Lacey Township Arts Group Offers Tiny Art Gallery To Community

LACEY, NJ — A member of the Lacey arts community on Thursday offered to donate a small outdoor art gallery to the township as part of a broader effort to expand local arts programming.

James Wioland, recreation director for Lacey Township, told the Township Committee that the recreation office began focusing more on the arts about two years ago. He said a group formed within the recreation office, the Lacey Arts Community, has helped raise the profile of local artists. Wioland said the group’s work includes artwork now hanging in the municipal courtroom and an additional show planned for January, with more displays hoped for in February and March next year.

Wioland introduced Dan Krupinski, whom he said designed and built the “tiny art gallery.”

Krupinski told the committee he used his background as a carpenter and builder to create the structure so local artwork could be shown in “this kind of unique interesting format.”

Krupinski said the project began with discarded materials, including two window sashes he found and used as the basis for the design. He said the gallery has double-pane glass, metal cladding inside so magnets can be used to mount art and a foldout design intended to make displays easier. He also said the structure is weatherproof and weighs 110 pounds.

He offered to donate the gallery as a way to inspire local artists. It would be at no cost and the township would decide where to install it.

Krupinski said the gallery took about four months to build on a part-time basis.

Wioland thanked Krupinski and members of the Lacey arts community for pushing to bring more art into the township through recreation programs and classes. He also invited local artists and residents interested in getting involved to contact the recreation department.

The township has a “Meet the Makers” open house scheduled for Sept. 29 at the Charles A. Smith Community Center from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wioland said 15 local artists are expected to be working on projects and available to answer questions.