Thank You from the EO Team!

How exhilarating to work side by side with so many dedicated and knowledgable people on the Ellarslie Open. As the Open marks its 40th, one cannot help but be grateful to be on the continuum of an endeavor set in motion in 1982 by Mary Yess, and carried forward by hundreds of participants and volunteers across the decades. Here’s to many more Opens!

EO 40 is joined by two other milestones in 2023: the Trenton Artists Workshop Association at 45 and the Trenton Museum Society at 50. We would not be celebrating these three indelibly linked milestones without the enduring support of community members, volunteers, businesses, and organizations in the greater Trenton area.

As Juror, Reginald Browne matched his keen eye with a passion for supporting artists and innovative art-making. Reggie came to EO40 through TMS Trustee Jane Malloy, whose uncle, the Trenton legend Tom Malloy, was among the artists in the first Ellarslie Open, in 1982. How fitting that the gallery that holds his name is the first room that greets all who step into the Trenton City Museum.

Debbie Gorczycki

Sarah Unger

Ellarslie Open 40 Coordinators

Ellarslie Open 40 Committee:

Debbie Gorszycki and Sarah Unger, Co-Coordinators

Jan Applebaum, Exhibition Catalog Designer

Kaye Collins

Carol Hill

Jane Malloy

Deborah Oliver

Joan Perkes

Janis Purcell

Jean Shaddow

Ellarslie Open 40 Volunteers:

Joy Backes

Eileen Baldwin

Phyllis Favata

Ann Gannon

Mary Kay Girmsheid

Beverly Keese-Kelley

Barbara Lear

Susan Luty

Linda McCrae

Mike Newman

Rochelle Newman

George Olexa

Tori Oshel

Brad Pasko

Alexandra Pietsch

Ellen Pietsch

Bonnye Jean Randolph

Maggie Rose

Carla Sakson

A Letter from the President

Being President of the Board of Trustees of Trenton Museum Society comes with as many pleasures as challenges. One of my favorite pleasures is to welcome you to the Ellarslie Open especially this year, as we celebrate EO number 40.

The seamless unfolding of the EO, one of our signature events, belies the months of planning and the intensity of the final weeks that precede its opening day.

In the Museum the energy is palpable, and each Trustee has a duty to ensure the successful execution of the exhibition.

Our position as one of the most important juried exhibitions in the region is reaffirmed each year by the quality of the entries and the extreme attention the Art Exhibition Committee gives to selecting a Juror. Reggie Brown, this year’s Juror, exceeded our already high expectations. I urge you to take the time to read his statement and hope you will have an opportunity to chat with him.

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Trenton Museum Society which we will joyfully celebrate October 19. We will honor the Trustees who make the Trenton City Museum a reality. Our story is fascinating, and it shows what love and commitment to Trenton History and Art can mean to a community and beyond.

Your invaluable support has helped stabilize us through the pandemic and as we moved out of it. We ask you to continue this support: buy a piece of art, reserve a ticket for the October 50th Anniversary celebration, become a member, shop in our store, have a conversation with a TMS Trustee or volunteer, become a volunteer yourself, visit often – all ways for us to get to know each other better.

Many of you I know by name; however, I always enjoy meeting you in person, as discussing the Museum is one of the pleasures I mentioned earlier. Find me and introduce yourself, and I will try to do the same.

I want to thank our EO team, especially Debbie Gorczycki, Sarah Unger, and Deborah Oliver – the show’s administrative and curatorial leaders. Exceptional job.

And to our sponsors – many thanks to those who have supported us for years and to those who are supporting us for the first time.

Finally, to the artists: What would a Museum be without your presence?

You all make us great.

Joan Perkes

President, Board of Trustees

Trenton Museum Society

We thank these Award Sponsors for supporting artists of the Ellarslie Open v Mel Leipzig v Award in Memory of Robert Sakson v Garden State Watercolor Society v Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority v Diane Ciccone and Kali MacMillan v Susan Luty v Kerry Perretta v Rene Dawe in memory of Larry Stein v Deborah Gorczycki v Michael and Sarah Unger v Joan Perkes and Harry Georgeson v Stephen Bruce v Phoenix Art Supplies v Jerry’s Artarama v Award in Memory of Frank Weeden v Hunter Research v Carolyn Stetson v Mayor Douglas Palmer

