The West Windsor Arts Council (WWAC) has announced the hiring of artist Aylin Green to replace outgoing Executive Director Arin Black. Green will join the Arts Center July 20 after 13 years at Grounds for Sculpture (GFS), most recently as membership director.
The Council’s press release stated: “To WWAC, she brings 15 years of administrative savvy, solid development and educational backgrounds, exceptional volunteer leadership, as well as tremendous artistic vision.”
Outgoing executive director Arin Black grew the budget 40 percent to $400,000 during her two-year stint, while also doubling WWAC’s donation income to $120,000.
Green wants to continue growing the center’s contribution programs, which include summer camps and classes, as well as generate more individual donations from the community.
“One of the first things I’ll be doing is gathering information, talking to stakeholders, to see the areas where we can build and do more, Green says. “And that will direct what people will see from the arts council. It’s still early, but one of the major goals is to be a community resource. To listen and hear from the community what it needs from an arts organization, and to develop those needs and make it relevant for the community.”
Green grew up in Reading, Massachusetts. Her Jewish father is a physician, originally from Newark. Her mother, originally from Ankara, Turkey, is a nurse.
She studied studio art, with a concentration in sculpture, at Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of Arts, and received a masters in arts education from Tufts. A resident of Lambertville since 2002, she lives there with her two sons, both in elementary school.
A course at Rutgers with visual arts professor Raphael Ortiz exposed Green to the arts.
“I credit him with opening my eyes to areas of study in art that excited me,” Green says. “He encouraged us to play and also study. One of the assignments he gave was to do reports on the movements of arts. He called them the ‘isms,’ like Cubism, Dadaism. That was the switch for me, that there was so much to delve into, to pursue art further.”
A mixed-media artist, Green produces painting, sculpture, photography, and performance art. Her desire is to create, and her choice of expression depends on which material works best for an idea.
Recently Green has explored masculinity and femininity through metal casting, a craft traditionally dominated by men, creating a series of pillows in bronze and iron. A pillow sewn and covered with lace and crochet patterns was the basis for sand molds that were then translated into metal. Sensually, the strength and hardness of metal connote masculinity, in contrast to a pillow’s association with softness and intimacy.
The exploration of different sides of human beings is partly influenced by the female figures in her life.
“My mother and grandmother, I call them domestic goddesses,” Green says. “They cooked, crocheted, and weaved. I admired them so much. They are strong and smart, but definitely within the sphere of home. I try to be strong and smart, doing things that are not traditionally in a women’s sphere but retaining elements of femininity and valuing what might be considered as women’s work.”
Working in support of art has also been rewarding. Particularly meaningful to Green how art knits communities together.
“One of the things that has kept me going is that art connects community,” Green says. “It brings together people of diverse backgrounds and economic status, to come together and look and talk about art.”
Building community and making art a personal experience were key goals at Grounds For Sculpture. She has served in a variety of roles, working as volunteer coordinator, education and volunteer services manager, and development associate. As an arts educator she has taught art to all ages, from children to adults.
“I’ve spent time there managing the volunteer program, educational program, plus fundraising and membership,” Green says. “Interacting with people at the park, they are giving their time learning about the artists, and over time you build relationships with people. That’s what really sustains it.”
She sees the art center as a bridge between the community and artists. The community has opportunities to learn about art first hand, and artists have a venue to exhibit their work. And in an indication of the WWAC’s recent growth, the executive director position will be full time, which the Council attributes to a matching gift from an anonymous township resident as well as overall community support.
“The Arts Council made a professional offer, which I think speaks to the board’s commitment to the organization, moving it forward,” Green says. “It allows me to make the move and offer my experience to the art center.”
