ART
MAY 14, 11 a.m.
The ACP Bowl Project
Arts Council of Princeton
102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton
(609) 924-8777 | artscouncilofprinceton.org/
Shop this outdoor sale for one-of-a-kind bowls, each handmade with love! Artists from the ACP Ceramic Studio & Artist-in-Residence Samuel Johnson have created hundreds of ceramic bowls by hand for you to take home or gift to a loved one.
The first 100 buyers will receive a voucher for a free scoop of ice cream from the bent spoon.
Bowls are first-come, first-served as supplies last. Each hand-crafted bowl is available for
a $30 donation at our outdoor sale this spring. Proceeds allow the Arts Council to continue important year-round endeavors, including outreach programs serving neighborhood children from low-income families and homebound seniors, and public art initiatives spreading joy all across town.
MAY 24, 7 p.m.
Art Talk: Georgia O'Keeffe: Speaking in Color and Shapes
Pennington Public Library
952 Alexander Road, Princeton
(609) 989-1191 | penningtonlibrary.org
Registration required:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kua3WGaxS0KEUySu3fe7yw
Georgia O’Keeffe, one of the most important and fascinating artists of the Twentieth Century, has given us astonishing abstract images, radical depictions of giant flowers, dramatic cityscapes, glowing landscapes, and haunting representations of bones against the stark desert sky. This talk will examine how her strikingly inventive works conveyed a spirit of independence, adventure, and passion. Join us to learn why Georgia O’Keeffe and her works have become an indelible part of the mythology and iconography of the American artistic landscape.
About Our Presenter: Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.
MAY 25, 6:30 p.m.
Operatic Explorations: The Princeton Festival
The Mercer County Library, Robbinsville Branch
42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville
(609) 259-2150 | mcl.org
Get an insider's glimpse of the 2022 Princeton Festival! Festival Director, Gregory J. Geehern shares the stories, the music, the costumes, and the histories of the composers and compositions of this year's productions taking place at the Princeton Symphony Orchestra event. He will focus on the operas Scalia/Ginsburg (Derrick Wang) and Albert Herring (Benjamin Britten), as well as the ballet chante, Seven Deadly Sins (Kurt Weill).
MAY 26, 6 p.m.
Operatic Explorations: The Princeton Festival
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
Get an insider's glimpse of the 2022 Princeton Festival! Festival Director, Gregory J. Geehern shares the stories, the music, the costumes, and the histories of the composers and compositions of this year's productions taking place at the Princeton Symphony Orchestra event. He will focus on the operas Scalia/Ginsburg (Derrick Wang) and Albert Herring (Benjamin Britten), as well as the ballet chante, Seven Deadly Sins (Kurt Weill).
CONCERTS
MAY 1, 4 p.m.
Looking Back...Moving Forward
Capital Singers of Trenton
Sacred Heart Church
343 South Broad Street in Trenton
(609) 434-2781 | capitalsingers.org
Capital Singers of Trenton will celebrate our 15th anniversary with the performance of our concert Looking Back…Moving Forward! Under the Artistic Director and Conductor Vinroy D. Brown Jr., the concert will feature cherished pieces from our past 15 years and contemporary works written within the past 15 years. This repertoire honors our history, and illuminates our future as the choral voice of the capital region. The concert will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 4 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 343 South Broad Street in Trenton, NJ 08608. In commemoration of the anniversary, Capital Singers will present a Peace Canticle, composed by Richard M. Loatman, Founder and former Artistic Director which includes eight solo voices, and SATB choir, narrators and two pianos. The text is comprised of THE THREE QUESTIONS by Leo Tolstoy, Psalm 122:vs 6-8 and original text by Richard M. Loatman. All information can be found at capitalsingers.org.
MAY 7-8, 6 p.m.
Violinist Stefan Jackiw with Maestro Rossen Milanov and
the Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
(609) 558-2292 | princetonsymphony.org
On Saturday, May 7 at 8pm and Sunday, May 8 at 4pm, the Princeton Symphony
Orchestra (PSO) presents its Milanov & Jackiw concert featuring violin virtuoso Stefan Jackiw. Jackiw performs Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s lush Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 on a program with Gabriela Lena Frank’s Elegía Andina and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56.
Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts both concerts at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, on the campus of Princeton University.
MAY 20, 7:30 p.m.
Mozart's Requiem in D Minor
Central Jersey Chorale Society
at Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church
137 W. Upper Ferry Road, Ewing
cjchoralsociety.org
Join CJCS for our Spring Performance of Mozart's Requiem in D Minor!
