The two institutions both classify as being the oldest that there are in the state of NJ. That duCret School of Art and
Swain's Art Gallery have eeked out a collective 229 years of existence in a day and age where businesses are folding everywhere is remarkable. It should pose as a strong melodic note to the world that art does indeed thrive in poor economic times! Even more phenomenal is the fact that through the decades,
duCret and Swain's have staunchly supported one another and to-date, they stand as two major beakons of light for NJ artists. One need not travel to Philly or NY to gain ground, connection or instruction in the art world. It exists all right here in Plainfield NJ....as it always has through the last century. In days of old, the tradition of portrait painting and a fine art career were highly esteemed professions. In the 60's art bloomed wildly within the flowerchild-Woodstock generation. Much has changed these past few decades, especially with the arrival of the digital age.
Desite the growing demand for technology, both duCret and Swain's have held ground for those who now choose the path less traveled. While duCret has taken on the digital age and now runs courses in all graphic computer arts, including social media, it has also held the training space for those who choose the more traditional path of portrait painting. In portraiture, there can be tremendous success, especially of late as the celebrity trend to have portraits painted has skyrocketed. Celebrating it's 85th anniversary this year, duCret decided to dedicate the evening to honoring Swain Galleries for all of their support to artists, (not just those from duCret, but from all over the state as well). Were one to visit Swain's, one would find a delightful environment and three solid floors of wall to wall art, built from a family's generational love of art. Ann Swain, the Gallery's chief, cook and bottlewasher, took over for her Mother, Bernice after a lifetime's worth of dedication to the shop and artist's alike. And for decades now, duCret student winners in the
Annual Spring Show get to be featured at Swain's as well. So alot of thanks goes to Swain Galleries; because it seems rare these days that little aspects of human integrity, such as loyalty, reliability and steadfastness in business have any kind of hold in our living reality. But here in one corner of Plainfield NJ, all those qualities are practiced, therefore they are alive and thriving at both places. One needs only to visit either location to get a flavor of the rich and glowing artist's environment.
