Arts opportunities this summer

This summer, from June 22 to September 11, 2009,  President and Mrs. Obama are calling on citizens to volunteer and give back to their community.  With this kind of national leadership and excitement about community service, artists and arts organizations have the opportunity to showcase the power of the arts by reaching out and offering their skills and services to their communities.  Post opportunities for people to get involved or volunteer some time at your community-based arts organizations by visiting www.Serve.gov and the All for Good database to search for “arts” opportunities in your city. 

Stay tuned for updates from Americans for the Arts at serve.artsusa.org, but in the meantime, what are some ways you think you could volunteer for the arts in your community?

Quoted from the American for the Arts Artsblog website: http://tinyurl.com/nr2qo8

Summer Art Camps

Act now! 

There is still room in some of our Summer Art Camps held at SAA. Each summer throughout July and August, the Somerset Art Association offers its popular Art Discovery Weeks for children ages 6+. The week-long sessions offered as both half and full-day classes are designed to stimulate and encourage exploration and creative expression by making art fun for children in a safe, welcoming environment.

Each week, imaginations soar as different, kid-friendly themes are explored. Adventures in Neverland, Pal Around With Picasso, Oceans of Art, Blast-Off, Calling All Artists and the ever-popular Cartoon & Comic Book Workshop are just some of the topics offered in past years. Regardless of the theme, kids are allowed every opportunity to explore a variety of mediums including paint, oil pastels, watercolor, clay, charcoal, color pencil, paper mache, collage and more. Children need only bring a smock and a smile as all supplies are provided in the cost of each Discovery Week.

To learn more, call the SAA office at 908-234-2345 to request a course catalogue or send an e-mail with your address to somersetart@somersetart.org to be added to SAA’s mailing list.

We want you!

Volunteers wanted! 

If you are interested in lending a hand and devoted some of your time to help your local arts association, please come visit us at Somerset Art Association, 2020 Burnt Mills Rd, Bedminster, NJ or call 908.234.2345.

Non-Juried Member Show

This year's annual non-juried member show will be held at the Somerset Art Association Thursday, July 9th - Friday, August, 28th.  Each member is permitted to enter one piece ($15 entry fee). A opening reception will be held Thursday, July 9th, 6-8 pm. Light hors-d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided.

SAA is proud to announce this year's judge, W. Carl Burger, retired Professor Emeritus of Art, Kean Universiy and award-winning artist. Professor Burger has exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The National Academy of Design, The Smithsonian Institute and The Jersey State Museum, among others. Welcome Professor Burger!

There will one Best of Show Award ($150); two Awards of Excellence ($50/each); and three Honorable Mentions. Any individual wishing to sell their work is able to do so. SAA will handle all sales and a 30% commission will be applied to each sale.

If you are not currently a member of SAA and would the opportunity to support your local arts association and showcase your artworks in the annual members only art show, dues are $50 individual, $60 family, and $20 student. Now is a great time to get involved in the Arts of Somerset County!

Come out to SAA, 2020 Burnt Mills Rd, Bedminster, NJ, to enjoy a wonderful showcase of art that our talented members have to offer!

Seniors in the Visual Arts

(June 25, 2009)
The Somerset Art Association in Bedminster has received a grant from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission to engage seniors who are in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, in the visual arts

For the project, SAA partnered with the Adult Day Center of the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, a non-profit organization developed to meet the increasing needs of the growing elderly population in our community. The Center provides a place during the day where older adults needing supervision and socialization can find an experienced, warm and caring staff to tend to their needs while enjoying a day filled with life-enriching experience.

Held on three separate days in the spring, each session was led by an SAA instructor. Anne Kullaf gave an artist demonstration and generously donated afterwards her finished painting to the Adult Day Center; Nancy Ori spoke about photography and showed slides of her work; and Billie Marie Aber supervised the creation of a hands-on art project.

“We are so grateful to the Somerset Art Association for their partnership with our Adult Day Center. When seniors lose certain skills, art and creativity can dramatically improve their quality of life and health,” says Claire O’Brien, Director, Adult Day Center of the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills

The program was designed to stimulate and expand the seniors interest in the arts, create opportunities for socialization and community building, encourage the participation in the creation of art by emphasizing hands-on learning and the nurturing of skills based on individual learning styles and abilities.

“We believe it is important to raise awareness of and advocate for the benefits of making the arts accessible to individuals with disabilities,” says Robyn Tromeur, Executive Director, Somerset Art Association. “The partnership with the Adult Day Center was a wonderful experience for both our instructors and the participants.”

Annually, over 3,000 individuals and families visit the Somerset Art Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the awareness and understanding of and participation in the visual arts through year-round educational studio classes and workshops for children, teens and adults, gallery exhibits, bus tours to tri-state area museums, lectures, artist’s demonstrations, children’s birthday parties, summer art camps and community outreach partnership projects. For additional information, visit www.somersetart.org or call the SAA office at 908-234-2345.