West Orange Art Exhibit: ‘Two Ladies in Leopard’

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Arts Council. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The West Orange Arts Council (WOAC) is thrilled to announce its final show of 2024, Two Ladies in Leopard, a pop-up exhibit showcasing the works of WOAC members Judyann Affronti and Cathy McCoy Bristol at the West Orange Arts Center at 551 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ.

The community is invited to meet the artists and explore their works at a free Artist’s Reception on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 4–7 p.m. Guests will enjoy light refreshments and the chance to witness the debut of the artists’ first collaborative piece—a fusion of Cathy’s vibrant and expressive portraiture and Judyann’s intricate felt and fabric collages.

McCoy Bristol’s subject of choice is figure painting, where she documents the human experience in paint. Her warm inviting scenes often depict families, groups, or children interacting and enjoying each other’s company and also hold indirect messages of diversity and social commentary. “We all have the needs of touch, love, family, comfort, food, companionship, community, apprenticeship, rites of passage, education/training, and language. We all have struggles, seen or suffered injustice,” states McCoy Bristol in her artist statement. “We strengthen what we focus on, most of my work focuses on what is common to all people.”

“Much of my work is my reinterpretation of the traditional arts of central Mexico: Otomi and Tejuantepec embroidery, Zapotec alebrijes, Talavera pottery, and Teotitlan weaving,” Affronti writes on her website. Her felt collages, mounted on stretched canvas, reflect her world in a joyous burst of color and shapes, distilled down to their minimal components.

This show follows the success of November’s pop-up exhibit with WOAC artists Rey Arvelo and Joanne Leone. In addition to the artist’s reception, a special one-man performance by playwright Gerald Fierst drew a standing-room-only crowd. Highlights from that show are available here.

WOAC officers and exhibition chairs Carol T. Jenkins (Secretary) and Lois Condon (Vice Chair) designed this exhibit concept as a collaborative quick way to highlight local artists and support the WOAC mission to foster connections through the arts. “Arts organizations like ours thrive through the support of our community, with opportunities to come together, celebrate creativity, support each other, and inspire involvement in the arts,” said Patricia Mitrano, WOAC Chair.

Additional Highlights and Events

Exhibit hours will be announced, along with a series of holiday-themed activities, including an Art Swap & Holiday Party gathering to exchange creative gifts and celebrate the season and a collab with Reel.Dance.Music, Sequence of Leaps, and Creative Arts Connect.

Unique Gifts for the Holidays

While visiting the West Orange Arts Center, don’t miss the Gift Shop, offering an array of art-inspired items crafted by local artists. The selection includes handmade jewelry, scarves, ceramics, paintings, cards, soaps, home décor, and more—perfect for finding one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.

• www.cathymccoybristol.webstarts.com
• www.judyannaffronti.com/

About the West Orange Arts Council

The West Orange Arts Council is dedicated to promoting the arts in West Orange and providing opportunities for artists and the community to connect through exhibitions, workshops, and events. The West Orange Arts Council's mission is to cultivate, inspire, and support the arts in West Orange. Area artists and community leaders remain the core of this all-volunteer organization that operates the West Orange Arts Center Gallery and Gift Shop at 551 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ. For more info visit www.woarts.org, www.facebook.com/woac.org or email info@woarts.org

This program is made possible partly by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund.

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