MyEnglewood December 2018 | Page 6

Englewood artist’s exhibit focuses on the environment Irmari Nacht of Englewood is exhibiting artwork with an environ- mental theme, “REcycled: Books and News - a show of sculptures and collages” at the Fifth Floor Gallery in the County building, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack. This solo exhibition of Nacht’s work can be seen presently through Dec. 31. Irmari Nacht’s art is in several corporate and public collections: AT&T, PSE&G, ADP, Newark Museum, International Museum of Collage, Bowdoin College, Jimmy Carter Museum, Cleveland Insti- tute of Art, Rutgers University, Yuko Nii Foundation, Lafayette Col- lege, and Yale Art Museum. She exhibits internationally, as well as nationally, and received two New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowships in Sculpture. She received a second Puffin Foundation Grant for Who Am I? an interactive project where the viewer becomes part of the artwork. She recently received an award as a Visual Arts Winner of the 2018 World Citizen Artists Compete for Peace - Not War Competition. Her work has been exhibited in every major museum in New Jer- sey, including the Newark Museum, NJ State Museum, Morris Muse- um, Montclair Art Museum, Noyes Museum and has been featured in solo shows at the AtriumGallery, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Intermezzo Gallery, bergenPAC, Brooklyn Library and Carter Bur- den Gallery. Her artwork, using the book as a metaphor, addresses environ- mental and social concerns, change and transformation, information received and denied, altered reality, as well as the concept of multiple imagery, which highlights the strength and energy of repeated ele- ments. Nacht explained, “The artworks being shown are examples of my interest in recycling; taking something that retains its past but lives again in a totally new form.” The Recycled News collage series has images that are selected intuitively and added to until a story with mixed visuals and related colors evolve. History is chronicled with pages from current newspa- pers and the recycled news is seen again in a different context. The slightly out-of-focus images are both mysterious and texturally rich, which blur ideas, soften harsh facts, build layers, create mystery, and leave the work open to multi-interpretations. Nacht’s recycled books, a series entitled “SAVED,” uses books that otherwise might be discarded and transforms them into art- works. The books are cut, sometimes into slivers which curl and undulate, and return to the tree-like shape from which the paper was made. Sometimes painted, wetted, and re-formed, the books have changed from utilitarian objects to sculptural objects capable of many interpretations. Lately, the books have exploded from their spines: a 4” book has grown to 30” through a series of cuts and spi- rals reaching out to the viewer with subliminal messages. The gallery on the fifth floor at One Bergen County Plaza, Hack- ensack is open to visitors during normal work hours. Irmari Nacht’s exhibit addresses environmental and social concerns, change and transformation, infor- mation received and denied, altered reality, as well as the concept of multiple imagery, which highlights the strength and energy of repeated elements. The winter season is here and a great time to enjoy an afternoon of ice-skating at the Mackay Ice Rink in the John T. Wright Arena. Some of the season’s highlights include increased Public Session hours and the return of Hockey in NJ/Englewood. New programs for our 2018/2019 sea- 6 DECEMBER 2018 MyEnglewood son: All Englewood students skate free during our Monday after-school Special Public Session, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Please also remember to show your Community Pass ID for discounts through- out the year. Whether you are an avid hockey player, competitive figure skater, or just out to enjoy some family fun, plan on visiting Mackay this season! For a full listing of lessons, programs, and special events please go to www.mackayicerink.com or contact Ken Katz, manager/program direc- tor, at [email protected] Mackay Ice Rink is located at 130 W. Englewood Ave. in Englewood. Mackay Ice Rink announces programs for winter season