The Steady Rise of Artist, Alonzo Adams

Alonzo Adams. It's even a catchy name for an artist who seems ultimately destined to be marked as one of humanity's artist greats. For most, discovering one's love of art usually develops from the combined elements of time, exposure to art classes and general experience in life. Many great painters of our time have developed this way, as art is indeed a craft that requires study in the foundation skills and various mediums that are made available to artists today. For some, the practice of art is to slowly explore the deepest aspects of one's soul. For those artists, the skill to naturally draw comes as an 'innate knowing' that accompanies one at birth. The inner flame to do art is so huge, it literally drives the human first and foremost in life. Regardless of classes, social status or environmental stimuli - a natural born artist has a compulsion that reaches beyond the ordinary human life. The natural born artist must live to do art no matter what. The natural born artist must seek in whatever way he or she must, to steer the creative impulse that they have been born with.

Featured at Swain Galleries, which is located in Plainfield, NJ and is the state's most established retail art gallery; is a solo exhibit by one such gifted local artist, Alonzo Adams. Running from March 10 - March 31, the exhibit features works inspired by such greats as Charles White, Henry O. Tanner, L'hermitte, John Singer Sargent and Rembrandt. In fact, Alonzo has even traveled throughout Europe to study the work in museums there. Though originally born in Harlem, Alonzo was raised by his mother right here in Plainfield, NJ. He spent time refining art skills at duCret School of Art, which has a long history with Swain Galleries. There is a unique history between these three icons of art.

 

Alonzo has been blessed to have many prominent collectors adorn their homes with his work. Among them, Dr. William H. Cosby, Dr. Maya Angelou, Alonzo & Tracy Mourning,Zeke Mowatt, Jasmine Guy, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Clinton Portis, Eddie Jones, Brian Grant, Stephon Marbury,  Gary Payton, Lela Rochon, Andre Harrell, Kenny Lattimore, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Chris Carter, Eddie Jordan, Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jayson Williams, Steve Harris, Wesley Snipes, Patti Webster, Earl Graves, Curtis Martin, Charles Oakley, Walter & Donna Pearson and many more.  He has been commissioned to create a number of portraits and other images of personal significance to some of his special collectors. He has been featured in such publications as Art Business News, Black Enterprise, Images, Homes of Color, Upscale, Uptown and ESPN Magazines. While the paintings first appear as visions of everyday human life, upon closer inspection and without much prompting from the paintings themselves, the presence of eternal spirit and connectedness embraces the viewer in a most subtle and emotionally gentle way. Tap into more of Alonzo's work at his website. Now on View at: Swain Galleries, 703 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ. Call 908-756-1707 for more information.

duCret Instructor Ken Schwarz Releases New Children's Book

Anyone who takes a tour through the duCret School of Art, soon comes to learn that it is an anomaly in the educative system. duCret is more than just a composition of multi-talented mentors and teachers. The very essential ingredient that enables the school to consistently offer excellence in training, is actually by virtue of it's faculty members. All of them are currently working professional artists. Emerging students are essentially mentored by artists who have literally walked in their beginner's shoes. They know the ropes, the struggles, the roller coaster ride of living job to job and yet all of them have come to find success ultimately. At this level of achievement, tips and trade secrets, leads and introductions are then passed down to the students who eagerly strive to achieve their own unique level of professionalism in the field of art.

One such faculty member, Ken Schwarz, has worked in both sides of the art field; on the business end and as an artist. A graduate of the duCret School of Art, Ken also attended Kean University and Marywood University. For many years he was the Coordinator of Interior/Graphic Design at the Raritan Valley Community College, Bridgewater, NJ campus. Ken has over 40 years experience as a Graphic Artist/Designer and has been an Art Educator for over 30 years. As former principal of KS Creative Services, Linden, NJ, his clients have included corporate, retail, pharmaceutical and business-to-business accounts. He is also a past member of the NJ Art Directors Club.

Ken, who now runs Interior Design Workshops at duCret and teaches Watercolor for Fine Art Illustration, is also a newly published author. The Town Book Store in Westfield, NJ recently hosted Ken's first book signing event for his new release, 'The Happy Spaceship'. The book is based on his childhood memories growing up in a small town in the 1950's.Times were simpler then and boyhood dreams of space travel lived only in their hearts and minds. Children's books appeal to everyone, young and old alike and so it is no surprise that his new book flew out the door in terms of event sales. Inquiries about Kens new book and event scheduling for future book signings can be made by contacting the duCret School of Art administrative offices at 908-757-7171.

