Artists’
Tony Ventura and Roberta Carter Clark received
Honorary Awards for outstanding contribution
Summer 2014
Vol. 19, No. 2
Page 2 Members in the News
Associate Members in the News
In Memoriam Maria de Mos
In Memoriam Sonja Weir
Page 3 Elected Members Show
Summer 2014
New Jersey Water Color Society www.njwcs.org
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Wow! New Jersey Water Color Society is 76 this year! That’s pretty old for any society. But unlike bread, just
because we’re old doesn’t mean we’re stale! So we’re going to be introducing lots of new changes to help keep
us fresh.
Change within NJWCS has been going on, most so subtle you probably didn’t even notice. Mandatory preregistration for the Annual Open Exhibition streamlined and simplified our receiving day process tremendously.
We've introduced large type Name Badges for most of our functions allowing us to get to know each other better.
We’ve provided free brochures of our Annual Open Exhibition information for those visiting the Middletown Arts
Center during the show. Our prospectuses, newsletters and reminders are being delivered by email saving
NJWCS both time and money. Our web site photo gallery shows our terrific Members’ artwork and the fun we
have at our functions. In 2014 our new Elected Members were our guests at the annual meeting and luncheon, a
little added reward for their outstanding accomplishments. We've added a travel expense for our Awards judges
allowing us to branch out and attract new judges in neighboring states. This October we are moving our Annual
Open Reception to the last day of the show saving members an extra trip to Middletown. Accepted paintings
may be removed after the reception.
Changes in 2015 will have greater impact as we move into digital entries and make available dues renewal
online. Our web site will continue to be a tremendous source of information with many new features such as a
“frequently asked questions “area, a Learning Center with tips and web sources, and Workshop listings of classes taught by our Members. Our Gallery Search Chair will be looking for new venues hopefully spread out
across New Jersey to better accommodate all of our Members.
As always this is a Society made up of all our members both Elected and Associate and I hope you’ll consider
volunteering. In addition, please feel free to approach any of the Board members with your suggestions, ideas and questions, we love to hear from you.
Many thanks go to NJWCS’s 2012-2014 President, Donna Roettger. During the past 4 years Donna was not
only, a mentor, a shoulder to lean on, a voice of reason, but also a terrific friend to me and I will personally miss
working with her. Donna will assume a Past President Board position.
So as we head into 2015 please keep in mind “Change…not always welcome but usually necessary”.
Jinnie May President NJWCS
Jinnie May Best in Show
Page 4 John Marin
Biography by Art Klein
Once again I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to my esteemed colleagues for supporting me
these past few years as President. I am honored to have served on the Executive Board of this amazing organization with a group of the most prestigious Watercolor artists NJ has to offer. NJWCS has been a part of my
life for many years, and being president certainly has been one of the highlights.
I would like to acknowledge those that have recently retired from the NJWCS board, Roberta Carter-Clark,
Nessa Grainger and Anthony Ventura. We were lucky enough to have Tony and Roberta with us at the luncheon (I know it was too much to ask for Nessa to come up from Florida!) where we were able to give them Honorary Membership awards. Like many others, these are the people who have dedicated so much of their hearts
and souls to keeping this organization thriving, they are an inspiration to us all, and we will miss them.
Page 5 NJWCS Calendar of Events
New Membership Chair
Medy Bozkurtian
What’s New on our Website!
 Help on Digital
 Workshops by NJWCS Members
John Marin continued
I am leaving with a strong sense of well being, knowing that with Jinnie May and a strong board at the helm,
we will be moving in a new and positive direction, while staying dedicated to our rich history and true to our
core values. We certainly are in good hands, and I wish Jinnie and the gang all the best! Of course I will remain
on the board as Past President, and will be available for any and all tasks that our new President may have for
me. Playing a supporting role will be a new adventure, and I look forward to it.
Thank you all again for all your love and support!
Donna Roettger President Emeritus
Elected Members in the News:
2
Board policy for Member News is no more than 3 items per issue. Please submit in narrative form, and submit only once per newsletter cycle. The Editor
reserves the right to edit submissions.
GREG BRUNO, AWS had a painting “Daily News” juried into the
147th Annual American Watercolor Society’s Open Show, and
the painitng was chosen for the traveling show as well. He was
inspired after entering a newspaper stand and seeing several
newspapers rolled into tubes on display. He finds his inspiration
in thrift shops, abandoned buildings and scenic vacations.
MARK DE MOS is on the Jury of Selection for the Allied Artists
of America’s Annual Open International 2014 Exhibition(NYC).
