PAST EXHIBITIONS / EVENTS

• May 9, (Friday) - 6:30-10pm - The AIDS Babies Organization Presents "Guardians of Ancient Knowledge" Movie Preview
• May 3, (Saturday) - 7-10pm - Charice Silverman - Artist Portrait Presentation with Exhibition Reception
• April 25, (Friday) - 7-10pm - John Hawaka - Artist portrait presentation with reception
• April 19, (Saturday) - 7-10pm - Rosalia Tignini Verdun - Artist portrait presentation with reception
• April 4, (Friday) - 7-10pm - Paula Pearl - Artist portrait presentation with exhibition reception
• March 28, (Friday) - 7-10pm - Katy Sumrow (Mezzo Soprano) - Recital/Concert with Reception
• March 22, (Saturday) - 2-7pm - New Brunswick Free Public Library will hold an exhibition opening event featuring Artists from Alfa Art Gallery
• March 21, (Friday) - 7-10pm - Alfa Art Gallery presents the Minhwa-inspired art of Michael Fenton
• March 14, (Friday) - 7-10pm - A personal appearance and lecture by Artist Doreen (Doree) Valenza
• February 29, (Friday) - 6:30-10pm - Anna Veleva Recital in honor of March 3rd, Bulgarian Liberation Day
• February 16, (Saturday) - 7-10pm - “Behind the revival of Chasing and Repousse.” (45 min seminar with master Valentin Yotkov)
• February 2, (Saturday) - 7-10pm - Concert - "Olson/De Cari Duo"
• January 30, (Wednesday) - 5:30-10pm - Gala Opening Reception
• January 12, (Saturday) - 10am-4pm - Beez Foundation Fundraiser/Charity Event

May 9th, 2008 - 6:30-10pm - The AIDS Babies Organization Presents "Guardians of Ancient Knowledge"

Who Am I?
Where Do I Come From?
What Did I Come Here To Do?
Where Do I Go When My Body Sleeps?
What Will Happen To Me When My Body Dies?

Guardians of Ancient Knowledge Part I, a 90 minute DVD documentary film, answers many questions about life's mysteries throughout the course of humanity's history. Vast amounts of information have been written about life's mysteries by the Guardians and copies of their wisdom, with information from the Ancient Ones, was once included in all of the world's great libraries.

This fascinating DVD documentary contains a wealth of ancient spiritual information and wisdom, going back 2 million years when the human body was first genetically developed. The narration and visuals explicitly weave together humanity's 250,000 year history, when the first Individualized Consciousnesses, the Human Spirit, came into existence.

Diverse pieces of history form a path leading back to the beginning of time. Such information is the natural heritage of each of us, for every one of us has a DNA History Gene that contains the history from the first Mother and the first Father of all humanity, and from every one of our ancestors, all the way back to the beginning of the Human Race. Included in the DVD are two interactive exercises to activate the VMAT2 history DNA gene in people's pineal glands, the gene religion calls one's "Soul" and science calls the "God Gene".

To register for this event email: monika.krishan@gmail.com

Join us for the Preview, Admission $10. Seating is limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible

May 3rd, 2008 - 7-10pm - Charice Silverman - Artist Portrait Presentation with Exhibition Reception

At first, an everyday scene: A woman reaching for a diet coke amid burgers and fries. When enlarged and reconstructed as paint on canvas, the viewer may wonder why this particular scene was chosen and, if it really shouldn't be looked at more closely. Isn't it strange, then, this regular behavior of ours of drinking a 1 calorie beverage with a fat-laden, high-caloric meal? This painting is typical of Charice Silverman's work, which uses "ordinary" scenes to ask larger societal questions. With its bright colors and painterly technique, these often humorous paintings further engage the viewer.

A recent MFA recipient of School of Visual Arts' Illustration as Visual Essay department in Manhattan, she has exhibited in Manhattan, San Francisco, and now in New Jersey. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Click here to learn more about Charice Silverman.

April 25, 2008 - 7-10pm - John Hawaka - Artist Portrait Presentation with Exhibition Reception

John Hawaka is a distinguished artist with numerous awards in group and one-man juried shows throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He has received a top award for "Nature in Abstraction," from Black Diamond Arts Council, Lackawanna County, Penn. Member of Trenton Artists Workshop Association.

John was selected as one of 119 out of a field of 2,700 artists for a national competition juried by Holly Solomon Galleries, New York, N.Y. and was recently commissioned for a 140-foot wall design for JFK Medical Center, Edison, N.J.

Click here to learn more about John Hawaka.

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April 19, 2008 - Rosalia Tignini Verdun - Artist Portrait Presentation with Exhibition Reception

Rosalia Tignini Verdun is an award winning artist currently living in New Jersey. We all know Rosalia from her painting La Picolla Rosa, which is her signature and self portrait.

Each piece of art she creates is treated like as an only child. While executing a work, she cares for it, I concentrates on it, and sometimes even spoils it!

The Old Masters and Contemporary Artists influence her composition, color and mood. All of her works share the same intimacy in colors and their respective temperature creating true expression.

