Eleventh Annual Juried Art Show at Bernardsville Library

Artists are invited to submit one painting to Bernardsville Public Library for the Library's eleventh annual juried art exhibition. Paintings will be accepted at the library between 10:00 am and noon on Thursday, March 31, and artists of works selected for exhibition will be notified by email that evening. The show will be on view from April 1 through April 28, and the opening reception for the public will be held on Sunday, April 3 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The judge of this year’s show will be Thomas Valenti, President of Allied Artists of America, and an Honorary Member of The Salmagundi Club and of The American Artists Professional League. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, he has garnered many awards and much recognition. Upon graduating as a Fine Art major from the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts in 1974, Valenti found himself disenchanted with what he had learned through the 3-year program and set out on a mission of self-teaching. Though his subject matter varies, Valenti's main concentration of work is focused on New York City street scenes. His close relation to an urban environment stems from having grown up in the area of the South Bronx known as Fort Apache, one of the most treacherous neighborhoods in all of New York at that time. Nevertheless, his scenes of New York express a sense of serenity and calm in an otherwise chaotic world. Brilliant lights and mysterious shadows pervade the work giving the viewer a feeling that beauty can be found in places you least expect. Mr. Valenti has served as a juror for local, state and national competitions from the start of his career and has developed a keen sense toward the decision-making process for judging a show and for the selection of awards. Two prizes will be awarded in the library’s show: "Best of Show" and "Community Favorite." "Best of Show" will be chosen by Mr. Valenti. Selection of the "Community Favorite" will be based on votes cast by visitors at the opening reception. Kathleen Palmer, the library’s Volunteer Exhibit Coordinator, will curate the show. There is $10 fee to enter. Only works not previously exhibited at the Library will be accepted. Detailed information and entry forms are available at the Library and online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/display.htm. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.