Judith Henry Exhibition Examines Celebrity, Aging and Identity in Summit

Summit, NJ - Judith Henry's work examines celebrity, aging and identity. Visitors to Judith Henry: Me as Her, an exhibition opening at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ on April 17 will encounter what on first view appears to be black-and-white portraits of Amy Winehouse, Georgia O'Keefe, Julia Child and Lucille Ball. When viewed more closely, they will notice that the portraits are actually cut out images being used as a mask by the artist. Posing behind the faces of well-known and accomplished women who have died, Judith Henry uses public locations near her Williamsburg, Brooklyn home to stage these portraits. Her work raises questions in the viewer's mind about the friction between our interior and exterior selves. The masks raise our awareness of our shallow understanding of celebrity figures and how little we really know about them despite their familiarity.

Judith Henry: Me as Her, is a solo exhibition of black and white photographs by this artist who chooses to remain hidden or masked within her work. The inclusion of the artist's hands holding the masks reflects the artist's aging process, and becomes a meaningful element in each portrait. Her hands allow us to reflect on aging in regards to feminine beauty and our own mortality.

Henry has generously donated her portrait, Lucille Ball in Williamsburg to the Art Center. It will be up for auction at the Art Center's April 2, 2016 "A Night Under the Stars" gala and art auction, which raises funding for Art Center exhibitions and programs.

An opening reception and art afternoon will be held on Sunday, April 17 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm for Judith Henry: Me as Her, as well as other spring shows at the Art Center. The reception is a free event open to all. Two other exhibits will also open including Recharging the Image: Selections from the Mott-Warsh Collection, which features the artwork of nationally-recognized African-American artists who have grappled with ways of representing personal, cultural and racial identity. All works are on loan from the Mott-Warsh Collection, a Michigan-based private collection. Also opening is Elizabeth Duffy: Maximum Security, a multi-media installation of work that investigates perceived ideas about security and poses questions about our culture of surveillance and incarceration.

Adult and children's group tours for this and the Art Center's other exhibitions are available throughout the year. Visit www.artcenternj.org for more information. Gallery Hours: Monday - Wednesday and Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Thursday 10:00am - 8pm; and Saturday & Sunday 11am - 4pm. Please call 908-273-9121 to confirm holiday hours. On view through June 26, 2016.

Related Programs:

Art Afternoon, April 17, 2 pm - 4 pm - All ages are invited. Docents will be on hand so that visitors can learn more about the meaning and process behind the art. Participants can make their own hands-on art projects. $5 per family.

Educational Gallery Tours - Adult and children's group tours available in February. Visit www.artcenternj.org for more information. Gallery Hours: Monday - Wednesday and Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Thursday 10:00am - 8pm; and Saturday & Sunday 11am - 4pm. Please call 908-273-9121 to confirm holiday hours.

For more than 80 years, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has been exclusively dedicated to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art. Recognized as a leading non-profit arts organization, the Art Center's renowned studio school, acclaimed exhibitions, and educational outreach initiatives serve thousands of youth, families, seniors and people with special needs every year.

Pictured: Judith Henry, Lucille Ball in Williamsburg, 2014.