Renowned Highland Park Artist William Giacalone is exhibiting in the meeting room at the Highland Park Public Library, 31 North Fifth Avenue, throughout November. His new show of large paintings, is titled Jewish Life: Historical, Biblical and Imaginative Art. His paintings are whimsical and reminiscent of the old country where Hasidim studied and danced with the Torah, villagers labored on farms, and where students attended small village schools.
During the 1960s, Mr. Giacalone illustrated a number of story books and Hebrew school books for young children. Three Stories by Sholom Aleichem, The Pitzel Holiday Book, The Shlimeels of Chelm by Sol Scharfstein, Draydel, Draydel, Draydel, Debbie In Dreamland-Her Holiday Adventures and one of his favorites The Schnitzel Book. Mr. Giacalone, who has lived and painted in Highland Park for more than 50 years, is also a retired commercial art designer and was art director for the Remco Toy Corporation and other firms. He was a three-time winner of the Technicraft Corporation Competition. The life long area artist, who grew up on a chicken farm in Piscataway, received his art education at Cooper Union and the Art Students League both in New York. He has exhibited nationally and internationally and has been in exhibits with artist George Segal at the B’nai Brith Klutznick Museum in Washington, DC.
For more information about library exhibits go to the website at www.hpplnj.org or call 732-572-2750