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THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION
SEPT/OCT/NOV 2016
w ww.alltirecompany.com Approved Auto Repair Come in to see Ray, Mike, Matty and Joe for all of your car-care needs 3221 Rt. 22E. • Branchburg Across from Shoprite and Wendys behind Mobil Gas Station Towing NJ State Inspection and Emissions Repair 908-725-7373 Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-6pm Sat. 7:30am-4pm Sun. 9am-4pm Car Wash on Site $ 19 95 • New oil filter installed • Fill crankcase up to 5 qts major brand oil • Semi & full synthetic oil also available • Free preventive maintenance inspection No other discounts apply. Must present coupon to get this price. Shop supply/hazmat material fees will be added. Offer expires 11/30/16. OIL CHANGE SPECIAL! THE ART ACADEMY www.TheArtAcademy.us Hillsborough 908.829.3790 Lebanon 908.323.2209 Kevin Murphy In April of 2009 ‘The Art Acade- my’ was founded with the goal of offering a simple common sense approach to quality art training and in doing so, place measurable skills into the hands of any person interested in learning. In the 7 years that have fol- lowed, The Art Academy has grown into one of the strongest art programs in the U.S., with students commuting more than two hours to attend stan- dard classes, and from across the coun- try for summer intensives. The unas- suming flagship school sits quietly nes- tled in an industrial park behind the Hillsborough movie theatre. Through the doors of a warehouse facade, entering the 2200 sq.ft. studio feels like stepping into another world. Music fills this elegant space, and an almost therapeutic sense of calm permeates the classrooms that doubles as a muse- um grade gallery. During class time, students of all ages and skill levels work diligently on the projects that sit before them on their easels. Each com- pleted piece of art acts as a stepping stone laid on the path to mastery by each individual student at his or her own pace. Speaking with students, it is inter- esting to discover how little time many have spent training at The Art Acade- my in order to develop the skills to produce such impactful work. Each student’s story being different, it is impressive to see the level of consis- tency in the artwork created at all age levels. Describing the school further, Kevin offers “ The Art Academy is home to a family of aspiring artists, myself included, looking to improve our skills. We all start at the beginning and grow from there. Each student walks the same road here and so can be supported by those with more experience and in turn, support the newer students as they become more experienced themselves. This type of in-studio mentoring has been an accepted norm in the art world since the renaissance and is kept alive here.” Kevin goes to great lengths to ensure that the level of education offered and the work produced utiliz- ing the skills taught at The Art Acad- emy are second to none. In 2014, Gianni Maimeri (Maimeri Artist Materi- als, based in Milan, Italy) had this to say as he spoke to a packed house at The Art Academy. “As the owner of Maimeri, I have traveled broadly, and have had the opportunity to visit many of the world’s greatest art institutions. I would say to the students here [at The Art Academy ] that they are very fortunate to have such a school avail- able to them. This is one of the finest programs I have come across in all my years. The results I see here in such a young body of students is rare and very impressive.” Beyond the visual impression of The Art Academy to one considering class, Kevin says there are other more quantifiable metrics by which to meas- ure the program, such as ‘return on investment’. Art Academy students have enjoyed a 100% acceptance rate into top tier art universities internation- ally, with an average scholarship of more than $80,000. Presidential level college scholarships are a standard for dedicated Art Academy students. Additionally, these students have been broadly recognized in both student and professional level competitions, obtaining national and international acclaim. With the motto “Great artists aren’t born; they are trained”, and a Free introductory class, this is definitely the go to place if you or someone you know has an interest in developing that artistic side of themselves. www.theconnectionsnj.com