duCret Open Studio Finds A Gift in Local Musician Brian Celardo

This Tuesday night's Portrait Open Studio, lately nick-named the 'Anything Goes' Open Studio for local painters and sketch artists, has been experimenting the past few months with 'NJ-Acoustic in the Park' Musicians. What began as a risky experiment has turned into a really kool new community endeavor that mixes models and artists on the floor with musicians. The artists paint and sketch a live posed model (or paint the moving musicians) to the mellow tunes of several acoustic guitarists, sax & bass players. The result of the blend is a really fun venture that not only inspires artists to their full capabilities, but also gives the local musicians a live audience, during practice time. The musicians can experiment on new songs and work out harmonies and the artists are bolstered by melodies while they work. There's alot of laughter & good humor on the floor and the mood is relaxed and mellow; a perfect soother to a hard days work. duCret instructor Paul Casale who moniters Tuesday night 'Portrait' Open Studio is a 20+ year veteran of the Open Studio experience; starting out in NYC decades ago. So it was a 'no brainer' when the idea of adding musicians to the mix was introduced. The experiment has been a hit from 'day one'. For several months now a mix of musicians has performed on the Fine Arts Floor every Tuesday evening.

Somewhere along the way, one of our Board members heard wind of 'the experiment' and suggested we give Brian Celardo, a local & solo musician with a gamut of original tunes a hollar. One can usually find Brian and his guitars hunkered down & grooving at the Fanwood Performance Art Series, for he has a performance gig there year-long. But curious as artists usually are, we called Brian and he obliged us one night a few weeks ago, with 3 hours of the most melodic originals we've heard in a long time. This guy's really, really talented. And the artists on the floor really love him. So he's back this Tuesday evening...with his guitars and all his talent. All one has to do to hear him is bring a pad, some pencils, or a paintbox, canvas and $15.00 to get on the floor by 6pm this Tuesday. Periodically, Brian will perform throughout the summer at duCret, on Tuesday evenings. If you're interested in knowning of his future scheduled appearances at duCret, just call in or email us your email address and we'll put you on the duCret events newsletter.

Brian's performing career began at small venues in and around Staten Island, NYC and NJ, playing solo and duo acoustic guitar gigs. These gigs provided him with the opportunity to develop as a bass player. During this time Brian was attending Wagner College and performed with many of the music major students in varying ensembles. Brian then auditioned and was awarded the rhythm guitar spot for NYC based rock/alternative band, "Tell". During his tenure as Tell's rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist he played many venues in NYC including The Cat Club, The Bitter End, CBGBs, The China Club, Don't Tell Mama, The Duplex and many more. Tell was signed to a local label before disbanding in the mid 90's. As the lead guitarist, co-writer and backing vocalist for the Patti Sheehan Band, Brian performed w/ Michael Walsh, Arnie Wise and Patti Sheehan at local NYC venues. later on, as a founding member of the two piece acoustic Folk/Blues duo "Angst For The Memory", Brian developed his acoustic blues, jazz and improvisational techniques working with the late, great Michael Higgins. The music of "Angst" was built around Acoustic/Electric/Fast Folk/Rhythm & Blues. All Original Compositions & Arrangements... with Mike Higgins Singer/Songwriter, Guitar; Brian Celardo, Backup Vocals/Arranger, Guitar. Today Brian continues making music and expanding his musical knowledge. He has multiple projects in the works including an original act in his hometown of Fanwood, NJ where he is the musical creator and arranger in partnership with a new lyricist. He is also the lead and rhythm guitarist for a working cover band Covr2Covr.

Tuesday's duCret 'Portrait Open Studio' runs all summer long, beginning at 6pm - 9pm. Musicians and artists share the floor with a live costumed model. Fee: $15.00 general/$10.00 duCret student & alumni.
Wednesday's 'Figure Open Studio' runs for another 7 weeks and starts at 7pm - 9:30pm. Sketch artists can work on the human anatomy in the presence of a live, nude model. Fee: $15.00 general/$10.00 duCret student & alumni.

Thursday's Takumi Open Studio is run by a Japan trained duCret faculty member. It runs from 6pm - 8pm. Fee: $20.00 (with one-time $50.00 clay & glazing fee). If you're a beginner, an intermediate or a total pro - there's no excuse to NOT TO DO ART anymore. Because it's all here....waiting for you! All you have to do is show up!

