RUTGERS-CAMDEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

STEDMAN GALLERY
GORDON THEATER
Third and Pearl Sts.
Camden, NJ 08102

856-225-6306
FAX: 856-225-6597

Read the RCCA Blog


Camden Art Gardens


These programs have the components of high quality, consistently delivered out of school arts creation programs that research studies show decrease the risk factors that exist for socioeconomically disadvantaged urban youth. After School Arts courses for elementary and secondary levels are provided through existing after school programs, such as the LEAP Academy University Charter School 21st Century After School Program. Teaching Artists conduct 10-week arts creation courses in a variety of disciplines based on New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. After School Arts courses have included: Latin dance; acting and play production; instrumental music; writing and performing spoken word and poetry; and others.


Northgate Park NORTHGATE PARK
Since 2007/08, RCCA was asked to participate in reclamation of Northgate Park, a large park spanning two city blocks, located north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge between the Cooper's Poynt and Pyne Poynt communities. RCCA's Community and Artist Programs Manager is a member of the District One Community Collaborative Board (DCCB) -- Northgate Park is one of the projects overseen by the DCCB. RCCA has presented concerts by civic artist Josh Robinson in 2008 Fall Festival and again at the Youth Festival in June 2009, with hundreds of community members participating. In June 2010, a banner dedication took place, part of a city kick-off event for park clean ups with 40 children and an estimated 250 community members.

  • 2008 – Community Concert - Music workshops with Josh Robinson. Community concerts; 300 in attendance at the concert]
  • 2009- Camden Art Gardens (Northgate Workshops & Concert)– 60 children and youth participated in the music workshops and then performed at the Northgate Youth Festival held on June 6, 2009 and was attended by 500 Camden residents.
  • 2010 - Banners, Dedication, and Community Celebrations Camden Art Gardens (Northgate Workshops & Concert) – 65 children and youth participated in the banner workshops and then attended the dedication held on June 23, 2010. A Northgate Park celebration was held on May 22, 2010 and was attended by 500 Camden residents.
  • 2011- Eco-Art Garden Project. Approximately 2,000 plants (a variety of native species) were added to spaces throughout the park, under the direction of gardener Andrea Ferich, who gave a series of workshops for children at Molina and to the senior citizens at Respond to design a plant and garden plan. A park-wide mural created by 275 children at Molina School under the direction of artist Pedro Ospina will be installed to concrete steps and walkway barriers in fall 2011.


Community Arts Office Small Kites RUTGERS-CAMDEN FOR THE ARTS - ARTS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ARTS OFFICE INSTALLATION
Spring 2011
Artist Marilyn Keating installed Guardian Kites in RCCA’s education and community arts offices as a showcase for our community arts programs. These designs are based on the Blue Guardian Sculptures designed by children that grace Respond “Blue Guardian” Park (Camden Art Garden site), and were installed in April 2011. Marilyn Keating was a symbolic choice; she was the artist who first involved RCCA in community arts in the late 1990s.


Pyne Poynt Middle School Mural PYNE POYNT MIDDLE SCHOOL MURAL
2011
A mural was created with artist Doris Nogueira-Rogers, art teachers, and students through the Rutgers-assisted North Camden Schools partnership. The mural was permanently installed in the entrance lobby of Pyne Poynt Middle School in spring 2011.


Lanning Square Stepping Stones LANNING SQUARE STEPPING STONES
Spring 2010
Mosaic Stepping stones were created by 25 Lanning Square children, the stones will be installed at a later date in a nearby park.


Dooley House DOOLEY HOUSE COLLAGE MURAL
In partnership with Rutgers New Brunswick CARTS program
2008
Artists, including Hollis Gross Citron, worked with community youth and adults to create the Community Collage Mural initially installed at Dooley House, Camden, and now relocated to the Troy-Alston House of Hope site in Camden. The artwork was created for an interior space and was inspired by the collage work of Romare Bearden as reinterpreted by the Camden youth; the mural is populated with familiar people, sites and scenes.


Sculpture in the Rand SCULPTURE IN THE RAND
1999-2008
Sculpture in the Rand was installed in the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden on the NJ Transit section of the Rand in 1999. During the 1999 Summer Art Soup Program, “Sculpture in the Rand,” 875 Camden children attended sculpture workshops for hands-on learning about both papier-mâché sculpture and printmaking techniques and tools. Over a six-week period, the children worked with artist-in-residence Marilyn Keating to create four suspended mobiles. The children created designs for the artwork and then worked in groups with Ms. Keating to complete both the papier-mâché components and the “banners” – woodblock prints on canvas. The artwork was dedicated in October 1999, and was installed for nine years until 2008.


Camden Tree of Life Mural CAMDEN TREE OF LIFE TILE MURAL
Located at the Benjamin Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway – installed 2000
The Camden Tree of Life tiles form arches around both the north and south entrances of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge pedestrian underpass, located on Pearl Street between Third and Fifth Sts. adjacent to the Rutgers–Camden campus.

