Woodbridge welcomes new art gallery to town
Facility is near intersection of Fulton and Main streets
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

Top: People look around the first-ever Woodbridge Artisan Guild gallery, located at 353 Fulton St., during the official opening on May 30. Members of the Woodbridge Arts Council Committee are looking for artists as well as non-artists to join the newly formed nonprofit co-op Woodbridge Artisan Guild. Above: Lois Griffin, vice president of the Woodbridge Arts Council, enjoys the opening. Left: One of the pieces displayed.

WOODBRIDGE — The township now has an art gallery.

"With the inception of the Arts Council two years ago, we decided that we wanted a gallery; however, we just needed to find the space," said Lois Griffin, vice president of the Woodbridge Arts Council and a fiber artist.

Griffin said that through the hard work of the Woodbridge Arts Council Committee and the support from township officials, their dream has become a reality.

The six members of the arts council include Griffin, ceramicist Connie Elek, who is president of the council, painter Paul Moran, sculptor Glenn Murgacz, photographer Eduardo Santos, whom the mayor named as the official photographer of the township, and illustrator James Sullivan.

The arts council recently formed the nonprofit 501(c)3 co-op Woodbridge Artisan Guild and welcomes any artist who would like to become a member for $50 to $100 a year. Artists do not have to live in the township to become members.

Membership is also open to non-artists, who can join as supporting members, and for students at a special student member rate. Members of the arts council said they hope young people will join, to ensure that the co-op always has a fresh perspective.

The gallery currently displays the artwork of the six members on the council. Admission to the gallery is free, and visitors can purchase the artwork.

With the help of Jim Elek, president of J.J. Elek Realty in the township and also the husband of Connie, the arts council found space at 353 Fulton St., which is located a half-block off Main Street.

"We were told that we got the space at the end of March," said Griffin. "That's when we immediately worked on getting it ready for the opening."

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDUARDO SANTOS

Township officials including Mayor John E. McCormac, Councilwoman Brenda Velasco, Councilman James Carroll, and family and friends of the six artists of the Artisan Guild gathered on May 30 to kick off the opening of the gallery.

Wine and cheese were served, courtesy of Mulberry Street, a restaurant located on Rahway Avenue in the township, and chief of staff Caroline Ehrlich.

"So many people have chosen to lead this effort to aid in making Woodbridge better through arts and theater," said Mc- Cormac, who added that art gallery shows were previously displayed at the historic Barron Arts Center on Rahway Avenue.

The mayor had started an arts initiative in 2007 to promote the arts, theater, dance and more in the township. Since then, the Woodbridge Community Choir and the New Horizons Band of Woodbridge have formed.

Sullivan thanked the mayor for giving them the "OK" to move closer to their dream of opening up the gallery.

"This is a gallery for everyone," he said.M

urgacz said that having an art gallery in the township is exciting.

"This is all about the community raising awareness about the arts," he said. "Our goal is to make Saturday nights in downtown Woodbridge more alive and vital."

Murgacz is currently building sculptures for the 10 sections of the township. One of his works, which he named "Alana," was unveiled in front of the Barron Arts Center. He also made the 18-by- 24-foot, 6-foot-high stainless steel sports figures that are displayed at the Woodbridge Community Center, and in 2007 he built a 4-foot-wide, 13-foot-long and 6- foot-7-inch-tall train for the J.J. Bitting Brewing Co. on Main Street.

For more information about the Guild or how to become a member, contact Glenn Murgacz at glenn49@comcast.net or call 732-910-7405.