Caldwell Merchants Plan Art on the Avenue Event

A number of area artists have already signed up to exhibit their work in this year's Art on the Avenue event on Saturday, May 15.

Caldwell residents Carolina Medina and Francis Fittin, Louise Woodcox, of Fairfield, and Steve Van Zandt and Christina Havens, of North Caldwell, Catherine Luzzi, of Verona, Paula Marino, of Cedar Grove, and Summer Dye, of Bloomfield, are the first area artists to express interest in participating in the event.

The long-time tradition will be revived by The Caldwell Merchants' Association on May 15 in the central downtown area from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event's rain date is Sunday, May 16 from noon to 5 p.m.

Community members of all ages are invited to stroll the avenue sidewalks the day of the event to view the show and enjoy Caldwell's shops and restaurants along the way. Show categories are fine art in all mediums, photography and sculpture. Many artists will offer their work for sale.

Kay Luzzi, of Verona, a former Art on the Avenue exhibitor, is the first artist from a neighboring town to secure a spot in the show. Woodcox and Medina are award-winning artists and Woodcox is the exhibition chairperson of the West Essex Art Association and the Pastel Society of New Jersey. Van Zandt, also is an Art on the Avenue veteran who showed his work in the event as early as the 1980s.   

Jurors Will Award Prizes

Professional art jurors will select pieces from the show to be presented in the Winners Circle on the Caldwell Green, located at the corner of Bloomfield and Roseland avenues.

Final judging for awards will take place from 2:30 to 3 p.m. at that location, with an awards ceremony scheduled there at 3:45 p.m. Art merchandise and cash will be awarded as prizes for winning artists, with a cash award of $100 to be given to the Best in Show prizewinner.

Artists' Deadline

Space for Art on the Avenue is limited, and the Caldwell Merchants Association requests that artists submit entry forms, along with an entry fee of $50, no later than Thursday, April 15, to reserve their spots on the avenue.

Paid reservations are for an 8- to 12-foot length of art fencing that will be provided for artists to display their work along Bloomfield Avenue. Length of fencing depends on location, and larger spaces will be assigned to artists on a first-come, first-served basis.

Some space will be available for artists who have their own systems for hanging art. Proceeds from all art sales are to be kept by the artists.

For an artist's prospectus-registration application or more information, call June Cowell at Lovely Living Interiors in Caldwell from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 973-364-1124. 

To register, send an entry form and $50 check made payable to the Caldwell Merchants Association, 14 Hatfield St., Caldwell, NJ 07006. Applications and checks must be received by April 15. 

Local Merchants and Grant Give Support

Caldwell's Dancy Funeral Home, Paintland and Flowerland have donated a total of $2,000 to defray the cost of the fencing needed for Art on the Avenue, and the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs has awarded a grant to the Caldwell Merchants Association to help produce the event.

The Caldwell Merchants Association is a non-profit group of merchants, professionals and residents from surrounding communities whose goal is to revitalize Caldwell's downtown through promotions, the arts, historic preservation and beautification.

Members of the West Essex community who frequent Caldwell are welcome to help reach these goals. For more information, visit its Web site or call June Cowell at 973-364-1124.