As Artistic Director Chris Loeffler shares: "Mozart’s Requiem is unique in the choral repertoire due to the circumstances of its composition. Mozart composed significant material through the beginning of Lacrimosa section of the piece. The conclusion of the work was ultimately completed by his student, Franz Süßmayr. Mozart brings his artistry to bare on his confrontation with mortality and his fervent cries for forgiveness. No sooner do the cries reach a fever pitch than the Maestro finds his eternal peace and the work shifts to the reverent attempt of Süßmayr to honor the work of his master. The final movement ends with Süßmayr attempting to resurrect the music of Mozart’s Kyrie section on a different text. The result is a little awkward and an excellent homage that acknowledges the genius that has been lost to the world.”
“We dedicate this performance to friends and family we have lost. Like Mozart and his Requiem, they made an incredible impact on our lives and we are left behind, honoring their memories to the best of our abilities, striving to complete the works that they left unfinished.”
Tickets are $20 in advance online ( https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5418517 ) and will be $25 at the door on the performance evening.
MAY 24, 7 p.m.
VIRTUAL: Hava Nagila: How a Song Defines a People
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
The song "Hava Nagila" is instantly recognizable; musical shorthand for anything Jewish, a happy party tune that you dance to at weddings, bar mitzvahs and even at Major League Baseball games. It carries with it an entire constellation of history, values and hopes for the future. In its own believe-it-or-not way, "Hava Nagila" encapsulates the Jewish journey over the past 150 years. It also reveals the power of one song to express and sustain identity, to transmit lessons across generations and to bridge cultural divides and connect us all on a universal level. Includes performances by many artists. Presented by lecturer, historian, and composer, Jeff Kampf of Life Long Cognition. Please register to receive link via 609.737.2610 or hopeprogs@mcl.org.
EXHIBITIONS
MAY 7 - MAY 29
Mastering Alchemy: Works on Cooper
Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie
Cadwalader Park, Trenton
(609) 989-1191 | ellarslie.org
California-based artist and educator Stephen Bruce uses acid to etch sheets of copper or brass into earth-toned abstract paintings that evoke the power and serenity of water, earth, and sky, saying his biggest artistic influence is Mother Earth. His seascapes are inspired by aerial views of the oceans.
Bruce’s abstracts evoke the colors and patterns of geological formations. His landscapes capture ineffable moments in a sunset, a sunrise, or on the horizon. Combining his aesthetic sensibility with practiced technical skill, Bruce creates works that provoke the viewer to rethink and reimagine what might otherwise go unnoticed.
The concept of metal patination is centuries old. While patinas on metal can be created by painting with flame or using hot or cold solutions, Bruce’s method is cold patina. Using sprays, brushes, dips, or sponges, he applies an acid solution to a metal surface and allows it to slowly react. Examples of the acids he uses are found in most households and include pickle juice, hot sauce, salad dressing, and vinegars.
Gallery Talk and Student Show Saturday, May 21, 2 p.m.
FESTIVALS
MAY 21, 10 a.m.
Pennington Day
Hopewell Valley Arts Council
PO Box 145, Hopewell
(609) 281-59-887 | hvartscouncil.org/events
Rain or shine, we’ll be anchoring Pennington Day with an artful takeover on the Howe Commons lawn. Positioned next to one of the music stages and our animal friends, EASEL, we’ll have a few creative surprises as well as information about upcoming HV Arts Council events. Downtown Pennington Borough.
HISTORY
MAY 5, 7 p.m.
VIRTUAL: The History of Greater Mount Zion AME Church - The Oldest Black Church in Trenton
The William Trent House
15 Market Street, Trenton
(609) 989-3027 | williamtrenthouse.org
The Trent House Association presents a virtual talk on the Greater Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Trenton. Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer will discuss the history and current mission of this historic congregation. The free program will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/GreaterMtZion. Capacity is limited and pre-registration at https://tinyurl.com/May5Talk is recommended. A pay-as-you-wish donation is appreciated and can be made by PayPal at https://williamtrenthouse.org/donation.
Greater Mount Zion AME Church, located on Pennington Avenue in Trenton, is the oldest Black congregation in Trenton, being first incorporated as “The Religious Society of Free Africans of Trenton” in 1811. Richard Allen, founder of the American Methodist Episcopal denomination, helped organize the Society into one of its first churches in 1816. Since then Mount Zion, now Greater Mount Zion, AME Church has been a vital force in Trenton’s history. Over the past 200+ years the Church has built and rebuilt its worship space and, among other firsts, founded the first nursery school in Trenton for Black children and became the first church to establish a credit union.
