Matheny’s Arts Access Artists Work on Display

Anthony Zaccaria is an artist who’s been inspired by his favorite movies and places, especially animated films and anything Disney.

Lee Papierowicz creates artwork by working with photographs or reference pictures, constantly putting her own spin on the images.

Zaccaria and Papierowicz are two of 16 artists from the Matheny Medical and Educational Center’s Arts Access Program whose paintings are on display at Morris Arts’ “Reemergence and Renewal” exhibit at the Atrium Gallery in Morristown. The exhibit opened May 13 and will continue through September 2. But, a free Opening Reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, and the public is invited.

Matheny is a special hospital and educational facility for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. Arts Access provides individuals with disabilities the freedom to create in the visual, literary, and performing arts.

Zaccaria lives in North Brunswick with his family, and his participation in Arts Access, according to his mother, Sue Zaccaria, “allows him to choose shapes, textures, and colors as he feels and envisions them. The Arts Access Program helps Anthony be independent by allowing him to make his own choices. This program has helped Anthony with his confidence in himself and his ability to show his talent. Anthony is so proud of his work, and we are so proud of him.”

According to Joe Matousek, Arts Access Visual Arts Facilitator, Zaccaria “uses every tool available in the studio and is particularly drawn to bright colors. He tends to combine various mixed media on every painting, layering colors, shapes, and splatter together to create some amazing effects. Anthony continues to surprise me with his unique way of creating his versions of his favorite cartoon characters.” Zaccaria’s “Disney World with Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh” is featured on the morrisarts.org website.

Matousek describes Papierowicz, who lives with her family in Monmouth Junction, as “a passionate artist always creating artwork from the heart. She is extremely detailed and wants everything in her painting to be just right. She is an amazing artist who likes to be precise and have artwork that captivates the viewer.”

Some of the other Arts Access artists featured in the “Reemergence and Renewal” exhibit are: Bari Kim Goldrosen, who lives in Matheny’s Franklin Twp. Group home; James Lane, who resides in Matheny’s Frelinghuysen group home; and Nancy Soto, a member of Matheny’s Basking Ridge community residence.

Goldrosen, says Visual Arts Facilitator Stephen Haluska, is an “understated artist who clearly knows what she wants. Easygoing and pleasant, Bari will direct the creation of her artworks without always sharing what her goals are, only for the harmony she is working toward to be revealed at the end. For example, she will sometimes create two separate strokes, using different tools; but the paint strokes will, in the end, be aligned or parallel with each other.” Goldrosen is the sister of Neil Goldrosen, a resident of Bridgewater.

Lane has been participating in Arts Access almost since its beginning nearly 30 years ago. His paintings, according to Matousek, “evoke a feeling of happiness and intrigue, initially drawing the viewer in with his colors and techniques that continue to hold the viewer’s attention with all of his subtle details. James is an exceptional artist who continues to wow us with his creative talent.”

Soto is described by Matousek as a “very carefree” artist who, “just wants to have fun while she works. Her painting style changes with her mood, sometimes relaxed, just exploring the various textures, and other times painting with focus, having a clear idea of what she wants. Nancy definitely has a unique style, sometimes using bright colors and other times using various shades of the same color, even combining media just for fun.”

The Atrium Gallery is located at 10 Court Street in Morristown. In addition to the 28 works by Arts Access artists, the “Reemergence and Renewal” exhibit includes 70 works by 24 African-American artists selected by Art in the Atrium and 40 works by Hungarian-born artist Shoshana Kertesz. Morris Arts, founded in 1973, has been “building community through the arts” for more than 46 years.