(SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ) — A brand new lineup of paintings, which depicts the open house and landscapes of 12 Somerset County parks, will quickly be on show within the Somerset County Administration Constructing at 20 Grove Avenue, Somerville, NJ. The artwork exhibit will run from October 17 to December 31, 2025, and options over 30 New Jersey artists who’ve labored to showcase the huge variety that exists inside the 15,000 acres of preserved open house in Somerset County.
“Every single day, numerous residents enterprise into our scenic parks, award-winning gardens, top-notch leisure amenities, and wonderful nature trails to flee the stress of life and work,” stated Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Fee. “The flexibility to take pleasure in out of doors facilities and contemporary air, whatever the season, is what makes Somerset County a particular place to reside, work, and play. That is why we stay dedicated to reaching our preservation aim of 24,000 acres of open house. By defending our open house, we are able to create extra alternatives for residents to remain lively, lead wholesome lives, and specific themselves by means of these artistic artwork initiatives.”
The Open Air / Open Space Art Project celebrates and highlights Somerset County’s dedication to the Open Space Preservation Program, which focuses on preserving undeveloped land for leisure functions and environmental sustainability. This undertaking is the second from a particular collection of artwork initiatives that spotlight Somerset County’s preservation efforts. The primary installment, entitled Farm to Frame, partnered New Jersey artists with preserved farmlands in Somerset County. Artists have additionally been paired with historic websites in Somerset County to create subsequent 12 months’s Hues of History artwork undertaking.
For this undertaking, artists got a full calendar 12 months to create paintings that visually represented the pure setting, reside occasions, and different leisure actions that happen throughout all 4 seasons all through the park system. Artists from 14 Somerset County municipalities participated within the undertaking, which additionally included artists from six totally different counties throughout New Jersey.
“By offering a platform for New Jersey artists to create significant and impactful work, the initiatives foster a deeper connection to the area people,” stated Katie Himics, Program Coordinator for the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Fee. “By means of artwork, this undertaking collection supplies an accessible entry level for the general public into the work that the County does to protect our farmland, open house, and historic property.”
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Over 40 items of paintings have been made by means of a Plein Air course of, which entails creating artwork whereas outdoor to seize the topic in actual time. Artists labored in quite a lot of mediums together with pastel, collage, ink, watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic, printmaking, and combined media. All year long, the artists labored to seize the next parks and open areas.
* Colonial Park – Franklin.
* Duke Island Park – Bridgewater.
* East County Park – Warren.
* Little Brook Sanctuary – Bernardsville.
* Lord Stirling Park – Bernards.
* Natirar – Peapack/Gladstone, Far Hills, Bedminster.
* North Department Park – Bridgewater.
* Raritan River Greenway – Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Raritan, Somerville.
* Skillman Park – Montgomery.
* Sourland Mountain Protect – Hillsborough, Montgomery.
* South Department Greenway – Branchburg.
* Washington Valley Park – Bridgewater.
Opening Gallery Reception – A particular opening reception for the artwork exhibit might be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 6:00pm on the Cultural & Heritage Gallery at 20 Grove Avenue, Somerville, NJ. In the course of the reception, the exhibit might be juried, and the profitable artists might be introduced. In early 2026, the exhibit will journey to numerous areas all through the County to lift consciousness and educate the general public on the significance of defending open house for conservation, recreation, and passive use. To RSVP for the reception, contact the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Fee at [email protected] or (908) 231-7022.
Open Air / Open Area is sponsored by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Fee, Somerset County Park Fee, Somerset County Open Area Preservation Program, and Somerset County Board of County Commissioners. This system is made doable with funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Fee, a companion of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The County of Somerset is dedicated to excellence and innovation in public service, selling the well-being of all residents and communities by offering efficient, environment friendly, and responsive management.