MAY 12, 7 p.m.
VIRTUAL: A Home and Military Headquarters - General Washington's Stay at the Dey Mansion, 1780
The William Trent House
15 Market Street, Trenton
(609) 989-3027 | williamtrenthouse.org
The Trent House Association presents a virtual talk on the period in 1780 when General George Washington made the home of the Dey family his headquarters. Kelly McManus will discuss the history of the Dey Mansion, focusing on the summer and fall of 1780 when the Continental Army was encamped at the Passaic Falls and Washington was in residence. The free program will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 7 p.m. via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/May12Talk. A pay-as-you-wish donation is appreciated and can be made by PayPal at https://williamtrenthouse.org/donation.
The Dey Mansion, built ca. 1770, was the home to Theunis and Hester Dey and was called “Bloomsbury,” the same name given by Colonel John Cox to his home in Trenton, the Trent House. During the American Revolution, Theunis Dey served as colonel of the Bergen County Militia, which brought him into constant communication with Washington. The Dey home served as General George Washington’s headquarters during July, October, and November of 1780. This site was chosen because of its strategic position and accessibility to food and forage. Kelly McManus, museum specialist with the Passaic County Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs, will convey what it must have been like to have a military command post set up in one’s home and how feeding and housing troops during wartime must have affected the local community.
Kelly McManus is adjunct professor of history at William Paterson University and holds a Bachelor of Art’s degree in history from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in history from William Paterson University. After interning with the Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs, he joined the visitor services staff at the Dey Mansion in 2018.
MAY 21-30
Hopewell Valley Heritage Week
Hopewell Valley Historical Society
15 Market Street, Trenton
(609) 989-3027 | hopewellvalleyhistory.org
This year’s theme is If You Build It They Will Come—Early American Arts, Crafts & Trades in Hopewell Valley. We have a whole week of events planned. Some are virtual and others will be in person. We will be masked and practicing social distancing when indoors. Click “Events” at left for details as we finalize our lineup.
A FULL CALENDAR OF GREAT EVENTS IS IN STORE FOR 2022! CLICK HERE
PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS
The Hopewell Museum
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
The Hopewell Valley Historical Society
The Stoutsburg Cemetery Association
The Pennington African Cemetery Association
The Howell Living History Farm
The Pennington Public Library
Washington Crossing Park Association
Hopewell Valley Veterans Association
Sourland Conservancy
The Watershed Institute
Hopewell Valley Arts Council
Hopewell Township Library MCLS
Hopewell Valley History Project
LECTURES
MAY 4, 7 p.m.
Virtual: Mahjong! How a Chinese Game Shaped Modern American Culture
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
How does the Chinese parlor game mahjong fit into the American historic landscape? In what ways did this game foster the development of Jewish American and Chinese American identities across the country? Professor Annelise Heinz charts a complex cultural journey. This talk follows the history of one game to explore how, in their daily lives, individuals create and experience cultural change. Presented by Annelise Heinz is an assistant professor of history at the University of Oregon. Please register to receive link via 609.737.2610 or hopeprogs@mcl.org.
MAY 10, 2 p.m.
Virtual: All Buttoned Up: Mosaics by Helene Plank
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
Button artist, Helene Plank, will be talking about her intricate works of art using only buttons and beads. Her designs include detailed gradations of color and texture based solely through her selection of individual beads and buttons. Helene’s mosaics are influenced by artist Georges Seurat and his technique of optical blending. Please register to receive link via 609.737.2610 or hopeprogs@mcl.org.
MAY 16, 7 p.m.
Virtual: Yayoi Kusama: The Moment is Imminent
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
At age 92, contemporary Japanese painter and sculptor Yayoi Kusama is having a moment— today she is one of the world’s most popular and recognizable artists. Her Infinity Mirrors immersive experience installations took the world by storm in the 21st Century, but she has been making vibrant and innovative art for decades. Her artistic practice is rooted in her lifelong fascination with the natural world, inspired by her intimate engagement with the colors, patterns, and life cycles of plants and flowers. This talk will discuss her long and productive life and examine her extraordinary work. Presented by Janet Mandel. Ms. Mandel taught in New Jersey’s
public schools for 32 years, educating students in English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. Please register to receive link via 609.737.2610 or hopeprogs@mcl.org.
MAY 17, 6 p.m.
20th Century Black Scientific Renaissance at Bell Labs
Morven Museum & Garden
55 Stockton Street, Princeton
(609) 883-8294 | morven.org
From the 1970's to '90's Bell Labs was the site of extraordinary achievement by Black scientists. Join us to meet 4 stars of this era.
