105 works by 103 artists part of N.J. Arts Annual Exhibition
Atlantic City, N.J. — The largest exhibition in the history of the Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University is so big two locations are needed to display the works.
The exhibit titled “Mother Nature vs. Human Nature: The Inequity of Climate Resilience” is the New Jersey Arts Annual Exhibition for 2023. The display, which features 105 artworks by 103 artists who either live or work in New Jersey, will be held at both the Noyes Arts Garage in Atlantic City and at Stockton’s Kramer Hall in Hammonton.
“It is the largest group of participants in the museum’s history,” said Noyes Museum Executive Director Michael Cagno. “And it’s compelling evidence of New Jersey’s dedication to and passion for the arts.”
The exhibition runs from Feb. 1 to June 24 with an opening reception to be held at the Noyes Arts Garage from 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 4. The Arts Annual Exhibition is a co-sponsored project of the Noyes and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The museum received a $50,000 grant from the state last summer to stage the climate-themed exhibit. The host of the state Arts Annual Exhibition rotates each year among different museums throughout the state. Cagno said the Noyes last hosted in 2016.
“Through this exhibition, the public will gain a profound understanding of the interconnection between life and the disturbances related to the climate,” Cagno said. “The artists have presented a renewed sense of responsibility for action.”
The artwork features a wide variety of different artwork from sculpture and ink drawings to multimedia, photographs and oil and watercolor paintings. That variety was important to the exhibit’s jurors — local artists Suzanne Horvitz and Robert Roesch.
“We sought to create a balance and variety of materials, media and process,” Horvitz said. “We are impressed by the skill and creativity of the works submitted and by the innovation in techniques and technology used by many of the artists. That might not have been available a few decades ago.”
Although the exhibit contains many pieces, Horvitz said many “exceptional artworks had to be excluded.”
“This was one of the most competitive shows we have juried, and as visual artists we know how much time and effort goes into these submissions,” she said.
Cagno said the Noyes is grateful to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for providing the funds and support for the exhibit.
“As we elevate the accomplished artists of our state, we also renew our commitment to fostering excellence in the visual arts and supporting a diverse range of artists in all stages of their careers,” he said. “We are proud to continue providing opportunities for the New Jersey arts community.”
“We’re extremely grateful to the board and staff at the Noyes Museum of Art — not only for their work on the exhibition, but for recognizing how the arts spark important, global conversations,” said Danielle Bursk, director of community partnerships and artist services at the State Arts Council. “We are excited that the thought-provoking perspectives these artists provide will have an even broader impact through the two locations where the work can be seen and celebrated.”
The Noyes Arts Garage, located on Fairmount Avenue in Atlantic City, houses two museums, the Noyes Museum of Art Galleries and the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, eight artist studios, shops, a café, and an art classroom. The Arts Garage is open Wednesdays-Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Noyes Galleries at Kramer Hall, located on Front Street in Hammonton add vibrancy to the Arts District in downtown Hammonton. The Noyes Galleries are open Mondays-Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and until 7 p.m. during “Third Thursdays.”
— Story by Mark Melhorn
About the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the N.J. Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov.
