Landscapes from warmer seasons open to public viewing
By: Lacey Korevec
Though the chilly month of December, residents can stop by the Gourgaud Gallery to warm up with some paintings of beautiful spring, summer and fall landscapes in Cranbury.
Pieces chosen from artists who attended the Cranbury Art Council’s Art in the Park sessions will make up the fourth annual exhibit titled "Cranbury Gardens IV." The First Friday Reception is Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Gourgaud Gallery.
Art in the Park is a series that allows artists to paint outdoors together each month at various areas in Cranbury. The season runs from spring through fall, culminating each year with a gallery exhibit of selected participants’ works.
The six gardens that Art in the Park artists painted this year are on James and Norma Swale’s property on Ryan Road, Matt and Patty Long’s property on Cranbury Neck Road and Nadine and Mark Berkowski’s, Frank and Bobby Marlowe’s, Timothy and Betsey Norland’s and Dave and Angie Cook’s properties on North Main Street.
Art in the Park founder and Arts Council member Bob Virgadamo said the exhibit, which will feature approximately 10 artists’ works, will be especially interesting to residents who might see paintings that were created on their neighbors’ properties. He said those who swing by the gallery will be glad they went.
"Here’s a gallery in the center of town, open to the public and this particular show is "Cranbury Gardens," he said. "It is about Cranbury. They’re views of Cranbury."
Mr. Virgadamo also said the exhibit will be insightful because it shows viewers how artists can interpret one view so differently, which he said sets this apart from other art shows.
"If you look at it and you study the exhibit, you can see how a bunch of artists can see the same material differently," he said. "And then make that composition and the compositions are different. The artists are different. Their styles are different. Their techniques are different. It’s fun to be able to see the different techniques and compositions that come from the same subject matter."
Township resident Nadine Berkowski, who has been attending the Art in the Park sessions since the program’s inception four years ago, said she is delighted to have her work included in the annual exhibit for the fourth time.
"I enjoy the camaraderie of the other artists and when it’s a nice day it’s a nice thing to do," she said. "I love to paint, so I just like to be out in the open painting scenery. It’s fun for me."
Three of her oil paintings will be exhibited, one of them is from the session held in her own backyard.
"It’s always nice to have your work on display," she said. "I kind of like all the ones I did this year. That’s unusual because there’s usually one that I don’t like."
Ms. Berkowski said it will be interesting for her to view some of the other works in the exhibit, especially ones that were done on her own property.
"Some of the things I look at on a daily basis, I’m not looking at from an artistic point of view," she said. "Everybody has a different viewpoint, you know? My garden at that particular time of year was quite pretty and I was lucky because the weather cooperated and it looked very colorful."
All of the paintings in the exhibit will be for sale. Four Seasons Resident Susan Troost, who has only shown her work once before at a Four Seasons art show last year, will have three of her watercolor paintings featured in the exhibit.
She said it feels peculiar to think that somebody might buy one of her paintings.
"I really don’t think anybody will because I really don’t think I’m ready to sell pictures," she said, adding that this was her first year going to Art in the Park sessions and she feels she still has a lot to learn. "I don’t think I’m accomplished enough. I can’t wait to paint next year again. I really look forward to it."
Still, she said she’s thrilled to have her work exhibited and is especially thankful that the Arts Council puts all of this together each year.
"I’d really like to put emphasis on the appreciation that we were given a chance to go and do this," she said. "I think it’s just lovely."
"Cranbury Gardens IV" will be on display throughout the month of December at the Gourgaud Gallery, located on North Main Street.

