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Locals Welcomed To 'Meet the Artists' In Leonia, Artists Still Sought

LEONIA, N.J. -- Leonia Arts, a nonprofit cultural arts alliance in the borough, is co-sponsoring the sixth annual "Meet the Artists" event with the Leonia Public Library, on Sunday, Sept. 25. The event is free and open to the public.

Both artists and those who appreciate it attend a prior Meet the Artists evening.

Both artists and those who appreciate it attend a prior Meet the Artists evening.

Photo Credit: Leonia Arts
Patrons attend previous Leonia Arts' Meet the Artists.

Patrons attend previous Leonia Arts' Meet the Artists.

Photo Credit: James Leynse

The annual event celebrates the borough's long history in the arts that continues today, with many artists calling Leonia home. Leonia artists -- photographers, musicians, cartoonists, painters, sculptors, writers, dancers, actors, crafters and multimedia artists, among others -- and patrons of the arts are invited to attend.

Artists and supporters of the arts are invited to meet and network with other artists and patrons from the borough, while enjoying wine and cheese and listening to live music. Artists' work from various fields, ranging from poetry to paintings and sculptures, will be displayed throughout the hall.

This year, the event will feature a special reading by Lisa Hansen, who won the first annual Suzanne Pancrazi Memorial Grant, which honors that Leonia resident, who was an audio-visual artist and a member of the Leonia Arts' board of trustees. The grant's purpose is to further a selected artist's specific project or a body of work.

Artists who work in all media live or work in the borough of Leonia can display their work at this annual event. Display space is limited, so artists must register in advance. For information, contact 201-944-0510 or info@leoniaarts.org.

The event will run from 4-6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, at 399 Broad Ave. in Leonia.

The borough's lengthy list of prominent artists, musicians, writers, entertainers and craftspeople who have lived in the community over the years include artist Charles Chapman; painter and etcher Grant Reynard; child actor Freddie Bartholomew; actor and director Alan Alda; singer Carmel Quinn; comedian Buddy Hackett; singer Sammy Davis, Jr.; actor, producer, and author Robert Ludlum; and singer and actor Pat Boone.

And arts organizations continue to thrive in the borough, including the Players' Guild of Leonia, SummerStage at Leonia, Sculpture for Leonia, Leonia Reads and the Leonia Chamber Musicians Society.

Leonia Arts' mission is to support, stimulate, enhance, promote and connect the arts within the borough and to outer communities. The grassroots organization supports the arts by connecting the various diverse artists and creative groups in the town often called the "Athens of New Jersey."

Membership in Leonia Arts is free and available for local artists, arts organizations, arts groups and patrons of the arts. Members can provide information about themselves and their work on the site's Artist Links page.

For more information about "Meet the Artists" or Leonia Arts, contact Kathy Pecht at 201-944-0510 or send an e-mail to info@leoniaarts.org.

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