Montclair Art Museum’s Free 1st Thursday Nights Return

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Montclair Art Museum. Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page here.

Enjoy a night out at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) with free general admission, live music, art activities and tours, dynamic seasonal programming, and a full-service bar at Free First Thursday Night on November 2, from 5 to 9 p.m.

In November, discover the art of Montclair’s own Philemona Williamson in “Metaphorical Narratives,” her first major museum exhibition. Artist Philemona Williamson will be on site for an informal meet and greet at 6 p.m. and guests can also take a docent-led tour of current exhibitions at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The Montclair Public Library will also have their “Book Bike” with books related to inspiration, a key theme in the exhibition.

The event will include live music in the galleries with the Joel Zelnik Trio.

Additional attractions include the Montclair Knitting Circle, where all knitters, crochet enthusiasts, needlepointers, spinners, embroiderers, and textile crafters are invited to participate, with beginner kits available for newbies.

The event will include an origami demo with teen artist Edward Misretta, as well as paintings by 20 local residents who participated in a watercolor and gouache class offered by the Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning (MILL) through MAM’s Creative Aging Initiative.

The Celebrate the Season exhibition also includes a collection of holiday notecards, whose sales raise funds for future MILL programming.

The Free First Thursday Night bar will be presented in partnership with Krug Catering at Orange Lawn Tennis Club, and will include signature cocktails, wine selections and NJ Beer Co. beer.

Free First Thursday Nights take place the first Thursday of the month (October–June) from 5 to 9 p.m. Highlights this season include holiday programming and a performance by Newark Boys Chorus in December and a celebration of Black History Month in February. There is no Free First Thursday Night in January.

For an up-to-date schedule of upcoming Free First Thursday Nights, visit montclairartmuseum.org/thursdays

Free First Thursday Nights are made possible by TD Bank.

Patch file photo