SJM_PROFILE_PCAC_0621FINAL.qxp_profile 6 / 16 / 21 4 : 58 PM Page 1 PROMOTION B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T Where the Arts Come Alive tinues . “ The one positive out of having to figure out virtual programming is that it The pandemic temporarily shuttered in - person arts venues less than a year has made the exhibits and programs more after the Passaic County Arts Center opened up its new , historic home , accessible . ” but it has plenty of exhibits on the horizon — which will also be showcased Both Ruffel and Bush are excited about the center’s nature - themed upcoming ex - by MADELEINE MACCAR virtually so the arts stay accessible to everyone . hibits . From June through September , “ Goffle “ It was sort of the one missing piece to Brook Park : A Wellspring of Creativity ” will our department , so it became the perfect offer a showing of various artists ’ pieces site for us , ” Ruffel says . inspired by the 103 - acre space upon which Rea himself was a performer , though the John W . Rea House is situated . Ruffel adds that Rea’s performance in minstrel The center will also showcase two solo shows were not appropriate , and do not artists simultaneously . Michael Gabriel’s reflect modern society or the county’s “ Journeys ” uses both landscape and still values . life to capture moments while Christine Rea was devoted to the arts , and Jessica Calandra’s watercolors celebrate New Jersey’s Bush , curator for Passaic County’s cultural unique beauty . and historic sites , believes turning the 19th Programs for the public are also on the century singer’s home into an arts space is center’s summer schedule . They include an apt new chapter in the property’s story . one - day workshops , drop - in sessions in - “ Since John Rea was as an artist himself spired by art from around the world , adaptive and a performer , it’s like coming full circle , ” lessons for Bush adds . “ We’re a place for the visual those with disabilities and yoga - n South Jersey , going two hours in any and performing arts , as well as the written and - art classes . direction takes you almost a world away , arts like poetry , so it’s fitting . ” “ The center's social media accounts — from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware I Even before the pandemic forced the - facebook.com / pcartscenter and @ pcarts - River , from Pennsylvania’s Pocono Moun - aters , museums , concert halls and other center on Instagram — has helped it attract tains to the New York City suburbs of North artistic venues to go virtual less than a year in - person and virtual audiences with both Jersey . after the Passaic County Arts Center opened arts - centric posts and tapping into the Head north to Passaic County and you’ll to the public , being located in a culturally broader countywide tourism campaign , be greeted by natural wonders like the Great and economically diverse region made it which is rooted in the Works Progress Falls of the Passaic River and the Watchung clear that one of the center’s priorities must Administration ( WPA ) and the 1935 work - Mountains.You’ll also find points of interest be eliminating barriers to art . relief bill that funded it . like George Washington’s American Revo - “ Our “ Our ‘ come and see everything we have lution headquarters at Dey Mansion and mission is to provide free or very to offer ’ campaign is kind of a spin - off of the the Eastside Park Historic District . minimal cost art programs to people in WPA movement of the ’ 30s , because all of Similarly steeped in history is our community , ” says Ruffel . Nearby Pa - our parks and sites were developed in the Hawthorne’s John W . Rea House , built in terson , the state’s third - most populous city ‘ 30s with the help of the WPA , ” Bush says . 1810 , purchased by Rea and his wife Mar - and the country’s fourth - most densely pop - And there are plenty of reasons to come garet in 1859 , and added to the National ulated metropolis with more than 100,000 to the arts center , where there’s also plenty Register of Historic Places in 1999 . Today , residents , is a constant reminder that art to see . the county - owned , two - story farmhouse is enthusiasts come in all ages and ethnicities “ We are promoting the arts very vocally operated by the Department of Cultural and from all economic backgrounds . & and reminding people that this Shifting to online exhibits and perfor - is right in Historic Affairs and has been home to the mances had the unexpected benefit of dis - their backyard so they can just walk in , ” Passaic County Arts Center since its reno - covering new ways to experience the fine Bush says . “ We are right in the park , so vation and reopening in 2019 . and performing arts while sidestepping when a lot of people stop in for the first Passaic County owned the property previous hurdles . “ We have created a sort time , they just go , ‘ Oh my gosh , there is so since purchasing it for the newly formed n of roadmap for what we can do to stay much here ! ’ ” parks commission in 1927 , though it has hybrid in the future , ” Ruffel explains . fallen out of use and into disrepair over the “ We were able to exhibit through the decades . Kelly Ruffel , director of the De - Passaic County Arts Center pandemic because we made our exhibits partment of Cultural and Historic Affairs 675 Goffle Road | Hawthorne virtual so you could visit them through for the County of Passaic , says the depart - ( 973 ) 706 - 6640 our website , and we started making our ment was faced with either knocking it PCArtsCenter.org programs virtual down or breathing new life into it . experiences , ” she con - SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 18 issue 3 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 24 |