From its beginnings in the 1920s until its demise in the 1980s, Bell Labs-officially, the research and development wing of AT&T-was the biggest, and arguably the best, laboratory for new ideas in the world. From the transistor to the laser, from digital communications to cellular telephony, it’s hard to find an aspect of modern life that hasn’t been touched by Bell Labs.
Spend an evening discovering the personal stories of some of Bell Labs' most outstanding scientists, researchers, and mathematicians. Clyde Bethea, Marian Croak, William Massey and James West will share stories of their years at Bell Labs, outstanding achievements, as well as impressive records of mentoring under-represented students to achieve greatness in scientific and technological careers.
In-person event begins at 6:00 p.m. with light refreshments/reception with those participants who will be joining us at the Stockton Education Center at Morven. Q&A for both live and virtual attendees follows the lecture.
Virtual program waiting room opens at 6:00 p.m. and program begins at 6:30 p.m. - This part of the evening will be hybrid with those both live and online. Zoom link shared day of program.
NATURE
MAY 7, 10 a.m.
Sheep Shearing
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org
"Shear Fun" is in store, with sheep shearing and herding, wool spinning, and weaving demonstrations throughout the day. Visitors can learn about sheep care, fleece cleaning, and wool use—with shearing demonstrations at 11:00, 12:00, 2:00, and 3:00—then watch award-winning border collies herd sheep in the round pasture, and learn about whistle commands, puppy training, and more. Herding demonstrations are at 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.
A children’s craft program will be available from 11:00 to 3:00 for a small materials fee.
**Please note that programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current State guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn't possible.
MAY 14, 10 a.m.
Corn Planting
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org
Once the threat of frost is gone, farmers take to the fields to plant their last spring crop. On corn planting day, you can see them in action using workhorses and a circa-1900 planter. Head back to the barnyard to help shell and grind corn for the pigs and chickens...then make your way to the farmhouse to learn how corn is processed for baking, and sample some fresh-baked cornbread!
A children’s craft program will be available from 11:00 to 3:00 for a small materials fee.
**Please note that programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current State guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn't possible.
MAY 18, 7 p.m.
Protecting Our Watershed
The Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch
61 Scotch Road, Ewing
(609) 882 | mcl.org
Did you know that Mercer County and Ewing Township are in the Central Delaware Watershed? Please join Amanda Weigand, AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador, to learn more about the history of the watershed and how YOU can help keep our watershed clean! Registration is required.
MAY 21, 10 a.m.
Hog Slopping & Weighing
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org
Guess the weights of the Howell Farm hogs as they step onto the scales for their summer weigh-in! Visitors will learn the finer points of keeping pigs, including their history, diet, and some fun facts. Next they’ll guess their weight, grind corn, mix feed, fill the wallow, and slop the hogs!
**Please note that programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current State guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn't possible.
May 28, 10 a.m.
Haying
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org
Learn how to make hay the old-fashioned way...head up to the fields where farmers are cutting, tedding, and raking loose hay to store in the barn for the horses!
A children’s craft program will be available from 11:00 to 3:00 for a small materials fee.
**Please note that programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current State guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn't possible.
THEATRE
MAY 2, 7:30 p.m.
Mercer County Community College Choral Concert
Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
FREE -- NO TICKETS NEEDED
MAY 7, 7:30 p.m. & MAY 8, 2 p.m.
Mercer County Dance Ensemble in Concert
Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
Featuring a group of Mercer County Community College’s most talented students, faculty and alumni, plus guest choreographers and dancers, Mercer Dance Ensemble will sway your emotions and weave a spell with their music and movement. Special Event
MAY 13, 14, 21, 8 p.m.
MAY 15 & 22, 2 p.m.
Disgraced
Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
Pinn Worth Productions presents this continuously engaging, witty and vitally engaged play about thorny questions of identity and religion in the contemporary world. Ayad Akhtar’s Tony-nominated play is the story of a successful Muslim-American lawyer and his wife – an artist influenced by Islamic imagery – enjoying their comfortable life on New York’s Upper East Side. When a co-worker and her husband come to dinner, what begins as polite table conversation explodes, leaving everyone’s relationships and beliefs about race and identity in shards.
WORKSHOPS
MAY 22, 2 p.m. or May 23, 4 p.m.
Printmaking
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
Etch a design into a Styrofoam base. Then add paint to print the same design as many times as you wish! Recommended for children ages 4-12, with a caregiver to supervise. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is required.
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