BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Alfa Art Gallery - ECPv6.17.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Alfa Art Gallery X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.alfaart.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Alfa Art Gallery REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20130310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20131103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20140309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20141102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20150308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20151101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20160313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20161106T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20170312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20171105T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20161014T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20161014T220000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185641Z CREATED:20160927T154805Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185641Z UID:10805-1476469800-1476482400@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - Oct 4 @ 6:30pm - New Brunswick Art Salon Fall 2016: Oil Color and Mixed Media\, "L'Appel Du Vide" DESCRIPTION:October 14th and 15th @6:30-10:00 PM \nAlfa Art Gallery invites you to New Brunswick Art Salon: Oil Color and Mixed Media\, “L’Appel Du Vide” featuring representations of the nuances of nature\, using oil color and mixed media. \nExhibition Preview: October 14th @6:30pm\n Exhibition Opening: October 15th @ 6:30pm \n Exhibition Duration: September 27th – November 20th 2016 \n  \nExhibiting Artists: Dorothea Berkhout\, Elinor Meeks\, Enrique Zaldivar\, Francisco Araneo\, Joel Rudin\, Lauren Curtis\, Lyle Kleinhans\, Maria Bouquet\, Meredith Turshen\, Michael Hanna\, Paul Mordetsky\, Tania Ianovskaia\, Teriz Michael\, Vadim Levin \nWe are pleased to invite you to the third installation of the New Brunswick Art Salon\, highlighting artists who excel in their work manipulating oil and mixed media pieces.  The 14 featured artists are prominent local figures whom have exhibited their work in gallery shows throughout the greater New York area or have worked with Alfa Art Gallery in previous exhibitions. Through the exhibition\, you will witness local talents from the New Brunswick area\, and beyond\, whom reflect and inspire the rich artistic culture of the community. \n“L’Appel Du Vide” focuses on the everlasting flow of life\, matter\, and nature. Thus\, providing a glance into one’s experience of nature’s materialized essence\, both tangible and intangible. From using the power of the Feminine and Nature to form personal myth-stories by  Lauren Curtis\, to connections between silence and mindfulness that have captured depth within spirituality in relation to the world from Maria Bouquet\, all of our artist are coming together to lessen the divide between artist and the community. Reminiscent of the Art Salons of the 18th and 19th century\, the New Brunswick Art Salon was launched to promote the ever-evolving advances in the arts. Please join Alfa Art Gallery for a night of celebrating an exclusive glimpse into multifaceted impressions of the ever-changing human experience. \n  \nAbout Artists:\n“L’Appel Du Vide” features many talented artists\, both renowned and currently establishing themselves. \nDorothea Berkhout uses her Dutch heritage to mimic still lifes of the 15th and 16th centuries in classical settings. She is interested with shadow and light\, along with highlighting objects to reflect the angle of light making her subjects appear almost palpable. Her passion for nature influenes her to paint still lives\, scenery\, and figures. Her paintings exhibit a realistic approach and perspective.  She prefers to paint with oils as they provide the ability to intensify paintings and subjects by layering the paint and increasing depth. Having traveled both nationally and internationally\, her paintings render the beauty\, balance\, and order that is portrayed in her work. \nElinor Meeks has been making pictures with words and visual mediums for as long as she can remember.  Connecting and reflecting in these ways helped her adapt to frequent moves in this country and abroad growing up\, and lead to her work in documentary film production and public television programming and to her writing for publications including The New York Times\, The Christian Science Monitor\, and Medium.  Her lifelong engagement with art — begun with the hours spent painting watercolors with her grandmother — is expanding into collage and mixed media and to a first-time focus on exhibition and creative community building activities. \nEnrique Zaldiver uses his tropical Cuban heritage along with his appreciation for the colorful autumns of the United States for the inspiration of his artwork.  Avoiding mixing more than two colors\, Zaldiver’s surreal landscapes exhibit simple and profound use of color.  With the use of the expressive properties of acrylic paint\, he employs complementary colors to create balance. The landscapes reflect the meaning of life\, death\, freedom\, religion\, power\, and exile—themes Zaldivar holds dear. \nFrancisco Araneo’s world was shook when he began suffering from a severe spinal injury and autoimmune disease.  This self-proclaimed “hard-core athlete” began painting as therapy\, deriving his artistic style from a dream during one of the worst nights of his illness.  Spending several years alone and confined to a wheelchair\, Araneo found hope and healing by painting his dreams as subject of his art.  His paintings preach strength through difficult times.  All of his hard work has led him to having solo shows in New York City. \nJoel Rudin creates imaginary\, mystical\, surreal\, and foreboding landscapes. His palette consists of mostly veiled and muted colors\, evoking old photographs. Rudin creates a sense of vastness and space of faraway vistas with distant formations half seen in the mist. Rudin’s artistic career was foreshadowed when as a child\, his sixth grade teacher\, sympathetic to his art leanings\, was assigned to create an image of the solar system in color chalks across the classroom blackboard. Rudin’s principal medium is pastel\, thinly applied\, mixed with other materials\, pencil\, crayon\, oil pastel\, watercolor and gouache. \nLauren Curtis focuses on the interconnectedness of art\, spirituality and culture.  She expresses her beliefs recalling the power of the Feminine and Nature.  Curtis’ art is inspired by various mythological and symbolic systems of both ancient and modern cultures.  Using artwork and photography\, often inspired her travels within the US and Europe to tell personal stories of the world as she experienced it\, and of herself as an individual in that world. Respecting the differences of people\, as well as their similarities\, Curtis tells her stories.  When creating art\, Curtis uses diverse materials\, and for each piece\, selects the media that best exemplifies the symbols and subjects. Whether it’s through painting\, collage\, or photography\, each image becomes it’s own personal myth-story. \nLyle Kleinhans studied drawing and sculpture at the University of Wisconsin in the 1950’s\, but his life diverged from that interest when the exigencies of supporting a family interceded.  His interest in art had diminished however\, and over the years Lyle visited many of the major museums of Europe and the U.S.  Now\, after a break of 55 years\, he returns to his first love – art.  Kleinhans has been drawing for 4 years and painting for the last 2 years. Kleinhans’ works through abstract figurative representations in oil.  Kleinhans’ paintings are another picture of reality viewed through the skewed or jaundiced filter of his mind.  This filter works to deepen the mystery of life and cast light on the existence of life. \nMaria Bouquet’s spiritual experiences and personal transformations of herself and others inspire her art.  The connections between silence and mindfulness have acted as a transforming agent in Bouquet’s life\, aiming to capture depth within spirituality in relation to the world.  She considers herself a seeker\, always searching for truth and knowledge and living with a purpose.  Beauty and abundance in the world combined with questions like “Why am I here?” and “Who am I” govern Bouquet’s growth and works.   \nMeredith Turshen\, an artist\, teacher\, and writer  currently teaching at Rutgers University New Brunswick\, began her art studies at age ten at the Art Students League in New York with Saturday classes for children.  After majoring in studio art at Oberlin College\, Turshen has participated in workshops at Pratt\, the Printmaking Council of NJ\, the Rutgers Center for Innovative Printmaking\, the CT Center for Graphic Arts\, and elsewhere.  Through her artwork\, she reflects on nature\, the mystery of the human figure.  Her paintings reflect an interest in body movement and dance theater\, particularly the work of Alwin Nikolais.  She exhibits regularly in the New York metropolitan region\, with Viridian Gallery in Chelsea\, and with hob’art\, an arts cooperative based in Hoboken. \nMichael Hanna’s art is a culmination from a lifetime of training and experimentation\, a style which he refers to as industrial planes. The key element in his paintings is tension from many variables\, which make his works quite complex. In all formats of his art– paintings\, experimental paintings\, drawings\, and digital– cyberpunk culture acts as theme. Hanna’s experimental paintings with oil on steel\, electronic components\, and crystals\, have an analysis of a deeply exotic\, hi-tech future\, in a state of social collapse. With emerging advanced technologies such as fusion\, quantum computing\, artificial intelligence\, and biological engineering\, Hanna believes it is his role as an artist to address his current world.  Hanna comments on the world’s ever increasing reliance on technology\, the destabilization and collapse of nations from the Middle East to Ukraine\, the increasingly authoritarian and oligarchic structure of Western society\, and provides perceptions as to the social reaction\, context\, and rebellion of our transition to an age of transhumanism. He makes art which is complex and cerebral. \nPaul Mordetsky finds his primary inspiration from landscapes.  Using landscapes for both aesthetic and metaphorical reasons\, he represents space and light within the graphic language.  The mood and atmosphere of the scene define Mordetsky’s works. The artist works from drawings\, memory\, and news media photos as reference for the mood and atmosphere of the piece. \nTania Ianovskaia uses her works to reflect her identity and life.  As the artist changes\, so does her art.  As Ianovskaia experiences life events and struggles\, these themes demonstrate themselves in her works.  Ianovskaia immerses herself in the pieces\, living in the painting rather than reality.    \nTeriz Michael\, born in Cairo\, Egypt\, began her intensive art studies in High School and continued until earning a BFA in fine arts.  After traveling extensively in Egypt\, she uses her photographs as references for paintings and drawings.  Some of her most notable abstract works of art are derived from memory\, emotion\, and spirituality.  Her work has earned her various awards that includes receiving a Sila Rhodes Scholarship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. \nVadim Levin was born in Minsk\, Belarus and grew up among famous artists who have inspired his artwork.  Levin creates works that represent his view on the world\, the complexity of life\, his feelings\, vision and personality. The works aim to make people think and revisit every day values.  All Levin’s current paintings feature oil on canvas. Currently\, Vadim Levin and his family reside in East Brunswick\, NJ.   URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/lappel-du-vide-oil-and-mixed-media-2016/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Lappel-Du-Vide-gallery-banner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160827T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160827T220000 DTSTAMP:20210213T193523Z CREATED:20160801T000352Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210213T193523Z UID:10526-1472324400-1472335200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - Aug 27 @ 7pm - "Waves of Illumination" - Vesselin Kourtev Solo Exhibition Opening DESCRIPTION:August 27th @7:00-10:00 PM  \nAlfa Art Gallery invites you to “Waves of Illumination: Vesselin Kourtev’s Solo Exhibition” featuring representative works from the artist’s various cycles of exploration in oil\, watercolor\, drawing\, and mixed media.   \nExhibition Preview: August 25th @7:00 PM – 10:00 PM  \nExhibition Opening: August 27th @7:00 PM – 10:00 PM  \nExhibition Duration: August 23 – September 24th  \nExhibiting Artist: Vesselin Kourtev  \n\nAbout this Exhibition  \nWe are pleased to invite you to a solo exhibition of the gallery’s founder and professional artist\, Vesselin Kourtev. The opening will be held on August 27th\, 2016 at 7:00pm located on 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ.  \nAll are welcome to explore a retrospective glimpse into Kourtev’s evolving\, unique style of painting over his 20-year career.  The pieces chosen offer snapshots into different cycles of Kourtev’s work and highlight original stylistic explorations\, while displaying his mastery of multiple mediums.   \n\nAbout the Artist   \nVesselin Kourtev has over 20 years of experience as a professional fine artist. Born and raised in Bulgaria\, Vesselin Kourtev received a high school degree in Fine Art from the Fine Arts School in the historic city Kazanluk\, as well as his MFA degree from The Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Veliko Turnovo\, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.  From 1989 until 2002\, Vesselin worked for the National School of Stage and Film Design in Plovdiv\, Bulgaria. In the years following\, he remained active within the Bulgarian art community and participated in a large number of national and international exhibitions and competitions.   \nVesselin and his wife\, Galina\, moved to New Jersey in 2002 and founded Alfa Art Gallery in 2007\, which has held dozens of both solo and group exhibitions of local and international artists since its opening. He is now head Art Director and Resident artist at the gallery. In addition to working with the community to promote the gallery’s presence\, Vesselin assists in laying out the design of the exhibitions. Vesselin’s work has been featured internationally in exhibits in Berlin\, Antwerp\, Geneva and Prague. Vesselin was featured in The Good Living Magazine from Saint Peter’s University Hospital\, New Brunswick in 2008 and has exhibited his work in over a dozen shows across New Jersey and New York.   \n\nAbout the Work   \nAlfa will be displaying a range of Vesselin’s bodies of work throughout his career. His style is uniquely derived\, varying in subject matter and style. Some works feature more delicately drawn figures and archetypal motifs with cultural references\, whereas others focus on thick application of paint and an abstracted composition.   \n  \n \n \n  \nBiblical Motif I is a piece representing a cycle exploring collage\, primarily using a large piece of rose colored paper as a second material to work upon. It unifies the piece and simultaneously acts as a barrier bet \n  \nween the viewer and the figures (biblical references) beyond. \nLife’s Mission IV\, another mixed media piece\, incorporates strong\, deep color and pattern along the outer sides\, surrounding the center space with cosmic\, natural imagery. Kourtev’s distinct delicate\, mannerist drawing style is evident in the elongated treatment of the center female figure and the fish.   \n  \n  \n  \nRed Dots speaks to a new cycle of paintings where Kourtev transitions to larger canvases and focuses on the manipulation of paint. Kourtev’s painting technique allows for flatter swaths of paint\, creating organic\, abstract forms. Two red objects protrude from areas of red color\, adding dimension to the work. He juxtaposes these brushstrokes with softer\, more delicate details in areas where color overlaps\, reflecting the softer strokes made in his drawings. \n  \n \nColorful Dreams –1 is one piece in a series of smaller paintings stylistically similar to the series featuring Red Dots. This piece features striking\, vivid color atop a white background\, increasing the contrast. Kourtev tends to create dreamy references to landscapes and horizons at the bottoms of these images\, where the painted forms erupt from the ground. In this painting\, a wave-like form arches out from the lower right corner of the painting\, and down toward the left. Small\, light green brush strokes surrounding the edge of the form add a sense of movement and energy to the overall composition. \n  \n\n  \nAbout Alfa Art Gallery    \nAlfa Art Gallery is a non-profit organization determined to support emerging and well-established artists and to give their work exposure and critical following within the art community.     \nContacts:  \nGalina Kourteva\, Assistant Director and President – Galina@AlfaArt.org  \nKasey Chan\, Gallery Assistant Manager — Kasey@AlfaArt.org  \nLouise LoBello\, Curatorial Intern – Louise@AlfaArt.org  \nCorey Allikas\, Curatorial Intern – Corey@AlfaArt.org  \nJillian Valdes\, Public Relations Intern – Jillian@AlfaArt.org  \nAlfa Art Gallery Phone: 732 – 296 – 6720 URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2016-aug-27-7pm-waves-of-illumination-vesselin-kourtev-solo-exhibition-opening/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Vesselins-solo-exhibition-banner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160723T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160723T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185641Z CREATED:20160722T200944Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185641Z UID:10168-1469300400-1469307600@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - The Artist's Journey: A Celebration of Thirty Years of Drawing\, Painting\, and Reflecting DESCRIPTION:We had never commissioned a work before\, but were confident that [Alka] could create a piece for us. Wanting a lasting reminder of historic Pittsford\, NY\, a small village split by the Erie Canal\, she drew a magnificent painting with mules on the towpath pulling a packet boat down the water through lush countryside with familiar old buildings in the background. Incorporating colors complimentary to our room\, the beautiful watercolor provides a restful view of the past from a prime spot above our sofa. \n– Ned and Chris Miller \nAlka Dalal is a painter of passionate waters. She has a taste for harmonious colors. Our painting depicts the sacred syllable OM which symbolizes Brahman the impersonal Absolute of Hinduism — omnipotent\, omnipresent\, and the source of all manifest existence. Brahman\, in itself\, is incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. \n– Parthiv and Shirali Kothari \n  \n\nAbout the Artist:\nAlka Dalal has been painting in a variety of different mediums and formats for 30 years. \nAfter drawing regularly as a child\, the artist began painting in the 1980s with floral pieces and landscapes using oil on canvas. Both subjects had a vivacity of color (especially flowers) and required a substantial attention to detail. Over time\, she expanded into water- color\, acrylic\, mixed media\, monoprint\, and collage and experiment- ed with abstract art. \nFor the artist\, painting was a powerful medium to express her creativity and a form of meditation. They also allowed her to express the values of her Jain faith. Additionally\, it has always been important to help those less fortunate – and many paintings have been donated or sold\, with proceeds benefiting other organizations and people. \nWhile this exhibit concentrates on the artist’s canvas paintings\, Alka has created work in a variety of different formats including greeting cards\, bookmarks\, clayboard\, fabric\, scratched paintings\, and backlit paintings. More recently\, she has created artwork and taught others in the one stroke technique for decorative pieces in acrylic. \nAlka was previously Chair of the Exhibition Committee at the JAINA convention\, where she championed artwork that promoted inner peace and reducing world conflict. She was also President of the Raritan Valley Art Association\, one of the oldest art associations in NJ. \nAlka was born in Mumbai\, India and immigrated to America in 1972. She received her BS and MA from New York University\, and an MS from Rutgers University. She has taught art for nearly two decades in New Jersey and California\, and provides both individual and group lessons in acrylic and watercolor painting. \n  \n\nNoted Subjects\nFloral \nFlowers were one of the artist’s first themes due to their beauty\, variety of colors\, and multiplicity of floral arragements. The paintings on this subject compose a large part of the exhibit – and show the artist’s skill in a variety of different mediums including oil\, watercolor\, acrylic\, and mixed media. \nOne of the earliest paintings (and a favorite of the artist) is of the Strelitzia\, a South African flower\, commonly referred to as the bird of paradise or crane flower. With its iconic orange\, blue\, indigo\, and green colors\, its nickname derives from its similarity to South Asian and Australian birds of paradise. The flower is a popular symbol and shown on the South African 50c coin and is the floral embelm of Los Angeles. \nLandscape \nLandscapes allowed the artist to reimagine real world scenes and photographs through her own perspectives. The landscapes cover a panoply of subjects from sunrise/sunset\, to farm buildings\, famous vistas\, and foreign countries. \nA tiny handful of the 2\,000 photographs taken by the artist were transformed into paintings – and Alka’s interest in landscape painting led her to spend a substantial amount of time on her photography skills. \nA favorite of the artist is her scenescape of Monterrey\, California – a city on the Central Coast in California that attracted many artists including Salvador Dali and John Steinbeck. This painting was created over several days from a photograph previously taken. \nA substantial number of these paintings have been sold or gifted over the years. Of particular note\, was a commissioned watercolor piece of vintage 1800s New York State which is now hanging in Pittsford\, NY. \nAbstract \nAs the artist matured in the mid 1990s\, she began to explore a variety of abstract forms such as collages in a number of media. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/the-artists-journey-a-celebration-of-thirty-years-of-drawing-painting-and-reflecting/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/artist-journey-banner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160708T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160708T220000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185640Z CREATED:20160526T203137Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185640Z UID:9622-1468006200-1468015200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - July 8 @ 7:30pm - New Brunswick Art Salon Part II: Watercolor and Mixed Media - "Movements in Nature: Perspectives of Being" DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Preview: July 6th @ 7:30pm to 10pm\n Exhibition Opening: July 8th @ 7:30pm to 10pm\n Exhibition Duration: June 28th  to August 20th  2016 \n  \n \n \n  \nNew Brunswick Art Salon Part II: Watercolor and Mixed Media\, “Movements in Nature: Perspectives of Being” featuring representations of the nuances of nature\, using watercolor and mixed media. \n\nWe are pleased to invite you to the second installation of the New Brunswick Art Salon\, highlighting artists who excel in their work manipulating watercolor and mixed media to reveal vast visions of nature. The 13 featured artists are prominent local figures whom have exhibited their work in gallery shows throughout the greater New York area or have worked with Alfa Art Gallery in previous exhibitions. Through the exhibition\, you will witness local talents from the New Brunswick area\, and beyond\, whom reflect and inspire the rich artistic culture of the community.  \n“Movements in Nature: Perspectives of Being” focuses on ebb and flow of life\, matter\, and nature. Thus\, providing a glance into one’s experience of nature’s materialized essence\, both tangible and intangible. From the unrestrained watercolors of Hanna Aviv\, to the deconstructed figural representations by Verdiana Patacchini\, bear witness to the broad interpretations of life in flux\, through unbridled color\, experimental texture\, and limitless gesture. Reminiscent of the Art Salons of the 18th and 19th century\, the New Brunswick Art Salon was launched to promote the ever-evolving advances in the arts. Please join Alfa Art Gallery for a night of celebrating an exclusive glimpse into multifaceted impressions of the ever-changing human experience. \n  \nAbout Artists\n“Movements in Nature: Perspectives of Being” will feature many talent artists\, both renowned and those currently establishing themselves. Hana Aviv has excelled as a local artist over the past decade\, continuing to hone her artistic process and style. Working as a pathologist at Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson\, she spent her nights taking art classes at a variety of institutions\, where she found her artistic match working with watercolors. Watercolor gives Hana a freedom she was not able to find in other media. She focuses her work on life painting and expressions of nature where she draws upon color and fluidity to create dynamic works. In particular\, her series of flower paintings seem to depict bright bushels of  nature that blur the line between contained objectivity and open expression\, as evidenced in her loose\, broad brushstrokes. \nSimilar in style and subjectivity\, Thea Berkhout depicts the world in a recognizable yet innovative manner. She is an artist\, as well as an Associate Dean at Rutgers University\, in the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy. Her artwork consists of images such from life\, such as still life\, landscape\, and explorations of the nude figure. \nKaren Terry is a lifelong artist\, always returning to painting as a meditation. Her pieces are inspired bythe universality of nature and landscape\, often depicting simple snapshots of the seasons or weather.She works in mixed media but thrives using sumi-ink\, departing from classical Eastern painting and manipulating the medium to produce modern pieces. Her paintings in the NBAS Part II Exhibition are dark\, vague landscapes produced with the sumi-ink wash\, and emphasize a dreamlike experience of  nature. Terry emphasizes the merit of her art is dedicated to peace. \nGregg Bautista is a recent graduate from Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts\, there he concentrated in painting\, with a minor in Art History. He utilizes water color to create dark abstractions and loose figural forms. His work blends forms and color to create new landscapes and figures\, which challenges the viewers’ perception of these historically and traditionally known aspects of nature and art.  \nKaren Starrett\, a trained educator and artist\, has exhibited her work in over 60 shows throughout the United States over the past decade. Her educational roots stem from Rutgers University\, our local neighbor\, and she has expanded her work since then. Starrett works with mixed media\, from painting to assemblage and collage. Her process is dynamic and spontaneous\, where new forms build off of previous ones\, creating personal and nostalgic scenes for the artist. Her mixed media collages that are exhibited in the New Brunswick Art  Salon Part II are engaging and multidimensional in space\, portraying an abstraction of nature and form. \nDonna Payton has an MFA from the Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles and is a recipient of the New Jersey Print and Paper Grant from the Brodsky Center at Rutgers University. Payton uses very bright colors and highlights to bring her paintings to life. The subjects of her paintings consist of everyday household- objects\, but the use of color brings importance to these images.  \nRida Fatima has an Associate degree in Interior Design. She won “Best In Show” in December\, 2013 at the Old Orchard Gallery. Fatima uses watercolor to create paintings of wood\, trees\, and flowers. The main elements of her paintings emphasize depth\, perspective\, mystery\, texture\, and color. She emphasizes that art is her personal language through which she can talk without saying a word.  \nSusan Gilli also utilizes the power of mystery\, texture\, and color in her work. She focuses on depicting subjects of nature in flux. She presents the brilliant electricity of life through her usage of bright colors and intricate yet explosive brushwork. Her artwork is partially abstract\, and her mediums of choice are acrylics and mixed media. \nVerdiana Patacchini has her roots in Italy and now works fluidly between Italy and the United States. She creates multimedia images and compositions where she finds painting to be the ideal medium  to bridge the gap between nature\, the imagination\, and reality.  \nJeffrey Pullen obtained his BFA and MFA from the Pratt Institute of New York. He uses oil on wood to create portraits of landscapes\, which are mainly focused on New York City. Specifically\, he has created impressive landscapes of Times Square. He has taken part in almost 40 solo exhibitions nation-wide\, along with 70 group shows. In his work\, he presents realistic images on  nontraditional surfaces. In this current exhibit\, his paintings depict imagery of the city which communicate with the complex sculptural forms of the surfaces.  \nTania Sen also plays with the  viewers’ ability to interpret different realities in her work. She was born in Kolkata\, India\, but she currently lives and works in New York and New Jersey. Sen received her Masters in  Communications Arts from the New York Institute of Technology. Sen utilizes mixed media to create pieces that speak to the materialization/dematerialization of the world. She is influenced  by media signage\, pop culture\, and the thoughtful perceptions of pop culture reality. Sen has taken part in past exhibitions at Alfa Art Gallery. \nIndrani Choudhury was born in Calcutta\, India and worked as a biomedical research scientist for 25 years. Upon moving to New Jersey in the 1990’s\, she began to feel that her life was  incomplete. This void led to her becoming a full-time self-taught painter in 2005. Entirely self-taught\, Indrani works solely in watercolors\, transforming the medium beyond its typical constraints to produce the texture and richness of acrylics and oils. Her portraits consist of nature scenes and miscellaneous objects.  \nDustin Garafalo also utilizes watercolor to create mainly landscape scenes consisting of gradients of dark colors\, rather than deep contrasts of  lightness and darkness as seen in Indrani Choudhury’s work. His working pace tends to be fast\, due to the fact that he combines charcoal\, acrylics\, graphite\, and oils. Garafalo focuses on  subjects in nature. He is currently working on obtaining an MFA in Drawing and Painting from the State University of New York\, at Albany. \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/july-8th-730-1000-pm-alfa-art-gallery-invites-you-to-new-brunswick-art-salon-part-ii-watercolor-and-mixed-media-movements-in-nature-perspectives-of-being/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/NBAS-Water-Color-and-Mixed-Media-Part-II-banner-2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160630T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160630T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185641Z CREATED:20160610T175255Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185641Z UID:10091-1467309600-1467320400@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - June 30 @ 6pm - Palette Party! DESCRIPTION:Alfa Art Gallery is pleased to announce our newest Summer 2016 installment of weekly “Palette Parties”. Join us for nights of paintings and FUN! Each Thursday\, instructor\, Johanna Sienna\, will be present to teach participants how to paint a variety of subject matters. Each Palette Party will have a different theme and lots in store for participating artists. Absolutely no experience is required. We encourage all to come out and share this experience with Alfa! \nOur experienced art teacher\, Johanna\, will provide all attendees with step-by-step instructions. Attendees will also have the option between two paintings and can pick one to learn. A preview of the options will be shown each sign up sessions for artists before the event. This program is great for all artist! Every Thursday from 6:00pm – 10:00pm come share this experience with Alfa. Starting dates will be coming soon. \nFor the next week\, Thursday\, June 30. The two paintings will be Abstract City and Abstract Trees. \n \n  \nTickets are $30.00 each and include all necessary painting materials and light refreshments (you are welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks as well). \n*Special discount rate of $27.00 per person for all Rutgers students and employees! (see Palette Party website for details) \n*Special discount rate of $25.00 per person for all New Brunswick City Market BoD and New Brunswick City Arts Council Members! \nReserve your spot by purchasing your tickets online! Space is limited. \nTo purchase tickets\, please visit the Palette Party Website (click here) URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/palette-parties-thursdays-6pm-to-10pm/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Palette Party ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Summer-Palette-Party-banner.png ORGANIZER;CN="Kasey Chan":MAILTO:kasey@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160521T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160521T220000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185640Z CREATED:20160512T210347Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185640Z UID:9603-1463855400-1463868000@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - May 21 @ 6:30pm - Celebration of May 24 - Bulgarian Education and Culture\, and Slavonic Literature Day at Alfa DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, May 21th 2016\, 6:30 pm – 11:00pm \nAlfa Art Gallery invites you to join us in celebrating May 24th – Bulgarian Education and Culture\, and Slavonic Literature Day. The event will take place at 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick NJ 08901 on Saturday\, May 21st 2016 at 6:30 pm. \nAlfa has the pleasure of presenting the dance group “Kopriva” performing Bulgarian folk dances and “Alfa BG” band who will perform a selection of Bulgarian music. \nThis event has no admission fee and is open to the public. Feel free to bring food and snacks to share with everyone\, and don’t forget your dancing shoes! \nWhy do we celebrate May 24th? \nThis day honors the Saint Brothers\, Kiril and Methody\, founders of the Slavonic Alphabet. Since 1857\, this day has been celebrated every year. May 24th is a holiday in itself\, a day of spiritual uprising overviewing Bulgaria’s cultural and scientific achievements. Looking upon the letters written by Kiril and Methody as well as their translations of the liturgical books\, shows the fight to protect the right to honor God in their own language. It is a historical significance to the development of the Bulgarian nation and becomes part of the general human idea for equality. \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \nBulgarian music band Alfa BG \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \nDance group Kopriva \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/may-21st-2016-630-1100pm-celebration-of-may-24rt-bulgarian-education-and-culture-and-slavonic-literature-day-at-alfa/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Bulgarian-holiday-banner-GK-page-001.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160506T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160506T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185640Z CREATED:20160407T161503Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185640Z UID:9531-1462554000-1462568400@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - May 6 - Alfa's 8th Anniversary Celebration & NBAS Awards Ceremony & "Pushing Boundaries: An Exploration of Form and Color" Exhibition Opening DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: April 27th – June 25th 2016Opening Reception: May 6th 2016 @ 5 pm – 9:30pm \n\nAlfa’ 8th Anniversary Celebration \nNBAS Awards Ceremony\nPushing Boundaries: An Exploration of Form and Color” exhibition opening\n\n  \n \nSchedule of events:\n\n5pm – 5:30pm: Welcoming Alfa Honored Guests\n5:30pm – 5:45pm: Alfa’s 8th Anniversary Remarks\n5:45pm – 6pm: New Brunswick Art Salon Awards Ceremony\n6pm – 7pm: Live music and refreshments\n7pm – 9:30pm: Pushing Boundaries: An Exploration of Form and Color – Exhibition Opening Reception\n\n  \nExhibiting Artists :Vesselin Kourtev\, Peter Arakawa\, John Hawaka\, Rita Herzfeld \nPlease join Alfa Art Gallery in commemorating the gallery’s 8th anniversary on May 6th 2016 at 5pm! In the past eight years\, Alfa Art Gallery has seen great success in exhibiting and working with over 300 accomplished artists from the community. Our anniversary event will honor these artists for their hard work and achievements.  \nWe are pleased to announce and host the New Brunswick Art Salon (NBAS) 2015 awards which will be presented to artists in the mediums of watercolor and mixed media\, as well as oil and mixed media exhibitions. The NBAS was designed to showcase the talents of artists to the New Brunswick community and has been very successful in this endeavor in the last five years. The goal of these salons is to bridge the gap between artists and their communities and to unify the diverse city of New Brunswick through making and appreciating art. The Alfa Art Gallery New Brunswick Art Salon derives its inspiration from the 18th century Parisian art salons that celebrated new advances in academia and the arts. \nAlfa Art Gallery is pleased to present Pushing Boundaries: An Exploration of Form and Color. Artists Vesselin Kourtev\, Peter Arakawa\, Rita Herzfeld\, and John Hawaka\, have been long-time partners and affiliates of Alfa Art Gallery and are well-established artists in the New Brunswick area. This exhibition features a selection of their paintings\, each of them distinct in style and inspiration\, but unified in their themes of synthesizing order and chaos\, and inspiriting form and color. \nWe are also delighted to present our 2015 annual catalog. This carefully curated catalog promotes our exhibiting artists and provides an extensive over view of our exhibitions from the past year.  \n\n                                                                                                                        \n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/alfas-8th-anniversary-celebration-nbas-awards-ceremony-pushing-boundaries-an-exploration-of-form-and-color-exhibition-opening/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/8th-Anniversary-banner-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160430T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160430T220000 DTSTAMP:20160731T230633Z CREATED:20160318T174816Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T230633Z UID:9488-1462042800-1462053600@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - April 30 - Ivan Milev Concert DESCRIPTION:Please join us on April 30th\, 2016 6:30-12pm for a concert of the musical genius and legendary accordion performer Ivan Milev!\nIvan Milev (click for biography) is a landmark of contemporary Balkan folk music. Throughout his 40-plus year career as an accordion player in Bulgaria\, he has established the rules for Balkan folk music. His style fuses tunes of classical\, jazz\, Eastern European and Middle Eastern music. \nTickets are $15.00 each and can only be purchased online using the form below. The payment will be processed through PayPal. \nNOTICE: Due to space constraints there is a 60 person limit\, so please purchase your tickets before they are sold out. If there is further interest\, a second concert may be organized. \nConcert organizers: \n\nGuenadiy Lazarov – Accordion Gallery\nVesselin Kourtev – Alfa Art Gallery\n\nFor more info call 732-296-6720 or email info@alfaart.org \n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/49834/b059/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’true’ bg_fill=’true’ show_logo=’false’ ] URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/ivan-milev-concert-at-alfa-art-gallery/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Concert/Band Night ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/2016-04-30-ivan-milev-concert-web-banner-2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160311T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160311T220000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185638Z CREATED:20160218T171519Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185638Z UID:9380-1457722800-1457733600@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - March 11 @ 7pm - The New Brunswick Art Salon: featuring Arts Council of Princeton DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: March 1st – April 23rd\, 2016 Opening Reception: Friday\, March 11th\, 2016 at 7:00pm \n  \n \n(New Jersey\, March 2016) Alfa Art Gallery is pleased to announce the first exhibition to start off the spring season\, The New Brunswick Art Salon: featuring Arts Council of Princeton. This exhibition will exclusively feature art instructors from Arts Council of Princeton\, bringing their professional knowledge and recent artistic visions to the availability of Alfa Art Gallery audience. \nMerging the New Brunswick Community Arts Council and Arts Council of Princeton presents a unique opportunity for all members\, artists\, and interested parties to explore and collaborate new ideas\, opportunities\, and art forms.  \n  \nExhibiting Artists:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\nLibby Ramage\nIfat Shatzky\nBarbara DiLorenzo\nEva Mantell\n Charles Viera\n\n\n\n  \nPlease join us at the Opening Reception on Friday March 11th at 7pm. There will be light refreshments and a live musical performance by Classical Revolution\, a global network of musicians who take classical music out of the concert hall and into non-traditional venues\, in order to enrich communities and create local support networks for local musicians. For more information\, visit www.crnj.org \nPerforming musicians will include: James Keene- Violin I; Samantha Tomblin- Violin II; Seth Van Embden- Viola; Alex Nelson- Cello \n  \nAbout Arts Council of Princeton\nThe Arts Council of Princeton was founded as an independent non-profit organization in 1967 by Bill Selden\, its first President. From the beginning\, its mission has been to Build Community through the Arts\, serving the community as an artistic and cultural hub and nurturing visual\, performing and literary arts in the greater Princeton area. Today\, The Arts Council fulfills its mission by presenting a wide range of arts and arts education programs including studio-based classes and workshops in the visual\, performing and media arts\, exhibitions\, performances\, and free community cultural events. Arts Council of Princeton programs are designed to be high-quality\, engaging\, affordable and accessible for the diverse population of Mercer County and beyond. Creating art and learning from working artists and performers in intimate artistic encounters directly addresses the Arts Council’s mission. For more information\, visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/9380/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Watercolor-banner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160212T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160212T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185638Z CREATED:20160113T201345Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185638Z UID:9299-1455300000-1455310800@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - Feb 6 & 12 - Valentine's Day Themed Palette Parties DESCRIPTION:“The Couple” \nJoin Alfa Art Gallery for a night of painting and FUN and create your very own personalized gift for someone you admire\, or invite your sweetheart and experience the joy of instructed painting together! Absolutely NO experience required! \nWe have 2 events where we will be painting “The Couple” on Saturday\, February 6th (5-8pm) and “Love is in the air” on Friday\, February 12th (7-9pm). All attendees will be provided with step-by-step instructions by our experienced art teacher Zareena Uddin. \nTickets are $30.00 each and include all necessary painting materials and light refreshments (you are welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks as well). \n*Special discount rate of $27.00 per person for all Rutgers students and employees! (see Palette Party website for details) \n“Love is in the air” \nReserve your spot by purchasing your tickets online! Space is limited.To purchase tickets\, please visit the Palette Party Website (click here). \n  \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/valentines-day-palette-party/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Palette Party ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Palette-Party-banner2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160122T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160122T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185550Z CREATED:20160108T163801Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185550Z UID:9246-1453489200-1453496400@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - Jan 22 @ 7pm - New Brunswick Art Salon: Photography feat. The Raritan Photographic Society DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: January 12th – February 29th 2016 Opening Reception: Friday January 22nd\, 2016 from 7:00-9:30pm  \n \n  \nAlfa Art Gallery is pleased to announce collaboration for the second year in a row with The Raritan Photographic Society in the 2016 New Brunswick Art Salon: Photography Exhibition. Alfa is always enthusiastic about merging existing art clubs\, organizations\, and societies\, in order to give artists new exposure to the New Brunswick community. A specific focus will explore the experience of travel\, whether it’s cross country\, or capturing unknown landscapes outside the United States. This exhibition will give viewers a chance to escape their everyday sights and learn about alternative destinations. Join Alfa Art Gallery and The Raritan Photographic Society at our opening reception night on Friday January 22nd from 7:00-9:30pm. There will be music\, light refreshments\, and a brief informative curatorial introduction will be presented. \n  \nExhibiting Artists: \n\nBarbara Eggermann\nPaul Eggermann\nSusan Powell\nJamie Shombert\nRichard Doerr\nEdward Hughes\nHilda DeSanctis\nCarol Buinno-Petscavage\nWilliam Petscavage\nEllen Reardon\n\n  \nAbout the Raritan Photo Society\nRPS originally started in 1929 with a small group of photo enthusiasts regularly meeting in each other’s homes. At present\, the society has 50 paid members and many more regular visitors who attend the lectures\, which occur twice a month. RPS has witnessed the amazing evolution of photography from glass plates to today’s powerful digital photo technology.  \nThe society’s photographers are united in a mutual love of photography\, but maintain their individual aspirations as to what they want to achieve with that love. There are members who are professional photographers as well as members working towards achieving professional status. Its members choose to work in a wide spectrum of styles from photo realism to abstraction as well as members who are still looking to find their own style. The members hold a common passion for photography and a desire to become better photographers. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBarbara Eggermann\nPaul Eggermann\nSusan Powell\nJamie Shombert\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichard Doerr\nEdward Hughes\nHilda DeSanctis\nCarol Buinno-Petscavage\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\nWilliam (Bill) Petscavage\nEllen Reardon\n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/new-brunswick-art-salon-photography-feat-the-raritan-photographic-society/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Melissa-Egues-RPS-Banner-small.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20151113T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20151113T220000 DTSTAMP:20160801T182645Z CREATED:20151104T225514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160801T182645Z UID:9144-1447443000-1447452000@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - New Brunswick Art Salon\, Fall 2015 - Oil and Mixed Media Exhibition DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: November 1st – December 30th\, 2015 Opening Reception: November 13th at 7:30 pm \n \n(New Jersey\, November 2015) Alfa Art Gallery is pleased to announce the third and final New Brunswick Art Salon of 2015: The Oil and Mixed Media Exhibition. Alfa is excited to introduce new artists\, as well as previously exhibited artists: John Hawaka\, Sean Carney\, and Merrille Drakulich. A wide variety of mediums include oil\, lacquer\, wood stain\, relief\, and acrylic. The contrast of styles\, from abstraction\, to surrealism and more traditional realism\, gives the show a dynamic eye of contemporary fine art. These carefully selected twelve artists bring to Alfa their unique spin on the artistic process and a new take on universal concepts. \nThe exhibition has no admission fees and is open to the public. An Opening Reception will be held Friday\, November 13th @ 7:30pm. There will be a live musical performance by the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra and refreshments will be served. Musicians: (Elizaveta Laskova: Violin ; Nina Vieru: Violin; Ana Tsinadze: Viola; and Jordan Enzinder: Cello) \n  \nExhibiting Artists: Curatorial Notes \nAdel Strauss: She uses a variety of mixed media as a way to reinterpret themes from the past through today’s visual and cultural lens. The unique frames in conjunction with collaging magazines give these materials a new meaning and purpose. \nBarry Altman\, M.D.: He was previously a surgeon who began painting after retirement. Although most of his work is abstract\, he also includes representational objects that are highlighted through his use of collage and relief artistry. His subject matter varies from tigers to naturalistic diorama scenes\, all bearing interesting Latin titles. \nJan ten Broeke:  His work incorporates biomorphic objects\, shapes and forms that resemble those which are found in nature. His use of color combined with the round\, natural forms of these objects\, evokes a balance between organism and structure. \nJane Zamost: Her work is driven by emotions and dreams\, which are captured at the moment of their formation. She uses a variety of colors and different forms of applying paint to display the emotion she wishes to capture. \nJohn Hawaka: He uses lacquer as his primary medium because of its reaction to water\, resulting in an explosion of forms across the canvas. Hawaka is inspired by life\, his subject matter is capturing the burst of color in an aesthetically pleasing manner\, as it expands towards the edges. \nSean Carney: He received a BFA with a focus on Portrait and Figure Painting from New Jersey City University\, and has also studied at the School of Visual Arts and The Fashion Institute of Technology in NY. Carney uses wood stain and dremel for his work. He experiments with water based stains as to expand his palette and texture. The overall tone of his work embodies some variance of shades and color. \nSarah Smith: She works with mainly oil\, in an attempt to focus on endangered species that she considers to be works of art themselves. She hopes to achieve a sense of protection within the canvas as to help the viewer reconsider their relationship with wildlife. When painting a person\, nature tends to be her central focus rather than the figure. \nRitch Gaiti: He primarily works in oils with mixed media like sand to give a sense of the setting and time. Focusing on western themes\, he attempts to capture not only movement but also the heart and soul of the subject. He includes a strong use of impasto to add dimension as well as the use of yellow and orange to add an antiquated feeling. He juxtaposes the time and culture from the far past with shades of blue. \nRia Glassman: She studied studio art at Drew University and is inspired by her life drawing classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY. Focusing on the female nude\, she practices the discipline approach working best with structured pre ordained forms. She uses dark colors juxtaposed with skin tones\, giving little visibility to the face by the portrayal of hands over the woman’s face or turning her body away from the viewer. \nPia de Girolamo: She grew up in NYC yet traveled to Italy to study paintings privately and continued to explore fine arts in college. However\, she became a physician and shortly after leaving the practice began to experiment with large spaces of color. She works mainly with large charcoal marks as well as working with drawing and painting to characterize the movement of lines and swirls. The dark violent lines juxtapose to the soft color. \nMiriam Stern: She works with highly abstracted versions of objects\, places\, and people from the photographs she takes. These photographs include places the artist has visited\, becoming a new place with each manipulation. She begins with photography and uses a combination of digital manipulation\, traditional printmaking\, and painting. After creating unique prints\, she uses oil paint to give a more abstract feel. \nMerrilee Drakulich: Attaining both a BFA and an MA in studio art\, Merrilee uses large portions of color to approach the subject matter. With a high contrast of light and dark\, she uses a loose application of paint adhering to prominence of her brushwork. She works with close views of objects\, striving to avoid a full view in its entirety. Much of her influence derives from Caribbean and French landscape. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2015-new-brunswick-art-salon-oil-and-mixed-media-exhibition/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Exhibition_Web_Banner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20151009T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20151009T190000 DTSTAMP:20160731T222902Z CREATED:20150923T174843Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T222902Z UID:9080-1444408200-1444417200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - Artist Talk: International Inspirations DESCRIPTION:You are cordially invited to attend the International Inspirations 2015 Artist Talk\, held on Friday\, October 9th at 4:30pm.  If you missed the opening reception\, here’s a second chance to view this extraordinary collection accompanied by informative curatorial notes. The presentation will begin at 5:15pm. The talk will include an in- depth presentation reviewing each of the exhibiting artists\, as well as Q & A with the collector.  Come discover the history and artistic process of each Fine Art master\, and how their unique perspective influences the art world today.  On view are original paintings\, etchings\, watercolors\, and serigraphs. Refreshments will be served. There will also be live music performed by students from the Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. \nThe exhibition will run from September 1st – October 30th\, 2015. International Inspirations has no admission fee and is open to the public. \n*Please RSVP if you can or cannot attend via gallery phone (732) 296-6720 or email info@alfaart.org.  Limited seating is available.  \nExhibiting Artists:  Peter Max\, Salvador Dali\, Marc Chagall\, Linda Le Kinff\, Marcus Glenn\, Zamy Steynovitz\, Marina Boyko\, Itzchak Tarkay Emile Bellet\, Mihail Chemiakin \n\n \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/artist-talk-international-inspirations/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Lecture/Workshop,Open Studio ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/International_Talk4.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150912T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150912T220000 DTSTAMP:20160731T225204Z CREATED:20150812T143033Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T225204Z UID:8960-1442086200-1442095200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - Sept 12 @ 7:30pm - International Inspirations DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: Sept 1 – Oct 30Opening Reception: Sept 12 @ 7:30pm \n  \n \nAbout this Exhibition\nAlfa Art Gallery is pleased to present this unique opportunity to exhibit original works from universally known Fine Art masters including Marc Chagall\, and Peter Max. In collaboration with collector Anton Kogan and his father who have generously accepted to display the collection at the gallery\, this exhibition will greet its New Brunswick visitors with a kaleidoscope of color and symbolism\, as each artist displays their own breathtaking interpretation of the world we live in. The featured works will include original oils\, watercolors\, etchings\, and serigraphs. \nThe gallery will also hold a Meet the Collector event\, providing an in depth look at each of the artists\, as well as a Q&A with the collector. Dates for this event are TBA. \nThe exhibition has no admission fee and is open to the public. There will be a live musical performance and refreshments will be served. \n  \nExhibiting Artists\nCuratorial Notes by Ilea Santiago \nEmile Bellet is a self-taught artist whose Fauvist style is characterized by vivid non-authentic color alongside elongated mannerist forms. The whimsical movement derived from Bellet’s impasto knife lends a sense of vision to his work\, giving a sense of mystery and ethereal beauty to his work. \nMarc Chagall was\, as art critic Robert Hughes stated\, “the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century”.  Born in 1887 to a devout Jewish family in Belarus\, his expressive style and surreal figures continues to captivate audiences across the globe. \nSalvador Dali is best known for his symbolic surrealist artistic style. Originally from Spain\, some of his paintings are inspired by his love of the Port Lligat area\, where he made his home with his wife Gala. \nMarcus Glenn is a Detroit born artist who is widely known for his use of highly saturated colors and his expressive use of paper and fabric. He fascinates viewers by inviting them into his realm of colorful and unique imagery. \nMarina Boyko presents a different vision on surrealist art. Using watercolor to purvey her ideas\, a world of unimaginable fantasy captivates the viewer. Her long limbed\, alien-like figures make one questions\, who we really are as human-beings. \nMihail Chemiakin has also been referred to as a “Russian Picasso of our time.” Producing mostly paintings and Lithographs\, his fractured\, free flowing compositions are tantalizing in color and concept. \nLinda Le Kinff’s work explores a plethora of mediums\, spanning from acrylic paint\, lithographs\, wood carving\, gold leaf\, serigraphs\, and watercolor.  