(LEFT) Thelonious Monk Portrait by Louiza Albastova (RIGHT) Monk by Martin French
(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents The Space Between Notes: Dualities and Emotions Beneath Monk's Brim as the newest visual arts exhibition at The Gallery at Paper Mill in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery on display from February 3–28, 2025.
Using the legendary American jazz musician Thelonious Monk's iconic ideology – based on individuality, creativity, and musical themes as symbolic motifs – this exhibition is a celebration of Monk's unique musical genius and legacy. In addition to an exhibition of family archives, artists will interpret his emotional depth, dualities in music, and strategic use of silence through visual art.
Located on the mezzanine level of Paper Mill Playhouse, The Space Between Notes can be enjoyed daily from 12:00pm-6:00pm and by patrons attending an upcoming performance of the new musical Mystic Pizza. No ticket is required to view the Gallery.
The public is also invited to attend the exhibition’s opening reception on Monday, February 3 from 5:00pm-7:00pm.
Paper Mill Playhouse board member Rita J. Sallis has connected the Monk Family Estate and Paper Mill Playhouse for this celebratory exhibit of Monk’s life. Sallis said, “Paper Mill is the nation’s premier musical theater and has been an institution in our community for over eight decades. The gallery in the theater offers an opportunity to showcase more of the power of storytelling through visual medium. This exhibit celebrates the music and legacy of Thelonious Monk and introduces the work of several local artists influenced by his legacy. Paper Mill’s collaboration with the Monk estate highlights the genius of Thelonious Monk and how extensively a legacy can be felt beyond measure.” In conjunction with the Monk Family Estate, the exhibition will feature rare archival photos of Monk and family memories.
The 12 artists featured throughout the exhibition were selected through an open submission process hosted by the Estate. They are especially proud of the robust Monk-fandom who support our endeavors across platforms, which resulted in a higher volume of quality entries that made the selection process more difficult to finalize for the constraint of space.
Since the 2022 reopening of the reimagined and reinvigorated Gallery at Paper Mill in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery, the space has housed 12 exhibitions, many shown concurrently and thematically with Paper Mill Playhouse productions. Exhibitions have showcased both local and nationally recognized visual artists, with an emphasis on showcasing diverse New Jersey-based artists made possible through local partnerships with J. Nunez Gallery, Calabar Gallery, Artfair14C, the New Jersey Arts Association and others.
Monk Red Wall by Martel Chapman
The Gallery’s origins can be traced to Antoinette Scudder, one of Paper Mill’s original founders and a visual arts lover, who insisted that a gallery be included when the original design was created for the theater in 1934. The works of local artists were first displayed in the Gallery when the theater opened in 1938.
Thelonious Monk (1917–1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern jazz and bebop. Known for his unique improvisational style, percussive playing, and innovative use of dissonance and space, Monk developed a distinctive musical voice that set him apart from his contemporaries. His compositions, including classics like Round Midnight, Blue Monk, and Straight, No Chaser, remain jazz standards. Often seen wearing a distinctive hat and sunglasses, Monk was known for his eccentric personality and occasional habit of standing up and dancing during performances. Despite initial resistance to his unconventional approach, he eventually became one of the most celebrated and influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.
The Path of Monk (Triptych Series) by Joshua Branch-Howell
Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Executive Director). A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including The Great Gatsby, Disney’s Newsies, Bandstand, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Les Misérables (25thAnniversary production). The theater is also the home to an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year.
As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Paper Mill’s current mainstage season of shows continues with Mystic Pizza (January 29-February 23), a new musical based on the 1988 rom-com that starred Julia Roberts; the world premiere musical Take the Lead (March 29-April 27), based on the 2006 film starring Antonio Banderas about the true story of Pierre Dulaine, a former professional dancer who, against all odds, brought the art of ballroom dance into New York City public schools; and Disney’s The Little Mermaid (May 29-June 29), based on one of the world’s most beloved stories and the enchanting Disney animated film.
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