By dave goldberg
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The township’s Department of Human Services will officially open its art gallery Sept. 9 at the Municipal Building.
"The premier opening will be held for local artists Ray and Cathy Harding as their photographic work becomes the first exhibit in the gallery," said Leslie MacNeill, director of human services.
The Hardings have lived in North Brunswick since 1989, and Cathy has been employed as the purchasing assistant for the township since 1993, according to MacNeill.
"When they first met, Ray was an avid amateur photographer," MacNeill said. "One Christmas, Ray purchased a camera for Cathy, and they have shared a passion for photography ever since. They have been married since 1987, and they have had the opportunity to travel all over the country, capturing its beauty through their hobby. They have visited almost every national park in the country and love to travel off the beaten path, visiting such places as Scenic, S.D. (population 25), or Moab, Utah (population 141)."
The Hardings will be have a special theme honoring America, according to MacNeill.
"Fittingly, as the country approaches the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy, the theme for the Hardings’ display will be ‘America, the Beautiful,’ " MacNeill said. "They hope the photographs they display will be a reminder that we live not only in the greatest country in the world, but also the most beautiful from sea to shining sea. The display will include a photo of the twin towers taken several years ago from Liberty State Park and a photo taken from the same location earlier this year of the Twin Beam Memorial Lights."
Donna Como, the assistant director of DHS, said she is excited about the opening of the gallery.
"I had started this in Milltown about five years ago," Como said. "People came with artwork from all over, and it just grew. I got some sense in North Brunswick, as I got in Milltown, that the walls were empty. The artists are invited to have receptions each month. I’ve seen the artists grow into something special, and they started just by hanging art. I want to have a variety of art, including sculptures and three-dimensional art."
Como said that he has a special passion for the arts.
"My dream would be to open up my own art studio," Como said. "I was a visual arts major at Douglass College. This is my love. We can bring a lot of different types of art to North Brunswick. I hope to see many different kinds of art."
The township will also be holding a ceremony to commemorate Sept. 11 in front of the high school at 7 p.m. The public is invited to arrive at 6:30 p.m. Raider Road will be closed at 6:45 p.m. for safety reasons.
Anyone requesting further information should contact the DHS at (732)247-0922 ext. 475.