HAPPY NEW YEAR: The annual concert celebrating New Year’s Eve at Trenton’s Patriots Theater at the War Memorial is a Capital Philharmonic tradition. Sebastian Grand conducts. (Photo by James Beaver)

The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey presents its annual New Year’s Eve concert at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31.

Preceding the concert at 7:10 p.m., Brett Miller gives a recital on the theater’s organ. Sebastian Grand conducts the concert, which includes Leonard Bernstein’s overture to Candide, a Strauss waltz, music from cinema, and Gershwin’s Strike Up the Band. more

On Saturday, January 11 at 8 p.m., State Theatre New Jersey presents “Croce Plays Croce — The Jim Croce Birthday Bash.” Tickets range from $29 to $99.

A.J. Croce performs this special night of music featuring a complete set of classics by his late father Jim Croce, some of his tunes, and songs that influenced him and his father. Such songs as “Operator,” “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” “Time in a Bottle” (a song written for A.J.), “Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy),” and “Lovers Cross,” are among those on the program. Classic covers may include songs by Lieber and Stoller, Bessie Smith, and other folk and roots artists.

A.J. Croce, a Billboard charting singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, taught himself guitar and several of his father’s classics, debuting with a concert that celebrated the legacy of his father’s songs, stories, and music, as well as his own. That show featured two generations of Croce music and many songs by other artists which connect father and son as performers. more

Ayana Mathis
(Photo by Beowolf Sheehan)

Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts has announced the selection of five Mary Mackall Gwinn Hodder Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year. This year’s recipients include sculptor Carlos Agredano, performing and visual artist Satoshi Haga, novelist Ayana Mathis, composer Peter Shin, and playwright Catherine Yu.

“The Lewis Center is thrilled to welcome this impressive and diverse cohort of Hodder Fellows, and to express our enduring gratitude to Mrs. Hodder for making their time with us possible,” said Lewis Center Chair Judith Hamera in making the announcement. “These inventive and rigorous artists challenge our perceptions of foundational issues, from the seeming solidities and histories of urban infrastructures and personal beliefs to the ephemeralities of belonging and connection. We look forward to the insights, new ideas, and collaborations they will bring to us in their fellowship period.”

Hodder Fellows may be writers, composers, choreographers, visual artists, performance artists, or other kinds of artists or humanists who demonstrate, as the program outlines, “much more than ordinary intellectual and literary gifts.” Artists from anywhere in the world may apply in the early fall each year for the following academic year. Past Hodder Fellows have included novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, painter Mario Moore, poet Natalie Diaz, choreographer Okwui Okpokwasili, playwrights Lauren Yee and Martyna Majok, and Zimbabwean gwenyambira (mbira player), composer, and singer Tanyaradzwa Tawengwa.  more

POP-UP ACTIVATION: Colette Fu’s work “Noodle Mountain” will be opened on Saturday, December 28 at 12 p.m. at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, followed by an artist talk. (Photo by David Michael Howarth Photography)

On Saturday, December 28 from 12 to 12:30 p.m., artist Colette Fu will open the pop-up book Noodle Mountain, followed by a short artist talk, in the Domestic Arts Building at Grounds For Sculpture where a portion of the ‘Slow Motion” exhibition is located.

Noodle Mountain contemplates deeply personal memories, as well as the intergenerational histories of place, labor, and diaspora that food can conjure. Future activation dates include March 22 at, at 1 p.m. and May 17 at 12 p.m. more

On January 14 at 6 p.m., the Princeton Public Library will host “Eco-Art Revolution: Creativity Meets Sustainability,” a panel discussion featuring three distinguished artists from the Princeton area: Susan Hoenig, Mary Waltham, and Karen Tuveson. The event will be moderated by Mic Diño Boekelmann, a multidisciplinary artist and eco-advocate.

An engaging discussion will explore how these artists ensure their creative processes are eco-friendly and aligned with sustainable practices. From the thoughtful selection of materials to innovative techniques, the panelists are united by their commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of their work while fostering meaningful connections between art and sustainability.

Through personal stories and professional insights, the panelists will share their journeys of adopting green practices, overcoming challenges, and influencing both the art world and environmental advocacy. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how sustainable art can inspire change and contribute to a greener future without compromising creativity. more

“CARP SWIMMING” Painter Kyoko Bartley, whose work is shown here, is the featured speaker for the “Inside the Artists’ Studio” event on Saturday, December 21 at 4:30 p.m. at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center.

On Saturday, December 21 at 4:30 p.m., painter Kyoko Bartley will be the featured speaker for the “Inside the Artist’s Studio” series at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center. Bartley, a Japanese-born artist based near Princeton, specializes in a diverse range of art forms in various mediums, including traditional Japanese motifs, animal art, and hyper-realistic drawings.

Bartley is particularly known for her vibrant “Red Fuji” paintings, symbolizing good fortune and success, as well as her detailed depictions of animals, such as pet portraits and her “Princeton Black Squirrels” series, beloved in her local community. Her art has found homes with collectors worldwide.

She will discuss her artistic journey and how New Jersey inspires her work. “New Jersey was where I realized how my Japanese background became a unique strength,” said Bartley. “Living in America has given me a new, objective perspective on Japan, allowing me to see my heritage through fresh eyes.”  more

This work by Mike Benevenia is featured in ‘When the Land Calls,” on view at D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Marie L. Matthews Gallery, 1 Preservation Place, through February 28. For more information, visit drgreenway.org.

MARKING A MILESTONE: Enhancing the Health of the Delaware River Watershed was the focus of an awards presentation held by the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed is celebrating a significant milestone as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announces 45 Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) awards, totaling over $17 million. Several grants went to projects in New Jersey.

This funding, which includes supplemental funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is made possible through the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA) and is administered by the NFWF in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). more

On Saturday, December 14 at 11 a.m., wintry children’s classics come to life with “Merry, Merry Mischief,” at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Kirby Theatre, on the campus of Drew University in Madison. The seasonal “Classics for Kids” offering features actors from the company’s family of artists with scripts in hand, presenting selections from L. Frank Baum, Louisa May Alcott, Clement C. Moore, and others. Visit shakespearenj.org for tickets.