2024 Honors Showcase

It was a spectacular night to celebrate art and music at the 2024 Ridgewood Arts Foundation Honors Showcase, held at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood on April 5, 2024. As the most successful fundraiser in RAF history, all guests enjoyed an evening of live musical performances, an art exhibit, the debut of RAF’s “Capturing Nature” notecard series featuring the work of local visual artists, and an arts and events focused silent auction. Event proceeds will support RAF’s mission to celebrate and fund the arts by providing grants and scholarships to artists and arts organizations.

Attendees were welcomed into a theatre-in-the-round space adorned with cherry blossom branches and flickering candles, with a variety of visual art on display showcasing mediums such as stained glass, alcohol ink, colored pencil, acrylics, photography, and more.

Many thanks to the following grantees for sharing their visual art: Kayla Abboud, Julia Boesch, Julian Brescia, Lisa Hahn, Madeleine Haskins, Aashi Jesalpura, Keya Jesalpura, Karan Kalyanaraman, Soo Kim, Skylar Kliesch, Joseph Lim, Peggy Schunk, Stella Song, and Sophia Swanson. RAF trustee and event host Kristen Plumley then introduced our musical performers and grantees, which included Quinn Montague (tenor), Patricia Lazzara (flute), David Langan (bass), Anya Skulsky (violin), Ron Levy (accompanist), and Markus Ryen (trumpet), with Kristen Plumley (soprano) also gracing our stage.

Our goal for the RAF Honors Showcase was to highlight the talented musical and visual artists we have had the pleasure of supporting through the generous donations we receive from individuals and organizations. By seeing and hearing our performers up close, with some even leaving the stage to sing among our attendees, this immersive event was a reminder of the joy that only music and art can provide!

RAF’s next event, a part of our popular Salon series, will take place on June 12, 2024, (raindate June 13, 2024), at a landmark Ridgewood home that features the stained glass masterwork of G. Owen Bonawit. The “Stained Glass Salon: Light, Color and Storytelling” will include a discussion by local stained glass artist Lisa Hahn, and an introduction to the history of stained glass by Roberta Panjwani from the Ridgewood Public Library, with additional insight provided by a representative from J&R Lamb Studios, America’s preeminent stained glass fabrication and restoration experts. Beverages and light bites will be served. Tickets available here at www.ridgewoodartsfoundation.org

Many thanks to Zigi Putnins Photography - Zigifotos.com and Lorraine Haskins for event photographs.

Hear more about RAF and the Honors Showcase on the Ridgewood Talks Podcast

Barrymore Film Center - RAF Local Art Gem Tour

December 3, 2023

The Ridgewood Arts Foundation (RAF) was thrilled to host its Annual Local Art Gem Tour at the Barrymore Film Center (BFC).  Since its inception, RAF in addition to other activities, has conducted art tours once a year. The mission of the Ridgewood Arts Foundation is to celebrate and fund the arts to further enrich a creative environment in Ridgewood and our neighboring communities.

The Barrymore Film Center (BFC) is one of New Jersey's cultural gems, only 30 minutes from Ridgewood in Fort Lee.   The BFC is a 250-seat cinema, film museum, and archive dedicated to the borough’s significant history as the birthplace of American film.   Very few of us know that Fort Lee is the first American film town where studios, including Universal (1912), FOX (1915), and Solax (1912) were established.  Along with exhibitions on Fort Lee and world cinema history, programming at the BFC includes major film retrospectives, annual silent film event, film festivals, foreign film screenings, and showcases for emerging filmmakers.

Ridgewood Arts Foundation’s BFC Local Art Gem Tour on December 3rd included a private tour of the incredible museum special exhibit by Susan from BFC and the screening of the original 1946 Beauty & The Beast Film presented in 35mm in French with English subtitles! The exhibit themed ““Power Couple” - Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in Hollywood” was very interesting and greatly appreciated by all attendees.  Nelson Page, Executive Director of BFC and Film Historian Richard Koszarski, curator of the current and all BFC exhibits were also available to share more details and interact with all attendees.

We had a great turn out and participant response was extremely positive. With 33 participants, we reached the peak attendance of all of our local art gem tours! A lot of teens from Ridgewood High School and Dwight-Englewood School also volunteered to organize the event and attend along with their parents and even school French language teacher. 

We are also thankful to our generous sponsors Zen Haus Cafe, Le Palais Gourmet, La Vie En Rose Bakery Cafe and Village Tea Shop for providing the delicious food and beverages that was enjoyed by everyone!

