Bloomfield The College is pleased to announce the revival of art exhibitions at its Scott A. Kaplan Art Gallery, located on the second floor of the College Library at 80-86 Oakland Avenue, Bloomfield, New Jersey.
After a brief lull, the revived gallery kicks off with a reception for the Solo exhibition of renowned collage and illustration artists, Bryan Collier, on Friday, October 7, 6-8 p.m All exhibitions are free and open to the public. Those interested in attending the reception must register by Friday, September 30th [email protected].
Born in Pocomoke, Maryland, Collier’s interest in art began very early early, inspired Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snow Day and Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon. He began to develop a unique painting style that included both watercolor and collage. His art has been exhibited in the Capitol Building in Washington DC and he received a fellowship from the Pratt Institute in New York City, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors.
“Collage is more than just an art style. collage It’s about bringing different elements together. Once you develop a sensitivity to connections, how different elements relate to each other, you deepen your understanding of yourself and others,” said Collier, who now spends his time working on book illustrations, creating artworks and with teachers and librarians to talk and students about books and art.
Newly appointed Director of Kaplan Art Gallery, Wanda Croudy is an experienced art curator who has been an Adjunct Lecturer at Bloomfield College since 2008. she is a Board member of Art in the Atrium (ATA)and a Member and Past Chair of the African American Cultural Committee of the Montclair Art Museum. Croudy is that too host of It starts with passion Live events on Instagram with guided tours of galleries and studios led by artists and designers. She also served as the coordinator for the Visual Art Center of New Jersey’s annual juried art exhibition and she was the Publicist for the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia.
“I am delighted to be reviving the Kaplan art space and creating welcoming and rotating exhibitions that bring new and former visitors to the gallery to see the art of diverse artists, as well as the artwork of our college’s talented students,” said Croudy. “Meeting with the artists after each exhibition opening will be a hallmark of the gallery events we plan.”
“The Kaplan Gallery is a great place to showcase the work of our outstanding students and bring professional artists into the college community. We are pleased to offer a robust schedule of culturally relevant and timely programming at the gallery, and welcome all friends of the college to join us,” said Michael A. Palladino, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs and dean the faculty .
Space is limited. Registration to attend the Kaplan Art Gallery Relaunch Reception is requested by email by September 30, 2022 [email protected].
A full annual art exhibition calendar for the gallery is planned. To stay up to date, visit the Kaplan Art Gallery website.
Photo: “Firebird” – Artwork by collage artist and book illustrator Bryan Collier