The journey from birth in Italy to where we find Rosalia today has helped mold the style and voice of her art. Discovered in each work is a diverse, diligent, and romantic nature. Her journey to better understand the mystery of art continues through many mediums, forms and studies.

Click here to learn more about Rosalia Tignini Verdun.

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April 4, 2008 - 7-10pm - Paula Pearl - Artist Portrait Presentation with Exhibition Reception

Paula Pearl started her art career seeing life through a lens. After graduating from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Advertising Design/Photography, she began a career in photography in New York City. She later became involved in quiltmaking and fiber arts after she took time off from her career to raise a family. Her award winning quilts, wearables and fiber arts have been exhibited in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana and one of her quilts was featured in the Quilting Arts Calendar. After a friend mentioned that some of her art quilts resemble paintings, she decided to give painting a try.

Paula started with watercolor painting about five years ago and soon after tried her hand at pastels. Although she has been pastel painting for only a few years, it has become a passion for her. The rich intensity of the colors and the layering effects that are possible with pastel make it her medium of choice. Her photographic background has a strong influence on the lighting and composition of her paintings. Always on the lookout for inspiration for her landscapes, she takes her camera everywhere she goes.

She is frequently drawn to scenes which feature water and many of her paintings show a quiet place, serene and sometimes ethereal, that comes from her love of nature and her admiration of the beauty all around us. Paula exhibits frequently in the tri-state area and many of her paintings are in private collections.

Click here to learn more about Paula Pearl.

To download the PowerPoint show that Paula presented at the event, click here (PPS, 9.5MB)

March 28, 2008 - 7-10pm - Katy Sumrow, Mezzo-Soprano - Recital/Concert with Reception

Katy Sumrow (Mezzo-Soprano) and Melissa Manning (Pianist), present:

"OVER THE RAINBOW" - A program of Operatic Arias and Art Songs featuring pieces by Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Chopin, as well as popular Show Tunes by American Composer Harold Arlen

Introduction by Dita Delman, artistic director of the State Repertory Opera of New Jersey.

Katy Sumrow was born in Gdansk, Poland. At an early age, she received a full music scholarship to the Chopin School of Music. Upon graduating she signed a contract with the Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and toured through Spain and Germany. Ms. Sumrow performed in the Polish Requiem with Leonard Bernstein and Liv Ullman at the Teatr Wielki in Warsaw on International television. Her repertoires as a Soloist include Baroque, Opera, Jazz, Spiritual and Broadway.

Ms. Sumrow is a founding member of the "Baroque Ensemble Buccina Cantorum" and has recently recorded a CD "Music of the Italian Baroque".

Over the last four years, she's been a member of the State Repertory Opera of New Jersey and performed in productions of "Lucia di Lammermoor", "Il Trovatore", "Elisir D'Amore" and "Don Pasquale". Upcoming is a fundraiser performance "Love, Lust, Murder... and we call it Opera" on March 30th and Gala Concert on April 27th.

Other upcoming performances are Maddalena in "Rigoletto" with Operesque in NYC in April, and Nyack Opera Night Mother's Day Concert on May 11th.

Click here to learn more about Katy Sumrow.

Melissa Manning, Founder and Director of The Manning School of Music in Nyack, NY, is a Juilliard trained concert pianist. She is a first generation Ukrainian-American and received her initial music training at the Ukrainian Music Institute in Irvington, NJ.

Melissa was the recipient of numerous scholarships including those from The Miss America Scholarship Foundation. She was chosen first runner up to Vanessa Williams, Miss America, and was crowned Miss New York State. Melissa has produced the Opera Night Concert programs in Rockland County since April 2006, accompanying a variety of operatic singers including sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, tenors and baritones. Katy Sumrow has worked with Melissa Manning for the past one and a half years.

Suggested Admission: $20

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March 22 - 2pm - "ALFA: An exhibition opening event featuring Artists from Alfa Art Gallery" at New Brunswick Free Public Library

"ALFA: An exhibition featuring artists from Alfa Art Gallery"

The New Brunswick Free Public Library and Alfa Art Gallery are pleased to present to the community the exhibition “Alfa” featuring the artwork of seven prominent visual artists. Enjoy light refreshments and mingle with the artists at the Artists’ Opening reception on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. The artworks will remain in the Community Room for viewing until Saturday, April 19.

The exhibition is currently on display at the entrance of the library’s Reference Room and features the works of:

• Michael Fenton
• Anthony Kirov
• Vesselin Kourtev
• Paula Pearl
• Charice Silverman
• Doreen (Doree) Valenza
• Rosalia Verdun
• John Hawaka

FREE of Charge and Open to the Public

Click here to download the exhibition brochure.
Click here to download the exhibition flyer.

New Brunswick Free Public Library
60 Livingston Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732)745-5108
http://www.nbfpl.org/

For more information
call (732)745-5108 x20 or
email Laura at lszalaj@lmxac.org

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March 21, 2008 - 6-10pm - Alfa Art Gallery presents the Minhwa-inspired art of Michael Fenton

Alfa Art Gallery will hold a rare exhibition of Minhwa and Minhwa-inspired paintings by Michael Fenton. A well known exhibitor at Alfa, Fenton is a bit of a rarity in the world of Minhwa, an ancient folk art form that has recently been gaining some attention in classical art circles. Lauded by critics for his use of bold color and emotional compositions, the artist has incorporated that feeling into this classical genre.

