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The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission hosted a month-long exhibit of Meadowlandscapes by Charlie Churchill ’83 at the Flyway Gallery in the Meadowlands Environment Center.
“The paintings came directly out of my MFA diploma project painting,” says Churchill. “I painted a rather complex allegorical scene with the Meadowlands as a backdrop.”
Churchill, a realist painter, fuses several centuries of techniques to depict local landscapes including the New Jersey Turnpike, the Hackensack River, and the marshes of the Meadowlands.
“In preparation for this work I did a number of studies,” he explains. “In 2005 the NJ Meadowlands Commission awarded grants to local artists. I received one and was given an exhibition opportunity by the commission. I find a great deal of beauty in this unique landscape. It holds a great deal of emotional significance for me, and it offers a wonderful chance to deal with the atmospheric interplay between the river and the sky.”
The government and law major developed his technical skills in the MFA program at New York Academy of Art after earning his BFA from Parsons School of Design.
“My cousin Matt Zizik ’81 was probably the most important factor in my choosing Lafayette,” he says. “Unfortunately, he passed away tragically two years ago. I’m currently painting a portrait of him for my aunt.
“My favorite Lafayette professors were Rick Matthews (government and law) and Don Miller (history). I enjoyed the art classes I took with Ron Janowich. And Professor(James) Crawford (math) was also very inspirational, even though I bailed out of engineering after my freshman year!”
Lafayette gave Churchill self-confidence both intellectually and socially.
“I was pretty shy,” he says. “It was important for me to get involved with a variety of organizations. I was part of things that were bigger than myself. My involvement with Chi Phi was a highlight, along with working on the newspaper writing a weekly column and doing a little comic strip.”
His friendship with classmate M.J. Seely ’85 led Churchill into advertising, where he has worked as an art director and illustrator for 15 years while continuing to paint. He has created a catalog of paintings that includes portraits, illustrations, and commissioned works.
Churchill has participated in numerous group shows in New York City, winning the Edwin Gould Award from the National Arts Club and the Ridgewood Art Institute Award from the Salmagundi Club. He has executed numerous corporate commissions. The Art Student Showcase in New York City has represented him since 1997. His paintings of Barnegat Bay were featured in the New York Art Association’s Salon 2006, and he is working on a series of seaside-themed murals to adorn the walls of Blue Mill Tavern in New York City.
“I want to paint, show, and teach. I’m interested in becoming involved with art at Lafayette,” he says. “For me, art is about the opportunity to achieve excellence. Perfection is the unattainable goal; its pursuit is the artist’s journey. It’s also a wonderful chance to express yourself, letting the world know what gets you out of bed in the morning.”