Although West Windsor Arts Council has been around for a few years there are two firsts for the organization this weekend. The first is a collaboration with the Arts Council of Princeton for the Friday night event. The second is that the arts council is presenting two activities in a weekend in the same facility to conserve resources. ##M:[more]##
The Arts Council of Princeton and the West Windsor Arts Council present Autumn Arts Music featuring the Fins, a powerhouse dance band, on Friday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Nassau Park Pavilion (behind Panera Bread in Nassau Park). The free event takes place rain or shine under the tent.
The eight-piece New Jersey based band blends rhythm and blues, jump, swing, jazz, and urban Chicago sound. The Fins have performed and shared the stage with such legends as BB King, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Dr. John, Wilson Pickett, and James Brown. They have been touring the United States and Europe in support of their two releases.
The collaboration is coordinated by Dave Haneman of Plainsboro and Jeff Nathanson of West Windsor. Haneman, production manager for the Arts Council of Princeton, is a musician and an active member of the West Windsor Arts Council advisory board. Nathanson, executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton, is a member of the West Windsor Arts Council board of directors.
On Saturday, October 20, the fourth annual Autumn Arts Afternoon, a hands-on visual arts festival, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. The free event will feature artists working in different media. Each artist will interact with the public and give everyone the opportunity to try new or different visual arts techniques.
Dick Snedeker, engineer and woodworker, as well as West Windsor Arts Council board member, has added a fourth large plywood sculpture to the collection he will present, the “Fabulous Forms.” Festival attendees will be invited to paint unique designs on the sculptures on site. This will be an ongoing process during the event, as the sculptures’ facades will be constantly transformed.
Under the guidance of Wakae Kobayashi, a group of Japanese West Windsor residents will once again offer instruction in “Origami” for everyone interested in learning the ancient Japanese paper folding technique.
“Assemblages” is hosted by West Windsor artist Stefanie Mandelbaum. Assisted by fellow artists Dee Gozonsky, Jodi Kendall, and Lenora Kandiner, she plans to utilize a great variety of small recyclable materials for the three-dimensional art form.
Multi-lingual writing and drawing on cards will be conducted at the “International Card Creation” station by Anu Bhat, owner of a card decorating business, with the assistance of graphic designer Nora Ananos and artist Keiko Ishida.
West Windsor residents Dhruti Rathi and Renee Kumar, a watercolor artist, will assist visitors to paint and decorate “Diyas”, votive candle holders traditionally used during Diwali, the Hindu winter festival of lights.
Barbara de Baylo, an art teacher, will chair “Still Life Drawing,” where participants will have the chance to sit down and create their personal view of the still life, using a variety of drawing utensils, such as oil pastels, pencils, or markers.
The Autumn Arts Afternoon, which was attended by close to 500 people last year, is suitable for young and old, the experienced and the beginner. Attendees will be invited to experiment and to participate in any or all parts of this event. Autumn Arts Afternoon is chaired by Amy Frankel, Renee Kumar, and Beate Witzler, all West Windsor residents.
—Lynn Miller
Autumn Art Music, West Windsor Arts Council, Nassau Park Pavilion Gazebo, West Windsor, 609-919-1982. www.westwindsorarts.org. Rain or shine. Free. Friday, October 19, 7:30 p.m.
Autumn Art Afternoon, West Windsor Arts Council, Nassau Park Pavilion Gazebo, West Windsor, 609-919-1982. www.westwindsorarts.org. Rain or shine. Free. Saturday, October 20, 1 to 4 p.m.
