Art takes Root in April

What better time than Spring to honor nature through art?  And the Tulpehaking Nature Center in New Jersey is doing just that this month!  One of my x-ray, digital photo collages has been accepted to this show so join us…details below!

Digital photo collage using actual x-ray images.

ROOTED juried art exhibit at Tulpehaking Nature Center
Join us for this nature-centric art exhibit,  focusing on the importance of trees.
Opening Reception:  Fri., April 22, 2016, 6-8pm.  Exhibition on View: April 22, 2016 – September 4, 2016
157 Westscott Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08610
http://www.mercercountyparks.org
http://abbottmarshlands.org/

Another exhibition I’m very excited and proud to be a part of is:

The NOYES MUSEUM FINE ARTS ANNUAL
4/6/16 – 7/8/16  Opening reception Friday 4/8, 5-8pm
I have 2 of my x-ray digital collages in this important exhibit.
The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
artsgarageac.com

The New Jersey Arts Annual is a unique series of exhibitions highlighting the works of visual artists and craftspeople in the state. Chosen for their excellence, these artists present works of drawing, photography, sculpture, painting and mixed media. Their works are compelling evidence of the outstanding talent residing in New Jersey. The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University is pleased to host this prestigious exhibition!

New Brunswick Master (c)L.Curtis

And even if you missed the opening reception there’s still time to view this show:

Woodbridge Artisan Guild
presents”PHOTOGRAPHY”!
Join us for our newest exhibition, which runs thru April! (I have 3 pieces in this show!)
All works in this show have been created by local artists;
themes include landmarks, nature, portraits, travel, & more!
101 Main St., Woodbridge, NJ (732)634-1474

NJ Community thru Art

“Jersey-ites” are a proud folk and we do have many types of communities throughout this small state; historic, artistic, cultural, musical, etc. so it’s no wonder that the Woodbridge Artistan Guild is having an exhibition focusing on this theme titled “COMMUNITY”.

Winter House 3, (c)Lauren Curtis 35mm B&W photo

Join the Woodbridge Artisan Guild on Sat., January 16th at 7pm for an opening reception of our newest exhibition!

All works in this show have been created by Woodbridge area artists and the theme of community includes local landmarks, New Jersey, family, civic pride, neighbors, and our towns.

In addition to local art this event will include live music and refreshments provided by Mulberry Street Restaurant. FREE event.  WAG Gallery, 101 Main St., Woodbridge (732)634-1474
I have three photographs in this show. 

LOVE for art in February

Time to show some LOVE for art this February!  And there are many ways to do this, especially if you’re in the New Jersey area.   I have paintings, mixed media and photography pieces exhibiting in several locations this month, along with other talented local artists as well as those from across the US…and all these events are FREE to attend!  What a great way to spend the month of love!  Here’s the details: 1. SPIRIT OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, group exhibition, Linda Grandis Blatt Gallery at Temple B’nai Or, 60 Overlook Road, Morristown, NJ 07960, opening reception Sunday 2/8/15, 2-5pm.  See postcard above for more details.

SpiritHumanFamilyPostcardJan2015

2. TWO ARTIST EXHIBIT; ART OF NEW BRUNSWICK.  I have several 35mm B&W and color digital photos in this exhibit in the Mayor’s Office in New Brunswick NJ’s City Hall,  78 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732-745-5004  Opening reception to be announced and the work will be on view by 2/1/15, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

New Brunswick Master (c)L.Curtis

3. REVELATION/REVOLUTION, group exhibition runs thru the end of April and is now on display at the Nails in the Wall gallery in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 17 Oak. Ave., Metuchen, NJ.  I have 2 mixed media paintings here, including the one below, “Omen”.

