‘Worldly Impressions and Expressions of People’, a solo exhibit of ink, lithograph, acrylics, and oils by Roselle Park resident Melinda Khan, will be on display at the Casano Community Center Gallery through August 19, 2011. A reception to meet the artist will be on July 20th from 5-7 pm.
As soon as Melinda could hold a pencil, her mother encouraged her to create. She pursued fine art in high school – excelling in drawing and painting – and became the recipient of an art award, “What got me into the various colleges I applied to was my special art talent which the colleges got to see through my slide portfolio.”
She received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) and has an Associate’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The work represented in this exhibit is pen and ink, acrylic paint and pencil/charcoal, and oils. She uses them because these materials are portable, accessible, and, in the case of acrylic paint, it dries quickly and is easy to mix colors and get texture. Melinda does like oil paint for the texture and vibrancy of color but doesn’t work in it too frequently because it’s not as portable as the other mediums.
“My work as an artist has always been the way I could express myself the best,” she said, “I have one child with Asperger’s (Syndrome) who has been the greatest gift I ever had. She is my greatest fan!”
Mrs. Khan also writes and attended New York University (NYU) and the New School to pursue screenwriting. She currently writes freelance articles for magazines. She loves traveling and since her husband is from Karachi, Pakistan, they have visited Karachi and other areas of Pakistan four times. She said, “We had two weddings and three receptions – one of which was in Pakistan!”
They have also been to Singapore, Europe, and the Caribbean as well. Mrs. Khan is also a substitute teacher in Roselle Park and Cranford. All artwork is for sale and the artist can be contacted at melinda.khan[@]verizon.net.
The mission of the Casano Community Center Art Gallery is to give Roselle Park residents a venue to display their artistic works and connect with the community at large. The Art Gallery accepts work only from Roselle Park residents. Artwork must be 2 dimensional – no sculpture or jewelry will be accepted. You can contact Leona Seufert at (908) 241-5874 or through e-mail Beyond-Words[@]att.net.
The Gallery is located in the Casano Community Center, 314 Chestnut St. Roselle Park, New Jersey. The Casano Community Center and the Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday till 5 pm.