'Art + Words' Exhibit To Hit Ridgewood Church Gallery This Month

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — "Sometimes a sketch says more than a mural," Johnny Keane said, quoting singer songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips, when asked about his new art exhibit that is set to hit the gallery at a Ridgewood Presbyterian church next week.

Keane, who is observing his 20th year in education as an art teacher, is showing pieces of his artwork, most of which are "unfinished" sketches, at West Side Presbyterian Church, in an exhibit titled "Art + Words," the church said on its website.

He said the pieces are "spontaneous bursts of artistic and written expression" that reflect observations, feelings, thoughts and opinions he has had over a 15-year period of growth and setbacks.

"I have been at the crossroads of my life for about a decade and a half," he said. "At some point, about 10 years ago, I began to incorporate writing into sketches, drawings and paintings."

Sometimes, he said, he added words to give the images more power, and sometimes, the images were added to give the words more power.

But, he added, the "entire concept happened very naturally without any conscious thought or purpose, except to satisfy the constant desire to express myself."

A West Side church member, Keane, who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, dabbles in all forms of creativity, including drawing and painting, the church said.

"At the exhibit, I highly encourage you to participate in expressing yourself through writing where indicated. Fill in the speech or thought bubbles in the art piece with the blank spaces," Keane said, noting that he would share the writing along with the image on his Instagram.

"You get to be the author," he said.

Stop by the church's gallery at 6 South Monroe Street to see the exhibit on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or during worship hours on Sunday. Or come visit on Aug. 8, 10, 15 or 17 between 2 and 4 p.m. to have a chat with Johnny and see the artist at work.