We welcome the art of Barry Shiff for the month of March to The Gallery in the Glen Rock Public Library.

These colorful oil paintings and watercolors of historic New Jersey and New York historical landmarks evoke the nostalgic charm of a bygone era. Mr. Shiff’s classic paintings of old Railroad Stations, Towns, Boardwalks, and Amusement Parks capture life as it was at the early 20th century. The authenticity of his subjects are the result of frequent trips to historical societies, libraries, antique shops, vintage post cards, old magazines and books.

The Gallery in the Glen Rock Public Library features Jeanne Buesser for the month of February.

Ms. Buesser started taking classes after her son, who has special needs, decided not to continue private art lessons. She had an idea for her first book to write and needed assistance from the art teacher to draw and illustrate. Her son’s art teacher became her art teacher. She has been awarded ribbons for her artwork from the Paramus Women’s Club when her artwork was judged from over 65 clubs in 5 different categories. Ms. Buesser’s paintings will be on display in The Gallery through the month of February. Her artwork can also be seen on her website jeannebuesser.com which has prints, notecards, books, and poetry.

This month, the Gallery in the Glen Rock Public Library features Arlyne Berzak, a New Jersey native and a long-time resident of Bergen County representational artist working in oil on canvas and 3D mixed media. Arlyne’s oil paintings are traditional realistic landscapes and her most recent work are paintings of locations in Bergen County. Although oil painting is her first love, her concern for the environment led her to mixed media/collage where she uses various paper materials from old books and magazines a recyclable material. Although created from repurposed paper, some pieces are built up to create a 3rd dimension to a wall hung piece. These pieces are coated with self-leveling gel and then varnish to create elements that look and feel like porcelain. Her colors have been influenced by the brilliant colors of the Fauve movement. The patterns are reminiscent of Matisse’s use of textile patterns and colored cut outs. Her mixed media work has been described as a fearless combination of strange and unique elements which create her own brand of surrealism. Arlyne’s exhibition, through the month of January, can be seen during regularly scheduled library hours.

Springboard is a unique group of seven women artists with varied art backgrounds, and from Bergen County and beyond. They are featured in The Gallery during the month of December.

Lydia Baldassarre, Emily Gilman Beezley, Vicky Katzman, Jennifer Merz, Elizabeth Robles, Kathy Rupff, and Joy Soo comprise the group of oil painters, illustrators, watercolorists, collagists, and digital artists with art ranging from realistically rendered watercolors to expressive oil paintings, from handcrafted collages to compelling abstract compositions. While some members are full time artists, others combine their artmaking with demanding careers in textiles, dentistry, or education. Their work can be found in children’s publishing, on home products, in local exhibitions, and in private collections. They are friends and colleagues brought together by a desire to propel themselves to greater skills and accomplishments, and by a passion to share their art with others.

As part of Vicky Katzman’s ongoing study of the native trees of New Jersey, in these linoleum cut prints she explores the form and pattern found in the fruit of 3 trees; Horse chestnut, Pignut hickory, and American sycamore. These prints are in the image accompanying this post.

This month’s artist featured in the Gallery is Soo Kim, a mixed media artist working with pigmented alcohol inks and using a heat gun to create “flow” across the page, creating composition as they dry. Soo blends colors or adds touches of gold and fine lines to create a story. Her exhibition, through the month of November, can be seen during regularly scheduled Library Hours.

Soo Kim was born in Korea and educated in California during her elementary school years. When she returned home, she spent six years at Sunhwa Art School in Seol, the most prominent fine arts school in the country. Through the school’s international affiliation, she then studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Joining the fashion industry, she became an art director for Revlon. She spent time building brand stories for fragrance brands and executed campaign concepts from start to finish. Most often she would collaborate with artists and illustrators, and this led her back to her roots to become a full-time artist/teacher.

More information can be found here.

The Friends of the Library, in collaboration with the Arts Council of Glen Rock, announces the reopening of The Gallery in the Glen Rock Library on October 1. The exhibition entitled “The Artists of Glen Rock” spotlights resident artists’ entries for the 2021 town calendar as well as their other works. Gallery hours coincide with the Library’s posted schedule.

Thirteen Glen Rock artists (several are members of the Arts Council) will show in the month-long exhibition: Yuliya Abova, Byron Arnao, Katherine Battle, Jennifer Collins, Karen Delaney, Michele Goycoolea, Lisa Hahn, Suzanne Kaselow, Michele Keller, Oxana Katsov, Peter Liman, Patricia Smythe, and Carol Trugman. Work styles are varied - from photography to relief print making, stained glass, watercolor, acrylic, oil, digital cyanotype, and oil and ink.

The Arts Council was formed in 2019 to nurture, advance, and bring to light artistic and creative endeavors happening in Glen Rock. The Council promotes, supports, and celebrates all forms of the arts.

The Gallery was established through a partnership with the Friends of the Library in 2006. Maintained by the Friends, it is a designated space and carries with it an opportunity to enhance the Library itself, and at the same time to enhance patrons’ cultural experiences. It has become a creditable exhibition space attracting artists within the local are community, norther New Jersey, and throughout the New York metropolitan area. The establishment of The Gallery further defines the important place the Library holds to all citizens of the community.