Junius Allen (1898 – 1962)

Known for his realistic and moody paintings depicting coastal landscapes and harbors of New Jersey, New York and New England, Junius Allen was one of New Jersey's most promising artists of the twentieth century.

Junius Allen was born in Summit, New Jersey, in 1898. While a student at Kingsley Preparatory School, he was mentored by national academician, Arthur Woelfle, who encouraged him to hone his artistic skills. After many close calls in the First World War, Allen returned and took a job with a lithography firm in New York. While there, he studied at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. At Woelfle's urging, he decided to enroll at the National Academy of Design. He also studied under Charles Hawthorne, Francis Jones, George Maynard, Ivan Olinsky and George Elmer Browne. Woelf1e also encouraged Allen to become active in the Salmagundi Club where he eventually played a distinguished role.

He was an academician of the National Academy of Design (vice president and chairman of the School Committee), and a member of the Salmagundi Club (vice president, corresponding secretary and chairman of the Art Committee).

He exhibited at the New York World's Fair (1939), the Audubon Artists, the New Rochelle Art Association (1952 prize), the American Artists Professional League, the Plainfield Art Association (1951 prize), the Montclair Art Association (1951 medal), the National Academy of Design (1933 prize, 1955 purchase award), the New Jersey Gallery in Newark (1934 prize), Allied Artists of America (1943,1949 prize) and the Salmagundi Club (1939, 1941, 1944), among others.

His work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Montclair Art Museum, the Art Museum of the New Britain Institute, the State Teachers College of Trenton, New Jersey and in many private and institutional collections.

From article: http://dart.fine-art.com/aqd-asp-im_124547-buy-m.htm

1966 - MILDRED PONZIO...SERIGRAPHER

20...SCOTCH PLAINS TIMES, January 6, 1966

MILDRED PONZIO...SERIGRAPHER

A God Given Talent And A Love Of Art

Mildred Ponzio at work in her studio, (Photo by James E, Brooks)

By RUTH B. GILBERT - Staff Writer

Today, many of us are apt to"ground-hog it" when we see our own shadow,...somehow refusing to see ourselves or the day we live in. How often an artist stirs us out of ourselves and through his eyes we find laughter In what we thought dull and joy in what we thought gloomy.

In a makeshift garage studio,Scotch Plains resident Mildred Ponzio, produces artistic gems in oil, water colors, casein, etchings,black and white sketches and silk screening. It is with the latter medium that this story primarily concerns itself, and with Mrs, Ponzio1 s ability to bring pleasure to the eyes of the beholder through her God given talents.

Her love of art was evident even as a child, though it was then financially Impossible fop her to receive any instruction.After marriage to Scotch Plains native, Carl Ponzio, she took lessons in color and design from the famous muralist, Joachim Loeber, and these lessons were actually inspired when she received a first prize award for an oil painting at the Plainfield Art Association Show.

The next year, another oil,"New York Night", took first place again, followed by a series of awards at both plainfield and Westfield shows. She was in a three women show at the "Silo"in Morris Plains several year sago, and In 1961, had her own one woman show at Swain's In Plainfield,This past September, an exhibit of Mrs. Ponzio's works enhanced the interior of ScotchPlains' First National Bank.Curious as to how she became involved in the process of silkscreening, I was told her lessons with Seymour Lansman commenced soon after she saw, and became fascinated by, an exhibition at the Newark Library.

Silk Screen, or "Serigraph",is a perfection of the early type of stencil printing used by the ancients. It is based on the fundamental principle of the stencil that if paint or any other colored fluid is rubbed over a stencil,it will readily penetrate the unprotected portions and will be unable to pass through the masked portions. The stencil is place don a silk screen which acts as its support (made from stretching a piece of stencil silk across a wooden frame), A squeegee, simulator the kind used for cleaning windows, is used to force the ink or paint through the open areas of the stencil. Because of the versatility of the process, silkscreen printing may be used on almost any surface including cloth, metal, wood, glass, plastic and paper,

A semi-abstract design entitled"Ivy Castle" was Mrs.Ponzio's first attempt at silkscreening. While many artists use a different stencil for each color, she uses a different stencil to emphasize the design. "I like to work with the whole colorscale in one operation", she noted, "and my paintings reflect what I feel not necessarily what I see," In some instances, the picture is completed before she decides what it looks like and names it,

A series of three scenes depicting the "Story of Christ"hangs in the Sycamore Street living room. In free form black and white, the story of the Annunciation,the Birth of Christand St. John foretelling the coming of the Messiah, testifies tothe depth of feeling created in Mrs. Ponzio's religious works.Her "The Cathedral" took a Plainfield Art Show award and"The Madonna" hanging nearby,is a remarkable example of an abstract form, for you can see something different in it each time you look at it.

