December's Busy Schedule!

December is FLUSH with Holiday Workshops, Shows, Open Studio's and Registration for Spring Semester. We invite you to join in on the holiday festivities and workshops.

Click here for or more information on Spring Semester, which begins on January 14.

 Here are some important December Activity links:

Dec 1 - 2 Art Demonstrations at The Middletown Arts Center
Coming right off the 85th Anniversary Art Show and Sale are a series of art demonstrations and lectures to be held at the Middletown Arts Center. On Saturday Dec 1, from 11am - 1pm, Mark Romanoski will demonstrate techniques in fantasry painting and speak about the field of comics and sci-fi fantasy art. From 2 - 4pm, Peter Caras will speak about his career as one of the state's most notable illustration artists, who mentored under Norman Rockwell. Click here or here for more information.

Dec 2 - Miniature Show and Sale at duCret, 2pm - 4pm
Every year duCret students host a holiday art show and sale, held in the auditorium at duCret. On Sunday, Dec. 2nd, from 2 - 4pm, come visit duCret students, faculty members and enjoy an atmosphere of music, original art for sale and refreshments. Click here for more show details.

Dec 6 - Annual Spaghetti Dinner at duCret, 6pm - 8pm
Each year duCret hosts a Spaghetti Dinner for family and friends of duCret to be held in the auditorium at duCret. The dinner acts as a fund raiser for student activities, and features music and sale items from the miniature show, which are on view and can be purchased at this time. This year the dinner is on Thursday, Dec 6, from 6pm - 8pm. Adults: $8.00 / Kids under 12 yrs: $4.00, pay right at the door. (No need to RSVP)

Dec 8 & 15 - Holiday Ceramics Workshops for Children & Senior Citizens at duCret
Each year the Ceramics Studio at duCret hosts a two Saturday Special Holiday Workshop where individuals can come in and design, create and glaze their own ceramic holiday gifts. This year there are two separate Saturday workshops - Kids & Teens and Senior Citizens. Click here for dates, time and more details.

Dec 9 - Cultural Demonstrations and Performances at duCret
Watch cultural demonstrations and performances and interact with artists from across the state. Dance a rumba with Yesenia Selier, make World Music Magic with Gina Ferrera, bring your family to participate in hands on arts activities with Liz Lopez, learn about the Caribbean drums, song and dance, see images, film, art and demonstrations. Free and open to the public, donations are appreciated. To be held at duCret School of Art, 1030 Central Avenue, Plainfield NJ.  Click here for dates, times and show details.

Dec 15 - Art Demonstration at The Middletown Arts Center
On Saturday, Dec 15, from 1pm - 3pm, Leslie Delgyer will demonstrate her pastel techniques in animal art and speak about her career path as a wildlife activist and artist. This demonstration will be held at the Middletown Arts Center. Click here for more information.

Dec 21 - Registration for Spring Semester BEGINS - Fall Semester Closes
Though students can take a mid-winter break, the school's administrative offices remain open at this time to receive in applications and interviews for Spring Semester. Interested individuals can contact the office between 9am - 4pm, Mon - Fri at 908-757-7171 to schedule an appointment. Please review application policies here.

December Open Studio Dates at duCret - Saturday Morning Ceramics will run on Dec. 1 and 22nd. Tues. Portrait Open Studio and Takimu is closed thru December. Wed. Figure Open Studio's last session will be on Dec 5th. All Open Studio's will resume in Spring Semester. Dates TBA.

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.

Storm Sandy Notifications

Monday Nov 5 Updated Storm Information: Though duCret lost several sentient tree beings, the buildings were gracefully left untouched and power has been restored to duCret. The school is officially open as of Mon., Nov. 5th. However, due to Plainfield's 7pm Curfew Law that is in effect, and with darkened streets and numerous downed trees making night driving hazzardous, please take note of this week's class and night activities cancellations:

 

EVENING CLASSES this week through Wed. evening are closed. Please stay tuned for Thursday evening class info TBA on Wednesday.
 

EVENING WORKSHOPS and OPEN STUDIO'S this week of Nov 5 - 9 are closed. We plan at this time to resume all Open Studios and workshops  the following week starting Tues. Eve, Nov 13.

 

CHILDREN'S WED & THURS PERFORMING ARTS workshops for this week, Nov 7 & 8 are closed - to resume on Wed. Nov 14th.
 

CHILDREN'S/TEENS SAT MORN ART WORKSHOPS are expected to resume on Saturday, November 10, however please check back on Friday for updated weekend information.

 

NOV 3rd ART SHOW AND SALE was postponed and a new date will be announced, most likely sometime this coming week. The Middletown Arts Center was not affected by the storm and all artwork submitted for the show is safe and dry. The lecture/demonstration series beginning on the 9th and 10th may still run. Further notice regarding them will be issued by Wed morning.

We hope that everyone is safe and warm. For more information call 908-757-7171 as the administrative office are open this week, Mon - Fri, 9am - 4pm.