For Arts Council, An Events Medley
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This article was prepared for the November 20, 2002 edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Between the Lines
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Letters: Arts Access Update
I read your article "From an Artist, `Flying Colors"’
in the October 16 issue of U.S. 1 with a great deal of interest. Since
the Matheny School and Hospital is mentioned in the article, I wanted
to share our perspective with you.
Matheny is a unique facility in Peapack for children and adults with
developmental disabilities. In 1992 Robert Schonhorn, president, and
Dr. Gabor Barabas, medical director, conceptualized and created a
program called Arts Access. The program’s objective was to make it
possible for disabled students to express themselves in art, assisted
by professional artists.
In the book, Flying Colors by Tim Lefens, Mr. Lefens alludes to Arts
Access but never mentions it by name. Mr. Lefens was an instructor
in the Arts Access program, and he made innovative and important contributions
to the painting class. Mr. Lefens left Matheny in 1999, but the Arts
Access program flourishes today in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center,
which includes a theater, studio and gallery. Many of the artists
mentioned in Flying Colors are still residents of Matheny. They continue
to create great art, facilitated by professional staff and volunteer
artists. They enjoy freedom and creative self-expression in a warm,
caring atmosphere designed to help them improve their quality of life.
Sanford Josephson
Director of Public Relations, Matheny School and Hospital
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For Arts Council, An Events Medley
Fall is always an eventful time at the Arts Council
of Princeton, and this fall was livelier than ever. Within only six
days, we offered to our community at no charge three rousing events.
As always, the Arts Council is indebted to the numerous individuals
who enhanced these programs in invaluable ways.
On Sunday evening, October 27, the Arts Council hosted a Korean cultural
festival in conjunction with "Princeton Reads," the community-wide
reading and book discussion program coordinated by Princeton Public
Library. This year’s selected book was Chang-rae Lee’s "Native
Speaker," and the festival was intended to foster participants’
connection to the book and enrich their understanding of Korean traditions.
Over 150 people attended this free community festival, and we are
delighted to publicly express our gratitude to those who contributed
to its remarkable success. We thank Princeton resident Julie Kim and
members of the Princeton Korean Church for decorating the Loft Studio
with gorgeous Korean artifacts; Nassau Bagel and Sushi at 179 Nassau
Street and the Princeton Korean Church for their donations of bountiful
and delicious Korean refreshments; the Princeton Korean Dance Troupe,
under the direction of Kiran Paek, for performing a variety of traditional
dances in breathtakingly beautiful costumes; students of Westminster
Choir College for performing Korean folksongs and contemporary piano
pieces; and Barnes and Noble and Micawber Books for offering gift
certificates to those who wrote essays reflecting their feelings about
the book.
On the following Wednesday, October 30, the Arts Council of Princeton
hosted its annual Hometown Halloween Parade. Despite the soggy weather,
150 spirited adults and children turned out in costume (and rain slickers)
to parade through the streets of Princeton in celebration of Halloween.
The Arts Council would like to extend its gratitude to Palmer Square
Management and to Lynn Howard and the staff at the Nassau Inn for
thoughtfully offering refreshments to the parade-goers at the end
of their journey. Also, a special thank you to Mayor Marchand and
Mayor Reed; the Princeton University Marching Band, who played in
the rain right through to the very end, and whose cheerful music warmed
us all; Susan Data-Sumack and her horse Mac, who convinced us that
the Headless Horseman had come to Princeton; Quillen Rosen and her
dedicated volunteers from Princeton High School; Mercer Engine No.
3; and the Princeton Borough Police for their help in leading the
parade.
Two days later, on Friday, November 1, the Arts Council hosted its
third annual "El Dia de los Muertos" ("Day of the Dead")
celebration. As thrilling as it is to actually host the event is the
opportunity to collaborate with so many gifted local artists, institutions,
and businesses who contribute in countless ways. We want to thank
particularly Princeton University’s Latin American Studies Program
for its substantial financial support; Chevy’s Fresh Mex Restaurant,
the Whole Earth Center, Wild Oats Market, and McCaffrey’s for contributions
of fine Mexican cuisine; artists Heather Barros, Heladia Cruz, Kate
Germond, Jeffrey Henkel, Deborah Land, Arlene Milgram, and Libby Ramage
for creating the glorious altars in our gallery; John Burkhalter and
Rocio Sanchez for telling stories and playing pre-Columbian musical
instruments; Eduardo Fernandez and his Spanish students from Montgomery
High School; and Quillen Rosen and her eager volunteers from Princeton
High.
Finally, we cannot forget to thank the community for its interest
in and support of these three events and the multitude of Arts Council
programs held throughout the year.
Janet Stern
Program Director, Arts Council of Princeton
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