Media Attention on the College Tuition Bubble

In the 90's, when every aspect of the economy swelled, including the human greed factor, the general populous was not paying much attention as to how that greed translated into huge profits for large institutions, corporations and wall street. Everything seemed great on ground level. Money rolled about easily and with a surplus of cash in almost everyone's pockets, no one cared if corporations were shipping jobs out overseas because they could shave salary costs. People turned a blind eye to the rising costs of college tuitions because they were told (and they listened WITHOUT QUESTION) that a more expensive education would net the higher paying jobs. Nobody even knew there was an insidious bubble building and that when it burst, as it did, those better known as 'the middle class' would suffer the consequences. The bankers and the corporate heads stayed in-the-money but the consequences all fell to YOU.

 

So swift and smart were the greed-mongers in their endeavors that legal policies were silently drafted up, preventing college grads and their families from being able to declare bankruptsy, when they found themselves drowning in $80,000.00+ in tuition fees and no job availability for those fresh out on the streets with degrees.  In fact, the only ones who seemed to be able to make good on their huge tuition debts were the ones who could afford to go to P, Y or H because wealthy environments tend to breed wealthy cycles. If you're in that loop, great. If not, tough luck says the world to it's emerging youth.

 

For most of the rest of the 'common folk', there's a huge sea of debt that now looms over many of them; to the point that Obama had to address the damage done in his State of the Union address. We are posting the college crisis issues here to bring awareness to young adults emerging into the world. NEVER in all the time when college tuitions astronomically rose in the past two decades, did duCret take a part in that. In fact, duCret is a NON-PROFIT school dedicated to assisting artists get launched in the world sans huge tuitions. Only last year did duCret raise tuitions and that was by only $300.00 for the year! Prior to that it had been decades since the tuition was raised. But most high school juniors and seniors were never made aware that they even HAD alternatives, like duCret. YOU DO! Because we're spelling it out right here!

 

duCret does not bash the path of going to college; in fact the school works with many colleges, assisting students to segway toward obtaining a degree, if that's what they choose to do. But duCret also offers a very low tuition alternative path that leads to becoming a professional, working artist. Because the truth is; there are many ways to smooch a cat. That's the beauty of life. We all actually DO have choices if we bother to look into what they may be. duCret instructors are ALL working artists. They are entrenched in the industry of art, working within it themselves personally everyday. What better way is there to learn than to be mentored by people who are actually really working pros in the industry? duCret has lived through all of the social trends over the past 85 years...and survived as a non-profit. So dear and important emerging souls of Earth; become aware. Read these articles. Make wiser decisions about the money you are going to spend getting started in life. The information is out there. And you can read all about it right here...because we've done your homework for you!

 

NJ 101.5 - Where does a Degree Get You These Days? - Feb 2013

NJ.com - College Tuition Outpacing Inflation - Oct 2012

Obama to Colleges: STOP raising prices! - Jan 2012

Obama Address College Tuition Bubble

Obama's New College Scorecard Website

NJ's Star Ledger Series on Hidden College Costs - 2011

Rising College Loans Exceeding Credit Card Debt - 2010

Now read recent news about duCret

NJ.com - A History of Art in Central Jersey - June 2012

duCret Instructor Featured on Living Large TV

duCret Staff Photographer Does Hollywood

Courier News - duCret & Swain's - Pillars of NJ

Garden State Artists Enhance Public Spaces

duCret celebrates 85 Years in Art Education

Top Image: Bongo Boys Rock'n Roll TV Interviews Director Frank Falotico. Rt. Image: 2nd Year duCret student Bahiyyah Sing demonstrates painting techniques. Photo by duCret student photographer Hanna Kwiatek. Lt. Image: On The Loose TV Films Spring Art Show.

To schedule a tour & free art career consultation, call 908-757-7171 Monday - Friday, between 9 am - 4 pm. DuCret is currently accepting F/T and P/T applications for Fall 2013.