RICHARD WILLIAM HAYNES, AWS had a his painting " Half
Full" accepted in the 147th Annual American Watercolor Society's Open International Exhibition. With this entry Richard was
granted Signature Membership in the American Watercolor
Society.
SANDRA L. JONES had a painting in the Philadelphia WC
Society Members’ Show, March 8-May 17 at the Widener Univ.
Art Gallery, 1 University Place in Chester PA.
LOIS SANDERS received an Award of Merit from the Garden
State Watercolor Society 2014 Signature Member Exhibit held
at the D & R Greenway Land Trust, Johnson Education Center,
Princeton, NJ.
MIKE SCHERFEN has been inducted into the Audubon Artist,
NYC and the American Artists Professional League, NYC as
a full Member. His watercolor painting, “The Cavern Guide” won
a second place award for at the Skylands 27th Annual Regional
Juried Art Exhibit and has been accepted into the Hudson Val-
ley Art Association 82nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NYC, Sept 20 - 26.
TONY VENTURA, AWS was on the Jury of Selection for the
147th Annual American Watercolor Society’s Open Show.
His painting “Essex Boathouse “was accepted into the show.
STEVE ZAZENSKI’s painting “ North Jersey Nocturne ” was
juried into the 147th Annual American Watercolor Society’s
Open Show, and chosen for their traveling show. This is the
second time he has been accepted into the Juried Show in
three years.
Associate Members News
Please send in your news of getting into juried shows, awards, shows and any firsts, first
exhibit, first juried show, first group show, first one person show…
JUDI GILDEN'S painting, "Little Princess" was juried into the
National Association of Women Artists, Inc., "DIVAS" Divine Inspirational Visual Artistic Souls" Online Exhibition,
10/13 - 1/14. Her painting, "Anna" was exhibited at the National Arts Club, 115th Annual Exhibiting Artist Members Exhibition, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC.
JUDITH HUMMER has been accepted into the National Watercolor Society's 2014 All Member Exhibition with her painting entitled, "Fractured Birds". The exhibit runs from June 7,
2014 through August 17, 2014 at the NWS Gallery, San Pedro, CA.She is having a solo art exhibit at the Bernardsville
Library, Bernardsville, NJ running from August 2, 2014
through August 28, 2014. Reception, August 7, 6:00 8:00pm.
In Memoriam: MARIA (MIEKE) DE MOS, 92, of Morristown died suddenly on April 28th.
Mieke was a long time associate member of the NJWCS and Garden State Watercolor Society, a signature member with the North East (CT) and Baltimore Watercolor Societies. Her
painting “Downhill” (pictured) was accepted into the 2005 NJWC juried show. Her painting
“Brooklyn Street Venders”(on Yupo) was an award winner with the Baltimore WCS.
She first painted in watercolor in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) before World War II. She
painted scenes of camp life while imprisoned by the Japanese 1942-45. She didn’t pick up a watercolor brush again until after her husband Mike passed away (1973). She became deeply
involved with a local art association where she brought in numerous NJWCS to study with. She did outdoor art shows from
Virginia to Maine with her son, Mark. Over the years she focused on florals, landscapes, and finally abstracts. She was
one of kind, fearless, and will be missed.
In September there will a retrospective of her watercolors,
pastels and ceramics, “An Artists Journey”, at Studio 7 Gallery,
5 Morristown Road, Bernardsville NJ. The reception will be
Friday, September 5, from 6-9 PM. www.studio7artgallery.com
In Memoriam: SONJA A. WEIR, 78, of South Bound Brook, passed away on October 8, 2013.
Born Oct. 12, 1934, in Hazleton, PA, Sonja resided in South
Bound Brook since 1959. Mrs. Weir was an artist and art teacher. She was a longtime Associate Member of the NJWCS, and
a member of the American Artists Professional League, and
the Salmagundi Art Club, both in New York City. She is survived by her husband of 56 years.
“Waterfront”, Acrylic, Award winner.at the Salmagundi Club Member Show,
NJWCS Elected Member Show Monmouth Beach Cultural CenterJune 11- June 28th 2014
Jinnie May Concrete Jungle-Best in Show
Elizabeth Oberman
Deborah Redden
Jeremy Taylor
Award of Excellence
Award of Excellence
Award of Excellence
In the Zone
Afternoon Stroll
A Tree for all Seasons
Mike Scherfen
Robert Heyer
Sheila Grodsky
Award of Merit
Award of Merit
Award of Merit
The Gondoliers
High & Dry
Garden Interplay
VENTURA AWS , ROBERTA CARTER CLARK, AWS and
NESSA GRAINGER, AWS (not present) received Honorary
Awards for outstanding contribution and active involvement on
the New Jersey Water Color Society Board and to the New Jersey Water Color Society for over 40 continuous years.
