Columbia High School 2024 AP Art Showcase

On Display: April 11 – May 4
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 11 at 6:30PM

Columbia High School’s AP Art Class brings their 2024 final showcase to SOPAC after they outgrew CHS’s Domareki Art Gallery.

Their devoted art teacher, Alexandra Cappucci, spearheaded the move to SOPAC after she was brought on in October 2022.  Due to the delayed start and scheduling conflicts, the students were unable to have a proper showcase in 2023. However, this year, Cappucci decided to change that and give the students a new showground to showcase their art.

“We have amazing students who are going to some of the best art colleges in the country. This year, we have students accepted into Parsons, Pratt, MICA, SCAD, SVA, and more acceptances are coming in every day. These students are the future artists of America, and this showcase is a celebration of them and all of their work,” Cappucci said.

Under Cappucci’s guidance, the students enjoy a student-centric classroom environment that nurtures a sense of belonging and creative freedom. The program flourished, with students excelling and garnering accolades, including perfect AP scores. Thanks to Cappucci’s leadership, students were empowered to take creative risks and explore their passions, resulting in an incredible display of talent and dedication.

To preview the exhibition, click HERE.

 

SOPAC’s Arts Education programs are supported in part by New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Orange Orphan Society, Citizens Charitable Foundation, George A. Ohl, Jr. Charitable Trust, Hearst Foundations, Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation, and PSEG Foundation. 

Special thanks to Rick Hauser, owner of The Framing Mill in Maplewood, NJ for generously donating materials for the display of student work. 

 

 

Check out our tentative schedule of upcoming exhibitions in The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery, located on the second and third floors of SOPAC.

FALL 2023

FULL CIRCLE

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 19

Opening Reception: September 14 at 5PM

FULL CIRCLE, by Ben Niles, is a mesmerizing exhibition that captures the convergence of graphic design and painting. Showcasing a remarkable fusion of acrylic, ink, and graphite, skillfully intertwined with the techinique of screen printing, this is celebration of creativity and the interconnectedness of diverse art forms.  FULL CIRCLE serves as a poignant tribute to Niles’ family’s artistic legacy, as well as his own personal artistic journey. This spellbinding merger of graphic design and painting represents the culmination of his education and experiences, bringing together the skills and inspirations he acquired throughout his career. This exhibition is a testament to the power of artistic exploration and the profound impact it can have on both the artist and the viewer.

 

WINTER 2023

ARTFUL LIVING: The Painters of Maker + Muse

NOVEMBER 30 – JANUARY 21

Opening Reception: November 30 at 6PM

ARTFUL LIVING: The Painters of Maker + Muse seamlessly blends the world of visual art with the realms of home and everyday living.  this unique showcase is expertly curated by Brian Dittmar, an award-winning interior designer and the visionary behind Maker + Muse, a lifestyle boutique in Maplewood. Dittmar’s discerning eye for aesthetics and passion for art have resulted in an unparalleled fusion of creativity and functionality.

Visitors can explore Lisa Pressman‘s latest series, which incorporates a variety of mediums and grounds and is then dug into with razor blades and clay tools to create an evocative form and pattern. They can marvel at Aida Jones‘ layered abstract paintings that mix bold, bright, modern colors with smooth and rough textured shapes. Or find intrigue in the energetic works by Aimee Mower-Lally, featuring geometric shapes and dynamic colors. Dorothy Ganek‘s complex compositions of recognizable objects with sweeping abstract movement are also on display, as well as Betsy Meyer-Donadio‘s mixed-media collages, which feature multiple layers of vintage paper, fabric, acrylic paint, and plaster.

 

SPRING 2024

Contemporary African Spirituality: Connections to New Jersey

FEBRUARY 8 – APRIL 7

Opening Reception: February 8 at 6PM

Contemporary African Spirituality explores cultural practices that have been mixed, juxtaposed, and collided with ideas, themes, materials, and techniques, both African and Modern, by African and African diaspora artists in New Jersey and surrounding areas. Curated by Atim Annette Oton, this exhibition examines the transformation of spirituality from the lens of visual artists.

The exhibit is co-sponsored by The Walsh Gallery at Seton Hall University.

 

Columbia High School 2024 AP Art Showcase

APRIL 11 – MAY 4

Opening Reception: April 11 at 6:30PM

Join us for the Columbia High School AP Art Showcase’s Opening Reception at the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery in SOPAC. The exhibit is curated by Alexandra Cappucci, the students’ devoted teacher who spearheaded the shift to a professional exhibition experience. The program flourished under Cappucci’s leadership, resulting in incredible displays of talent and dedication.

SOPAC’s Arts Education programs are supported in part by New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Orange Orphan Society, Citizens Charitable Foundation, George A. Ohl, Jr. Charitable Trust, Hearst Foundations, Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation, and PSEG Foundation. 

Special thanks to Rick Hauser, owner of The Framing Mill in Maplewood, NJ for generously donating materials for the display of student work. 

 

INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition

MAY 16 – AUGUST 18

Opening Reception: May 16 at 5PM

Join us for the opening reception of this year’s INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition, the latest exhibition in The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. This is a juried exhibit of art by Essex County high school students.

Each year, thousands of submissions are juried by a panel of distinguished artists, photographers, museum curators, and arts advocates. The result is an exciting and eclectic body of work from the perspective of young emerging artists.