State of the Arts goes On the Beat to see a monumental sculpture by world-famous artist Tony Smith installed in his home town of South Orange, to hear how classically trained percussionist Simon Boyar refuses to play by the rules, and with visits to the studios of three craft artists.

On NJN1: Thursday, January 21, 2010 @ 8:00 pm
On NJN2: Friday, January 22 - Thursday, January 28, 2010 @ 5:00 pm • 11:00 pm

Tony Smith, artist

Architect, painter, and sculptor Tony Smith (1912 - 80) worked under Frank Lloyd Wright, designed a church with his friend Jackson Pollock, and created monumental abstract sculptures that revolutionized public art as we know it.

Smith was born, and lived and worked most of his life, in South Orange, New Jersey.  Several years ago, the “Tony Smith Sculpture Project” organized to raise money to give South Orange “Tau” – a geometric, steel sculpture by a native son whose backyard was a neighborhood curiosity full of plywood mock-ups.

State of the Arts follows the process of bringing Tau home, from fabrication to installation.  Producer Christopher Benincasa interviews Smith’s two daughters Kiki and Seton, both distinguished artists, as well as others who’ve helped bring this iconic sculpture to New Jersey.

Playwright Tennessee Williams, a close friend of Tony Smith and his family, ended his eulogy with these words:  “Tony Smith’s work speaks to us more powerfully of God than that of any artist whose work I have known, and its inaccessibility to an easy comprehension or perhaps to any comprehension at all, is the heart of that power.”

also visit
Tony Smith Sculpture Project: pierrofoundation.org
Matthew Marks Gallery: www.matthewmarks.com/artists/tony-smith/

Studio Visits: Jan Huling, Glen Guarino & Diane Savona

The 2009 New Jersey Arts Annual: Crafts presents hand-crafted pieces of skilled artists living and working in New Jersey. Metal work, wood turning, textiles, ceramics, and materials/techniques that challenge the boundaries of traditional craft are included in this unique show.  State of the Arts visits the studios of three artists, beadist Jan Huling, woodworker Glen Guarino, and textile artist Diane Savona.

where to see
2009 New Jersey Arts Annual: Crafts
December 4, 2009 - February 28, 2010
Noyes Museum of Art
www.noyesmuseum.org

Jan Huling, beadist

Jan Huling describes herself as a product designer, children’s book author, and beadist. Tabletops, toys, guitars, and cigars are just some of the many items she has embellished with what have been called “one of a kind micro-mosaics.” Her children’s book, “Puss in Cowboy Boots,” was illustrated by her husband, Phil Huling. State of the Arts producer Susan Wallner visits Huling in her Hoboken studio.
also visit
Jan Huling’s website: www.janhuling.com

Glen Guarino, woodworker

Glen Guarino describes each of his hand-crafted pieces of furniture as a “small adventure, exploring my imagination and the potential of the material.”  He relies primarily upon fine hand tools and each creation is one of a kind.  Some of his pieces are Asian-inspired, and created of complex interlocking shapes. After teaching high school woodshop for over 30 years, Guarino rededicated himself in 2007 to the art of fine woodworking.  He has a master’s degree in Studio Art from Kean University and currently is an adjunct professor at William Paterson University. His work was featured in the book 500 Tables: Inspiring Interpretations of Function and Style by Andrew Glasgow, Ray Hemachandra (May 2009).
also visit
Glen Guarino’s website: www.guarinofurnituredesigns.com

Diane Savona, textile artist

Diane Savona works with cloth, making quilts and other textile-based pieces. A recent exhibition, Closet Archaeology, at the Hermitage Museum in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, juxtaposed Savona’s work with historical textile artifacts.  Savona’s pieces reflect upon the past while employing once common sewing skills that are now rarely learned by young girls. Her work will be featured in 500 Art Quilts by Lark Books (2010), and in 2007 she was a resident artist at Peters Valley Craft Center. Producer Susan Wallner will visit Savona at her house in Passaic, New Jersey, which has literally been turned into one big workshop.
also visit
Diane Savona’s website: www.dianesavonaart.com

Reaching for Enlightenment by Huling

In Tune by Guarino

Treasure Chest by Savona

Simon Boyar, percussionist

Percussionist/marimba player Simon Boyar tours the world soloing with symphony orchestras. Still in his late 20s, he’s a professor at New York University. But, he also composes rap music, plays in jazz clubs and regularly sits in with a hip-hop band. State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz followed the iconoclastic musician in the fall of 2009 and learns why he is driven to embrace so many different musical genres.  Boyar is seen at a recording session for Elliott Carter’s recent composition for marimba, at his tiny Brooklyn studio filled with percussion instruments, performing at the Metropolitan Room in NYC with trumpeter Joey Pero, and rehearsing his NYU marimba students in a work for 12 marimbas. Boyar grew up in Hillsborough, New Jersey.

also visit
Simon Boyar’s MySpace page: www.myspace.com/simonboyar