40 Years of the Ellarslie Open

When I cooked up the idea for the Ellarslie Open, I had hoped it would turn into an annual event, but little did I think it would turn into the incredible show it has become. At that time, I was vicechair of the Trenton Museum Commission and president of TAWA (Trenton Artists Workshop Association); so, there were many artists I knew who would be interested in showing at this spectacular venue. Ben Whitmire, the museum’s director at the time, was a real treasure for the museum, and we had a lot of fun launching this new open juried show—always important when you’re putting in long hours on a new project. Working with our first juror, Stefan Martin, we saw wonderful works submitted from the local usual suspects, and, gratifyingly, from artists from much farther around the region. The show was wellreceived, artists were excited to be included, the museum had a new program, and we were off. Kudos to the various managers of the museum since Ben’s time, for keeping the fire in the show and making it the event it is today; it’s great to see your “child” grow up to be so smart, successful, and goodlooking!

Sincerely, Mary Yess

January 2023

EO Purchase Award artists with work in the Trenton Museum Society’s permanent collection:

Sherri Andrews, Erik Armusik, Gail Bracegirdle, Chee Bravo, James Cann, Tom Chesar, Jeanne Chesterton, Larry Chestnut, Sue Chiu, Anne Gannon, Trudy

Glucksberg, Jeff Goodwin, Diane Greenberg, Richard Hoffman, Kevin Hogan, Danielle Ingeri, Derek Jecxz, Justin Jedrzcjczyk, Joe Kazimierczyk, Michael Kember, Kristin Lerner, Susan Luty, Raymond Mathis, Paul

Matthews, Mary McKay, Charles McVickers, Paul Mordetsky, Jeane Nielsen, Dennis Michael Normile, John O’Neill, Katie Petrille, Deborah Pey, Dallas Piotrowski, Janet Purcell, Jennifer Renshaw, Judith Rosenthal, Louis Russomanno, Christina

Schmitz, Jay Shin, Marion Simmons, Jack Turkel, Gloria Wiernik, Mary Yess, Margaret Zullinger

Reginald M. Browne, Juror

It is unquestionably an honor to be asked to judge this exhibition, and to lend my views on a wide range of objects of artistic expression. As a patron of artists, collector of visual objects, and participant in purposedriven non-profit leadership of art organizations, I draw upon an array of experiences, scholarship, and connoisseurship to execute this awesome task. I also note that the development of a scoring system to eliminate the hint of personal taste or bias was essential to offer fairness to each entrant in Ellarslie Open 40. Key qualities which were held in high regard were creative approach, composition, technique, and craftsmanship.

I would like to offer gratitude to Board members Jane Malloy and Sarah Unger, Board President Joan Perkes, and Board Vice Chair Diane Ciccone for the invitation to participate. I respect the commitment and hard work board members to museums and art organizations contribute to further the mission of organizations under their care. In a post-covid economy and resulting philanthropic environment, the stewardship of regional cultural organizations often is a challenging endeavor. In recognition of the 40th Ellarslie Open, an achievement to be celebrated, we can see that each year has undoubtedly brought new challenges but with noted continuity and growth, the commitment to art continues. Kudos to the entire board of directors and staff for their work.

I am a fan of a wide range of objects of art. Over my continued period of observation and collecting art, my interest spans the range of abstraction, figurative, landscapes and sculpture. I was impressed by the large number of landscapes introduced by the artists for inclusion in the Ellarslie Open 40. Clearly, some artists are as moved as I am by the beauty of the Central New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania areas. We are all fortunate to be temporary caretakers of the lands which we share. The work of artists is extremely important. Artists document what is seen and felt in their moment of art making. Without the creative economy, one of the pillars of what makes America great would not persist, freedom of expression.

It is the responsibility of the Artistic ecosystem - curators, artists, patrons, and the leadership of artbased organizations, to present the truth on the wide range of the American perspective. The American point of view is dynamic, complicated, and multi-lensed. The tent of inclusion must be welcoming to debate points of view and share the truth no matter where the road leads. The role of a juror in this case is to be open-minded and welcoming to what is captured and presented. Given the era we are currently witnessing with prevailing attitudes of righteous censorship, bans of ideas, and amending written records, Ellarslie Open 40 and peer juried contests around the country take on a new meaning and urgency to be a platform for freedom of speech and expression. I hope all involved share the same sentiments of fairness to the outcome of the judging and selection process.