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About
The New Jersey Watercolor Society
Formed in 1938, the NEW
JERSEY WATER COLOR SOCIETY exists to further appreciation
and knowledge of watercolor as a medium, and of watercolors by New Jersey
artists. A "watercolor painting" is defined by the Society
as a painting executed in an aqueous medium, unvarnished and
framed under glass or plexiglass. The primary objectives of
the Society are to secure a membership of professional watercolorists,
to exhibit watercolors of exceptional quality throughout the
State of New Jersey, and to further public knowledge and appreciation
of paintings in various aqueous media.
Starting with twelve members in 1938,
the Society has grown to over 150
full members, elected by the Society's Board of Directors
according to a rigorous selection process designed to assure
that members of the Society produce work, which will bring
credit both to themselves and to the society.
The oldest and best-known watercolor
group in the United States is The American Watercolor Society.
The National Watercolor Society is probably the only other
watercolor group older than NJWCS. Many state watercolor organizations
have been formed since, reflecting the popularity of the medium
nationwide.
Since its first Member's Exhibition
at The MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM and its first Open Exhibition
at the Art Center of the Oranges, both in 1939, the Society
has exhibited at THE MORRIS MUSEUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, THE
MONMOUTH MUSEUM, THE NOYES MUSEUM, the Plainfield Library,
the Hadley Gallery in Bernardsville, the Bareford Gallery
in Clinton, the YMHA and YWHA of West Orange, ALLIED SIGNAL
in Morris County, NABISCO, INC. in East Hanover, the RENEE
FOOSANER GALLERY at the PAPER NHLL PLAYHOUSE in Millburn,
the SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION in Madison, the RIDGEWOOD
ART INSTITUTE in Ridgewood, and other prestigious locations
in our state.
The NJWCS is one of the few remaining
organizations to judge and jury show entries from original
work rather than slides. Since New Jersey is a small state,
distances remain reasonable and the cooperation of members
permits transportation of the paintings to be easily accomplished.
In 1988 fifty years of activity was celebrated with an Anniversary
Exhibition presented at THE MONTCLAIR MUSEUM, THE MONMOUTH
MUSEUM, and the NOYES MUSEUM.
Once a year, the Society
holds an Open Show for all New Jersey watercolor painters
whose work is selected by a seven member jury of established
watercolorists. Each year, the Board selects new artist members
from this show and invites them to submit five of their best
works for evaluation by the Board. If a majority of the Board
members vote to accept an artist, that person is invited to
join the Society. Once a member, that artist can enter a painting
in the Annual Member's Show held in the spring . With these
exhibitions, the Society continues to reach out to the public
with one of the most magical of visual mediums... WATERCOLOR!
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