KESSLER INSTITUTE TO HOST “LIGHT” – A SPECIAL ART EXHIBIT FEATURING THE WORKS OF THE NEW ART GROUP

West Orange, NJ -- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation will host an opening reception and art exhibit showcasing the works of the New Art Group on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the hospital’s gallery, located at 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists and discuss the various works, which are centered on the theme of “light.” The reception and exhibit, which will run from October 23 through November 22 is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

            “As artists, light is our primary concern. It is an integral piece of our language and controls our ability to communicate something with our images,” explained Nancy Ori, one of the seven artists whose work will be featured. “Light and color affects how people feel about our work and react to it.  Once you start consciously experiencing light, ordinary things become extraordinary.”

            Among the featured artists are:  

·      Susan Ahlstrom (Gillette, NJ) creates images relating to the sun and sky in mixed media and ceramics.

·      Francesca Azzara (Westfield, NJ) creates visual narratives in mixed media and encaustic that connect with a recurring theme of landscape, imaginary locations, dream interpretations, fears and frustrations.

·      Jane Caminos (Watchung, NJ) brings the "lightness in living" to her narrative portraits of women drawn from black and white snapshots from the 30s-50s.

·      Nancy Ori (Berkeley Heights, NJ) uses photography to capture the beauty and vulnerability in the landscape.

·      Paul Pinkman (Plainfield, NJ) uses printmaking, painting and drawing to represent a world of visual complexity that speaks to something perceived as real but also to something much more deeply personal.

·      Heidi Sussman (West Orange, NJ) creates photo-based mixed-media images that reflect the timeless nature of light in the shapes and forms of clouds.

·      Michael Teters (Plainfield, NJ) works with the luminous quality of encaustic wax and takes the process one step further by adding phosphorescent powder to make them glow in the dark.

            The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. Reservations are requested. For more information or to RSVP, please call Kessler’s Recreation Therapy Department at 973.731.3600 ext. 4725.

#  #  #

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is nationally recognized for the treatment and research of both spinal cord and brain injuries and also leads the field in the care and treatment for stroke, neurological diseases, amputation, orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions and cardiac recovery.  Ranked as one of the top two rehabilitation hospitals in the nation and best in the East by U.S.News & World Report, Kessler has three hospital campuses in West Orange, Saddle Brook and Chester, N.J., and more than 85 outpatient centers throughout the state.  For more information, visit www.kessler-rehab.com.

New Art Group (NAG) was formed about 20 years ago with a goal to develop opportunities to exhibit. What makes the NAG unique is that it is a group of artists unified by intent rather than style.  Each show is themed and has a central idea or focus. Each artist brings a different view on the theme to each show. For more information about this exhibit or about the New Art Group, please contact or visit their website: www.newartgroup.com.