BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer
Guild of Creative Art still thriving after 46 years
On a wall in the entryway of the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury hangs a painting of an attractive woman named Yvonne Aubert. A French woman with a lilting accent, she founded the Guild of Creative Art back in 1960 and served as its first president.
Forty-six years later, the nonprofit arts organization is still at the same location and is thriving with three levels of membership.
Aubert’s creative inspiration became the oldest and largest art community of its kind in New Jersey and has been supporting local artists and providing the public with classes and exhibits of exceptional art works for more than four decades.
A tireless visionary, Aubert purchased a five-car carriage garage on the site at 620 Broad St. (Route 35) and converted it to a studio and exhibition hall. After many improvements, the guild of today is more than twice the size of the original garage that presently serves as the instructors’ studio.
The guild is dedicated to advancing excellence in visual arts through teaching, exhibitions and workshops. It is managed by a volunteer board of directors that recommends policy and makes changes in the bylaws.
Vicki Culver, a collage artist and the part-time gallery director, and Norma Kay, who enlists volunteers to help with hanging and receiving shows, are the two paid staffers.
On June 9, the guild held an appreciation dinner, and artists with 25 years or more of membership were awarded certificates. The list of members is a “who’s who” in the Monmouth County art world, and most attended the dinner.
Just as when it started, the guild has three membership categories: general, associate and exhibiting. The guild also provides the community with experienced art teachers who instruct in a variety of media.
In addition, the gallery provides a venue for group and solo shows and receptions.
The guild is based on a cooperative structure that enables all members to become involved no matter which of the three membership categories the artist joins. Anyone can become a general member by completing an application and paying the annual fee.
PHOTOSBYCHRISKELLY staff Collage artist Vicky Culver is the gallery director at the Guild of Creative Art. Associate membership may be granted when seven framed works in the same medium are accepted by a jury. Becoming an associate member is a step toward exhibiting membership.
An artist must also submit seven framed works for exhibiting membership. Once accepted, exhibiting members are encouraged to take advantage of displaying one or two selections of their work each month in the Main Gallery as well as renting the gallery for larger exhibitions.
There are twice yearly all-member shows in which all three categories of members can exhibit their work in a public forum.
The first exhibition in May 1960 was open to seventh-grade through high school students and initiated the idea of changing exhibits – one of the main functions of the guild.
On Sunday, July 9, from 2-4 p.m., the guild will hold an opening reception for the Open Juried Show sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Artists’ Professional League.
On Aug. 1, the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast will be featured in the main gallery for an unprecedented two months.
Culver said the guild is undergoing a revitalization. “We recently installed a new wheelchair-accessible bathroom in the lobby and have modernized our computer system,” she said.
As has been the case since its inception, experienced teachers instruct a variety of media, and demonstrations, workshops, lectures and art films are open to the public.
Generous donations by past members, workshop proceeds, the guild’s share of the sale price of works sold at its exhibits and membership dues enable the guild to provide a wide variety of services to members. In addition, members volunteer for the many necessary positions, which helps keep operating expenses to a minimum.
Aubert is gone now, but the arts are thriving in Monmouth County and at the guild. There is original art for sale in the lobby and in bins.
“People don’t understand who we are here. They think we’re a club, so they don’t stop in,” Culver said. “We’re hoping that will change. There’s some really super art to buy here.”
Gallery hours are noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call the guild at (732) 741-1441 or visit www.guildofcreativeart.com.