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Award Winning Art Program in Bordentown!

By Eric Gibbons February 5, 2016

 

Eric Gibbons, owner and founder of The Firehouse Gallery, and Firehouse Publications, was awarded New Jersey's Best High School Teacher by the Art Educators of New Jersey. He is also preparing for his 22nd annual art camp program for area children in Bordentown.

 

Sandwiched between Burlington and Mercer Counties, and hugged by the Delaware River, The Firehouse Gallery has been serving local residents, hosting international exhibitions, and influencing art education around the globe. Gibbons credits his many art based books for bringing him to the attention of the New Jersey Art Education Association. The Art Student's Workbook is a collection of his 25 years of teaching experienced used in English speaking classrooms all over the world. "The British Virgin Islands just ordered 300 copies for their students to use, and this last summer I had it translated into Spanish too. Artes Plásticas is that new title I'm introducing it to Spanish speaking student in the United States first, and then Latin America next year."

 

His children's books are also bridging the gap between art and other content areas. "My If Picasso series of books, illustrated by art teachers around the world, also connects art to history, cultures, and in our new book, biology and animal conservation. If Picasso Went To The Zoo was picked up by a major distributor, and has been translated into both Chinese and Spanish. We've begun two more focusing on sea creatures and world monuments. It's very exciting, and I think the Art Education Association of New Jersey really appreciates my efforts to expand the understanding of the importance of a rigorous and fun art education program."

 

Gibbons often tries out his newest ideas and lessons during his summer camp program, now in its 22nd year. "It's fun to experiment with new ideas; paint that explodes with alka-seltzer, painting and drawing while blind-folded, reviving the skills of sewing as we create our own zombie stuffed animals, explore architecture in a way kids will love by designing their own dream house, and so much more. Though the kids will have a great time, they will also be learning engineering as they build structures, history as we explore the roots of art styles, math as we calculate and measure ingredients to mix colors or get the right explosive mixture of paint, alka-seltzer, and water for a modern Pollock inspired painting."

 

First opened in 1970 by Juanita Crosby, Gibbons bought the gallery in May of 1995 running the first art camp program that summer. Growing from just 10 students to now about a hundred every summer. His online art education blog is followed by hundreds of art educations around the globe, ArtEdGuru.com. It has gotten the attention of the National Art Education Association who have asked him to present his methods to their membership in February.

 

"Art is not an island." Gibbons says, "When we do portraits--we learn about proportion, when we grid--we learn about geometry, when we illustrate classical story--we learn about literature, when we explore color--we are also explore physics. Art is the meeting place of all subjects, and because I integrate this in my teaching, my students succeed at higher rates on state exams and their SATs."

 

With classes like cartooning, painting, drawing, sculpture, and "Crazy Art," taught by certified art teachers, there's something for everyone. Gibbons says, "The most popular classes have been cartooning andCrazy Art.  They fill pretty quickly. Crazy Art is one we started a few years ago, and kids get to try the things they have always been told not to. We've made concrete stuffed animals, painted with squirt guns in the past, and we have some really nutty ideas for this year too."

 

For more information about the art camp or directions to the Firehouse Gallery, please visit their website at www.FirehouseGallery.com or call the gallery at 609-298-3742.