Middletown Arts Center Celebrates duCret's 85th Yr

Art Show & Sale Opening Reception

Saturday, November 17 - 6pm - 9pm

On Saturday, November 17th, the Middletown Arts Center presented: "Caras and Colleagues – An Exhibition and Sale Celebrating the 85th Anniversary of The duCret School of Art”. Benefitting New Jersey’s oldest, non-profit art school, the Opening Reception was held at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ. 

The show, which was bumped from November 3rd to the 17th, due to the interruption of Storm Sandy - drew a respectable crowd, despite surrounding NJ conditions. Due to the devastation of Sandy, the Middletown Arts Center also took donations to help the families in need, during this time of need. All donations were greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 On sale were several rare pieces and memorabilia, including:

• Norman Rockwell, (Original) Four freedoms War Bond Posters, signed. These posters are perhaps one of the last things that Rockwell signed, as he died one week later.
• Norman Rockwell, (Original) ‘Facts of Life’ Saturday Evening Post Cover, (comprehensive graphite sketch).
• Several Robert McGinnis (Original) ‘Milo Marsh’ Detective Book Series Cover Paintings.
• Bob Foster, (Original) cover painting of the first paperback in the ‘Twilight Zone’ book series.
• Extremely rare Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker (Original) memorabilia, including signed artist proofs.
• Several James Avati (Original) Paintings, including the cover painting for the book ‘The Dollmaker’.
• Norman Rockwell, (Original) ‘Razor’s Edge’ movie poster, with press packet, a letter from Tyrone Power and the premiere tickets. A very rare, and possibly the only one in existence: (Original) Air Force poster painted by Norman Rockwell, with a B&W photo of Rockwell painting it. The posters went to print but were later rejected by the Air force. All posters were then destroyed, however, an employee working on the line saved one for a friend of his, who happened to be a Rockwell fan. Peter Caras was able to obtain it and held it in his private collection. Though it can’t be proven, there is a rumor that the model in the poster was the young Ronald Reagan.
• Several James Bama (Original) paintings as well as signed artists proofs by the artist.
• There was a silent auction featuring: many limited edition signed prints, pen and pencil roughs and an Apple iPad engraved ‘Imagine Peace – love Yoko’ with a signed photograph of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which sold.
  

Over 150 pieces of artwork from many genres, were on display and will continue to be on view at the Middletown Center until December 21st, including: Walt Disney Art, NFL Art, Fantasy Art, Fine Art, Western Art, Romance & Paperback Novel Art, Still Life Art, Landscape Art, Religious Art and Animal Art –all with a standard of excellence that the duCret School of Art prides itself on.

The show features several original works from Norman Rockwell, James Bama, Robert McGinnis, J.C. Leyendecker, as well as some of today’s most notable NJ artists and illustrators, including: Mike Kupka, Mark Romanoski, Peter Ambush, Vince Natale, Rich Bazzanella, Mike Donato, Rhoda Yannow, Paul Casale, Thomas Valenti and world renowned wildlife artists Leslie Delgyer and Doug Allen. Many of the exhibiting artists will be present at the opening reception. Image Above: A Young Peter Caras with Norman Rockwell.

On December 1, Mark Romanoski and Peter Caras will host respectively, two FREE workshops at the Middletown Arts Center. On December 15th, Leslie Delgyer will host a Pastel Demo. Click here for all demo / lecture details.