Leonia Arts to Hold Fifth 'MEET & GREET' Event, 9/21

Leonia Arts, a nonprofit cultural arts alliance in the borough, is co-sponsoring with the Leonia Public Library the fifth "Meet & Greet Leonia Artists." The event will take place on Sunday, September 21 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall located at 399 Broad Avenue in the town. The event is free and open to the public.

The fifth annual "Meet & Greet Leonia Artists" event celebrates the borough's long history in the arts that continues today with many artists calling Leonia home. Leonia artists -- photographers, musicians, cartoonists, painters, sculptors, writers, dancers, actors, crafters, and multimedia artists, among others -- and patrons of the arts are invited to attend.

Artists and supporters of the arts are invited to meet and network with other artists and patrons from the borough, while enjoying wine and cheese and listening to background music. Artists' work from various fields, ranging from poetry to paintings and sculptures, will be displayed throughout the hall. Launched at last year's event, Leonia Arts board member and videographer, Suzanne Pancrazi, will ask attendees again "What is Art?" for inclusion in the ongoing video project that can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/89851674.

The borough's lengthy list of prominent artists, musicians, writers, entertainers, and crafts people who have lived in the town over the years include artist Charles Chapman; painter and etcher Grant Reynard; child actor Freddie Bartholomew; actor and director Alan Alda; singer Carmel Quinn; comedian Buddy Hackett; singer Sammy Davis, Jr.; actor, producer, and author Robert Ludlum; and singer and actor Pat Boone.

Arts organizations continue to thrive in the borough. Several arts organizations are based in the town, including the Players' Guild of Leonia, SummerStage at Leonia, Sculpture for Leonia, Leonia Reads, and the Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc.

Leonia Arts has a mission to support, stimulate, enhance, promote and connect the arts within the borough and to outer communities. The grassroots organization supports the arts by connecting the various diverse artists and creative groups in the town often called the "Athens of New Jersey." Membership in Leonia Arts is free and available for artists, arts organizations, arts groups, and patrons of the arts in Leonia.

The organization's web site features an Artist Link page open to Leonia artists in all disciplines. Artists, who are members of Leonia Arts, may link their web site to the Leonia Arts' web site. Borough artists interested in linking their web site and/or contact information to be listed on the relevant subpage, should send the following to info@leoniaarts.org: name and type of artist (photographer, actor, dancer, writer, etc.), one photo (optional), web site URL (optional), and a short bio or profile no more than two brief paragraphs in length.

For more information about the "Meet & Greet Leonia Artists" event or Leonia Arts, contact Kathy Pecht, at 201-944-0510 or send an e-mail to info@leoniaarts.org. Go to www.leoniaarts.org for additional information about the organization, to join Leonia Arts, to view a calendar of upcoming arts events, and much more.