Blue Skies Again

Metuchen Art Works goes back to the ’50s with Jay Lander’s collages.

By: Jim Boyle

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‘Blue Skies’ by Jay Lander


   Looking at Jay Lander’s oil-on-canvas collages at Metuchen Art Works, one can’t help but think of the ’40s and ’50s as nothing but sunny days and happy memories. That was the purpose of the advertising images that Mr. Lander picks from to create his paintings — to help everybody feel good about America and themselves.
   "I have one here called ‘Blue Skies,’" says Mr. Lander. "The images are very positive, encouraging people to look toward the future."
   Mr. Lander’s solo show, which runs through Jan. 30, is the latest for the fledgling gallery. Mere yards from the Metuchen train station, the cooperative gallery opened about three months ago as a headquarters for local artists. The 15 members enrolled plan to take turns with solo shows each month. While the largest room is reserved for Mr. Lander this month, other rooms are devoted to various members, including Tim Halpen and Linda Jacobs.

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‘Prince Albert in a Can’ by Jay Lander.


   "Our members are all from the area," says Mr. Lander. "Metuchen, Edison, Kendall Park. We decided to get together and form our own group. We are looking to add one or two more people, and that will probably be it. We don’t want to have too many members that we can’t find room for their work."
   Mr. Lander grew up in Metuchen, graduating from Metuchen High School and the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts with a degree in advertising design. After working as an art director in New York, he formed a graphic design studio in Metuchen in 1980. He also works as an art director for WD&S Publishing, is an adjunct professor at Middlesex County College, and still manages to paint during his free time.

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‘L.S.M.F.T.’ by Jay Lander.


   "I was always the kid that could draw," says Mr. Lander. "I’ve had more spare time recently, so I was able to do these. I’ve explored several styles through the years, but I’ve been doing this sort of pop art for the last 10."
   His background in advertising attracted Mr. Lander to the images he found while paging through a stack of old magazines in an uncle’s attic. He cut out images from the ads and placed them in a collage. Mr. Lander then cut out the plywood and stretched the canvas over it and began copying the image. The renditions are pretty true to the original image, with slight modifications made to better fit them together.
   "It’s interesting to see some reactions to what I’ve put together," says Mr. Lander. "Some people get nostalgic, while some kind of laugh at the themes that they get from the collages."
   One painting features a pack of cigarettes, a glass of champagne, a sleek automobile and a tire surrounding a woman’s torso. Viewers can draw their own conclusions.
   "I didn’t necessarily have certain themes in mind when I painted them," says Mr. Lander, "but they still come out."
Metuchen Art Works, 15 Station Place, Metuchen, hosts a solo exhibition of work by Jay Lander through Jan. 30. For information, call (732) 603-9299. On the Web: www.metuchenartworks.com