Summer Nights - A Bevy of Creative Souls at duCret!

Model Ossiana Holds Meditative Pose For Painters

While most people fight their way thru summer induced traffic to a mobbed Jersey shore in attempt to recuperate from a slumped economy, artists and musicians at duCret have found a less crowded haven in Open Studio's every Tues, Wed and Thursday evening....sans the long road trip. You see, artists have long ago figured out ways to connect with nature that doesn't include fighting mobs. Sure, everybody loves the shore, and that doesn mean that artists don't love the negative ions too! But they're also enriching themselves in nature too, via Plein Air painting at local ponds or nature trails, or they're listening to sweet music on the Open Studio floors as they peacefully paint and sketch in a creative atmostphere of other artists - who've all discovered that relaxation can also come by giving permission back to one's self - to actually BE creative.



Model Katie Poses on 6/21, 6/28 & 7/5



When an individual's dream has been squashed out by cutbacks, job losses and closed art enrichment programs, finding duCret is like finding the lost pieces of the soul again! Rebirthing at duCret is actually occurring, one day at a time. And the regenerative spirit-energy people are culling back to themselves via one night of creativity, helps to make the weekday grind of survival, just alittle bit more bearable too. After all - where else can one go to find inner peace, constructive progress and the rebuilding of lost dreams all for $15.00 a night? The duCret Open Studio Commmunity Program currently has running every Tues, Wed and Thursday evening, a variety of Open Studio's, and each one is so different in nature, that there is literally something for everyone, including children and teens. Whole families are finding a new way to stay cohesive and supportive of one another in Open Studio. Musicians are connecting with artists. Kindred spirits are finding one another. Families are re-uniting thru a love of art. After all...artistic genes do tend to run down the DNA lines and it's actually quite fun to find daughters encouraging their Mom's to start painting again!

Models, Artists & Musicians
A Perfect Mix!

If you're seeking to restart a lost dream, restore a frazzled mind, reconnect a splintered family or just want to feel the insiration of others, duCret IS everything a community should be. It's extremely affordable, there's ZERO emotional baggage because that's all left at the door when people come in. Inside one finds peace, laughter, happiness and a slice of Heaven on Earth. And not surprisingly, careers are jump started, art collections are in progress and opportunities are an endless commodity. All one has to do at Open Studio....is grab their old painbox, a sketch pad, some spare change and SHOW UP!

TUES EVE: 6pm - 9 pm "Portrait & Anything Goes" Open Studio. Live musicians play mellow tunes and sing to inspire artists. Here you can paint, draw or sculpt a live still (clothed & costumed) model, or paint the moving musicians or you can bring in your own unfinished artwork to work on. Models are booked usually three weeks in a row to allow completion of a painting and pose for 20 minutes at a clip. The mood is relaxing, upbeat and artists are encouraged to mingle during breaktime. Beginners to pros all welcome. Fee: $15.00 per / $10.00 duCret students and alumni.

WED EVE - 7pm - 9:30pm "Figure Open Studio". A live nude model poses for five minutes at a clip giving artists the opportunity to fast sketch the full human figure and work on developing skills with regards to all aspects of the human anatomy. Based on classical and legendary art history, the honor of working with a nude form allows a maturity of artristy to unfold. Set to mellow music, this environment is quieter in nature, yet ever inspiring and welcoming of all newcomers. (This Open Studio is drawing only.) Fee: $15.00 per / $10.00 duCret students and alumni.

THURS EVE - 6pm - 8pm "Takumi & Pottery Wheel Open Studio". Remember the movie 'Ghost' with Demi M. and Patrick S? Always wanted to try the pottery wheel? It's SO much fun! Put your hands in clay dug straight up from Mother Earth, and learn how to shape her into something beautiful on the wheel. Enhance your experience with the flavor of Japan's ceramic history shared by our moderator, Simon, a Japan trained ceramics artist. Glaze and fire Mother's clay into editable pottery or plates. That's right - you could even make a dog bowl for your pets to drink from! Fee: $20.00 per w/($50.00 one-time clay/materials fee).

And while you're here this summer, pick up a Summer Art Workshop Catalog too. Or peruse through part of our Summer Catalog on the blog post just before this one. For starting in July there are over 35 very affordable Summer Art Workshops to choose from, that could ultimately one day, enable you to make that 'dream' career shift you always dreamed of!