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Arts & Entertainment

Build A Wreath at Arts Center

Venue has a full slate of events through December.

The Watchung Arts Center, located on 18 Stirling Road in the Watchung Hills area of Somerset County, operates in a 100-plus-year-old schoolhouse (built in 1898), which is very appropriate. There’s plenty for visitors to learn when they attend.

"We are always updating our programs and events to include shows throughout the year," said Stacy Gannon, executive director of The Watchung Arts Center. 

The Watchung Arts Council, formed in 1978, is the primary caretaker for the center— a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization supporting the full range of creative endeavors through performances and classes.

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Coming up soon is the Wreath-Making Workshop, suggested for people ages 8 and up, on Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The class promises not only to provide visitors the opportunity to make a holiday wreaths of their own ,but also to explain about the symbolism of the various plants that go hand in hand with Christmastime. Have any questions regarding the tree, or maybe about what the poinsettia has to do with the season? Now is your chance to find out.

That class and other activities are why we've chosen the arts center for this installment of Day Tripper, a weekly look at destinations that are out of town, but in reach, and worth the trip.

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DAY TRIPPER DIGEST

Estimated Travel Time: 25 minutes.

Why it’s Worth the Trip: The holiday season can be frantic, but Watchung Arts Center’s wreath-making class is designed to be more relaxing—which is never a bad thing. Warm apple cider and Christmas carols will be a part of the day. Learn a little, do some activities, and enjoy yourself.  

How to Get There from Here: Detailed driving directions.

You’ll Probably Get Hungry:  You can grab a meal at Stone House at Stirling Ridge, 50 Stirling Road, or Rolf's Restaurant, 65 Stirling Road. You might want to snag a snack at Heavenly Chocolate, 2 Hilltop Court, or get a crock of melted cheese at The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant, 190 West Main St. A drive down to Route 22 toward the Plainfield area gets you near The Honey Baked Ham store. Route 22 also offers more options such as Paisano’s Pizza, TGI Friday’s, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, and Old Country Buffet.

While you’re in the Area:  A drive onto Route 22 presents various stores for your holiday shopping needs such as P.C. Richards Electronics, A.C. Moore Crafts Supplies, Modells Sporting Goods, and the reliable stand-by department stores Target and Walmart. While many of these shopping options are not unique to most areas, you can arrange your visit to the Watchung Arts Center and get your various holiday lists knocked down at the same time—not a bad way to maximize your time.

The arts center’s mission statement says the facility exists to "establish a venue that encourages the appreciation, enjoyment and practice of art through cooperative exhibits, music, theatre performances, and community art education programs."

For the upcoming program, instructor Mary Morningstar Collins will take participants through the process of putting together a holiday wreath (adult wreaths are approximately 18 inches, children’s wreaths are approximately 5 inches). The center will provide materials including silk flowers, greens, and ribbon, and encourage those who attend to bring materials of their own that will personalize what they design, allowing for a very personal and unique holiday decoration.

The wreath as we know it, as a holiday decoration, comes from the Advent season, the period of waiting for the coming of Christ to the Nativity at Christmas. Like the Advent calendar, the wreath’s purpose was to count down toward the event of the birth of Christ, with every Sunday of Advent, starting with the fourth Sunday before Christmas, marked with a white candle positioned upon the wreath, while every day in-between would be recognized with a red candle.

Meanings, of course, can change over time—and the wreath has also become a symbol of arts, crafts and decoration outside of the original religious context. It is not uncommon for people to have a form of a wreath in their home all year long.

The wreath-making course costs $20 plus $12 in supplies for adults, or $20 plus $6 in supplies for children. Supplies are limited, so contact the Watchung Arts Center at 908-753-0190 to reserve your place.

Other events scheduled for December at the Arts Center include:

  • Sunday, Dec. 4 through Thursday, Dec. 22 in the upper gallery, curator Ludmila Kalivoda presides over the 2011 Members Juried Art Show. In the lower gallery, Maryann Ficker, winner of 2010’s Juried Art Show, presents her exhibition, “Personal Realities.”
  • Sunday, Dec. 4 through Friday, Jan 7 in the studio, curator Monica Schraiber Otero hosts the 20th Children’s Juried Art Show.
  • Friday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m., contemporary pop duo Kemble & Ashe performs a set. The show is $18 in advance or $22 at the door ($20 for members, $8 for students).
  • Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m., is Family Improv night with the comedy troupe The Improvables. This event costs $8.
  • Friday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m is Jazz in the Gallery's Holiday Jazz show, with Marty Eigen’s Beacon Hill Jazz Band. This event is $16 in advance, $20 at door ($18 for members, $10 for students).
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