Omen (c)2011 Lauren Curtis, oil painting with decoupage

4. I have several color,  nature photographs, including the one below,  published in the new book

The Raritan River: Our Landscape Our Legacy Limited edition!  To order your copy:

http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu/product/Raritan-River,5244.aspx

(c)2012 Funguslace, Digital photo

Please feel free to contact me by responding to this blog, or via my websites, with any questions about these exhibits or my work! Enjoy the art & take care, Lauren http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com  (NEW fine art site!) https://laurencurtis.wordpress.com  (my Blog)                                http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt (Facebook Fine Art Page) http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (commercial & fine art)  http://laurencurtis.imagekind.com/ (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)          https://twitter.com/LaurenCurtisArt (now on Twitter)

August Art Update; events & new work

Summer is half over…

But that means there’s still half of summer left to enjoy!  And there are many artistic events going on through Autumn that I’m looking forward to participating in.  And, I haven’t been lazy during the hot weather either…I’ve been busy with new fine art commissions and design work and I’ve shared a few of them with you here…

D&R Canal Photos (c)Lauren Curtis

If you’re in the NJ/PA area and love nature and history, then you’ll LOVE the historic D&R Canal Trails that run through both states!  Being a supporter of environmental protection I’m honored to have some of my photographs of these trails on the official D&R Canal website!  Take a look (I’ve also included 2 of the photos above):
http://njtrails.org/trail/dr-canal-state-park-trenton-to-new-brunswick/#simpleContained6

I really enjoy doing commissioned work for collectors and have been creating work for people across the US & abroad!  Pen & ink, watercolors and digital collage are some of the mediums I work in and below are two of my newest, completed commissions that are off to their new homes!  Feel free to contact me for information about commissioned work!

Headless Horseman, pen & ink w/ watercolor (c)July2014

Kat’s X-ray Beehive (c)July2014, digital photo collage

This is also the busiest time of year for outdoor art fests that are usually free to attend and family friendly!  If you’re in the New Jersey area, you can find me vending my artwork, t-shirts, jewelry & more at many events including these:
FRANKLIN DAY FESTIVAL, Colonial Park, Somerset, NJ, Saturday, Sept. 20, 11:30am – 5pm

BARRON ARTS FEST,  Parker Press Park, Woodbridge, NJ, Saturday, Oct. 11, 10am-4pm

CANAL FEST, Main St. by D&R Canal, Millstone, NJ, Saturday, Oct. 18, 11am – 4pm

Hope to see you there or online,
Lauren

http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com  (NEW fine art site!)
https://laurencurtis.wordpress.com  (my Blog)
http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt (Facebook Fine Art Page)
http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (commercial & fine art) 
http://laurencurtis.imagekind.com (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)
https://twitter.com/LaurenCurtisArt (now on Twitter)
 

NJ Sites to See

Jersey often gets a bad rap…it’s just one big highway, it’s polluted, it’s crowded…well, while this might be true for PARTS of the state, it’s also VERY diverse both culturally and environmentally, it offers a lot of history and art and a wide variety of interesting things to do and see, many for free or for a low price.  As a life long NJ resident, I’ve traveled this state from top to bottom so believe me, I know…NJ is small but mighty!  😉

As an artist here, I often enjoy photographing some of my favorite sites and spots across the Garden State and would like to share some with you…and most of these can be enjoyed year round!  If you have NJ sites, cities or places you love, feel free to comment about them below this post!

First off,  Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ has to be one of my all time faves since I was a kid!   This place is magical!  The landscape and variety of plants is beautiful and the wide range of sculptures, both indoors and throughout the park represent some of the best in the world!  Here are a few shots I took this month…

Grounds For Sculpture (c)July2014

Another beautiful…and free…place I love to go is Rutger’s Gardens in East Brunswick.  They’ve made some beautiful improvements here and you can walk extensive wooded trails or stroll through flower and herb gardens…

Rutgers Gardens (c)July2014

I love the bamboo forest!

Rutgers Gardens

And of course there’s the great beaches in New Jersey!  Here are a few pics from 2 of my faves, Keansburg (as it has a boardwalk too) & Sandy Hook with it’s inlets, nature trails and dunes…

Keansburg Beach (c)July2013 Lauren Curtis

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini tour of just a few of the great sites in New Jersey…you see?  We’re not just exits off the Turnpike!  🙂

HAPPY JULY 4th! & art news

HAPPY 4th of July!