She uses her skills to create sensual\, elegant figures\, taking inspiration from her extensive travel history as well as her dreams. \nPeter Max‘s combination of color\, spirituality\, and music is the foundation of a psychedelic style which captivates viewers from the moment they observe his work.  His dedication\, creativity\, and willingness to experiment\, led to him becoming one of the today’s leading neo-expressionist artists. \nZamy Steynovitz was heavily influenced by both his Jewish heritage and the vibrancy of South America. His romantic figures reflect the joy in life\, and were recognized by the Nobel institute for Peace in Norway. \nItzchack Tarkay demonstrates his mastery of graphic arts using rich color and form to create stunning paintings. Born on the Yugoslav-Hungarian border\, Tarkay claims to work from pure instinct\, his forms colors and compositions are all a natural extension of his creative process. \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/international-inspirations-2015/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/International_Webbanner1-small.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150801T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150801T213000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185638Z CREATED:20150717T141512Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185638Z UID:8801-1438453800-1438464600@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - August 1 (Sat) @ 6:30-9:30pm - Alfa Palette Party! DESCRIPTION:A night of painting and FUN! Complete with instruction by our experienced painting instructor Rachelle Miller\, and plenty of snacks and refreshments! Click here for  more information regarding your instructor! \n“Sailboat Sunset” \nRachelle will provide step instructions on how to paint the beautiful painting Sailboat Sunset. Take home your very own copy by YOU! \nAbsolutely NO experience required\, just you and all of your closest friends! All supplies will be provided. \nReserve your spot by purchasing your tickets online! Space is limited. \nTo purchase tickets\, use the form below. Credit card payments are handled securely through PayPal (no account required). \n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/all-tickets/10157/04ba/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’true’ bg_fill=’true’ show_logo=’false’ ] \nMeet your instructor Rachelle Miller! \n \nFor parking information please click here. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/alfa-palette-party-saturday-august-1st-2015-630-930pm/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Palette Party ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-08-01-palette-party-banner-web.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150718T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150718T220000 DTSTAMP:20160731T224144Z CREATED:20150529T161806Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T224144Z UID:8694-1437247800-1437256800@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - July 18 @ 7:30pm - Bulgarian Photography Exhibition Opening Reception DESCRIPTION:Bulgarian Photography Exhibition July 1st – August 30th\, 2015 Opening Reception July 18th\, 2015 at 7:30pm \n  \n \nAbout this Exhibition\nAlfa Art Gallery will be hosting the 2015 Bulgarian Photography Exhibition. The opening will take place at 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick NJ 08901 on July 18th 2015\, at 7:30pm. The gallery is excited to present the Bulgarian Photography Exhibition for it’s 3rd showing. In 2014\, Alfa Art Gallery held an opening reception of Cluster Photostyle work. A showing was also held at The Bulgarian Consulate in New York City during that same year. The collection will feature works by exhibited artist Konstantin Popov\, founder of Cluster Photostyle\, along with many other emerging Bulgarian photographers associated with the company. Ranging from Landscape Photography to Figurative Photography\, each artist displays their unique vision through one medium\, leaving a captivating impression upon the viewer. This exhibition is free of admission and open to the public. There will be a live musical performance by “Alfa Bg Band” and refreshments will be served. \n  \nAbout Cluster Photostyle Founder\nKonstantin Popov believes in the full support of artistic photographers. Beginning in 2012\, Cluster Photostyle now has eight partnering companies. Their goal is to collect intriguing work by the best Bulgarian photographers to help promote and expose their talents. In addition\, Cluster Photostyle aids in the business negotiations\, gallery placements\, and managing the works of these artists to create a unique platform increasing sales and recognition. They have presented globally including Istanbul\, London\, and Paris. \n  \nExhibiting Artists\nNotes by Brianna Holcomb \n\nKonstantin Popov’s photography interprets reality on a highly detail-oriented level\, which finds harmony and beauty in the unexpected. He believes that the finished product outweighs the means used to create it.\nAlexander Nishkov uses his work to give his mind a voice. Using the wisdom “Photography is a simple thing but not\nfor simpletons\,” Nishkov has transitioned from a student to teacher and mentor.\nDiliana Florentin attempts to capture the emotion of a single moment in time\, in a field that is constantly updating and upgrading. Her art is brimming with sensuality and femininity through her focus of fashion photography of women\nGencho Petkov pushes the limits of familiarity producing unique images fulfilling his role as a “photographic interpreter of beauty.” Using controlled lighting of unusually shaped subjects his images are reminiscent of the nude forms\, which speak to the beauty of a woman’s body and nature.\nDorothea Komitska challenges the viewer’s perception of reality by breaking free from the constraints of daily life. She aims to transport viewers to her “Excalibur\,” her “palace” of poetry\, beauty and dreams.\nGeorgi Georgiev describes photography as the use of “one eye” to shed light on what everyman might have overlooked with his two eyes. He concerns himself with projecting his two-dimensional images into the world of his audience.\nMilan Hristev hopes that\, through visually inhabiting the abandoned spaces captured in his works\, his audience is able to engage in both introspection and external perception.\nNadejda Korcheva sees her photography as the ultimate intersection of craftsmanship and technology. All of her photographs are taken with the intent of transmitting emotion and color.\nPencho Tihov lives in admiration of nature’s “poetic\, lyrical\, [and] surreal” intricacies. His inspiration comes from the minutiae of nature whose invisible layers he describes as “plastic and artistic.”\nSonya Stankova has attended various international photographic meetings and has been invited to numerous festivals. Her work extends beyond country borders.\nValentin Kirov is largely concerned with the composition process: harmonious contrast of light and shadows\, the presentation of colors\, and the grounding concept behind the image.\nVeneta Karamfilova’s photographs are the crossroads of the simultaneous realities of her imagination. One of the most alluring aspects of her photographs is the authenticity of the images she portrays.\nDimitar Mitev’s desire to work at night personifies his idea of photography as a “silent art form.” His work tells a story that is carefully cultured in his mind over a great span of time.\nDonka Zlatanova’s work is the intersection of photography and advertising. Most of her photographs operate on a subliminal level\, which seek to simultaneously appeal to the senses and convince the consumer.\nGeorgi Dimitrov uses digital art as a way to escape the reality. Nature is his inspiration\, passion and love. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/8694/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/REALbulgarianbanner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150524T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150524T200000 DTSTAMP:20160731T224607Z CREATED:20150508T183422Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T224607Z UID:8602-1432488600-1432497600@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - May 24 @ 5:30pm - Bulgarian Education and Culture\, and Slavonic Literature Day DESCRIPTION:Alfa Art Gallery invites you to join us in celebrating Bulgarian Education and Culture\, and Slavonic Literature Day. The event will take place at 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick NJ 08901 on Sunday May 24th\, 2015 at 5:30 pm. \nWe will begin the evening with a presentation about the history of the Bulgarian Alphabet. Also\, Alfa has the pleasure of presenting the dance group\, “Kopriva” performing Bulgarian folk dances.  Lastly\, we are excited to announce our guest\, recently formed band\, “Alfa BG” who will perform a selection of Bulgarian music. \nMembers in the Alfa BG band include: \n\nTodor Enev – vocal and guitar\nVolodia Stavrev – lead guitar & keyboard\nAntonio Kamberov – percussion\nVasil Subotinov – bass\n\nThis event has no admission fee and is open to the public. Feel free to bring food and snacks to share with everyone\, and don’t forget your dancing shoes! \n  \nWhy do we celebrate May 24th? \n With an impressive celebration history of 162 years\, May 24th recognizes the Slavonic Alphabet\, as well as Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture.  This is the longest running holiday in late Bulgarian history. \nOn May 11th\, 1851\, a celebration was organized at the eparchy school “St St Kiril and Methody” in the town of Plovdiv by Bulgarian linguist and writer Nayden Gerov. This day now honors the Saint brothers\, Kiril and Methody\, founders of the Slavonic Alphabet. Since 1857\, this day has been celebrated every year in towns such as Plovdiv\, Shumen\, Tsarigrad\, and Lom. Currently\, May 11th is celebrated as a Church Holiday of the Saint brothers Kiril and Methody.  This day expresses the striving spirit of the Bulgarian people towards their Church and Political independence as well as their eagerness for national and economic progression. \nMay 24th is a holiday in itself\, a day of spiritual uprising overviewing Bulgaria’s cultural and scientific achievements. Looking upon the letters written by Kiril and Methody as well as their translations of the liturgical books \, shows the fight to protect  the right to honor God in their own language. It is a historical significance to the development of the Bulgarian nation and becomes part of the general human idea for equality. \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/bulgarian-education-and-culture-and-slavonic-literature-day/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/BGdaybanner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150508T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150508T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185533Z CREATED:20150427T131145Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185533Z UID:8534-1431108000-1431118800@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - May 8 @ 6:30pm - New Brunswick Art Salon\, Spring 2015 - Watercolor and Mixed Media Exhibition DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: May 2nd – June 30th\,  2015 Opening Reception: Friday\,  May 8th\, 2015 at 6:30pm \n  \n  \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Karen Starret \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Jazz Genome Project \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rudy Martin \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Hana Aviv \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Indrani Choudhury \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Judy Koo \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n \n  \nAbout this Exhibition\nAlfa Art Gallery will be hosting its seasonal New Brunswick Art Salon Exhibition featuring local artists within the watercolor medium. The opening will be held on Friday May 8th\, 2015 at 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ. \nOriginating in Paris in the 18th century\, art salons were the most anticipated annual and biannual events\, celebrating the farthest advances in academia and the arts. These salons provided artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work alongside their contemporaries while received critical as well as public response. Inspired by the Parisian Salons\, Alfa Art Gallery holds Salons four times a year in different artistic mediums and endeavors to showcase the talent of local artists to the New Brunswick public. \nThe gallery is excited to introduce new and well established watercolor and mixed media artists to show in the exhibition. Many of these works range from the beautiful simplicity of realism to the thought-provoking questions of abstraction. While a majority of the artists work in watercolor\, some choose and more extensive approach and add mixed medium to their pieces including: digital imaging\, collage\, charcoal\, and ink. \nThe exhibition has no admission fee and is open to the public. There will be a live musical performance and refreshments will be served. \n  \nExhibiting Artists\nCuratorial Notes by Bari Kaplan \nAida Birritteri is a watercolor artist who draws inspiration from natural settings and human figures.  She creates her works from working off of photographs\, or paints her scenes directly in the open air (en plein air).  Each work expresses a celebration of life through the use of fresh and vibrant colors. \nChris Carter uses her art to express human archetypes\, rhythms\, patterns of life\, and energy that pulses through the universe.  Each work incorporates her other two loves:  math and science. \nDavid Glasofer has had a strong passion for photography his entire life\, and he has practiced the art for the past thirty-five years.  He experiments with the various technological advances that computer imaging offers.  After he prints his images he typically enhances them by incorporating other media such as paint\, pencil\, or chalk. \nHanna Aviv paints a plethora of scenes that inspire her from day to day.  These can range from vast outdoor landscapes to simple objects such as fruits or vegetables.  