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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Artists show their ‘roads’

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   The municipal building on Ridge Road featured a reception Tuesday night to celebrate the opening of a new art exhibit, featuring the artists, their artwork and some refreshments.
   The theme of this exhibit is “The Roads We Travel” according to event organizers.
   Sandy Behrend, who has been chair of the Arts Commission for three years and also contributed to the exhibit said, “(This is a) really big show, (I am) very pleased with it.”
   Ms. Behrend said the topic really spoke to the artists and that it was a good working subject for the artists’ participating.
   ”(It is) not just faraway places that make beautiful artwork,” Ms. Behrend said.
   The show is paid for by a grant from the Middlesex County Culture and Heritage Commission, Ms. Behrend said.
   Former Arts Commission chair Fran Niemeck said this show, featuring 36 artists, is the biggest they have ever had.
   The artwork featured in the show-included sculpture, paintings, and photograph and featured many artists from the township, Ms. Niemeck said.
   Ms. Behrend said that they hired Corey Aperstein as a juror to select the entries for the show, and that there are generally four exhibits a year.
   Ms. Niemeck said that the commission hired professionals to install the featured artwork.
   ”As much care (is) given to installing the work as in selecting it,” Ms. Niemeck said.
   Kendall Park resident Mike Derer submitted three of his photographs to the exhibit.
   One was taken in Collingswood, and the two photos were taken on local roads using a long exposure of holding the shutter down between 35 and 40 seconds, Mr. Derer said.
   Mr. Derer said, “I tried to make it more visually interesting than a normal street scene.”
   Kendall Park resident Dean Behrend said the photo he put in the exhibit was a “lucky shot” taken in Guatemala on a bus going 30 to 35 miles per hour.
   ”I’m very pleased with the picture,” Mr. Behrend said.
   Mr. Behrend said that there were many “very fine” artists at the exhibit and that he felt “privileged” that his photo was included in the exhibit.
   Monmouth Junction resident Aisha Jabbar, 19, said she attended the event to support her friend who had a painting displayed.
   ”Painting is another way of keeping a diary,” Ms. Jabbar said.
   The exhibit will be from April 5 until June 20 according to the brochure handed out at the event.
   For more information, call 732-329-4000, ext.7635, email [email protected], or visit the exhibit at the municipal building.