Metuchen Junebug ArtFest Introduces 2017 Sculptor: Dan Fenelon

An artist, muralist, illustrator, and graphic designer for more than 20 years, Madison New Jersey-based Dan Fenelon has been selected as this year's Metuchen Junebug ArtFest sculptor and is tasked with the job of putting his own spin on a Junebug for this exciting tri-state area art festival.

Trained at NY's Art Students' League and at Boston's Museum School of Fine Arts, Dan is already hard at work on a large wooden sculpture (8 feet tall x 4 feet wide) that will be painted in his signature vibrant, muralist style. ArtFest visitors will literally be able to stand inside the creation and become a Junebug. The sculpture will be unveiled on Saturday evening June 3rd at 7:00 pm, in front of the Metuchen Savings bank on Main Street.

"I am a long-time advocate of the arts in New Jersey and am thrilled to be chosen as this year's Junebug sculptor," commented Dan. "I love Metuchen and the enthusiasm the town has for the arts. I was very warmly welcomed last year, when I coordinated a Junebug event on behalf of the Montclair Art Museum. I am really looking forward to seeing visitors interact with my creation and supporting New Jersey arts through my participation in the festival this coming June."

The 10th Annual Metuchen Junebug ArtFest will be held every Saturday evening in June (the 3th, 10th, 17th and 24th) from 6:00 - 10:00 pm throughout the streets of downtown Metuchen. The event draws thousands of visitors from the tri-state area and transforms our community into a month-long celebration of the arts.

"Once I found out about all the various kinds of art Dan creates, how many community projects he coordinates and his ongoing work with students, I knew that he would be the perfect choice to create the 10th Anniversary sculpture," stated Linda LaStella, Junebug founder and Metuchen-based ceramist. "Dan gets the spirit of Junebug and will be able to translate that into a great piece of sculpture that captures the heart of the ArtFest."

Biographical/Background Information
An artist, muralist, illustrator, and graphic designer for more than 20 years, Madison NJ-based Dan Fenelon (http://www.wavedog.com) trained at NY's Art Students' League and at Boston's Museum School of Fine Arts. Likened to "petroglyphs with a modern art twist," his works vibrate with primal force, infusing color and energy into his dramatic, highly detailed, image-within-image visual language, which applies equally well to fine art, sculpture, painting, animation, and large scale murals.

Dan has had 17 one-man exhibits in galleries from Chelsea (NYC) to Los Angeles (CA) and a featured mural exhibit at the Montclair Art Museum. Additionally, his work was showcased at Major League Baseball's NY Fan Cave and he was commissioned to create several large-scale murals - including in Grand Rapids, MI and one in Newark, NJ to welcome the Dalai Lama to the 2011 Peace Summit.

Dedicated and inspiring as a mentor/teacher, he has worked with students since the inception of Morris Arts' "Morristown High Mentoring." He also works with youth at the Matheny School, Morris County Youth Shelter, Creative Heartwork, and Arts Unbound.

He has designed logos, animations, and even a line of athletic wear.

Lora Urbanelli, Director of the Montclair Art Museum describes Dan's work as "combining depth of meaning with a lighthearted and dazzling presentation. The result is both youthful and mature, thought-provoking and down-right fun!"

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