Her oil paintings, all of which are encased in frames made byher husband, include "The Lord's Supper" (magnificent!), "The Scourging of Christ" and "Madonna".My favorite is entitled"Flowerpiece",.,.done in polntilistic style in which every stroke is applied separately with a knife to o b t a i n a tapestry effect,"Flowerplece" was exhibited several years ago at the Library of Congress in Washington, D,C,Daughter, Linda, a Senior atScotch Plains - Fanwood High School, is following closely in her mother's footsteps and has already won awards at Girl Scout exhibitions and in St. Bartholomew Christmas card design contests.Some of her works were shown with Mrs, Ponzio's in the Swain Art Store exhibition in Plainfield, Aspiring to become a caricaturist, Linda is active in high school art activities and won first prize for her car decorations for the pre-football game motorcade before the Hillside game,

Mildred Ponzio devotes every spare moment to her hobby and has taught classes of Girl Scouts,C.Y.O, groups and offered some private Instruction as well. She firmly believes that anyone with enough drive and ambition can achieve a degree of success in art work.

She particularly enjoys silkscreening because one step can be done' at a time, and for a busy homemaker and mother of four children, this is a definite advantage.Exhibiting at the Montclair Art Museum, the Hunterton County Art Show, the Art Show of the Oranges, The American Artists*Professional League andBambergers' Show of the Year,has resulted in awards which fill several scrapbooks.

The lives of countless friend shave been enriched by her generous gifts of art. Even this lucky writer is now the proud possessor of a lovely silk screen abstract.My crystal ball predicts Mildred Ponzio's name will appear high on the list of New Jersey's foremost artists!

BOARD NOTES - SEPTEMBER 2009

AFA 2009 BEST OF THE BEST Exhibit at Mayslake/Peabody Estate.  PAL's Best of the Best entries will be on their way to Mayslake / Peabody in Oak Brook, IL on September 19th and will be on exhibit through Sunday, November 8, 2009.  For gallery hours call (630) 850-2363.

MEMBERSHIP - ANNUAL RENEWAL.  PAL is streamlining its membership renewal procedures.  All members will renew on October 1st of every year beginning 2009.  Letters will be mailed to all members this month explaining the change and enclosing a new and improved membership application. Membership dues will not be increased.

PAL's NEXT BEST OF THE BEST exhibit to select its 2010 entries will be November 14 through Saturday, December 5, 2009. Members will be able to vote for the 10 BEST during gallery open hours or at the December 5th reception before final votes are tallied and the winners are announced.  The reception will be held on a Saturday evening to make it a gala event.  This exhibit will replace the currently scheduled "Celebrate Art" exhibit. Art on exhibit for BEST OF THE BEST will be taken home from the gallery after the December 5th reception or as may be arranged during the week following.  This will leave the walls empty for the holiday art show/bazaar.

HOLIDAY ART SHOW & BAZAAR on Saturday, December 12th (Noon  to 6 pm) will be limited to 10 artists (PAL members only).  A $20 fee is required and must be paid before a space is considered "reserved."  No bake sale.  No admission fee for visitors.  A second show may be scheduled for December 19th depending on interest.

NO DECEMBER DEMO will be scheduled.

PAL GALLERY WILL GO DARK for January and early February, followed by the high school exhibits in February and into early March.  Member exhibits will resume in March.  Classes and other activities will continue as announced during these months.

Plainfield group sets art auction

September 3, 2009

From Submitted Reports

PLAINFIELD -- Members of the Plainfield Art League donated works in watercolor, pastels, oil, pottery and textiles to be auctioned off during the group's Art in the Park event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Village Green Park, Chicago and Fox River streets.

Plainfield School District students will display their art, too, and children's groups will perform throughout the day.

» Click to enlarge image

Sheryl Jones, president of the Plainfield Art League, hangs a painting that will be auctioned off at the group's gallery, 24114 W. Chicago St. in Plainfield, during Saturday's Art in the Park event.
Submitted by Plainfield Art League

As part of the event, members' donated work will be auctioned off in a silent auction at the gallery, 24114 W. Chicago St., across the street from the park.

The auction items can be previewed from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the gallery.

During the auction, bids will start at 50 percent of the estimated value of the work. Each item will also have a "buy it now" price set at 20 percent above the estimated value. Winning bidders will be notified by phone after the auction closes at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The league's members from throughout the area donated their work as a fundraiser for the nonprofit group.

