By: centraljersey.com
Donald Trump isn’t the only one giving people a break by granting apprenticeships. The Hillsborough Cultural Arts Commission is doing its part, too.
Last June, following the annual Hillsborough Art Exhibit, 16-year-old Kathleen Fritz was one of 12 artists to compete for intensive mentoring in art. The contestants, chosen by potential and dwindled down from more than 250 Hillsborough adults and high school students from neighboring townships, had 2 1/2 hours to complete a charcoal still life.
Kathleen won the competition and earned the honor to apprentice with Kevin Murphy, a member of the Cultural Arts Commission and owner of the Art Academy of Hillsborough. She has quickly graduated from apprenticeship to the honor of being chosen to paint the third portrait of an influential Hillsborough citizen for the township’s public art collection.
This year, Kathleen will paint Doris Duke, a horticulturist, art collector and philanthropist who spent her early childhood in Hillsborough.
"There is a $1,000 commission from the township to paint a portrait of one of the town’s influential citizens," said Kathleen, a life-long Hillsborough resident.
Kathleen’s piece will be unveiled at the seventh annual Hillsborough Art Exhibit at 7:30 p.m. on April 1 at the Municipal Building.
"With the town’s art apprenticeship, there aren’t really specific obligations," said Kathleen, who is a sophomore and has been home-schooled for the past nine years. "It’s mostly that the apprentice gets a year of free lessons over at the art academy, and basically just learn as much as possible."
With her commission, Kathleen, who started the Doris Duke painting last week, plans to buy a professional-grade tablet, which is a tool used for digital paintings. Since she is just starting out, she wants to re-invest in art supplies.
Following the draw-off in June, Kathleen took five classes per week with Mr. Murphy at the Art Academy, with each class being 2 1/2 to three hours long.
"I would say that this apprenticeship has been life-changing for Kathleen," said Pat Fritz, Kathleen’s mother. "It really changed the direction of her future career. We can’t thank the (Cultural Arts Commission) enough that they have this program. Kevin has invested so much time in teaching Kathleen it’s incredible. It’s almost beyond words."
Kathleen, who has been "doing art for as long as she can remember," is undecided as to what she wants to do after high school.
However, whatever she chooses to pursue, she knows art will be involved.
"I’m not really sure at this point what I’m going to do after high school. I’ve got a few years and a lot of options," she said. "One would be to go on to an art college. I’m also considering going out and starting work right after high school. If I graduate high school and go right to work, it’ll probably be as a professional portrait painter."
Regardless of future career path, Kathleen has a set of parents who believe in her and are honored at what she has accomplished. "I’m very proud of her, she’s such a hard worker," said Ms. Fritz. "She’s always loved art and she’s always enjoyed it. She doesn’t go anywhere without a pad of paper and something to draw with."
The first painting in the township collection was Mr. Murphy’s portrait of Assemblyman Peter Biondi. The ensuing year, opera singer from the early 20th century Anna Case Mackay was painted by Montgomery High School student Gabrielle Fiorillo, who was Hillsborough’s first art apprentice.