During the 2000 Summer Art Soup program, more than 600 Camden children attended workshops with hands-on learning about designing, carving, painting and firing clay tiles. Over a six-week period, the children worked with artist-in-residence, Marilyn Keating to create original tiles for the Camden Tree of Life. The tile mural was installed and dedicated in August 2001 as part of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge’s 75th anniversary celebration.


Peace Garden PEACE GARDEN
2002
The garden and the Peace House are part of the Christus Lutheran Church property, located in Camden. The Cramer Hill community transformed the Peace House garden throughout 2002 in partnership with artist Janet Taylor Pickett, whose major work -- Garden Angel -- was permanently placed in the garden, mounted on a concrete base embellished with mosaic tile. Several mosaic workshops were held for neighbors and youth to teach them how to make garden stepping stones. Neighbors designed and created more than 50 stepping stones, some of which have adorned the garden. The Peace Garden was dedicated in October 2002.


VICTORY TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH GARDEN
2004-2006
  • 2004-Community garden with mosaic stepping stones
  • 2005-Extension of the garden and concrete meditation path
  • 2006-Exterior stained glass panel

Victory Temple Baptist Church Garden Artist-in-residence Susan Greenbaum and children and the church congregation from Victory Temple Summer Camp Program
This project took place at Victory Temple Church (Second and Pearl Sts.) with their summer camp (15 students) creating a small garden with artistic elements with artist/teacher Susan Greenbaum in 2004. The students participated in various visual arts workshops, including the creation of stained glass panels. In summer 2006, a large stained glass panel was created and installed. The terraced block planter was completed with plants, and the meditation path with the mosaic stepping stones created in 2004 was installed.

Participants: 15 children/40 adults in the congregation each year


COOPER'S POYNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
2004-07 and 2011
  • 2004-African cloth textile interior mural
  • 2005-Tiled concrete tables and benches in courtyard garden
  • 2006-07-Painted mural of local history
  • 2011-Ship of Dreams – sculpture/installation

Cooper's Poynt Elementary School Several Artists-in-residence (Betty Leacraft 2004, Deborah Williams 2005, and Dressler Smith 2006 and Frank Hyder 2011) and children and teachers from the Cooper’s Poynt Community
Over the years, multiple projects have taken place at Cooper’s Poynt School. In 2004, artist Betty Leacraft made textile murals with the students in the summer program. In 2005, artist Deborah Williams transformed the outdoor courtyard area with handmade tile mosaics created by the students. In 2006, artist/teacher Dressler Smith worked with 102 students in grades 2 through 8. A series of workshops was held in which students will design and paint a mural. More recently, through the Rutgers-assisted North Camden Schools partnership, artist Frank Hyder worked with every classroom to create the “Ship of Dreams” permanently on display in the school.

Participants: 100-200 students/12-20 adults each year of the program


BLUE GUARDIAN PARK
Community Garden at Second and Elm Sts., in partnership with Respond Inc.
2004-2008
  • 2004-Sculptural tented tree shelter (since removed)
  • 2005-Wooden Animal Guardian Sculptures/Tree of Wishes
  • 2006-Tile Mosaic Benches
  • 2007–08: Blue Guardian sculptures were permanently installed along the fence and an arched gateway was created.

Blue Guardian Park Artists-in-Residence Marilyn Keating and Debra Sachs and 45 children from the Respond Inc. Summer Enrichment Camp, additionally an intergenerational group of 20 elders and their children and grandchildren at the Respond Elder Center on Linden Street, Camden.
Under the direction of resident artists, the children designed various artistic elements for the garden. In 2005, animal guardian sculptures were created and placed around the garden. In 2006-07, tile mosaic benches were created. In 2007-08 blue guardian sculptures were permanently installed along the fence and an arched gateway was created.

Participants: 55 children/40 adults in the community each year


TILE MURAL
Adjacent to Dudley Grange Park, in partnership with the STARR Program
2005-09
  • 2005- first panel of clay tile wall mural
  • 2006- second panel of clay tile wall mural
  • 2007–third panel of clay tile wall mural completed
  • 2009-installation of tiles and dedication event

Artist-in-Residence Zola Bryen and 20 Camden City children from the STARR youth program.
Under the direction of artist Zola Bryen, the youth made handmade block tiles, embellished with personal symbols and glazed in bright tropical colors.

Participants: 20 children/8 adults each year of the program


MURAL PROGRAM AT VON NEIDA PARK
Summer 2010
In partnership with St. Anthony of Padua and Cramer Hill CDC, local artist Dressler Smith conducted mural workshops with 60 participants from St. Anthony of Padua and Cramer Hill Little League. A ribbon cutting dedication event was held on June 21, 2010 for the Cramer Hill Mural and was attended by 85 people.