Gallery 50 an Artists Oasis in Bridgeton

So welcome to Gallery 50. My name is Sharon Kiefer. I'm the director here and curator at Gallery 50 since 2000 when we made the gallery into a non-profit.

I became the director then. What Gallery 50 does is..
well we're the cultural hub in Bridgeton and we provide monthly artist exhibitions. 

Every month it changes out and we have a little store in the back that remains there for cash and carry purposes. But each exhibition hangs for the month and we have a first Friday opening artist reception. Every month? Every month from 6 to 8 p.m. So you can meet the artist, you can buy the artwork, you know, talk to people.

We always have refreshments and live music. Is that open to the whole community? Yes, free and open to the public. That's what I always like.

But we always have live music and refreshments. So, you know, people stay. We're the only gallery in town so, you know, it's kind of a destination point.

They come, they see the art, and they kind of stay for the two hours. So there's a lot of camaraderie here on first Friday. How do you solicit your artists? Well, we put out an open call on the card like say three years out and we just say we're accepting applications for shows.

I'm also the curator at Perkins, so I see a lot of gallery shows. I go to a lot of museums. A lot of people email me with their portfolios.

So I kind of put it together that way. This current show that's hanging now happens every January, and we are partners with the Cumberland County Cultural and Heritage Commission for this one. It's a plein air.

And what a plein air is is when the artist painted outside. And it's very unusual to have a winter plein air. And not only is it a winter plein air, but it's a four-color winter plein air, which means the artist, when they come on the designated morning, which this year was December 9th, they come at 730 in the morning with their canvas.

They get it stamped by the Cultural Heritage Commission so that we know that's what they painted that day. We give them a map of Cumberland County. They have to be in Cumberland County, and they go out and paint all day, and it has to be returned to the gallery that night by five frames.

That's fantastic. Is that a common? Yeah, and they have to record their four colors that they're going to use. So the oil color painters and the acrylic painters, they can mix their colors, but the pastel painters, you'll see, you can really tell the four colors they chose because they can't mix as well.

Do you try to get a mixture of artists that use different types of mediums? No, there is a group of plein air artists. Not every artist is a plein air artist. Not every artist paints outside.

So there is a very strong, very professional plein air artist group in South Jersey. They also enter our September show, which is a wetland show in the gallery, regional, and in the window, the Cultural Heritage Commission sponsors, in partnership with us, another plein air in the window. But they paint in the summer, and it's a whole different feeling and atmosphere.

So two plein airs a year? Two plein airs a year, and they do not have to pick the four colors in the summer. So it's fun. So this is what you're seeing now on the walls, the result of that.

The ribbons are next to the winners, of course. I bring in a judge. Who do you have to judge? Well, he's anonymous this year, so he doesn't want me to say, but he's a professional artist in the Shore area.

When were the winners announced? At our first Friday reception and awards ceremony. Can you show us who came in first? Yeah. So first place, right here, and it also sold, is Ellen Gavin.

And this is a Bridgeton scene looking towards the courthouse. I recognize the view. So the artist loved her palette, loved the composition of the piece, the angles, the detail of the courthouse, the feeling of it.

If you know anything about Bridgeton, this feels exactly like Bridgeton. So it really captured it. The artist was very complimentary to, or the judge was very complimentary to the artist, saying that he would purchase this piece.

It's that good. And do the artists name their pieces that day? Yes. I like the title of this, Court in Bridgeton.

Because of the courthouse. Because of the courthouse. Yeah.

So she won first place. Second place, over here, is a Greenwich artist. You're allowed to walk through the chat.

Veronica Flanagan. We get yelled at. We call her Bonnie, Bonnie Flanagan.

She was having problems that day. She said the paint wouldn't stick to her canvas. Came up with this moody, ethereal marsh scene, and the judge loved it.

Another thing we do during the award ceremonies, I call the winners, as their name is called, they come up to the microphone, and they explain their four colors and where they painted and the problems and everything about their day. And I'm sure it's weather dependent. Oh, yeah.

Well, they have to paint no matter what. So she was having problems, and she let us all know it, but it worked out in her favor. I was going to say, it turns out great, and it captures that feel of being on the bay down in Greenwich.

Yeah, it sure does. And third place is Dominic Martelli. He chose to paint in Greenwich as well.

And it's just a street scene. Bacon's Neck Road. Yes, Bacon's Neck Road.

And the judge really liked the shadows, the feeling, the composition, the palette. He said it was very painterly, the way that the brush strokes and the way that the artist placed the paint, very aesthetically pleasing for the judge. So that was his third place choice.

And then we did something fun at the reception. We numbered each one of the paintings and went around with little slips of paper, and everybody could vote. So we called it People's Choice.

So the People's Choice winner, I didn't have a ribbon that says People's Choice, but we have an honorable mention here, is R.J. Haas, and that's another scene from Greenwich. Okay. And if you know anything about Greenwich, it's a very quaint little section.

There's a little bridge, a little stream there. And this was the old Griffin. That used to be a store.

Right, I know that. Yeah. That's gorgeous.

He won the People's Choice. All of the artists that you've mentioned, they're all South Jersey artists. All of them, yeah.

