College of the Arts at Montclair State University

Caroline Woolard, Assistant Professor in Art and Design, will speak on the panel, Alternatives in a Time of Institutional Crisis, at the National Academy of Design in New York City on July 14th. The panel, part of the Future Schools gathering, explore student-led and co-created learning environments.

More information: https://www.artwrld.com/event/alternatives-in-a-time-of-institutional-crisis-panel-discussion

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Recharge and Restore Kits initiative! With your support, we collected enough supplies and monetary donations to create 150 kits. The kits were distributed in April through Red Hawk Pantry and Bear Necessities at the Bloomfield Campus. We look forward to continuing and growing the initiative next semester.

More information about donations: https://www.montclair.edu/arts/2026/02/10/recharge-and-restore-kits-for-students

🎨 Congratulations to Professor Julie Heffernan of the Department of Art and Design on her featured exhibition, Nutmeg’s Curse, now on view at Hirschl & Adler Modern in New York City! 🌸🖼️

Through monumental floral paintings inspired by the Old Masters, mythology, and contemporary environmental concerns, Heffernan’s work explores themes of beauty, catastrophe, and climate anxiety. 🌍✨

Nutmeg’s Curse marks Heffernan’s second solo exhibition with the gallery and continues her powerful exploration of art history, ecological instability, and painting as a call to awareness and action.

✨ Take Your Child to Work Day 2026 ✨

Our campus was filled with excitement as we welcomed young learners (K-7) for a day of exploration and discovery! From interactive workshops to hands-on activities, children had the opportunity to experience the energy of university life.

One highlight of the day was a colorful art project inspired by the iconic artist Yayoi Kusama. Known for her signature use of bold patterns and playful polka dots, Kusama's work encourages creativity, and these young artists embraced that spirit wholeheartedly.

Led by Brooke Garlick and Katherin Tamburo from the Art & Design Department, children collaborated with their parents to create their own Kusama-inspired masterpieces.

Caroline Woolard, Assistant Professor in Art and Design, traveled with leadership from Grantmakers in the Arts to Washington DC to advocate for the arts. Woolard met with members of Congress and key staffers to champion arts education funding, protect the rights of independent artists and gig works, and urge lawmakers to fund the NEA and NEH in FY2027. She is the only non-grantmaker with Grantmakers in the Arts, which is the national association of both public and private arts and culture funders in the US and into Canada. From the House to the Senate, she's helping make the case that the arts matter.

Pictured with:
Congresswoman Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (Oregon)
Congresswoman Rep. Chellie Pingree (Maine)
Eddie Torres — President & CEO, Grantmakers in the Arts
Lisa Richards Toney — President & CEO, Association of Performing Arts Professionals (national advocacy organization for the live performing arts field)
Sam Myers Jr. — Chief Strategy and External Affairs Advisor, Association of Performing Arts Professionals
Alex Nock — Principal, Penn Hill Group

Congratulations to adjunct professor in the Montclair State University - Department of Art and Design Alyssa E. Fanning, who has been awarded a 2026 Individual Artist Fellowship in Painting from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts!

The highly competitive fellowship recognizes artistic excellence through an anonymous peer-review process and supports the creation of new work by New Jersey artists.

👏🎨✨

✨ What a night. ✨

An intimate, unforgettable evening with Jason Robert Brown with singing, storytelling, and pure musical magic at the piano. From beloved favorites to deeply moving originals, the audience laughed, sang along, and loved every moment. 🎶🎹

Thank you to Peak Performances for presenting a world-class night of live performance.

🎉 Congratulations to Montclair State University Department of Theatre and Dance Adjunct Professor Parul Shah, newly named a United States Artists Fellow! A Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator, Shah is recognized nationally for her powerful work centering South Asian women’s histories, voices, and agency, and will receive a $50,000 award in support of her artistry. 👏🩰

Read more: https://www.montclair.edu/arts/2026/02/04/adjunct-professor-parul-shah-named-united-states-artist-fellow/