Calling Artists and Writers to Display Work at Leonia Arts' Sixth Annual MEET THE ARTISTS

Leonia Arts, a nonprofit cultural arts alliance in the borough, is co-sponsoring with the Leonia Public Library the sixth annual 'Meet the Artists'. The event will be held on Sunday, September 25 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall located at 399 Broad Avenue in the town. The event is free and open to the public.

The annual event celebrates the borough's long history in the arts that continues today with many artists calling Leonia home. Leonia artists -- photographers, musicians, cartoonists, painters, sculptors, writers, dancers, actors, crafters, and multimedia artists, among others -- and patrons of the arts are invited to attend.

Artists and supporters of the arts are invited to meet and network with other artists and patrons from the borough, while enjoying wine and cheese and listening to live music. Artists' work from various fields, ranging from poetry to paintings and sculptures, will be displayed throughout the hall.

This year, Leonia Arts will feature a special reading by Lisa Hansen, winner of the first annual Suzanne Pancrazi Memorial Grant. The award honors the namesake of the grant, a Leonia resident, who was an audio-visual artist and a member of the Leonia Arts' board of trustees. The purpose of the grant is to further a selected artist's specific project or a body of work.

Artists from all media -- performers, crafts people, sculptors, photographers, writers, and other areas -- who reside or work in the borough of Leonia, may display their work at the annual event. As display space is limited, artists must register in advance. For information, contact 201-944-0510 or info@leoniaarts.org.

The borough's lengthy list of prominent artists, musicians, writers, entertainers, and crafts people who have lived in the town over the years include artist Charles Chapman; painter and etcher Grant Reynard; child actor Freddie Bartholomew; actor and director Alan Alda; singer Carmel Quinn; comedian Buddy Hackett; singer Sammy Davis, Jr.; actor, producer, and author Robert Ludlum; and singer and actor Pat Boone.

Arts organizations continue to thrive in the borough. Several arts organizations are based in the town, including the Players' Guild of Leonia, SummerStage at Leonia, Sculpture for Leonia, Leonia Reads, and the Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc.

Leonia Arts' mission is to support, stimulate, enhance, promote and connect the arts within the borough and to outer communities. The grassroots organization supports the arts by

connecting the various diverse artists and creative groups in the town often called the "Athens of New Jersey." Membership in Leonia Arts isfree and available for artists, arts organizations, arts groups, and patrons of the arts in Leonia.

The organization's web site features an Artist Link page open to Leonia artists in all disciplines. Artists, who are members of Leonia Arts, may link their web site to the Leonia Arts' web site. Borough artists interested in linking their web site and/or contact information to be listed on the relevant subpage, should send the following to info@leoniaarts.org: name and type of artist (photographer, actor, dancer, writer, etc.), one photo (optional), web site URL (optional), and a short bio or profile no more than two brief paragraphs in length.

For more information about the 'Meet the Artists' event or Leonia Arts, contact Kathy Pecht at 201-944-0510 or send an e-mail toinfo@leoniaarts.org. Go to www.leoniaarts.org for additional information about the organization, to join Leonia Arts, to view a calendar of upcoming arts events, and much more.