Seven Decades: Climbing, Reaching, Turning Corners Gladys Barker Grauer ~ Works On View in Maplewood

The 1978 Maplewood Arts Center, located at 1978 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood, NJ,  will celebrate Black History Month and Women's History Month with an exhibit of the works of renowned New Jersey artist, Gladys Barker Grauer.

Grauer has been called the "Mother" of Newark's African American art community. She is best known for her tapestries and corrugated constructions made from discarded and repurposed materials. The materials are allegorical to the people and subjects that the artist/activist champions.

Grauer says, "Homeless people take cardboard and make shelters; they take plastic bags and make rain hats or boots; they take old stuff and make it something good; they take throw-away things and make them useful.”  She has been a teacher, a mentor and an inspiration for artists in greater-Newark community for generations. In 1971 she opened Newark's first gallery dedicated exclusively to exhibiting art.

Mrs. Grauer is an alumnus of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her works are in the permanent collections at such major institutions as the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), the National Museum of American Art (Washington, DC), the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and The Newark Museum, among others. In 2013 she completed her fourth major mural commission titled "A Tribute to Newark Jazz Clubs."

Gallery 1978 has been exhibiting the work of established and emerging artists for 12 years, featuring a range events and classes.  For more information go to www.1978artscenter.org or contact 1978artscenter@gmail.com