Neighbor News
Watchung Arts Center Celebrates the Life of Heinz W. Otto
Public invited to ceremony and reception, January 25 at 1:00 PM
A Celebration of Life will be held for Heinz W. Otto on January 25 at 1:00 PM at the Watchung Arts Center. Heinz was 94 years old and was at home with his daughter Vera when he passed away on December 9, 2014. The public is invited to attend the ceremony which will be followed by a reception.
Heinz W. Otto was a self-taught Creative Photographer who gained International recognition because of his unique process of Experimental Manipulation in printing his pictures. He began using a camera when he was 16 years old. Heinz started exhibiting in 1975 and has had exhibitions at Lever House in NYC, The Eastman House in Rochester, NY; Taipei, Taiwan; Manila in the Philippines; Austria and Germany; and an 8 month Kodak exhibit in Disneyland, CA. He has had pictures published in Austria, Belgium, Germany, and in the industrial publication Iron Works. He presented a solo exhibit in the Upper Gallery of the Watchung Arts Center as recently as September 2013.
Heinz entered International Exhibitions and accumulated acceptances and honors worldwide. For many years his standing was Third in North America, and Seventh Worldwide. In the star rating system of the Photographic Society of America in monochrome prints, he was the only photographer to achieve the level of Sapphire star, which is 1600 acceptances.
Although he retired from active exhibiting at the age of 90, he was still active taking pictures and working in his darkroom.
Heinz was a Founding Member of the Watchung Arts Center and served tirelessly in many roles including President, and Vice President of Visual Arts, and was an active Trustee at the time of his death.
In recognition of Mr. Otto’s extraordinary service during 37 years as Board Trustee, and his contributions to the entire art world, the Board of Trustees renamed the center’s Upper Gallery as the “Heinz W. Otto Gallery” in a ceremony held on December 7, 2014.
The Watchung Arts Center is located on the circle at 18 Stirling Road ,Watchung ,NJ. For more information go to watchungarts.org or call 908 753 0190.
Photo by Charlann Meluso
