It’s UP AGAINST THE WALL at a Saturday evening reception, as a special display of sculpture uses the Art Alliance of Monmouth County gallery itself as a crucial component of the work.Â
It’s an installation that lends new meaning to the phrase “support for the arts” — as in this case, the Monmouth Street gallery space of The Art Alliance of Monmouth County is often the one thing that’s holding the featured work of art together.
Opening with a public-welcome reception on Saturday, January 9, the exhibit Up Against the Wall features the work of some of New Jersey’s most innovative creators of three-dimensional pieces; displayed in a way that utilizes “no pedestals…instead, the eleven participating artists will use the existing architecture of the gallery either as a source of support, or as an integral component of their work.”
Remaining on display through February 2, this inaugural Alliance exhibit of 2016 spotlights contributions by Fanny AlliĂ©, Michael Benevenia, Riccardo Berlingeri, Maggie Brown, Alison Golder, Seunghwui Koo, Brookdales CC’s Marie Maber, Laura Petrovich-Cheney, Rocco Scary, Katie Truk, and Michael Wiley; an eclectic group whose creations have been seen in parks, libraries, museums, college campuses and even public swimming pools — and whose materials of choice range from steel, wood, fabric, stone and glass to cardboard, found detritus and meticulously folded newspaper.
The exhibit is curated by Douglas Ferrari, a sculptor and collector whose background includes a stint as owner and executive director of one of Monmouth County’s most forward-thinking (and much-missed) galleries: Shore Institute of Contemporary Arts, whose old home inside a former olive oil canning plant in downtown Long Branch (and subsequent space on Asbury Park’s Cookman Avenue) represented an ideas-factory unlike just about anything seen on the local scene. Still guest-presenting the occasional show under the SICA brand, Ferrari now serves as assistant director of Arts Guild New Jersey, the Rahway-based visual art gallery and learning space that’s just a short NJ Transit train ride from Monmouth Street.
Refreshments will be served during Saturday’s reception, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. For more info on Up Against the Wall, as well as upcoming exhibits and membership opportunities in the Art Alliance, visit the organization’s or call (732)842-9403.