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Hopewell Museum rings in changes
Small town, Big Read
By BRiLLiAn BAo
Pennington Public Library using NEA grant to launch programming based around the novel ‘True Grit’
With its 100th anniversary approaching, the Hopewell Museum is busy making changes. Over the past year alone, the museum has launched a series of initiatives, including the development of programming for local schools, creation of community forums to engage the public, exhibition of new displays on topics including the Revolutionary War and family life, establishment of the first ever Hopewell Valley Heritage Weekend, and improvement of its object and archival collections to increase accessibility to visiting researchers and the community. Joe Klett, the president of the Hopewell Museum, says that while these changes are important, says that it has been equally important for the museum to communicate them clearly to the local community. “People were used to it operating in a certain way,” Klett says. “You went to the museum and saw the same exhibits that you saw the year before. When people hear that we’re rethinking some of it, they think we’re changing what the purpose of the museum is. They think that we’re not going to tell the same stories that we’ve told in the past.” But Klett and other board members say that this is not the case. While the museum is See MUSEUM, Page 10
By Joe eMAnsKi
Cher yl Bomba’s “Universal Language” and Amy Lee’s “Raw Grace 7” are two of the jemanski@communitynews.org many works by members of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council that are on display in the Pennington Public Library is Art and Healing Galler y at Capital Health Medical Center through March 25. the kind of institution they say shouldn’t even exist these days. At a time when some people are daring to question the role libraries have to play in this modern, increasingly digital northern Hopewell. An opening reception is world, small, local libraries like “My inspiration comes from scheduled for Thursday, Jan. the one in Pennington are findnature,” she says. “There’s 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Many of ing new ways to stay relevant. Pennington relies on a pronothing better when you’re feel- the artists whose works are on ing down than going for a walk display will be in attendance. (A fessional staff of just three through the woods and you complete list of artists can be people—plus a boatload of dedicated volunteers, some of immediately feel amazing.” found at the end of this story.) That feeling is one the Artists in the exhibition are whom have been helping out at Hopewell Valley Arts Council both amateur and professional, the library off Main Street for and the Arts and Healing Com- both self taught and profession- more than 20 years—to provide By Joe eMAnsKi a wide variety of programming mittee at Capital Health hope ally trained. jemanski@communitynews.org to capture with their ongoing “This is our first annual to the community. And in 2019 When Amy Lee needs a pick- exhibition, Joy in the Everyday, member’s show and there was it’s about to embark on perhaps me-up, she heads outdoors for featuring works by members of an amazing response,” says its greatest initiative ever: the a hike through the Sourland the Hopewell Valley Arts Coun- Carol Lipson, president of the Big Read. Over the next few months, Hopewell Valley Arts Council Mountains with her dachshund, cil like Lee. The exhibition is on dis- Board of Trustees. “Almost PPL will be distributing copies Macaroni. Lee, an artist, has worked play at the Investors Bank Art too many to handle. Also a lot of Charles Portis’ 1968 novel, in a number of media, but has and Healing Gallery at Capital of new artists appeared to get True Grit, throughout its membecome known best for her Health Medical Center through involved. We are very pleased.” bership area and encouraging Amy Lee is a relatively new everyone from middle schoolmetalworking. The England March 25. Organizers say it native lived in New York City “captures in visual and written member of the arts council and ers to super seniors to share in for many years before recently representation the colorful rela- one whose works will be on the experience of reading the settling down on six acres in tionship between joy and art.” See ART, Page 8 See READ, Page 7
Artists find Joy in the Everyday January reception set for exhibition featuring works of Hopewell Valley Arts Council members
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