Now, when we spoke the other day, you mentioned that you certainly have a lot of South Jersey local artists, but you also are able to bring in artists from outside of the area. Why don't you tell us about that a little bit. So this is an example of a show where I do feature South Jersey.

Next month, for example, we are featuring a Venezuelan artist, Francisco Rezolia de Villa. He's from Venezuela, and he's a master artist there. And about three or four years ago, Wheaton and the Clay College of Rowan put a grant together to get him here.

So this show that is going to be hanging next month, it's called The North of the South. And it's about the depressed neighborhoods and the political unrest there in Venezuela at the moment, and the reflection on people. It's a very contemporary show.

The paintings are very contemporary and depict the plight of the people of Venezuela right now with the presidency that's there, and they're food-deprived. There's a lot of issues that people are going through. But after this show was brought here, it then went to Perkins after the Clay College about a year later.

And then two years went by, and now it's coming here. So we kind of all work together as galleries. So what are the logistics with having pieces go around the world? This is a special show because it was brought here on a grant from Venezuela.

So he wants to show it in as many places as possible. Do you communicate with him? No, he doesn't speak English, so via Facebook. But he's very complimentary.

He loves the fact that this is happening for him. That's excellent. That's great.

And what a wonderful thing for this community to have an artist from Venezuela who's world-renowned come in. So then after February, then March, we are hosting the Society of New Jersey Artists, which is a group membership club of South Jersey artists. So there will be probably about 20 artists displayed, and they do their own kind of awards within themselves.

All across mediums? Yes. Okay. And then the next month will be a solo show, two solo shows in a row of artists, one from Germany and one from down near the shore, very contemporary art for both of them.

And then July is our annual show called the International Miniature Competition, which we have every year, so we are in our 24th year. We abide by the strict rules of the national miniature standards, where the face of the work can be no larger than a four by six, 24 inches, and has to depict something miniature. So if you're doing a hummingbird, which is miniature in and of itself, you have to do a miniature hummingbird.

So it's very strict standards. It is a competition as well. We give prizes for that, and we do a separate window show.

August, we'll have an open call. It's always some fun theme. You don't know the theme for this year yet, but last year's theme was Viva Magenta, which was the new color that Pantone chose for their color of the year.

So all the paintings, it's open to everybody, no cost. And we did a little award show for that too, and every painting had to contain this Viva Magenta color. That's so fun.

Yeah. That's great. And we move on to September, which is another annual regional show, Wetlands Competition, inside the gallery and the plein air in the windows.

Wow. So you have to plan out for the entire year. Oh, yeah, yeah.

I'm already booking. I'm almost through 2025. I'm ready to start 2026.

Because artists need time to paint. They would like a year in advance of their show. Do you get a lot of support from the community in the San Jose area? Other than grants from Cumberland County Cultural and Heritage Commission, how do you get support? We have monthly sponsorships.

So a lot of companies or corporations or just private individuals will give the $200, and they will be our monthly sponsor. Their name goes up on the card and on the sign, and then that pays for our reception, refreshments and wine and musical entertainment. And all of that can be accessed through your website? Yes.

And we also have a yearly membership drive, which is going to start in March. This March. Yeah.

We send a letter, we tell them everything we've done, everything we plan to do, and then they send in their contribution. That's great. So we have memberships, we have corporate sponsorships, sales of artwork, of course, helps, because we get 30% commission on the sales.

Got it. Okay. And donations.

We do have a lot of donations that people just give out of the kindness of their heart. And we provide the cultural hub for this area. Well, as you said, this is the only art gallery in Bridgeton.

Yes. And we provide a showcase for artists to show their work. So what we're doing indirectly is supporting artists' careers and giving them a platform to sell their work and to show their work and to get other shows from here.

Without galleries like this, there's nowhere for them to get access to the community. To figure it out. Right, right, right.

So, yeah, it's very important. How long has Gallery 50 been in this location? I believe it changed location sometime in the 90s. It started out in 1972 across the bridge in one of the Seven Sister stores, but it was very different.

It was a volunteer. I think I remember that. I grew up in Bridgeton, and I remember that.

I think it was the first building across the bridge. But it was run by volunteers. They had a lot of crafty volunteers that kind of showcased their own work, embroidery, quilting, knitting, and some shows here and there.

Then it changed to this location, I believe, in the mid-90s. Don't quote me on that, but around then. But before you joined as director in 2000.

Yes, and then when I was here, I came in 2000. The landlord wanted to renovate, and we made it into a nonprofit, and I became the director. Then we started the first Fridays.

We started the monthly exhibitions to clear everything out after the month. You mentioned that you went all the way through COVID. You never didn't have a showing, which is, I think, admirable.

You could have foreseen how that could have been a time when it drifted off. Nobody really knew what to do. We always thought we were opening the next week.

Little did we know, two years. Anyway, I had my shows booked for the whole year of 2020. When we closed down in the middle of March, we were in the middle of a show.

They just picked up early. I hung the April show, and I just did an iMovie, similar to what you're doing now, and just showed it on the first Friday and gave the public a chance to see it and to purchase. The public probably really appreciated still being able to access art and beauty, despite everything that was going on.

