-taught photographer.” She says growing up in Gillette, New Jersey, just a short trip from New York City, gave her a unique opportunity to have many different types of photography subjects — from skylines and architecture to nature and wildlife photography.

Says Stephanie, “As a teenager and young adult, I was interested in photography but never really committed to learning and mastering the craft. Around 26 I started back up with photography, it was my way to take a step back and escape from the everyday stresses and fast-paced culture we are all accustomed to. NYC is one of my favorite places in the world and with it practically in my backyard I decided to start shooting it from all angles. I fell in love with aerial photography and the freeing feeling of hanging out of a helicopter high above NYC. It is an experience like no other and it’s never the same, each time is different in its own way.”

Stephanie is equally passionate about wildlife and nature photography. “From the fast pace and stress of everyday, finding time to get back into nature, to sit and wait patiently and silently, to be able to photograph animals in their habitat is magical to me,” she says.

“I think that most people go through life not realizing or recognizing how beautiful the world around them is,” Stephanie continues. “My hope is to just give people a chance to take a moment, to slow down and see the beauty that we all tend to rush and pass by.”

Awards:

  • First and Second Place in the Natural Environment Professional Category for 2017 Somerset County Through Your Camera Lens Contest

  • First Place in the Transportation Professional Category for 2017 Somerset County Through Your Camera Lens Contest

  • Finalist, 2019 Empire State Building Photo Contest

  • Featured Artist, 2021 Autumn in New Jersey Photography Exhibition by Jersey Collective

  • First Place, Wildlife Category, Hunterdon County Library Photography Contest 2022

  • Patron’s Choice for Best Photograph, Hunterdon County Library Photography Contest 2022

Geri Caban, February Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of paintings by Hackensack, New Jersey-based artist Geri Caban, on view February 1 through 28. Admission is free, and the paintings are available for purchase.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, February 4, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Geri Caban describes his art as “a distinctive blend between pop art and expressionism.” He says, “Painting is my passion, and I love to create and mix new ideas onto a blank canvas to discover what the end result becomes. Each work of art is special in its own way. I express my feelings through my work and strive to make each piece unique and pleasing to the eye.”

Geri studied at Ramapo College and is a graduate of Parsons School of Design. During his time in college, he began to develop a passion for painting. In his spare time, to earn some extra money as a college student, as well as for practice, he would do commissioned art pieces. After his success in college, Geri had a career in the health industry, which he describes as causing “an on-and-off, 20-year impediment in my art career.” He has since found inspiration in his craft again after a decades-long hiatus, and is flourishing in his acrylic-based portraits.

Gallery on Main voted "Best of the Best" again!

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We’re thrilled that Gallery on Main was again voted WINNER for Best Antique and Collectibles Store in 2022 by MyCentralJersey readers! This is the sixth year Gallery on Main has won in this category since we opened in 2016. What an honor!

We were also named a 2022 Best Art Gallery finalist, along with Zimmerli Art Museum. This year’s winner is Grounds for Sculpture. What an honor to be included in such amazing, acclaimed company (which are two of our favorite art galleries, too)! This is the seventh consecutive year since we opened that Gallery on Main has been recognized in this category. We look forward to another exciting year presenting our Artist of the Month series and other works by New Jersey artists!

Lauren Faltas, January Artist of the Month

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Gallery on Main's "Artist of the Month" series continues with an exhibition of photography by Wayne, New Jersey resident Lauren Faltas on view January 2 through 31. Admission is free, and the photographs are available for purchase.

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

A high-school senior, Lauren Faltas is the youngest artist to ever be featured as a Gallery on Main Artist of the Month. She is co-president of her school’s photography club, and has her own photography business.