2023 Spring Salon

The Composition Process: From Conception to Performance

On May 10th the Ridgewood Arts Foundation hosted its Spring Salon entitled “The Composition Process: from Conception to Performance”.  Arts enthusiasts gathered for an intimate presentation which took place in a private home and delved into the world of Armando Ghidoni, a contemporary, award-winning Italian composer.  While his melodies reveal the sensitivity and tradition of "bel canto” his harmonic writing evokes both French impressionism and the rhythms of jazz, giving his works a unique and very personal character.  His process and works were discussed and performed by "Ensemble Bella Luce", a classical trio comprised of a soprano (Mara Adler O’Kelly), flute (Patricia Lazzara) and piano (Dave Malyszko).  Delicious Italian beverages and light bites were served, courtesy of our friends at Il Dolce Italian Pastry Shop in Hawthorne, Rispoli Pastry Shop in Hawthorne, and Pizzaiolo by Brothers in Midland Park.  RAF's next event will be held in October at the Ridgewood Stable where RAF Scholarship and Grant Recipients will showcase their work.

2023 Evening of Honors

On Thursday, March 30th the Ridgewood Arts Foundation hosted their Annual Night of Honors at Park West Loft, along with a crowd of local art lovers and supporters. Honorees were the Ridgewood High School Bands - celebrating their 100th anniversary this year - and the Jamboree Scholarship Fund, the fundraising arm of the popular variety show performed each year by parents of high school students, which raises money for need-based scholarships.  Jeffery Haas and John Luckenbill, the co-directors of RHS Bands, and Diane Loughlin, the president of the Jamboree Scholarship Fund, spoke about their respective organizations with great pride.  Highlights of the evening were performances by members of the most recent Jamboree production, and jazz music by six very talented students from the high school bands.  RAF’s next event takes place the evening of May 10th, and is a salon entitled “The Composition Process: from Inspiration to Performance”.  This intimate presentation will take place in a private home and will delve into the world of Armondo Ghidoni, a contemporary, award-winning Italian composer.  His process and works will be discussed, and performed by Ensemble Bella Luce, a vocalist, flute and piano trio. Italian beverages and light bites will be served. Click here for tickets and more information.

Zigi Putnins Photography fb/ig @zpfotos

Montclair Art Museum Art Gem Tour, Novemeber 2022

During RAF’s most recent Art Gem Tour in November 2022, we visited the Montclair Art Museum and enjoyed a curated tour to their collection, including George Inness/Visionary Landscapes, and Transformed/Objects Reimagined by American Artists. We then had a creative hands-on art experience followed by a wine and cheese reception. Fun was had by all!

RAF CONGRATULATES OUR 2022 GRANT & SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS!

Congratulations to all recipients of RAF’s Spring 2022 grants and scholarships!!

Individual scholarship recipients (including RHS seniors and alumni, as well as students from BF and GW Middle Schools): Kayla Abboud, Finnegan Ban, Nora Cullen, Isaac Rentoul-Gins, Skylar Kliesch, Margot Melamed, Arnav Menezes, Sanjna Rajagopalan, Stella Song, Kiehye Song, William Stewart and Katie Weispfenning.

Organizational grants were awarded to Ars Musica, First Flight Theatre Company, Crafts with Care and Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra.

Join us for RAF’s first scholarship and grant recipient showcase (featuring works of this spring's recipients) at The Ridgewood Public Library on September 25 from 1-3pm. The showcase is free and open to the public.

RAF’s upcoming Autumn 2022 Scholarships and Grants submission deadline is October 1. Individual adult and student artists, and local organizations with emphasis on the arts, are encouraged to apply. More info here: www.ridgewoodartsfoundation.org/grants-and-scholarship

2022 Honors Event - April 3, 2022

On Sunday, April 3, 2022, the Ridgewood Arts Foundation (RAF) hosted its fifth annual fundraising Honors event at Park West Loft in Ridgewood. The event is held annually to celebrate leading arts-oriented organizations and/or individuals who have contributed to Ridgewood's artistic community. The 2022 honorees were Noelle Kokoletsos and Marshall Crane of Spec Wired, an organization dedicated to providing artistic outlet and inclusivity to specially-abled young adults, and Ridgewood performer, Ciarán Sheehan. Sheehan said while he was honored to be recognized by RAF, he noted sincerely, "I was incredibly moved by the talents and resilience of the Spec Wired founders and participants." Noelle Kokoletsos of Spec Wired added, "We were thrilled to be honored by RAF and appreciate their support for artists and musicians of all abilities."

“Flowers in Art” Salon & Workshop

On Sunday, March 13, the Ridgewood Arts Foundation was thrilled to host its first Salon & Workshop in two years entitled “Flowers in Art”.  The virtual event featured a 10-minute discussion by host and Ridgewood floral designer, Larisa Shlahet, on how flowers have graced artwork and society over the course of history.  Then Ms. Shlahet led the group in designing their own spring bouquets for which the live blooms and vases had been delivered to each participant earlier in the day by RAF volunteers.