TONY VENTURA and ROBERTA CARTER CLARK
JOHN MARIN (1870 – 1953) By Art Klein
John Marin wrote “There was a boy in my
class who could transfer a Greek torso to paper and make it look nice and real – as real as
the plaster cast that he copied. But I thought to
myself – what’s it for? A man paints a boat so
it looks like a boat but what’s he got – the boat
doesn’t do anything – it doesn’t move in the
water – it is blown by no tempest – That copy
boat might sell boats but it cannot be art. Art A Rolling Sky: Paris After Storm
must show what goes on in the world.”
Today, Marin’s paintings are represented in
The Circus No. 1
many permanent collections and museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, MOMA, the Whitney, and many others. The White House acquired his 1952 painting “The Circus No. 1” in 2007. Most
unusual, in that his primary medium was watercolor, not oils.
During his lifetime, American modernist John Marin was perhaps the country’s most celebrated artist. His improvisational approach to color, paint handling, perspective and movement situated him as a leading figure in modern art and
helped influence the Abstract Expressionist movement. Marin was born in Rutherford, NJ and raised by his two aunts in
Weehawken. His mother had died 9 days after his birth. Toward the end of his life, he was a resident of Cliffside Park, NJ
and he is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, NJ. Yes, a “Jersey boy.”
Marin studied architecture at Stevens Institute of Technology for a year and then worked for awhile as an architect.
This pursuit did not work out to his satisfaction, so in 1899 at age 28, he entered the Pennsylvania Academy of Arts,
where he studied with Thomas P. Anshutz, William Merritt Chase, and Hugh Breckenridge. He stayed for two years, then
painted on his own for awhile, then attended some classes at the Art Students League in NYC. In 1905, with the reluctant
support of his family, he left for Europe and settled in Paris. He was 34. He traveled in Europe for six years and painted in
the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Italy. He had learned etching in New York and during his European sojourn he
made more than 100 plates depicting historic landmarks and picturesque scenes. He also painted in oil, and with much
greater regularity in watercolor, soon displaying a highly distinctive feel for the medium that was to provide his principal
means of expression for the balance of his career. (see: “A Rolling Sky: Paris After Storm,” 1908.) In Paris, Marin became
part of an expatriate group that included Alfred Maurer, Max Weber, Patrick Henry Bruce, Edward Steichen and Arthur B.
Carles. This group was united by an admiration for the French moderns, especially Matisse, and they all belonged to the
New Society of American Artists in Paris.
In 1909, Marin had his first one-man exhibition at Alfred Stieglitz’s 291 Gallery (291 Fifth Avenue, NYC). Marin’s association with Stieglitz would last nearly 40 years until Stieglitz’s death in 1946, and Stieglitz’s philosophical and financial
support would prove essential. From 1909 to 1946, Stieglitz showed Marin’s work almost every year in one of his galleries. Marin returned permanently to the U.S. in 1911, at age 41.
Marin’s art initially reflected the impact of impressionism and post-impressionism. His New York images 1910-1913
demonstrate the artist’s willingness to fragment and distort a scene for expressive purposes. His “Movement, Fifth Ave.”
suggests the frenetic quality of urban life. (see: “Brooklyn Bridge,” watercolor & charcoal on paper, 1912.) (Also, see: “Buildings, One With
Tower,” 1909-10.) He wrote an article about his NY watercolors: “Shall we consider the life of a great city as confined simply
to the people and animals on its streets and in its buildings? Are the buildings themselves dead? …I see great forces at
work: great movements; the large buildings and the small buildings; the warring of the great and the small; influences of
one mass on another greater or smaller mass. Feelings are aroused which give me the desire to express the reaction of
these “pull forces,” those influences which play with one another; great masses pulling smaller masses, each subject in
some degree to the other’s power….While these powers are at work pushing, pulling, sideways, downwards, upwards, I
can hear the sound of their strife and there is great music being played. And so I try to express graphically what a great
city is doing. Within the frames there must be a balance, a controlling of these warring, pushing, pulling forces.”