Click here to learn more about Michael Fenton.

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March 14, 2008 - 7pm - A Personal Appearance and Lecture by the Artist Doreen Valenza

Alfa Art Gallery will present a lecture by N.J. artist Doree Valenza. She will discuss her paintings, collages and her collection of hand sculpted jewelry. Her newly trademarked Girlfriend Goddesses® collection of personal adornments along with Doree’s collages and paintings are on exhibited at Alfa Art Gallery.

Click here to learn more about Doreen Valenza.

February 29th, 2008 - 6:30-10pm - Anna Veleva Recital in honor of March 3rd, Bulgarian Liberation Day

Alfa Art Gallery welcomes all Bulgarians and friends to celebrate the Bulgarian Liberation Day.

Event Program

6:00 - 6:30pm	Guests arrival
6:30 - 6:45pm	Welcome the honored guests
6:45 - 7:00pm	"Bulgaria in our hearts" – Bulgarian Americans for Bulgaria – Ms Patricia Penka French, President of Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center
7:00 - 7:30pm	Anna Veleva introduction by Chantal Georges and Video Presentation of Anna Veleva’s previous concerts
7:30 - 8:00pm	Anna Veleva performs in honor of the Bulgaria’s evening at Alfa Art Gallery
8:00 - 8:30pm	Questions and Answers with Anna Veleva
8:30 - 10:00pm	Reception. Distinguished guests: Bulgarian Consulate General in New York The Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center American Hungarian Foundation New Jersey Governor's Office City of New Brunswick New Brunswick City Market DEVCO: New Brunswick Development Corporation Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce State Theatre Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University

(suggested admission: $15)

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February 16, 2008 - 7pm - “Behind the revival of Chasing and Repousse.”
(45 min seminar with master Valentin Yotkov)

After becoming almost a lost art, the ancient metalsmithing techniques of Chasing and Repousse are currently experiencing their modern day Renaissance. Repousse is the process of raising intricate reliefs directly in metal such as gold, silver or copper.

We are honored to represent Master Silversmith Valentin Yotkov, one of the world's foremost experts in Chasing and Repousse and the driving force behind the revival of this Art form in the United States.

Trained in the “Old world” apprenticeship system of Europe, at the age of 22 Valentin became the youngest member in the history of the National Silversmiths Guild of Bulgaria. Three years later he became the president of the guild.

Mr. Yotkov's work has been exhibited nationally and around the world since 1980 and he is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards.

Today the Valentin Yotkov Studio is the only school in the United States specializing in chasing and repousse instruction. More than 1500 jewelers, jewelry designers and metal smiths have studied with Valentin. Among them are members of the Tiffany & Co.'s silverware department. (click here for more)

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February 2nd, 2008 - 7-10pm - Concert - "Olson - De Cari Duo" - http://www.olsondecariduo.com/

Program (Music Introduction by J. Andrew Dickenson)

The The Olson/De Cari Duo, a husband-and-wife ensemble, has performed to enthusiastic audiences in New York, New Jersey, California, Texas and Hawaii. The Duo has a unique and intimate approach to song performance that comes from soprano Gioia De Cari's background as both a film/theater actor and a classical singer, and guitarist John Olson's sensitive and intelligent approach to both new and traditional repertoire. NYlon Review described a recent performance as "superb . . . served up with style and elegance." The Duo has been  coached by Benjamin Verdery, David Leisner and Richard Sabellico. Their debut CD, Quiet Songs, features the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos, J. S. Bach, John Duarte, David Leisner... (click here for more)

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January 30th, 2008 - 5:30-8pm - Gala Opening Reception

Program

Press Coverage:

The gallery Gala opening was a success and very well attended. It was featured in an article on page 7 of "The Daily Targum", on Feb 1, 2008. "New gallery bring diversity to city's art scene" by Heather Brookhart. To read the article, please click here (GIF|PDF).

Richard Khavkine of the "Home News Tribune" writes "A fusion of shape, color and purpose bursts within 1,000 square feet just off Church Street." in his article about Alfa Art Gallery "Alfa Art draws on variety" on Feb 7, 2008. To read the article, please click here (HTML|PDF).

Alfa Art gallery was recently featured in another article on the first page of "The Mirror" (continued on page 7), on Feb 12, 2008. "Live gallery returns to Church Street. Alfa Art comes out swinging with painters, smiths, concerts and more" by Sebouh Gemdjian. To read the article, please click here (Page 1, Page 7 - JPG).

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January 12th, 2008 - Beez Foundation Fundraiser/Charity Event

More than a dozen students painted and glued collages in the event organized by the newly opened Alfa Art Gallery and the Beez Foundation. The artwork was created around the theme of hats, a reminder that cancer treatments often cause patients to lose their hair.

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