“ART IN THE GARDEN TOUR”

TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FRANKLIN STREET SCHOOL

A special one-time tour on Saturday, October 2 will feature eight Cape Island Gardens and the works of over 20 local artists and artisans.

Sponsored by the Center for Community Arts (CCA), the self-guided tour is from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will raise funds for CCA’s Franklin Street School Rehabilitation Project.

The featured gardens, all on Cape Island, include three in Cape May City, two in Cape May Point, two in West Cape May and one on Bayshore Road in Lower Township.

Two of the gardens were designed and planted by local artist/landscape designer, Stan Sperlak. Amidst the fall colors and migrating wildlife, visitors to the gardens can enjoy and purchase the works of many local artists and artisans.

Works in the tour include pottery, photography, watercolors, oils, pastels and drawings, fiber art, wood carvings, wearable art, sculpture, folk art, topiaries and gourd art. Among the featured artists are

• West Cape May artists Paige Cunningham, Susan Ross, and Louise Zemaitis;
• Villas artists Cheryl Crews and Steven Steinmetz;
• Cape May Point artist Joan Veneziano D’Avanzo;
• Cape May watercolorist Linda Fellenbaum;
• and introducing the photography of Sara Kornacki, a former Cold Spring resident who was inspired to pursue photography through her participation in YAP, CCA’s Youth Arts Program.

The rain date for the tour is Sunday, October 3.

Tickets for the three-hour tour are $15 per person and $8 for youth. Children under 6 can attend free. The price includes light refreshments served at the Center throughout the hours of the tour. Tickets may be purchased in advance or the day of the tour starting at 10:00 a.m. at CCA, 712 Lafayette Street, Cape May. For more information, call 884-7525.

Cape May’s Franklin Street School was built in 1927 as a segregated elementary school for the city’s African American children. Advocacy efforts by the Center for Community Arts led to the State of New Jersey designating the neglected school an African American Historic Site. The Center is now working to transform the School into a community cultural center. When opened in 2008, the restored Franklin Street School will house CCA’s programs as well as those of other community organizations. It will also house the Center’s John and Janet Nash African American History Archives, the archives of the Greater Cape May Historical Society, and recreational programs of the City of Cape May. In addition, it will serve as the focal point for the Center’s African American Heritage Walking Tours, and will house a permanent exhibit about the history of the School and the contributions of African Americans to Cape May’s rich history.

Grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Black United Fund of New Jersey have supported project planning, including the preparation of a Condition Assessment Report, a Preservation Plan, and a Capital Campaign Plan. Funding for the Rehabilitation Project is expected to come from a mix of state, federal and private grants, gifts from individuals and from the local fundraising campaign and fundraising events such as this tour.

YAP—SATURDAY NIGHT’S FALL SESSION BEGINS SEPTEMBER 11

The Center for Community Arts (CCA) popular Saturday Night Youth Arts Program—YAP—is up and running again beginning September 11.

The program is free and open to all youth in grades 5 through 8.

Under the direction of local artist and teacher, Janet Payne, students in YAP’s Fall Session will explore the art of many cultures.

The program emphasizes visual arts, but also will include explorations of haiku poetry and other art forms. Participants will learn

• the art of Sumi painting, Scherenschnitte (German paper cutting),
• Psanky (Ukrainian eggs), prepare and taste foods from many cultures, and
• celebrate Mexico’s Day of the Dead by making a skeleton sculpture.

There will be two field trips:

• Oct. 2 to the Dodge Foundation Poetry Festival in Hillsborough, NJ, and
• December 11 to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Guest artists include

• “China Bob” McCafferty on the art of China and
• Yvonne Wright-Gary on African dance.

CCA provides this program free to the youth of Cape May County through generous grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Lower Cape Alliance, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and many generous businesses and individuals.

YAP-Saturday Night is held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Lyle Hall in the First United Methodist Church, 635 Washington Street, Cape May.

A light supper is served at the beginning of the evening.

No advance registration is required but parents must sign a permission slip to enable their child to attend.

For a detailed schedule of the Fall Session and a permission slip, or to volunteer for the program, call the Community Arts at 884-7525.

An additional YAP Saturday Night will be starting up in Wildwood in a few weeks – check back soon for details, or give us your phone number and we’ll call with details.

FALL 2004 CALENDAR

Calling All Poets, Sept. 1 – December 15, Poetry Workshops for Youth and Adults, Wednesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., 712 Lafayette St. (Call in advance to register, 884-7525)

African American Heritage Walking Tour, Sept. 4 – Oct. 16, Saturdays, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., leaves from 712 Lafayette St. (No reservation needed)

YAP: Youth Arts Program, Sept. 11 – December 11, Saturdays, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Grades 5-8, Cape May & Wildwood (Call for detailed schedule, 884-7525)

Cultural Crossroads, Sept. 13 – November 13, Artist Residency of Magda Martinez, Cape May, Lower Twp. & Wildwood, with Youth Programs, and Poetry & Play Readings (Call for details, 884-7525)

Art in the Library, Sept. 16 – Dec. 6, alternate Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., for ages 6-10

Harvest Country Fair, Sept. 18, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Rea’s Farm, West Cape May Vendors, Kids Games & Contests, Food; Pig Roast Supper, 4:00 – 6:00.

$1,000 Autumn Weekend in New York City Raffle Drawing Sept. 18, in Cape May – Win two nights in the Royalton, a 4-Star Boutique Hotel, two 2nd-row Orchestra Tickets to Wicked, and two tickets to the Bills vs. the Jets at the Meadowlands. Only $20!

Art in the Garden Tour, Oct. 2, Fundraiser, Saturday, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. $15. Tickets available at CCA’s office, 712 Lafayette St., Cape May

Day Trip to Dodge Poetry Festival, Oct. 2, Hillsborough, NJ (call for more info, 884-7525.)

Summer Youth Art Exhibit, Oct. 5 – 31, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, NJ

Summer Youth Art Exhibit Opening Reception, Oct. 10, Noyes Museum, Sunday, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Art of Vitality: Dance/Stretch Workshop: People with Arthritis Can Exercise, Tuesdays, Oct. 12 – Nov. 16, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., Convention Hall, Cape May (Call to register, 884-7525)

Cape May Jazz Festival Family Workshops, Nov. 13, 10:00 – 1:00 p.m., Star of the Sea School, Cape May (Call for more info, 884-7525.)

Art of Vitality: Adult Dance/Movement Workshops: Guest Artist Elaine Summers, Kinesthetic AwarenessTM, Saturday, Nov. 13 & Sunday, Nov. 14. (Call for info, 884-7525.)

10th Annual Great Cookie Exchange, Monday, December 6, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Cape May Elementary School Gym.