In 1914 he spent his first summer in Maine. The rocky coast there became one of
his favorite subjects. “In painting water make the hand move the way the water moves,”
Marin wrote in a 1933 letter to an admirer of his
technique. He purchased a small island off Small
Point Harbor where he camped and painted during the summer, 1914 - 1917. It is so interesting
that during the same two decades that Sargeant
was bringing bravura watercolor tradition to its
apotheosis, an artist who was his junior by just 14
years, John Marin, was inventing an altogether
different, 1914 - 1917. It is so interesting that during the same two decades that Sargeant was
bringing bravura watercolor tradition to its apotheosis, an artist who was his junior by just 14 years,
Lower Manhattan
Brooklyn Bridge
John Marin, was inventing an altogether different
Sept. 29th –Oct. 26th 72nd Annual NJWCS Open Juried Exhibition (2014)
Middletown Arts Center(MAC) in Middletown, NJ
Sat., Sept 27th (10- Noon)
Receiving
Sat., Sept 27th and Sun. Sept. 28th Pick up of declined paintings
Oct. 26th (2PM-4PM)
Oct. 26th (4PM-5PM)
Reception Awards Ceremony 3PM and
Pick up of accepted paintings
Annual Associates’ Show (2015) Spring or early Summer at the Bernardsville Library,
Bernardsville, NJ .
Whats New on our Website: www.njwcs.org
We’ve added new sections to our web site including a
Learning Center which will provide helpful tips and sites
to help with digital entries and re-sizing photos for entry.
We will be adding information on an ongoing basis so
please check often.
We are proud to provide you with workshops and
demonstrations taught by our members. Any of our
members both Elected and Associate may submit classes,
workshops and demonstrations they conduct to our Webmaster Mike Scherfen @ [email protected]. This
offer is not open to third party classes; you must be a
NJWCS member/instructor to place information. For your
convenience, Mike has added maps to the locations many
of which are out of state.
Starting in 2015 we will be adding a “Frequently Asked
Questions” area which we hope will be a terrific “go to”
source of information about NJWCS. Watch for FAQ’s in the
near future.
As always all our prospectuses, forms, invitations, important
dates, photos of our functions and award winning paintings
by our members may be found on our site www.njwcs.org
Send Your Member News to:
5
Editor: Mark de Mos email: [email protected]
7 Richlyn Court Morristown, NJ 07960
Home: (973)267-4363 Cell: (862)-812-7450
Information deadlines
Spring, 2015
February 15, 2015
Summer, 2015
May 1, 2015
Fall, 2015
August 15, 2015
Advertise in the NJWCS Newsletter
Business Card Sized Ad: $25 for 2 issues
Advertise a show, your website, your art related
business. Call Mark at 862-812-7450
Membership Chair:
Medy Bozkurtian [email protected]
19 Jackson street, East Hanover, NJ 07936
Save us a stamp
Receive the color newsletter by email contact the Membership Chair or
the Newsletter Editor
Please keep us appraised of any changes in your contact information (such as email address).
Jonh Marin continue from page 4
watercolor language, one that would win him a leading position among the pioneers who were Americanizing the revolutionary art of Europe. (see: “Maine Coast,” 1914; simplicity of statement, impressionistic use of color, mostly wet on wet; artist not concerned with attempting a realistic representation of what he was seeing.)