Hope you’re enjoying your summer so far and all the outdoor activities that go along with it!  I’ve been busy preparing for new art gallery exhibits, outdoor art and music fests and creating new Steampunk jewelry creations as well as working on commissions and freelance design projects ….and enjoying summer in between all that.  Take a look at what’s happening this month:

GALLERY ARTISTS SHOWCASE group exhibition.  My “Morgana’s Murder” oil painting (below) is in this show!  July 7 – Sept. 30, 2014, Meet the artists reception Fri., July 11, 6:30pm-8pm.  THE GALLERY at  South Brunswick Municipal Building, 540 Route 522,  Monmouth Junction, NJ

Morgana’s Murder, oils (c)Lauren Curtis

Environmental preservation is very important, especially in NJ where we have such a wide variety of terrain, so I’m very happy to have my photography selected to be included in up-coming publications and websites about the historic D&R Canal and the Raritan River!   One of the selected images, “Fungus Lace”,  is shown below.  Once the publications are out I’ll be posting the links in future newsletters so stay tuned!

D&R Canal (c)Nov2012 funguslace1

Take care & enjoy the holiday weekend (for those in the US)!!
Lauren

What’s up with me?

Hope you all had a happy Memorial Day Weekend, for those of you in the US, but for most of us, we seem to get busier in the summertime as there are more events to choose from & attend.  So, what’s up with me over the next month?  Here you go… a synopsis of all the cool art events that I have work in through June… and a few links to some great art videos and interviews in case you missed them before…

FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS Group Show at Pierro Gallery,
Baird Center, 5 Mead St., So. Orange, NJ, 07079
Opening reception Sun. June 1, 2pm-4pm. 
I’ll have two of my x-ray digital photo collages in this show.
Exhibition runs through June 21, 2014.

 

Friends & Neighbors Flyer June2014

I’LL HAVE A BOOTH AT THE 12th ANNUAL EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ OUTDOOR ARTS FEST, SAT. JUNE 7th (rain date the 8th), MUNICIPAL POND, 10am-4pm, FREE FAMILY EVENT!!

 

E. Bruns. Art Award, 1st Prize, June2011

In Bloom: Flowers & Gardens in Art, Group Exhibit, Barron Arts Center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, NJ, 07095  
Opening Reception, Tues., June 17, 7pm-9pm.
Show runs June 7-22.  I have 3 pieces in this exhibit.

 

Brain Flower (c)Lauren Curtis Sept.2012
Digital Photo Collage

Immigration, Group Exhibit, Nails in the Wall Gallery, 17 Oak Ave., Metuchen, NJ. Opening to be announced.  Show runs thru May 31, 2014.

Old School, Transformations Gallery in The Old Franklin Schoolhouse, 491 Middlesex Ave. (Rt.27 N.), Metuchen, NJ.  Opening reception Sat. March 15, 7pm-9pm.Runs thru July 7, 2014.

Palette, Group Exhibition, Gallery U, Westfield, NJ, Opening Reception Thurs. May 1, 2014, 6pm-8pm, show runs thru May.

New Jersey’s Natural Wonders, Group Show, So. Brunswick, NJ Municipal Gallery, Monmouth Jct., NJ.  Opening Reception Fri. 4/11/14, 6:30pm-8pm.. Show runs thru
July 1, 2014.

MORE NEWS:
With the warmer weather comes outdoor art events & I’ll be participating in many throughout NJ!  To keep up to date, please sign up for my monthly art e-newsletter!  Just go to my CONTACT page on  http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com to sign up.  Thank you!

Short YouTube video about my 2014 solo art exhibit in Highland Park, NJ: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=2P1h9bgu9kw&app=desktop
Cool ART VIDEO my friend created for me on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGX8TmzieS8
Radio artist interview with Susun Weed for Wise Woman Radio:
http://wisewomanmentor.com/wise-woman-radio?mode=PostView&bmi=1396342

End of (Summer) Days Art Events

It’s hard to believe the end of Summer is here but it’ll be as busy as ever!  On THE last day, 9/21/13,  I’ll be in TWO art shows!  During the day (see image below), I’ll have 2 pieces in the MANDALA exhibit at Nails in the Wall Gallery at St. Luke’s, 17 Oak Ave., Metuchen, 2-5pm.  FREE catered event!  

Nails In Wall.MandalaShow2013

Then, that night, I move on to exhibiting art & hand made crafts at the ONE NIGHT SHOW  at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ, 9/21/13,
9pm-2am, local artists, old-time burlesque act& several local, live bands!!