Yes. That was April. May and June, I think we just did a virtual online, where the artists just submitted their work to me.

I put together a slideshow, and I showed it on first Friday, and then it was on our website. It was on our Facebook page so that people could access it through the month. It was almost like the show was hanging.

Then July, we had a limited show with a mask. August, September, October, November, we had our first Friday receptions in person with the stickers on the floor that everybody had to be six feet apart and hand sanitizer and masks. But you made it through.

We made it through, and we still were getting sales. The artists were still able to show their work. Then we reopened in January of 2021.

Wonderful. Yes. Do you ever have any involvement with young students or young artists in terms of either field trips or collaborations with The Born or anything like that that you can share with us? Field trips a lot from the Bridgeton High School.

Nice. Yes. Okay.

One of their teachers, well, an ex-teacher is right back here in our office right now, and another one that teaches there will line up. If she sees a show that supports something she's teaching in the classroom, she'll bring her students. That's so great.

I think that's so important because unless – I mean, the whole purpose of the gallery is to create awareness, but unless you start young, it's kind of pointless. Also, Hope Loft brings a lot of their students here as well. What are the hours? Wednesday through Saturday, 11 to 4. Okay.

Wednesday through Saturday, 11 to 4. And always the first Friday. And then the first Friday. Okay.

Reception of every month, 6 to 8 p.m. Great. Excellent. Free and open to the public.

Oh, wow. So our next one is February 2nd for Francisco from Venezuela. I invite you very quickly.

I will definitely be there. 6 to 8 p.m. Okay. Great.

Well, I think the Bridgeton people would love to continue to support Gallery 50. Super. I'll have to get information on the site about becoming a member.

Okay. I think this is just fantastic. I appreciate it.

Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being here. And I noticed back here, tell me what you have back here.

Oh, this is our little, we call it our shop. It's a cash and carry items from artists that they just put two or three in on a permanent basis. And if you need a quick gift, you just come in, you can take it.

You purchase something on the wall in the exhibition, it has to remain here throughout the month until the show closes. So you just red dot it until the end. Have you ever had people fighting over any of these items? No, no.

But cash and carry, you can take it today. Okay. Excellent.

That works out. Oh, we are on our website is www.gallery50.org. Our Facebook page is Gallery 50 Inc. And our Instagram page is also Gallery 50 Inc.

Well, I, of course, support all the other art centers and galleries. Salem Art Bank run by Bruce and Sue Jo in Salem County. They do framing and they have a gallery there.

We are Bridgeton. Then if you move on to Millville, we have the Renaissance Center for the Arts under the direction of Diane Rogers. Then we have the Clay College under the direction of Jackie Sandro.

Then we have the Village on High, which is owned by Mary Ann Cannon, which has a whole bunch of littler stores. Her La Bottega is there and Octopus Garden there run by Mary Ann Coontz. And across the street, Danielle Cartier has D&G Gallery and Studio.

So Millville is really rocking. Lots of artist studios in the Cape May area. Moving up the coast to Atlantic City, we have the Noise Arts Garage in Atlantic City run by Michael Cagno.

He was one of our first artists here in 2000 to have a show at Gallery 50. Now he's the director there at the Noise. They also have a location at Stockton in Edmonton, which is a really cool gallery that also the Noise.

And then, of course, Perkins. Tell us about that while we have you. Yeah, I'm the curator of exhibitions at Perkins Center for the Arts.

And I've just been there since 2020. Right after they reopened for COVID, I've grown their gallery from four to six shows per year and two galleries to 18 shows a year and three galleries. So we have a rigorous schedule.

We have six day a week gallery hours now, which is new for them. And established reception nights, second Saturday, third Saturday, one in Collinswood, one in Morristown. You know, we just reach out and try to make connections.

We have five departments there. A huge education department that offers all kinds of classes in ceramic, glass, mosaic, painting, figure drawing, embroidery. I mean, you name it.

We offer it. And then music lessons for students. And yeah, and a Folklife Center.

What's the address of that? The one is 30, in Collinswood, it's 30 Irvin Avenue and 395 Kings Highway in Morristown. And then we have a connection there in Camden County with the Camden Fireworks and a site of prints there. So it sounds to me, and I'm not an artist.

Okay, I'll just put that out there. I'm not an artist, but it sounds to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, that it's a small, tight knit community. And yet you have this reach around the world, which is really so neat.

And that's what it's all about, right? Yeah, it sure is. And the eight counties, I believe there's eight counties in Southern New Jersey. I mean, we all know of each other and support each other and have collaborations and partnerships often between everyone I just mentioned.

Yeah. The love of the arts. Yeah, so it's wonderful.

Thank you so much for taking the time to give us this kind of impromptu interview here today. But, you know, it's nice to be able to be on site when we can to do these types of interviews and highlight the beautiful artwork that you show here. So we will definitely be back.

Awesome. I'll see you at the reception. I will be here.

Thank you. Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, New Jersey Historical Commission, Department of State, and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners through the Cumberland County Cultural and Heritage Commission.