Beginning June 29, 2024, through August 25, 2024, Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) will be featuring an indoor art exhibition curated by the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) and the Trenton Community A-Team (TCAT).

Entitled Philotechnic Transformation, the exhibition at GFS spotlights the positive effect that creating art can have on people’s lives. Each piece represents a broad palette of concepts, emotions and inspirations and offers the viewer a glimpse into the individual artist’s life and creative process.

The exhibition is located in GFS’ Education Gallery, which can be found in the Seward Johnson Center for the Arts. To view the exhibition, visitors can purchase tickets on the GFS website at www.groundsforsculpture.org.

An opening reception for the exhibition will be held this Friday, July 12, 2024, beginning at 6:30pm. There is no cost to attend the reception. In addition to viewing the exhibition, guests will enjoy light refreshments, acoustic music and poetry readings.

In addition to serving some 10,000 meals each week, TASK offers a multitude of programs and services aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency and improving quality of life for Trenton area residents. For many years, the creative arts program at TASK has been a connection point for people, enriching lives through visual, written and performing arts. These weekly sessions serve as a vital outlet for self-expression and an opportunity for artists of all experience levels to develop their skills. Every Tuesday, TASK partners with TCAT to provide space and materials for individuals to connect and create.

“We are delighted to feature the work of these talented artists this summer at Grounds For Sculpture,” shares Julio Badel, Director of Education and Community Engagement at GFS. “Their artwork showcases the importance of self-expression and the transformative power of art, both of which are vital to the artists’ connectedness to themselves and their communities.”

TASK, TCAT and GFS have been partnering together since 2022. With help from The Dina Wind Art Foundation, GFS has offered TASK artists the opportunity to participate in high-level art classes at no cost. This program has given space for the artists to develop their technical skills and creative expression.

“This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for our artists,” says Frank Lettieri, Jr., Creative Arts Specialist for TASK. “Grounds For Sculpture is a world-class cultural destination that displays works from around the world. We are excited that the TASK and TCAT artists will be able to share their talents in such an inspiring place.”

Adds Tony Cantanese, Director of TCAT’s Art Studio, “In the 25 years that TASK and TCAT have been creating and displaying art, our artists are most excited to be a part of such a prestigious exhibition space at Grounds For Sculpture. They have visited the grounds many times and are honored to be displayed in the same building where so many great artists have been featured.”

TASK’s creative arts program is made possible, in part, by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Commissioners and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

##

TASK, which has been serving the Mercer County region since 1982, serves more than 10,000 meals, six days per week, at its Escher Street dining room and community meal sites throughout Greater Mercer County. In addition, TASK offers a multitude of resources to encourage self-sufficiency and improve quality of life including case management, education, workforce development, creative arts and the provision of basic necessities. More information can be found on its website at www.trentonsoupkitchen.org.

Founded in 2010, TCAT supports, develops and promotes self-taught, local artists. TCAT’s art studio, “Studio 51,” is located at 51 N. Stockton Street and displays local art throughout the year, runs workshops and loans art to various exhibitions throughout the area. In addition, TCAT provides supplies and oversight to TASK’s visual arts program and works with artists to display and promote their artwork for sale. Visit www.tcateam.org to learn more. 

Grounds for Sculpture is a 42-acre not-for-profit sculpture park, arboretum, and museum, founded by the late Seward Johnson. Featuring over 300 contemporary sculptures by renowned and emerging artists in a beckoning, ever-changing landscape, GFS combines art and nature to surprise, inspire, and engage visitors from all backgrounds in the artist’s act of invention. In addition to its permanent collection, GFS offers exhibitions in six indoor galleries, alongside experiential art, horticulture, and wellness programs for all ages. Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, GFS is easily accessible from the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan areas by public transit and is open year-round. For more information, visit www.groundsforsculpture.org.

About Author