During the 1920s his paintings became even more expressive and abbreviated, at times calligraphic, as seen for example in “Lower Manhattan,” watercolor, 1922; (in MOMA.) Objects were further simplified into fractured colored planes; directional lines suggesting movement were added and borders painted and fragmented. In 1926, Duncan Phillips (a noted American art critic and collector) purchased his first work by Marin and in 1929 gave him his first one-ƉĞƌƐŽŶŵƵƐĞƵŵĞdž
ŚŝďŝƟŽŶ͘ K ǀ ĞƌƚŚĞ
years, Duncan Phillips wrote copiously about Marin, believing he was one of America’s finest modernists. Marin’s city images underǁ ĞŶƚĂŵĂũŽƌƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞϭϵϯ ϬƐĂƐƚŚĞĮ ŐƵƌĞƐŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚŝŶƐĐĂůĞĂŶĚďĞĐĂŵĞŵŽƌĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚĞůĞŵĞŶƚƐŝŶƚŚĞƐĐĞŶĞƐ͘ (see:
“Untitled, Figures in Downtown NYC,” drawing, 1932.) , ŝƐƐƚLJ
ůĞĚŝĚŶŽƚĐŚĂŶŐĞƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂůůLJƚŚĞƌĞĂŌĞƌ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚŝƚďĞĐĂŵĞŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůLJĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶŝƐƟĐ͘
:ŽŚŶD ĂƌŝŶǁ ĂƐĂůǁ ĂLJƐĂďŝƚŽĨĂƌĞďĞů͘, ĞĂĐŚŝĞǀ ĞĚĨĂŵĞďLJďĞŝŶŐĂŶŝŶƚƵŝƟǀ ĞĂŶĚŝŵƉƌŽǀ ŝƐĂƟŽŶĂůƉĂŝŶƚĞƌ͘ , ĞůĞŌƚŚĞďŽƌders
white because he didn’t want to create an illusion of sorts; he wanted the picture to look like it is painted on paper. He used waterĐŽůŽƌƌŝŐŚƚŽƵƚŽĨƚŚĞƚƵďĞƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐĚŽƚƐŽŶƚŚĞƉĂƉĞƌ͖ ŚĞƵƐĞĚĐŚĂƌĐŽĂůŝŶǁ ĂƚĞƌĐŽůŽƌ͖ ŚĞĚŝĚƐĐƌĂƉŝŶŐĂŶĚǁ ŝƉŝŶŐ͖ he
ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐƵƐĞĚĚŝī ĞƌĞŶƚƚŽŽůƐƚŽĂƉƉůLJƉŝŐŵĞŶƚŝŶƐƚĞĂĚŽĨĂďƌƵƐŚ͖ ŚĞĞǀ ĞŶƵƐĞĚĂƐLJƌŝŶŐĞƚŽĂƉƉůLJƉŝŐŵĞŶƚƚŽƉĂƉĞƌ͘ , ŝƐĂpe Split
ƉĂŝŶƟŶŐƐĞdžĞŵƉůŝĨLJĂƌĞŶĞǁ ĞĚĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐŵĨŽƌƚŚĞĂďƐƚƌĂĐƚƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐƚŚĂƚŚĂĚĂůǁ ĂLJƐďĞĞŶĂĨĞĂƚƵƌĞŽĨŚŝƐǁ ŽƌŬ͘ &ůĂƩ ĞŶŝŶŐƚhe
ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚƐƉĂĐĞĂŶĚƵƐŝŶŐŇŽĂƟŶŐĨŽƌŵƐĂŶĚĞŶĞƌŐĞƟĐďƌƵƐŚǁ ŽƌŬ͕ D ĂƌŝŶƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĞĚƚŚĞŇĞĞƟŶŐƉĂƩ ĞƌŶƐŽĨƚŚĞŶĂƚƵƌĂůǁ ŽƌůĚinto
ŝŶŶŽǀ ĂƟǀ ĞĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ͘
In his eighty-ƚŚŝƌĚLJĞĂƌ͕ D ĂƌŝŶƐĂŝĚ͗ ͞ ϴϯ LJĞĂƌƐŝƐĂůŽŶŐƟŵĞ͘ /ŚĂǀ ĞŚĂĚĂůŽŶŐůŝĨĞĂŶĚĂǀ ĞƌLJŚĂƉƉLJŽŶĞ– retained all ŵLJĨĂĐƵůƟĞƐ
and want to go with them. Why stay?” …As for my work – ŵĂŶLJƵƉƐĂŶĚĚŽǁ ŶƐĮ ŐŚƟŶŐŽƵƚƉƌŽďůĞŵƐŵĂŬŝŶŐĚĞĚƵĐƟŽŶƐĂŶĚƚŚĞŶ
ďĞŝŶŐƉƵůůĞĚƵƉŽŶĂŌĞƌƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ– ĂŶĚĂŌĞƌƐŝŐŚƚ– ďƵƚŝĨLJŽƵĚŽŐĞƚĂůŝƩ ůĞƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐLJŽƵůŝŬĞǁ ŚLJƚŚĂƚ͛ ƐĂďŽƵƚĂůůLJŽƵ͛ ƌĞĞŶƟtled to
in this life.” (see John Marin by John Marin.) Sources used for this article: 1. “American Watercolors,” by Christopher Finch, Abbeville Press, 1986.
2. “John Marin by John Marin,” edited by Cleve Gray, Holt Rinehart & Winston of Canada, Ltd., 1970. 3. Article in “Camera Work” by John Marin, c. 1913.
4. Websites: a) Art Institute of Chicago; video entitled “John Marin’s Watercolors: A Medium for Modernism,” featuring Martha Tedeschi, Curator of Prints & Drawings and Kristi Dahm, Ass. Conservator of Prints & Drawings (onYouTube). Also, article by Ilene
Susan Fort.
b) Wikipediac) Colby College Museum of Art, the John Marin Collection.