“Beam Me Up” by Danielle Cartier, an adjunct Art professor at Stockton University

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University will debut a new and unique exhibit this month featuring dynamic and diverse works of art created by 35 professors at southern New Jersey colleges and universities. "Academic Visions: Southern NJ University and College Art Professors Showcase" runs from January 18 through May 3, 2025.

There will be a free opening reception on Monday, February 3rd at the Arts Garage at 1:00pm.

Michael Cagno, the executive director of the Arts Garage, believes this is the first time there’s been an exhibit bringing together art from professors at different colleges in South Jersey. In addition to Stockton University, professors from Rutgers and Rowan universities, Rowan College at Burlington County and Atlantic Cape Community College submitted artwork.

“The exhibit displays skillful craftsmanship and a dialogue between mentors and their artistic journey, encouraging students and visitors alike to explore the intersection of academia and creativity,” Cagno said. “From avant-garde sculptures to thought-provoking paintings, the exhibit spans various mediums and styles, reflecting the rich tapestry of influences that these professors bring into their artistic practices.”

Jacob Feige, associate professor of Art, is one of six Stockton artists who have works in the exhibit. His painting titled “Footbridge” — which he describes as two paintings in one — is an abstracted portrait of his daughter and an imagined scene from his great-grandmother’s life. Feige said his great-grandmother walked from what is now Ukraine to Rotterdam, Netherlands, during World War I to flee the war.

“The painting is from a series that speculatively illustrates my family’s history and connects its living and past members,” Feige said. “I'm grateful to exhibit my work alongside colleagues from Stockton and the region at the Noyes Arts Garage. I look forward to this chance that the museum has given us to connect with faculty and students across institutions.”

“Footbridge” by Jacob Feige, an associate Art professor at Stockton University

Other Stockton professors in the exhibit include Danielle Cartier, Chung-Fan Chang, Bruce Garrity, Joseph Podlesnik and Mariana Smith.

Cagno said he felt it was essential to put together the exhibit to showcase the talented faculty that are instructing future artists.

“The showcase is a testament to the depth of artistic expertise within the academic community, offering a glimpse into the innovative minds that shape the next generation of artists,” he said. “The gallery becomes a dynamic space for exchanging ideas, showcasing these educators' profound impact on the evolving landscape of contemporary art in New Jersey.”

The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Noyes Garage, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City, is open from 11:00am to 6:00pm Wednesday to Sunday. For more information, go to artsgarageac.com or call 609-626-3805.

Stockton University is ranked among the top public universities in the nation. Our nearly 9,000 students can choose to live and learn on the 1,600-acre wooded main campus in the Pinelands National Reserve in South Jersey and at our coastal residential campus just steps from the beach and Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The university offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs.