Princeton NJ Museums and Galleries Press Releases

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Appoints First Curator

Summit, NJ September 23, 2010:  The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey announced today the
appointment of Mary Birmingham as the Art Center’s first professional staff Curator.  Ms.
Birmingham, a noted art historian and scholar, will begin her tenure at the Art Center on
November 1, 2010.
 
Well-known throughout the region for organizing solo and group exhibitions of contemporary art,
Ms. Birmingham began her career as a cataloguer at the Whitney Museum and for nine years
was a member of the curatorial staff of the Montclair Art Museum.  She holds degrees in Art
History from Seton Hall University and Hunter College. 
 
Marion Grzesiak, the Art Center’s Executive Director, commented, “Mary’s reputation, expertise
and distinctive point-of-view are a wonderful addition to the Art Center, especially as we begin to
organize a new season of exhibitions. Her background as an educator is invaluable as we
deepen our commitment to providing arts education to school districts that have lost funding.”
 
Ms. Birmingham added, “I’m very excited to join the Art Center; it’s such a beloved community
resource that brings education and exhibitions to a remarkably large and diverse audience.  I’m
looking forward to developing an exhibition program that will not only showcase talented artists,
but also position the Art Center as a major destination for contemporary art exhibitions.”   
 
Ms. Birmingham currently serves as Director of Exhibitions at the Hunterdon Art Museum,
Clinton, overseeing an ambitious contemporary art program comprising more than ten group
and solo exhibitions per year.  She also writes and lectures on American and contemporary art,
and has taught art history at Montclair State University and Kean University. 
 
Founded in 1933, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is the state’s largest organization
dedicated exclusively to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art. Comprising a
renowned studio school and a thriving exhibition, education and programming schedule, the Art
Center welcomes over 60,000 visitors each year. 
 
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is located at 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ.  The Art Center
will present Cut, Weld, and Build: Process in Works by Chakaia Booker, showcasing the work of
the noted contemporary artist and New Jersey native.  The exhibition is on view in the galleries
from October 1 through December 3, 2010; outdoor works will remain on view through August
2011.  
 
Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday 9:30am – 8pm, Friday 9:30am – 5pm, and Saturday &
Sunday 10am – 4pm.