"I am so grateful to our members for their generous donations," league President Sheryl Jones said. "I hope every wonderful piece finds a new home this weekend."

For information about Art in the Park or the auction, visit www.plainfieldartleague.org. For more information, call 815-436-4351 or e-mail info@plainfieldartleague.org.

Culture hits the great outdoors with Plainfield art show

By: LRogers
08/24/09 11:41 PM 77 hits
Artists transform simple materials, like paint and canvas, into stunning masterpieces. On Sept. 5, Plainfield Art League's members will transform Village Green Park into a free outdoor gallery. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day, artists will display and sell their work in the park, at Chicago and Fox River streets near downtown Plainfield.
The league's dozens of members come from throughout Will County and work in many media, creating everything from photos and paintings to pottery and prints. Plus, other community artists have been invited to take part in the fine arts show.
Visitors can stroll through the park, take part in a silent auction of works donated by league members or view a show by Plainfield School District artists.
At the show, you can enjoy culture without the long drive or the hefty museum admission fee and see local sites in a new way through the eyes of local artists.
Visit www.plainfieldartleague.org for more information. For questions, call 815-436-4351 or e-mail info@plainfieldartleague.org.

Pastel Demo at Plainfield Art League by Barbara Lipkin

In May, I was invited to do a demonstration of pastel technique at the Plainfield Art League. I prepared for it by doing a drawing first, and then an underpainting using oils on Wallis sanded paper. Here are some pix -

You can see that I did a thumbnail sketch, followed by a pencil drawing on the paper. Then I painted in, very loosely, an oil underpainting, using opposite (complementary) colors.

Plainfield Art League - ARTWORKS

July 12, 2009

By DENISE M. BARAN-UNLAND For The Herald News

The Plainfield Art League is moving beyond the confines of its gallery to bring high-quality art programs and exhibits to the surroundings communities.

At the same time, the group is offering an ever-changing flow of exhibits at its gallery to spur more involvement.

"By encouraging our artists to set up these high-quality public exhibits, I think we are starting to see a visible art community," said Sheryl Jones, president of the Plainfield Art League (PAL). "This has the potential to draw people into our community from a large geographical area."

From July to September, the league has scheduled several events and invites art lovers of all ages to attend.

For instance, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, PAL will resurrect the "Art in the Garden" show at The Fields on Caton Farm, 1850 Caton Farm Road, Crest Hill. Artists from Plainfield and the surrounding suburbs will sell their works in many mediums (drawings, glass, mixed media, paintings, photography, pottery and sculpture) in the landscaping company's display gardens. The Fields' annual day lily sale will occur, too.

Added to the ambience from 1 to 4 p.m., instrumentalists will perform live, acoustic music.

"This is a small show that gives artists who normally don't participate in the big shows (an opportunity) to showcase their work," Jones said. "Our artists love that show because the setting is beautiful and we make it very artist friendly. Parking for the artists is nearby and they receive help setting up."

Beginning July 13, PAL will begin a new exhibit at the Plainfield Township Building, 1025 E. Lockport Road in Plainfield. This exhibit, Jones said, is part of a new, ongoing project to showcase eight to 10 artists for three months at a time. That building is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

At the PAL gallery and school in downtown Plainfield, 24114 W. Chicago St., members participate in two-months- long themed exhibits.

The summer-related exhibit, "Sizzling," begins July 18 with an artist reception from noon to 5 p.m. That exhibit runs through Sept. 9.

Beginning July 13, PAL gallery hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Another outdoor show is slated from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 1. A small group of artists will display their work, as well as paint or draw on-site, at Ida's Garden Paradise/Dahl Landscaping, 14960 W. 159th St., Lockport. Admission and parking are free.

On Sept. 5, PAL will host an Art at the Park event at the Village Green in Plainfield.

The group is working with Plainfield School District's art teachers to set up a student art exhibit at the Art in the Park exhibit, too. Jones said the goal is to continue to grow the relationship that began with a 40-piece exhibit in the district's administration building.

Such community art shows are now feasible because financial assistance from the Village of Plainfield and partly because membership is at an all-time high, Jones said. She said 75 artists currently belong to the Plainfield Art League.

"We have maintained a high level of activity in the past year," Jones said. "We are definitely breaking out. We have some exceptionally talented artists in our community, and as we get out there more, we will make them more visible to the public. From there, the quality of the art we produce here can only go up."

For more information, contact the Plainfield Art League at 815-436-4351, send an e-mail to info@plainfieldartleague.com or visit www.plainfieldartleague.com.