Holiday Train Show Reception is Tonight

And you're invited to the annual Barron Arts Center train exhibition and holiday tree lighting ceremony.

The Barron Arts Center is kicking off its 22nd Annual Holiday Train Show today, November 30, with a reception at the gothic-style former library on Rahway Avenue. The reception will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm, and is open to all. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Arts Center property will take place after the reception. The train show is a yearly event in Woodbridge, and it's so popular it draws crowds from far outside the township. The model trains are curated by Colonia resident Michael Gelesky. This year, the display of over 300 feet of track will feature a moving, operating playground and three towns including Main Street U.S.A., a small town in the snowy mountains, The Boardwalk with a Ferris Wheel and Tilt-A-Whirl surrounded …

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Monmouth County's First Comic-Con Comes to Manalapan

The Monmouth County Library is hosting a comic convention on Sunday, Sept. 23 at Monmouth County Library headquarters.

It’s time to embrace your inner nerd and express it in the most outwardly way. On Sunday, Sept. 23 the Monmouth County Library is holding their first ever comic convention! So grab your light saber and come join the fun. KAPOW! Comic-Con: A Celebration of Comic Books and Superheroes at the Monmouth County Library is every comic book lovers dream come true. From 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. meet your favorite characters, superheroes, authors, illustrators, and artists from the creative and zany comic-book world. Take pictures with your favorite superheroes, including Batman, Robin, Batgirl along side the Batmobile in front of the library. Jonathan Maberry, multiple Bram Stoker award-winning author and freelance comic book writer for Marvel Comics, …

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M'town Scores Big with Basie Awards

Nominations for the seventh annual Basie Awards were announced earlier this week.

For the seventh year, the Count Basie Theatre is recognizing high school performing arts with the Basie Awards, a program that's committed to fostering an appreciation of the arts and honoring excellence in high school theater. The nominations have been announced; and, this year, Middletown South and North high schools scored several nominations for the Rimers of Eldritch and Bye Bye Birdie productions. Mater Dei also won a few of its own nominations for Almost, Maine. Last year, an all-time high of 25 Monmouth County private, public, and vocational high schools participated in the Basie Awards. The show will be held on May 23, at 7 p.m. A complete list of the nominations: Outstanding Set Design in a Drama • Asbury Park High School - …

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Monmouth Festival of the Arts This Weekend

Event will run from May 5 to May 9 and feature Middletown artists

One of the area's largest juried art shows is returning this weekend. The 42nd Monmouth Festival of Arts (MFA) will take place from Saturday, May 5, through Wednesday, May 9, at the Monmouth Reform Temple on Hance Avenue in Tinton Falls. The MFA supports artists and art education and over 200 artists from all over the northeast will be on  hand to display their work which includes jewelry, ceramics, sculptured art, oils, watercolor, pastels, mixed media and fine crafts.  Daily ticket prices are $8 for adults, and discounted $5 for senior citizens and students. A series ticket for Sunday through Wednesday can be purchased for $18. Festival hours are noon to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 7 and May 8, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p…

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Mysterious Middletown Sightings Tour

It's not a place this week. It's just a plain odd sighting that we'd like to know more about.

This week's Mysterious Middletown Sightings Tour takes you to an odd thing, rather than place. Patch spotted this happy little hippo in a popular Middletown haunt. He was just sitting on the floor giving us a little teeth. He needs an orthodontist. But, otherwise, he didn't growl. He just offered his own kind of grin.  Get busy, Middletowners. Where have you seen this animal head. What is he? Where is he? And why is he there? Let us know in the comments section below.

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'Irrational Exuberance' Artist's Talk

The mixed media exhibit, by artist Joanne Amantea, showcases collages featuring the rise and fall of the stock and housing markets.

Monmouth Museum’s New Jersey Emerging Artists Series continues this spring with an exhibition entitled "Greed + Fear = Irrational Exuberance," by Princeton artist Joanne Amantea.   This exhibit, which will feature a "gallery talk" forum with the artist next week, features collage artworks incorporating a unique variety of media: acrylic, pencil, currency, vintage paper and newspaper. “Within our modern culture’s pursuit of more, 'Greed + Fear = Irrational Exuberance' is my visual response to the media and its influence and impact on our attitudes towards investing, primarily in stocks and housing,” Amantea said. “During a booming economy when Wall Street is flying high, and the accumulation of money seems so easy, we are often seduced by …

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Memorial Portrait of Artist Lou Rudolph

Known for his signature performance painting, the former Monmouth County resident is not forgotten

Artist Lou Rudolph’s life was as colorful, vibrant and bold as his paintings.  The former Middletown and Long Branch resident, guest lecturer at Brookdale Community College and friend to many in Monmouth County was nationally renowned for his giant avant-garde acrylic paintings in which he captured the energy of countless performers from the east to west coast, many of whom were, yes, famous. Sporting a sly, toothy grin, twinkle in his sky blue eyes, Lou Rudolph harbored a true love of seeing to it that talented people leave their mark somewhere in this world. So, he’d show up at show after show, uncontracted, to memorialize many an artsy moment for arts' sake. Mammoth canvas parked against a wall and jars of vivid paint spilling at his …

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Linda DeNicola

3:13 pm on Saturday, December 3, 2011

Wonderful tribute to a friend who died to soon. We need more people like him, not fewer.   more ›

Spotlight on Monmouth Museum's Artists

A look at the photography of featured artist Anthony Almeida and the wood sculpture of emerging artist Amy Puccio, on exhibit at the Monmouth Museum until July 3

Until July 3, when their work is rotated out, you can enjoy the art of Amy Puccio and Anthony Almeida for a nominal $7 fee at the Monmouth Museum on the Brookdale Community College Campus.  Featured artist Anthony Almeida's work is displayed prominently in the main gallery. Over 70 of his photographs taken over a span of seven years in the Everglades hang in the main gallery, illustrating the beauty of the Florida wetlands' flora and fauna. The images of exotic cranes, herons, and storks printed in both brilliant color and bold monochrome really stand out, and call attention to the fact that the Everglades is an endangered area. A subtle soundtrack of frog croaks and cricket chirps played from overhead speakers further transports visitors …

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Get Out

Get Out: Expressive Impressions, Sugarland, Relay for Life, Yard Sale

Stuck on what to do this weekend? We've got you covered.

When & where: The reception will be Saturday, May 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Middletown Township Public Library and the artwork will be on display at the meeting room through June 3. Why you should go: The Expressive Impressions exhibit will feature 57 paintings by area artists Leonia Mroczkewski, Norma Wokas and Cecilia Swatton. What does it cost: Free When & where: Saturday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel Why you should go: Country duo Sugarland will open the 2011 season at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Also performing are Matt Nathanson and Little Big Town. What does it cost: Tickets cost between $33 and $57.75 When & where: Friday, May 20 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, May 21 at 7 a.m. at Red Bank Regional High School …

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Viewfinder: The Art of Gary Dates

NJ Emerging Artist Series at the Monmouth Museum

The New Jersey Emerging Artists Series at the Monmouth Museum at Brookdale Communith College is presenting the work of photo-artist Gary Dates.  The opening night of the Dates show was held on Friday. Dates manipluates images through in-camera wizardry and in-post in Photoshop to create an alternative to reality.  "I like to create images depicting scenes that are impossible in the real world, yet not necessarily abstract, or surreal," Dates explained.  "I am always happy to allow the viewer to decide the meaning of my images, since I'm far from certain myself. In the end, I just enjoy the process of making these pieces. I am a firm believer in the idea that creativity is a 'grown-up' word for fun."  Dates' work is clever, humorous and …

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