A LOOK AT LOCAL HISTORY The Noyes Museum of Art

Stockton University continues the Noyes’ vision 40 years later

BY KATHY CHANG

The Noyes Museum of Art Stockton University certainly meets its mission and vision.

Just take a look at its longevity as a staple of the fine arts in the southern New Jersey region. This year marks 40 years since the vision of the founders and chief benefactors – Fred W. Noyes Jr. and his wife Ethel – came to life with the completion of the museum building and its inaugural exhibitions in June 1983.

The vision of the museum is “building upon the core of [the Noyes’] collection” and the mission is “be recognized for creating a thriving cultural environment for experiencing the arts in the southern New Jersey region.”

Certainly, the museum meets its mission and vision. The curators over the years have continued the vision of the couple even after the passing of Mrs. Noyes in January 1979 and Mr. Noyes in 1987.

Michael Cagno is the current executive director of the museum. A role he has held for 16 years overseeing the museum’s current two sites – The Noyes Galleries at Kramer Hall, 30 Front St., Hammonton, and The Noyes Arts Garage, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City.

“We curate 24 exhibits a year at the two locations,” he said, noting the exhibits are not limited to specific genres and cover a wide variety including hot button topics of immigration, social justice and climate change.

Exhibits typically stay up for two to three months at a time. Cagno noted two exhibits that have been very powerful.

During the forefront of the social justice movements, after the killing of George Floyd who died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020, the museum held an exhibit on the Green Book, which provided African Americans a listing of Blackfriendly businesses in the 1960s.

And more recently, in a partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, the museum held an exhibit of 100 face portraits of U.S. military veterans, capturing the psychological and emotional effects of war.

Behind the scenes, Cagno called curating the exhibits an “organic process” among his staff, the museum’s advisory committee and the different partnerships. The process usually begins a year ahead.

As for this year, the museum is gearing up for the 2023 New Jersey Arts Annual, which will showcase 105 different pieces of art from 105 different artists from all over New Jersey.

The theme of the exhibit is Mother Nature versus Human Nature: The Inequality of Climate Resilience that began in February and runs through June 24.

An opening reception was held at The Noyes Arts Garage in February and a closing reception will be held from 1 p.m. through 4 p.m. on June 3 at the Hammonton location.

After the New Jersey Arts Annual, the Hammonton site plans to feature artist Fred Staloff from July 10 to Sept. 29. An opening reception is scheduled from 5 p.m. through 7 p.m. on July 20.

And artist Gary Erbe from Oct. 12 to Jan. 26, 2024. An opening reception is scheduled the Sparta Historical Society are coming soon.

History area’s cultural scene. The Noyes Museum please see HISTORY, page 15

In 2010, the Noyes partnership with Stockton University began as a natural extension of Stockton’s commitment to the area’s cultural scene. The Noyes Museum formally became a part of Stockton University in 2016, the same year it closed its former building in Oceanville, Galloway Township.

Cagno said the museum partners with various organizations to offer hundreds of different programs in the arts from film festivals to classes and workshops.

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Today, The Noyes Museum maintains its founders’ dedication to “preserving, highlighting, interpreting and celebrating the arts” through its dynamic locations across southern New Jersey.

The Noyes’ were best known as the developers of the Historic Smithville Inn and the Towne of Historic Smithville and were also developers of the Ram’s Head Inn restaurant in Absecon, both in Atlantic County, according to the museum’s website.

Fred Noyes was also an academically trained artist. His art and personal collection of vintage bird decoys are part of the museum’s vast permanent collection of 19th to 21st century fine and folk art, according to the museum’s social media page.

“Art was the heartbeat of Fred Winslow Noyes, Jr. and he painted until he could no longer hold a paintbrush,” according to the museum’s website.

“His paintings reveal the joy he found in life and the delight he took in the natural landscapes of southern New Jersey. No matter what other demands there were in his life, he found the time to paint. His legacy is a body of work and an art museum that continue to inspire us to this day.”

General funding for the museum is provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Arts; the Mr. and Mrs. Fred Winslow Noyes Foundation; Stockton University; the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; and the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

The Noyes Museum also received funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel & Tourism.

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For more information about the Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University visit noyesmuseum.org.