The Montclair Art Museum Takes Art-Making on the Go!

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Sept. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) is serving up art through the new MAM Art Truck! The truck is a mobile studio, housed in a retrofitted ice cream truck that offers art projects and lessons to MAM’s community. It seeks to raise visibility for the Museum and its Yard School of Art in surrounding towns while feeding creativity in underserved communities and audiences. The Art Truck premiered at the Montclair 4th of July Parade and has already engaged hundreds of people of all ages through art at over 30 events in 15 towns.

         Inspired by the modern food truck phenomenon and pop-up store trends, the Art Truck is a new model for mobile cultural engagement. “No museum or arts organization in our geographic area offers a comparable outreach project. We’re excited at the ability to bring art-making anywhere, to anyone, and hope that the community will in turn see the Museum as an accessible and welcoming resource,” said MAM Director Lora Urbanelli. The Art Truck is one of many initiatives to weave the Museum into the fabric of the community including new commissions for public artwork on MAM’s grounds and the Creative Aging Initiative, which offers dynamic programming specifically to seniors. As MAM celebrates its Centennial and looks toward its next 100 years, these efforts underscore the Museum’s commitment to education and community engagement.

         The Art Truck has met with high popularity and success as it offers not only incredible accessibility—bringing art-making directly to you—but also a versatile range of programming. In just one month, the truck has led hundreds in creating the ever-expanding Thunderbird, a mixed-media community art project, at large-scale events such as Maplewoodstock, Lincoln Park Jazz Festival (Newark), and Meet Me in Morristown; led small groups in three-part mini series that explore art-making in depth at senior centers in Livingston, Passaic, Chatham, and beyond; engaged children during adult swim at community pools in West Caldwell, Summit, and South Orange; and become a regular beloved feature at Montclair’s South Park Street Farmer’s Market.

Event highlights coming up in August include continued work with seniors at Canterbury at Cedar Grove and Emeritus at West Orange, community events such as the Montclair Jazz Festival (August 16) and the Feast of St. Sebastian in Montclair (August 22-24), and appearances at West Caldwell and Madison pools. Additional events are being booked through the fall. For a detailed schedule, please visit montclairartmuseum.org or follow the truck on social media with the hashtag #MAMarttruck. If you are interested in having the MAM Art Truck at your event or community venue, please contact arttruck@montclairartmuseum.org. The truck is primarily led by artist Dan Fenelon.

The Art Truck is sponsored by the Partners for Health Foundation. Additional generous support provided by Tracy Higgins and Jim Leitner, Friends of the Make it Happen Fund, and The Montclair Foundation.