In each work\, Hana’s main goal is to provide an essence of harmony and tranquility. \nJudy Koo works involve the process of translating impulsive thoughts into drawings and then through painting.  Her subjects entail trivialities that are part of her daily routines; they can be complex or as simple as eating a meal.  Each painting is chaotic\, lyrical\, and playful. \nKaren Starrett uses art as a conduit that connects her inner and outer world.  She sees artistic expression as a means of confidence to express her voice as an individual.  Each of her paintings starts with arbitrary forms that are later transformed and given color. \nLibby Ramage’s works are very abstract and avant-garde.  She incorporates new types of media such as newspaper that add a variety of texture.  Each work is created from a collage of materials that come together and create a cohesive and beautiful image \n Steven Cavallo is a watercolor artist who focuses on images of human figures.  Each painting is infused with emotion that radiates into the souls of viewers. Steven plays with light and shadow\, which highlights the detailing in his paintings. \n Tania Sen draws her inspiration from mythology\, pop culture\, advertisements\, and signage.  Her abstract works incorporate deep meanings as she explores traditional symbolism through personal interpretation for subject matter \n Victoria Kulikowski is a watercolor and botanical artist. Flowers are a constant presence in her works.  She looks for organic shapes and recurring patterns in nature when crafting her paintings \n Mark de Mos is a watercolor artist who uses painting as a means to capture realism through movement\, color\, lights\, and centers of interest. His works communicate his inner emotions or narratives from within. \n Rudy Martin has had a passion for art since early childhood. In 2003 he was diagnosed as legally blind and he continues to paint with this condition. His key purpose of painting is to bring joy to others. Each work combines feelings and motion to create organic and geometric forms\, colors\, and dimensions. \nIndrani Choudhury  is a self-taught artist who takes watercolor to new limits. She manipulates the texture of her paintings in such a manner that her watercolors appear as different media such as acrylics or oils. The landscapes that she paints range from her local New Jersey home to her homeland of Calcutta. \nErica Velasco is a photographic artist with an interest in painting. Her goal with her works is to create aesthetically pleasing visuals through the use of color and texture. The inspiration behind her art derives from the natural world and human body. \n  \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/nbas-watercolor-and-mixed-media-exhibition/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/watercolorbanner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150506T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150506T220000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185640Z CREATED:20160415T160349Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185640Z UID:9561-1430938800-1430949600@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2016 - May 6 @ 7pm - "Pushing Boundaries: An Exploration of Form and Color” DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Opening Reception: May 6 – 7pm-9:30pm Exhibition Duration: April 27th – June 25th 2016 \n  \n \nExhibiting Artists: \n\nVesselin Kourtev\nPeter Arakawa\nRita Herzfeld\nJohn Hawaka\n\n  \nAlfa Art Gallery is pleased to present “Pushing Boundaries: An Exploration of Form and Color.” Artists\, Vesselin Kourtev\, Peter Arakawa\, Rita Herzfeld\, and John Hawaka\, have been long-time partners and affiliates of Alfa Art Gallery and are well-established artists in the New Brunswick area. This exhibition features a selection of their paintings\, each ofthem distinct in style and inspiration\, but unified in their themes of synthesizing order and chaos\, and inspiriting form and color. \nVesselin Kourtev was born and raised in Bulgaria\, where he received his MFA from the Faculty of Fine Art at the University of Veliko Turnovo. Kourtev’s paintings have won acclaim for their skilled and bold rendering of vivid colors and dreamlike figures. \nPeter Arakawa comes from a family of artists and creators. He has studied at the Cate School\, CA\, Hampshire College\, MA\, and Mason Gross School of the Arts\, NJ\, where he received his BFA and MFA. Arakawa records his explorations of the new and abstract in his varied syntheses of geometry\, verticality\, and spontaneity. \nEntranced by her mother’s seemingly magical ability to create animals and children with mere pencil and paper\, Rita Herzfeld decided at a young age to become an artist. Herzfeld aspires to paint with the freedom of her unrestricted three-year-old self in whimsical streaks and rippling lines. \nJohn Hawaka lives and works in North Brunswick\, NJ\, and is one of the few artists in America who uses a rare lacquer painting technique. Hawaka describes his medium as having “a mind of its own.” The vibrant colors and pulsating forms found in Hawaka’s creations are meant to provoke and stimulate \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/9561/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Artist-Exhibition-banner-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150417T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150417T210000 DTSTAMP:20160731T222739Z CREATED:20150403T183200Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T222739Z UID:8508-1429293600-1429304400@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - April 17 @ 6pm - "Art and Jazz" Alfa's 7th Anniversary - Awards Ceremony for New Brunswick Art Salon 2014 Winners DESCRIPTION:A Night of Art and Jazz: Alfa Art Gallery’s 7th Anniversary and NBAS Awards Ceremony Reception – April 17th\, 2015 from 6:00pm-9:30pm \n \nAbout this Reception\nAlfa Art is proud to announce its 2015 Art and Jazz event celebrating the gallery’s 7th anniversary and the winners of the 2014 New Brunswick Art Salons (NBAS). To continue to promote well established and emerging artists\, Alfa will be hosting an awards ceremony during the event for the NBAS winners. With help of the gallery’s numerous sponsors\, certificates and prizes will be granted to the winners of the following NBAS exhibitions: Oil and Mixed Media\, Watercolor and Mixed Media\, and Photography. In addition\, a special appearance by the mayor of New Brunswick\, James Cahill\, is expected. \nThis event will also be accompanied by “Footprints in Space\,” Art Director Vesselin Kourtev’s solo exhibition\, and live musical performances. \n  \nAbout “Footprints in Space”  \nThis exhibition displays a retrospective of paintings exemplifying Kourtev’s evolution as an artist over his 20-year career. With chosen works from his portfolio of artistic cycles\, the exhibition includes oil paint\, watercolor\, and mixed media. Kourtev’s work has been described as impressionistic abstraction due to his unique colorist approach.  Specific works personify these qualities such as his intricate face imprints\, and his transparent manipulation of oil paint. \n  \nAbout the New Brunswick Art Salon\nOriginating in Paris in the 18th century\, art salons were the most anticipated annual and biannual events\, celebrating the farthest advances in academia and the arts. These salons provided artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work alongside their contemporaries while received critical as well as public response. Inspired by the Parisian Salons\, Alfa Art Gallery holds Salons four times a year in different artistic mediums and endeavors to showcase the talent of local artists to the New Brunswick public. \n  \nThe Mayor of New Brunswick will be making a visit for a short period of time so make sure to be there at 6pm sharp! \nContact:  Galina Kourtev\, Assistant Director and President – galina@alfaart.org Sean Fallon\, Public Relations Intern – sean@alfaart.org Gallery Phone: 732-296-7270 \n  \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gallery President Galina Kourtev and New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n NBAS 2014 Winners \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Jazz Genome Project \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Head Gallery Director Vesselin Kourtev \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Michael Durek \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mayor Cahill given a gallery tour by former Curitorial Intern Bari Kaplan URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/seventh-anniversary-event/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/sevenyearbannerFIXED.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150328T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150328T220000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185638Z CREATED:20150313T153559Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185638Z UID:7915-1427567400-1427580000@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - March 28 @ 6:30pm - Vesselin Kourtev's "Footprints in Space" DESCRIPTION:Exhibition Duration: March 17th – May 1st\, 2015 Opening Reception: March 28th\, 2015 – 6:30PM \n \nAbout this Exhibition\nAlfa Art Gallery will be hosting a special solo exhibition of the gallery’s founder\, Vesselin Kourtev. The opening of “Footprints in Space” will be held on March 28th\, 2015 at 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ. \nThis exhibition will display a retrospective of paintings exemplifying Kourtev’s evolution as an artist over his 20-year career. With chosen works from his portfolio of artistic cycles\, the exhibition will include oil paint\, watercolor\, and mixed media. Kourtev’s art has been described as impressionistic abstraction due to his unique colorist approach. Specific works personify these qualities such as his intricate face imprints\, and the manipulation of oil paint as a transparent instrument. \nAdmission to this event is free and open to the public.  The exhibition will host live music and refreshments will be served. \nSome of the artworks included in the exhibition are featured below: \nA Feeling of Spring I \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nA Feeling of Spring II A Feeling of Spring III \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nAbout the Artist\nBorn and raised in Bulgaria\, Vesselin Kourtev received a high school degree in Fine Art from the Fine Art school in Kazanluk\, as well as his MFA degree from The Faculty of Fine Art at the University of Veliko Turnovo\, Bulgaria.  From 1989 until 2002\, Vesselin worked for the National School of Stage and Film Design in Plovdiv\, Bulgaria. In the years following\, he remained active within the Bulgarian art community and participated in a large number of national and international exhibitions and competitions. He founded the Alfa Art Gallery in 2007 after moving to New Jersey five years prior and is now head Art Director and Resident artist at the gallery. In 2008\, Vesselin and his work was featured in The Good Living Magazine from Saint Peter’s University Hospital\, New Brunswick. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/vesselin-solo-exhibition-2015/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/BannerWebsite.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20150220T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20150220T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185549Z CREATED:20150213T165412Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185549Z UID:7801-1424458800-1424466000@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2015 - February 20 @ 6:30pm - New Brunswick Art Salon\, Photography 2015: Raritan Photographic Society DESCRIPTION:February 19th – March 11th\, 2015 Opening Reception: Friday\, February 20th\, 2015\, 6:30-9pm \nAlfa Art Gallery will be hosting the seasonal New Brunswick Art Salon\, Photography 2015 exhibition featuring the Raritan Photographic Society (RPS). The opening will be held on February 20th 2015 at 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ. \nThe gallery is pleased and excited to introduce the Raritan Photographic Society and its members’ works into the New Brunswick community. The exhibition continues to support Alfa’s initiatives to promote art organizations such as RPS. Working with RPS and its diverse members\, the gallery is able to continue to give new talented artists a place of exposure as well as provide tangible products of expression to expand the perspectives of individuals in effort to grow the unity and cultural heritage. \nThe exhibition features works by Barbara Eggermann\, Hilda S. DeSanctis\, Carol Biunno-Petscavage\, Bill Petscavage\, Susan Powell\, Paul Eggermann\, Julie Barlasov and John Cregar. \nVesselin Kourtev\, the gallery’s owner spoke about the new exhibition with enthusiasm\, “The decision to present the society to the local community is part of Alfa’s dedication to promote many new and emerging artists and their works.” \nBarbara Eggermann the RPS Coordinator\, shared Mr. Kourtev’s enthusiasm over the new found partnership\, “It is an opportunity to introduce RPS to a broader audience. It is also a chance for the exhibiting members to have their work seen and to attract new people to become involved in RPS and their activities.” \nThe exhibition will be from 6:30-9pm promptly\, and refreshments will be served. The exhibition has no admission fee and is open to the public. \n  \nAbout the Raritan Photo Society \nRPS originally started in 1929 with a small group of photo enthusiasts regularly meeting in each other’s homes. At present\, the society has 50 paid members and many more regular visitors who attend the lectures\, which occur twice a month. RPS has witnessed the amazing evolution of photography from glass plates to today’s powerful digital photo technology. \nThe society’s photographers are united in a mutual love of photography\, but maintain their individual aspirations as to what they want to achieve with that love. There are members who are professional photographers as well as members working towards achieving professional status. Its members choose to work in a wide spectrum of styles from photo-realism to abstraction as well as members who are still looking to find their own style. The members hold a common passion for photography and a desire to become better photographers. Regular RPS lectures and critiqued competitions conducted by professional photographers help to improve the members’ skills\, to grow their knowledge of photography and to make new friends who share their interest. \n \nContact: Sean Fallon\, PR Intern\, sean@alfaart.org \n  \nThis program is sponsored in part by: \n \n  \n  \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/nbas-photograph-exhibition-raritan-photographic-society-feb-2015/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/RPS-Banner_2015-Feb-11-CORRECTED-VERSION-960x380-pi.