NJ’s Oldest Art School, duCret School of Art Celebrates 85th Year

Plainfield, NJ, April 11, 2012 --(PR.com)-- If ever there were a way to meet history in person, it would be at this year's art show celebration. Amassing at the show were the works of over fifty notable duCret artists, many who have become either nationally or internationally known in the recent decades.

For instance, Peter Caras of Leonardo, NJ, who was tutored by Norman Rockwell and the famous western artist James Bama, has produced over 1,700 published illustrations in his own right. Considered one of today's foremost paperback cover artists, Peter now passes the legendary painting methods on to his students at duCret.

Then there's Charles Sabba, who has divided his life between being a Rahway, NJ police officer, a forensic sketch artist and an artist himself. Over time, this unique combination of skills manifested into an equally unique career path, as Charles became involved in investigating crimes related with art. This unusual focus has led him to work on some of the biggest art theft cases in world history. One can often find Charles sequestered in his studio loft at duCret, painting to canvas, the history of the cases he's worked on. His Gardner Art Heist piece, a massive painting depicting all involved with the crime will be on display at the Salmagundi Club on May 16, 2012 at 6:30pm, with a lecture to accompany the piece reflecting the heist.

Canvassing the wondrous world of nature and animal kingdom were also the works of two internationally known wildlife artists, Douglas Allen and Leslie Delgyer. An artist and author, Douglas of Neshanic Station, NJ, has traveled to faraway continents such as Africa to paint wild animals. Following a short period of time in the Army, he was selected to illustrate a series of big game animals of North America for Outdoor Life Magazine, a series that later turned into a book, Big Game Animals. Allen is a member of the Salmagundi Club in New York City and an executive board member of the Society of Animal Artists. He has illustrated thirty five books for such leading publishing houses as Harper and Row, Schribners, Harcourt Brace and Reader's Digest.

Multi-award winner Leslie Delgyer, who has been commissioned for the World Wildlife Fund Stamp Collection by Prince Phillip for her exquisite renderings of wildlife in pastel, was also commissioned by Ronald Reagan to render his dogs in pastel, and has received personal accolades from world governments for her artwork spotlighting endangered species. Her work resides in countless museums and private collections.

Feminist movement artist and lecturer Joan Arbeiter, who resides in Metuchen NJ, co-authored ‘Lives and Works: Talks with Women Artists’, Vol. 2 (1996, 1999) with Beryl Smith and the late Sally S. Swenson. She has been published, quoted, reviewed or reproduced in Manhattan Arts International, Spirit Taking Form by Nancy Azara, Language Visual Art, Frontiers, Women's Art Journal, World Hunger Year Magazine, catalogue essays and publications of Douglass College and Rutgers University and on radio, TV and the internet. Joan actively hosts workshops on the history of women in art at duCret, as well as instructs students at the school.

The diversified paths that many of the duCret alumni have taken are as far reaching as the mind can imagine. A show of this magnitude, with so many prominent artists of the past few decades was an event worth taking part in!duCret is currently accepting PT and FT applicants for Fall 2012 Semester. More info can be found at the website.