CourtTavernShowSept2013

Sunday, Sept. 29 I’ll have a booth at the HIGHLAND PARK ANNUAL ARTS IN THE PARK free outdoor art fest, main St., Highland Park, NJ.  I’ll be with the H.P. Artist Collective all day so stop by this well-attended, fun family event!

And finally I thought I’d share with you that a children’s book I illustrated for an author in California has been published!  A touching, inspirational, TRUE story about a medical doctor who saved a horse’s life!  Here’s the link to POLLY’S PROMISE…

http://www.outskirtspress.com/pollys_promise/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pollys-promise-david-denton-davis-md/1116306117?ean=9781478702757

http://www.amazon.com/Pollys-Promise-thriving-surviving-turning-disability/dp/1478702753/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377112400&sr=1-6&keywords=Polly%27s+Promise

Hope to see you at these art events &/or online!

~Lauren

http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com

Day Trippin’ in Jersey

It’s hard to believe…Summer’s almost over!  Still some hot, hazy days left and then there’s Fall with the cool breezes & colorful trees, but there’s something about Summer & the long hours of light that make you feel like there’s so much to do & time to do it!  This Summer I did take many-a-day -trip & despite NJ’s small stature, we really do have MUCH more to offer than turnpike exits and strip malls!

CanalMystery6 (c)Lauren Curtis, double exposure 35mm photo

So, in honor of these final Summer days, I’d like to share some photos I’ve taken during some of my favorite day trips in the good ol’ Garden State!  Above is an in-camera 35mm double exposure taken while walking the historic D&R Canal that runs thru NJ, PA & DE.  There are many spots in Central NJ where you can pick up this amazing trail!  Here’s another from the Canal…

 

(c)2012 Funguslace, Digital photo

And despite the devastation to NJ’s shores from Hurricane Sandy  (I refuse to say “superstorm”…what propaganda by insurance companies…it was a hurricane, dammit!), our beaches are making a come back, slowly but surely.  Here are some fave shots I took at Sandy Hook, Keansburg & Keyport…some before, some after, Sandy…

Keyport driftwood (c)Lauren Curtis

 

Keansburg Beach (c)July2013 Lauren Curtis

 

Sandy Hook Homes at Sunset (c)Sept2012 Lauren Curtis

And one of my most recent, but favorite finds, Laurita Winery!  This place is gorgeous!  I felt like I was In Europe, not less than an hour from my home!  Acres of vineyards, a beautiful, old inn bordering a horse farm, a rustic, huge dining area, wine bars, outdoor seating & music…can’t wait to go back…

Laurita Winery Pics (c)Aug2013 Lauren Curtis

So, yes, THIS is the REAL NJ!  Very diverse, very beautiful!  Hope you enjoy your day tripping & if you find a cool location not mentioned here, feel free to post/share it here!  🙂

(note: signed prints available of these photos.  Email/comment for details, thanks!)

 

ART GETS SURREAL & SUNNY IN NJ

ART GETS SURREAL & SUNNY IN NJ

ART FOR ALL TASTES THIS JUNE There’s quite an eclectic variety of art events happening all over New Jersey this month & I’m looking forward to exhibiting in them!  Whether you prefer alternative art & goth music, educational exhibits or family-friendly outdoor art fests, there’s something for everyone this month so read on… 1. I have a photo in the traveling RAYS educational art exhibit at these NJ locations: The photo started at the Somerville Administration Building. It will also hang in the Morristown exhibit beginning mid June,  Morristown Medical Center. Then in August it will move to XACT Photo Studios, Rt. 206, Hillsborough. 2. Join me for the 11th Annual Juried Art Fest on Sat., June 8th (rain date June 9) at the beautiful Municipal Pond on Ryders Ln., East Brunswick, NJ.  FREE event featuring a wide variety of local artists & craft-persons!  11am til 4pm. 3. I’ll also be vending my original t-shirts, greeting cards & jewelry at the JUNEBUG Art Fest, Main St. in Metuchen, Fri. June 14, 6-9pm, FREE event for the whole family! 4. Last but certainly not least I’ll have several digital photo collages in the alternative group art show, DADA,  at QXT’s nightclub in Newark, NJ. See above flier for all the details about this surreal event! Hope you can join me! ~Lauren http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com(fine art website) http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com(commercial & fine art) http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration) https://laurencurtis.wordpress.com  (my Blog!) http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt(Facebook Fan Page)