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141212T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141212T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185549Z CREATED:20141211T200649Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185549Z UID:7710-1418409000-1418418000@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - December 12 @ 6:30 pm - Small Format/Affordable Art Show DESCRIPTION:December 10\, 2014 – January 29\, 2015 Opening Reception: Friday\, December 12\, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. \nThe Alfa Art Gallery is thrilled to present its third annual Small Format/Affordable Art group exhibition. Please join us on Friday\, December 12th\, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. for the exhibition opening reception. \nWhat the artwork lacks in size the artists make up for in talent. The exhibition will showcase a variety of mediums and themes\, the only requirement being that the pieces are confined to 12 x 12 inches or 12 x 12 x 12 inches. Practical sizes and affordable prices make these pieces excellent holiday gifts. \nEach artist has creatively conveyed his or her own perception and style within the measurement stipulations. The artists’ different approaches add complexity to this dimensionally uniform exhibition. The exhibition includes acrylic\, oil\, watercolor\, and pastel paintings\, as well as photographs\, collages\, wood\, and mixed media works. Beyond this variation of medium\, there is even further stylistic variation. Vesselin Kourtev and Balesh Jindal\, for instance\, both employ color juxtaposition and organic imagery in their paintings\, but the overall effect of each is distinct. \nAlfa Art Gallery is a non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and support of emerging and well-established artists. Alfa Art Gallery is located at 108 Church Street in New Brunswick\, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information\, see https://www.alfaart.org. \nThe exhibition includes artwork from the following artists: \n\nAaron R. Turner\nAida Birritteri\nAlex Bigatti\nBalesh Jindal\nChris Ernst\nHana Aviv\nJoel Rudin\nJudith Cantor\nJulie Lang\nLynn Varga\nNikolay Marinov\nSam Caponegro\nSean Carney\nVadim Levin\nVesselin Kourtev URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-december-12-small-formataffordable-art-show/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/small-format-affordable-art-banner-fixed-by-chris.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141114T200000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141114T220000 DTSTAMP:20160731T222242Z CREATED:20141029T160657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T222242Z UID:7544-1415995200-1416002400@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 – November 14 @ 8pm – New Brunswick Art Salon\, Fall 2014 DESCRIPTION:Exhibition duration: November 4th  –November 24\, 2014Opening Reception: Friday\, November 14th @ 8pmAlfa Art Gallery Hosts 5th Annual New Brunswick Art Salon \n \nAbout this Exhibition\nOriginating in Paris in the 18th century\, art salons were the most anticipated annual and biannual events\, celebrating the farthest advances in academia and the arts. These salons provided artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work alongside their contemporaries while received critical as well as public response. Inspired by the Parisian Salons\, Alfa Art Gallery holds Salons to showcase the talent of local artists to the New Brunswick public. \n2014 will mark the 5th year of these juried exhibitions. The featured pieces will be in either watercolor or mixed media and from a variety of emerging and professional artists. Through exhibiting the work of local artists\, the New Brunswick Art Salon seeks to bridge the gab between artists and their communities. \nThe opening reception of the New Brunswick Art Salon runs from 8-10pm on Friday\, November 14th\, following the “End of Summer Nights Dream” Alfa Gala Benefit Event\, which is taking place at Crossroads Theater from 6-8pm. \nThis exhibition with include watercolors and mixed media works by the following artists: \n\nDustin Garafolo\nEdwin Santiago\nGinny Nagy\nJoanne Amantea\nJoel Rudin\nJuana Rodriguez\nKaren Terry\nLynn Varga\nMarilyn Rose\nRita Herzfeld\nRita Koch\nSam Caponegro\nSean Carney\nSteve Zazenski\nTeriz Michael\n\nMuch like the various media with which these artists create\, the works in this exhibition are highly multifaceted in form and style. From the familiar nature scenes painted by Marilyn Rose to the harlequin-like colors and figures of Ginny Nagy\, the pieces in this exhibition explore a wide range of themes. The thematic diversity of the exhibition is coupled with its stylistic variety. While Dustin Garafolo’s paintings are bound together by their photorealistic undertones\, Rita Herzfeld’s pieces resonate with an abstract quality. Joanne Amantea also embodies this abstraction through the alluring composition of each of her watercolors. Juana Rodriguez’s creates a similarly enticing effect through the raw emotion of her subjects. Emotion is also portrayed in Karen Terry’s ink on paper works\, although this artist does so without the help of color. \nNot only do these artists differ from one another in style\, but there is also variation in form among each artist. Sean Carney and Terez Michael\, for instance\, do not adhere to one particular style of painting\, but\, rather\, excel in many media and forms. Although all the works in this exhibition are diverse\, the pieces balance one another to create the unique identity of the collection. \nAlfa Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the gallery\, see https://www.alfaart.org/. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-november-new-brunswick-art-salon-fall-2014/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/NBASbanner2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141114T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141114T210000 DTSTAMP:20160731T221429Z CREATED:20141020T182406Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T221429Z UID:7286-1415988000-1415998800@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - November 14 @ 6pm - Crossroads Theater Gala & New Brunswick Art Salon\, Fall 2014 Opening Reception DESCRIPTION:Date: Friday\, November 14th 6-8 p.m. Tickets: $10 donation \nNEW BRUNSWICK\, NJ— On Friday\, November 14th\, Alfa Art Gallery will hold its fundraiser\, “End of Summer Nights Dream” at the Crossroads Theater at 7 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. \nThe gala will feature live music by Conrad Herwig\, the renowned jazz trombonist. Herwig has earned three Grammy nominations and has twice been voted Number One Jazz Trombone in the Downbeat International Jazz Critic’s Poll. He is also a well-respected educator\, currently serving as Area Coordinator of Jazz Studies at the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts here in New Brunswick. Herwig will be accompanied by Craig Handy on saxophone\, Bill O’Connel on piano\, Ruben Rodriguez on bass and Robby Ammen on drums. \nFor the showcase\, artists will spontaneously paint on canvas\, rendering inspiration that they feel from the music. Pieces by various artists from the New Brunswick Art Salon Fall’ 2014 will also be exhibited at this event. \nWith the assistance of the Middlesex County Cultural Heritage Commission\, Alfa Art Gallery successfully secured a grant from Johnson and Johnson. \n“End of Summer Nights Dream” takes place from 6-8pm\, right before the opening reception of the New Brunswick Art Salon\, which will open at Alfa Art Gallery at 108 Church Street in New Brunswick from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. \nAlfa Art Gallery holds four Salons per year to showcase emerging and professional artists in different mediums. This fall’s Salon will feature watercolor and mixed media artists. Inspired by Parisian art salons of the 18th century\, the New Brunswick Art Salons’ goal is to bridge the gap between artists and their communities\, as well as unify the diverse city of New Brunswick through art. \nThe Alfa Art Gallery is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and support of emerging and well-established artists. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. \nFor more information about Alfa Art\, visit https://www.alfaart.org. For more information about this event\, contact Allie Smith at alexandra@alfaart.org. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-november-14-crossroads-theater-gala-new-brunswick-art-salon-fall-2014-opening-reception/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception,New Brunswick Art Salon ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/Crossroads-banner2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141010T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141010T210000 DTSTAMP:20160731T221759Z CREATED:20140816T020359Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T221759Z UID:6749-1412964000-1412974800@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - October 10th @ 6pm - "Photo Style- Bulgarian Photo Exhibition" at Bulgarian Consulate in New York City DESCRIPTION:Opening Reception: Friday\, October 10th at 6:00 pm until 9:30 pm Exhibition Duration: October 1st-October 31st \nSome artists are in fact\, entrepreneurs\, who have to continuously market their brand promoting themselves and their work\, which is an extremely difficult lifestyle.  However\, one company called Cluster PhotoStyle aims to lessen the burden on artists by fostering and promoting their entrepreneurship and hard work. \nCluster PhotoStyle is holding an opening reception for an exhibition called “Photo Style” on October 10\, 2014 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Bulgarian Consulate in New York City\, NY. The company is displaying work by talented Bulgarian photographers to establish them in the art community. \nKonstantin Popov\, founder of Cluster PhotoStyle\, fully believes in supporting artistic photographers.  It is the goal of the company to collect the best work by important Bulgarian photographers to prove that their pieces belong in major photographic galleries and art fairs.  To increase sales and recognition\, the company creates a platform for each artist.  Cluster PhotoStyle aid artists by organizing and managing their works\, relieving them of finding a gallery\, placing art\, and conducting business negotiations.  The products of Cluster PhotoStyle are based on these latest achievements of artistic and advertising photography. \nCluster PhotoStyle was founded in 2012 and now includes eight partnering companies with outstanding capabilities.  Their exhibition “Photo Style” will be from October 1st until October 31st. \nThe “Photo Style” Exhibition will have its Opening Reception on Friday\, October 10th at 6:00 pm until 9:30 pm at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria at 121 East 62nd Street\, New York\, NY. \nFeatured Artists: \n\nKonstantin Popov\nAlexander Nishkov\nDiliana Florentin\nDorothea Komitska\nGencho Petkov\nGeorgi Georgiev\nMilan Hristev\nNadejda Korcheva\nPencho Tihov\nSonya Stankova\nValentin Kirov\nVeneta Karamfilova\nDimitar Mitev\nDonka Zlatanova\nGeorgi Dimitrov\n\n  \nCluster PhotoStyle has presented all over the world\, including Istanbul\, London\, and Paris. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nAlfa Art Gallery held the Opening Exhibition for PhotoStyle on September 6\, 2014. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-september-6-6pm-bulgarian-photo-exhibition/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/banner_october.png ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20141010T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20141010T200000 DTSTAMP:20160731T221601Z CREATED:20140927T150328Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T221601Z UID:7314-1412958600-1412971200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - October 10th @ 4:30 - 9:30 pm-"Prison Obscura Exhibition" DESCRIPTION:Prison Obscura At Alfa Art Gallery Sheds Light On The Prison-Industrial Complex \nOpening Reception: Friday\, October 10 @ 4:30-9:30 pm Exhibition Duration: October 7 – November 1\, 2014 Curator: Pete Brook \nNEW BRUNSWICK\, NJ—No country incarcerates a higher percentage of its population than the United States. In fact\, more than 2.2 million people are currently locked up in the U.S.—a number that’s more than quadrupled since 1980. But sadly\, the lives lived behind bars are all too often invisible to those on the outside. Prison Obscura\, curated by Pete Brook\, sheds light on such experiences and the prison-industrial complex as a whole by showcasing rarely seen surveillance\, evidentiary\, and prisoner-made photographs. \nThe exhibition was organized by the joint effort of Alfa Art Gallery and Rutgers University’s IRW (Institute for Research on Women). IRW is also hosting “Marking Time – Prison Arts & Activism Conference“\, which is scheduled to take place October 8-10 in New Brunswick.  \nThe exhibit\, sponsored by IRW and on display at Alfa Art Gallery from October 7 through 10\, encourages visitors to ask why tax-paying\, prison-funding citizens rarely get the chance to see such images\, and what roles such pictures play for those within the system. \nAlyse Emdur’s collected letters and prison visiting room portraits from across the nation and Robert Gumpert’s recorded audio stories from within the San Francisco jail system provide an opportunity to see\, read\, and listen to subjects in the contexts of their incarceration. Juvenile and adult prisoners in different workshops led by Steve Davis\, Mark Strandquist\, and Kristen S. Wilkins perform for the camera\, reflect on their past\, describe their memories\, and self-represent through photographs. Prison Obscura will also feature work made in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Men from Graterford Prison who are affiliated with both its own Restorative Justice Program and Mural Arts’ Restorative Justice Group are collaborating to create a mural for the exhibition. \nThe exhibit moves between these intimate portrayals of life within the prison system to more expansive views of legal and spatial surveillance in works like Josh Begley’s manipulated Google Maps’ API code and Paul Rucker’s animated videos\, which offer a “celestial” view of the growth of the prison system. Prison Obscura builds the case that Americans must come face to face with these images to grasp the proliferation of the U.S. prison system and to connect with those it confines. \nPete Brook is a Portland\, Oregon-based freelance writer and curator interested in social justice and the politics of visual culture. He writes and edits Prison Photography (prisonphotography.org)\, a website that analyzes imagery produced within\, and about\, prisons\, with a focus on the American prison industrial complex. Prison Photography has been recognized as one of the best photography blogs by LIFE.com\, The British Journal of Photography\, and The Daily Beast. Brook holds a masters degree in art history from the University of St Andrews and a master’s degree in art gallery and museum studies from the University of Manchester. He has curated shows for Seattle’s Vermillion Gallery\, Holland’s Noorderlicht Gallery\, New York’s Photoville\, and Belgrade’s Kulturni Centar Belgrada. Brook writes regularly for Raw File\, the WIRED photography blog\, and is currently working on a book about the history of prison photography\, which will be published in 2014 by Silas Finch. \nThe opening reception of Prison Obscura will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a presentation by Brook and will continue until 9:30 p.m.  \n  \nThis program is sponsored in part by: \n \n  URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-october-10th-430-930-pm-prison-obscura-exhibition/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/PrisonObscura_Alfa-banner3.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140920T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140920T210000 DTSTAMP:20240606T185549Z CREATED:20140912T215945Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T185549Z UID:7165-1411236000-1411246800@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - September 20 @ 6pm - "A Summer Pavilion II" DESCRIPTION:Opening Reception: Saturday\, September 20 @ 6-9 pm\n Exhibition Duration: September 16 – October 4\, 2014\n Juror: Jeffrey Wechsler \nMSHAC – Summer pavilion \nAlfa Art Gallery is once again opening its doors to M-SHAC in the 2014 sequel to “A Summer Pavilion.” This year’s exhibition\, “A Summer Pavilion II\,” features artwork of members of the M-SHAC community. The pieces on display in the exhibition were chosen from a range of submissions. Of these works\, a select few will be awarded monetary prizes. \nThe opening reception of “A Summer Pavilion II” is set to take place on September 20th from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition will be on display at Alfa Art Gallery from September 16th to October 4th. The gallery is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday. It is located at 108 Church Street in the heart of New Brunswick. \nThe Millburn-Short Hills Arts Center\, known as M-SHAC\, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the development of local artists. The organization consists of more than 150 members hailing from New Jersey\, New York and Pennsylvania. The artists’ works span a variety of media including oils\, watercolors\, pastels\, collages\, sculptures\, and photographs. \nThis exhibition presents work from the following artists: \n\nRita Agron\nPeter Alessandria\nSusanna Anastasia\nNat Bernard\nElizabeth Perez Diner\nMichael E. Dziomba\nMichael S. Fenton\nTakayo Futamura\nDr. Margareta Greeley\nAlison Hooper\nAdela Lezama\nAnastasia Mancuso\nLeina’ala Schwartz\nChris Siasat\n\nThe pieces in this exhibition are unified by their common goal to portray a specific attitude pertaining to a particular moment in time and space. Each piece recalls a moment in summer\, and in so doing recalls the emotion of the season as a whole. The artists strike a careful balance between the familiar and the unexpected\, such that the public is encouraged to open its mind to the unpredictable\, using everyday life as a reference point. In this way\, each work demands the viewer to expand his or her mind in a unique dimension. Just as the viewer is challenged by the novelty found in each work\, the artist must also rise to the occasion to produce a fresh piece\, in spite of the ever-growing worldwide collection of art. \n“A Summer Pavilion II” brings together the distinct art of fourteen different artists\, unified under the organization M-SHAC. The thinness of Alison Hooper’s sculptures\, made of transparent packing tape\, contrasts the rich layering of images in Peter Alessandria’s long exposure photographs. Elizabeth Perez Diner communicates her open-mindedness not only by mixing media but also by pulling her inspiration from various time periods. In this way\, Perez Diner transports her viewers through a journey of time and the accompanying series of emotions. Michael Fenton’s oil paintings recount snapshots of history through the expression in the faces of his subjects. Anastasia Mancuso works in pastels to document the historical square “Place de Concorde” in Paris. The exhibition also displays the works of another artist\, Takayo Futurama\, who also works in oil to generate her own unique perspective based on universal themes. \nThese fourteen artists are similarly united in their effort to recreate the beauty in nature. Nat Bernard has channeled her efforts to capture the effortless beauty of nature in both her ink piece and oil painting. Similarly\, Leina’ala Schwartz captures the splendor of tranquil landscapes and structures in her oil paintings in the exhibition. Mike Dziomba encourages viewers to walk down his “Shadowy Path” through his mastery of acrylics. Chris Siasat also makes use of acrylics – allegedly his favorite medium – to play with unexpected angles in his paintings of familiar scenes. Similarly\, Adela Lezama achieves color depth in her work “Apple Basket” through her mastery of acrylics. Susanna Anastasia also depicts fruit in her oil painting “Jersey Fresh\,” in which she skillfully emphasizes the reflection of color between objects. \nThe gritty impasto texture of Margareta Greeley’s “Dancing Birches” gives depth and strength to the expressive dance of the trees. Mike Fenton\, on the other hand\, achieves a rich expressiveness in his oil paintings through the raw emotion conveyed on the faces of his subjects. In “French Lavender\,” Rita Agron directs her pastel strokes in precise directions such that the overall field appears to be dancing with the wind. \nThe following pieces received honorable mention: \n\n“Marissa” by Takayo Futamura\n“Colorful Spin” by Chris Siasat\n\nMonetary sums were awarded for the following works: \n\nThird Place: “French Lavender” by Rita Agron\nSecond Place: “Jersey Fresh” by Susanna Anastasia\nFirst Place: “Point Pleasant #2” by Peter Alessandria\n\nThe Alfa Art Gallery aims to support emerging and well-established artists to give their work exposure and a critical following within the art community. For more information about the gallery\, visit www.alfaart.org. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-september-20-6-9-pm-a-summer-pavilion-ii/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/MSHAC-Banner2-small.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140801T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140801T200000 DTSTAMP:20160731T215120Z CREATED:20140726T161413Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T215120Z UID:6704-1406917800-1406923200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - August 1 @ 6:30pm - "Multimedia Exhibition" DESCRIPTION:Opening Reception: Friday August 1\, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Exhibition Duration: July 29 to August 23 \nThe Alfa Art Gallery is pleased to announce Part II of its Summer 2014 show! Alfa Art Gallery prides itself in exposing the local community to a variety of artworks\, which is why for our next exhibition we plan to present the work of students and local artists who have a range of experience in the art world. Opening on Friday\, August 1st\, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.\, this show will feature paintings\, photography\, mixed media and more. \nThe exhibition will feature pieces by Adrian Gutierrez\, Andrew Darlow\, Benjamin Saulnier\, Brittney Lyons\, Chris Ernst\, Gabe Chiarello\, Katherine Schneider\, Kelly Lalama\, Leah Schoenlank\, and Will Tutino. \nAdrian Gutierrez is a New Jersey artist\, who explores architecture\, cityscapes\, and portraiture through his photography. He is interested in contrasting the imagery of natural and urban landscapes in his work\, and the greater implications of humanity that can be found different environments. \nAndrew Darlow’s photographs\, taken from his series\, GRANDmarks NYC\, are a continuation of works previously exhibited at Alfa Art Gallery. Darlow is a photographer\, teacher\, and digital imaging consultant based in Piscataway\, NJ. \nBenjamin Saulnier is a recent graduate of the School of Visual Arts\, where he studied Fine and Studio arts. Benjamin’s work used both paint and fabric and addresses the role of gender in both the history of painting and the projected future in which materials and styles of creating art aren’t confined to gender roles. \nBrittney Lyons is a senior at Drew University\, where she majors in Studio Art with a concentration in painting. Her work explores nature and landscape and hopes to create a greater experience and connection between her subject and viewer. \nChris Ernst is a self taught artist who draws inspiration from pop art\, as well as from the places that he has lived\, including Indiana\, Virginia\, and New Jersey. He is “intrigued by the deconstruction of pop art through the process of human error.” \nGabe Chiarello\, is currently a Painting major at Mason Gross\, and says that he has always been driven by the process itself\, focusing on the material objects as the subjects of his paintings. \nKatherine Schneider\, a Photography major\, also at Mason Gross\, draws influence from film stills\, working with themes such as possession\, and time. Her pieces begin with photographs\, which she then adds to with a variety of mediums to add both literal and figurative layers to her images. \nKelly Lalama is a student at Maryland Institute College of Art\, where she studies both Illustration and Creative Writing. Her influences include film and literature\, and her more illustrative works often deal with the relationship between viewer and subject. She aims to create specific moods or themes in each work by selecting specific color palettes or lighting for each individual subject. \nLeah Schoenlank\, a recent graduate from Drew University\, where she studied Studio Art\, creates collages that combine both representational and abstract imagery\, focusing on figural\, textural\, and geometric element. The resulting imagery both roots the viewer in reality\, as well as imparting a sense of “the warped\, eerie feeling often experienced in dreams.” \nWill Tutino\, a Visual Arts major at Rutgers University\, manipulates materials in order to create the opportunity for a narrative or dialogue to be formed in his sculptures. He draws inspiration from film\, film theory\, video\, and popular culture. His more recent work incorporates moving or manipulated work into his pieces. URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-august-1-630pm-multimedia-exhibition/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/banner-summer2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20140627T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20140627T200000 DTSTAMP:20160731T220146Z CREATED:20140530T173816Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160731T220146Z UID:6297-1403892000-1403899200@www.alfaart.org SUMMARY:2014 - June 27 @ 6:30 - "Perceptions of the Human Body and Form" DESCRIPTION:Opening Reception: Friday June 27\, 6:30 – 10:30 pmExhibition Duration: June 27 to July 26 \nEven though the human body has been a traditional subject among artists for centuries\, the depiction of the human figure is constantly evolving and challenging conventions .  From the period when ancient Greek artists were driven to depict the ideal figure\, artists’ perspectives of the human form have gradually changed and become more diverse\, showing viewers that there is more than one kind of body. \nThe Alfa Art Gallery’s “Perceptions of the Human Body and Form” exhibition demonstrates this modernized view of the human figure and portraiture.  Opening on Friday\, June 27\, 2014 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.\, the show will feature exciting\, diverse perspectives of the human body through a variety of styles\, such as abstraction\, expressionism\, cubism and naturalism. \nThe exhibition will feature pieces by Kimberly Camp\, Herbie Pabst\, Jorge Cruz\, Wade Miller\, Vesselin Kourtev\, Judith Leeds and Mary Ellen Scherl. \nKimberly Camp is a highly revered artist who has made significant contributions to the art world.  Camp illustrates the importance of art in influencing democracy\, social equity and diversity by using portraiture that depicts character and life. \nHerbie Pabst has recently focused on painting as a primary medium that allows him to creatively and honestly express his ideas and emotions.  Through his artwork\, Pabst combines his inner and outer worlds  to communicate his unique views of human nature. \nJorge Cruz is an artist who specializes in stained glass.  Working with this medium has become his passion and he strives to make his works more than just “arts and crafts.” \nWade Miller’s works consist of collage and fragmentation through which he reconstructs the human form.  His illusions delay time through trickery and focused concentration\, encouraging viewers to examine and fully appreciate the human figure. \nVesselin Kourtev focuses on human relationships and interactions within global and personal dimensions through vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes.  His abstract world allows viewers to live in the moment. \nJudith Leeds incorporates people’s personal lives in her works through depicting facial expressions.  She aims to illustrate the intimate moments that define people and show their beauty. \nMary Ellen Scherl emulates the female body by creating abstract sculptures using metal.  Scherl critically examines the natural female figure in an organic way\, connecting viewers and their experiences to their own bodies. \nThis is the first exhibition at the Alfa Art Gallery open to all media forms\, from oil painting\, to mixed media\, to sculpture representations.  It presents a diverse expression of the physical\, emotional\, and metaphysical experiences that artists find through the human body. \nThis event displays a broader array of work than previous exhibitions\, drawing artists from not only the New Brunswick\, N.J. area\, but also from New York URL:https://www.alfaart.org/event/2014-june-27-630-perceptions-of-the-human-body-and-form/ LOCATION:Alfa Art Gallery\, 108 Church Street\, New Brunswick\, NJ\, 08901\, United States CATEGORIES:Exhibition Opening Reception ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.alfaart.org/wp-content/uploads/junexhibition2a.png ORGANIZER;CN="Galina Kourteva":MAILTO:galina@alfaart.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR