NJ Musings: Noyes Arts Garage
A not-so-hidden, hidden gem in Atlantic City.
I have a pretty long list of places in New Jersey that I want to visit, and Noyes Arts Garage has been on it for a while. So, when I found myself in Atlantic City on a Friday in September, I thought it would finally stop by and check it out.
I am always looking for things to do and places to visit, especially when it comes to visual arts and artist studios and this space has both. Established in 2013, the Arts Garage is one of Stockton University’s group of cultural institutions and will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this November.
The garage is noted as the “cornerstone of the Arts District in Atlantic City” with a mission that promotes education, provides resources for emerging artists, and enriches the community. It is quite literally, on a corner. The corner of N. Mississippi and Fairmount Avenues, which is right in the base of the Atlantic City Expressway as you enter Atlantic City. You can’t miss it, but it’s easy to drive right by - especially if you are being lured by the sound of slot machines and rolling waves.
The garage features a combination of individual working artist studios, a workshop/event space and gift shop. Artistic mediums include painting, photography, textiles, jewelry, and more. Two big exhibition spaces at the front of the space highlight rotating shows featuring local and regional artists. You can check the exhibition schedule here. Visitors are invited to not only browse the studios, but they are also encouraged to watch work in progress, ask questions, and indulge their artistic curiosity.
In addition to the studios, the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey (AAHMSNJ) also lives in the garage. Founded by Ralph E. Hunter, Sr., the museum began with Mr. Hunter’s three decades-long personal collection of African American cultural items. One goal of the expansive collection is to initiate conversations and showcase the true African American experience. You can read more about the AAHMSNJ and its inception here.
The day I visited the garage was kind of quiet. None of the artists were working in their studios, but their doors remained open for visitors to come in and browse their work. Many had honor systems set up, or Venmo codes displayed in case someone wanted to purchase something. There were two exhibitions, one focusing on “AC Grit”, the other on portraiture.
I always find art studios fascinating. I love to see how different people set up their working areas, and I love the chance to see works-in-progress. There is something about an artist allowing others to see their process that I find so special, intimate even. Visiting an artist studio and having the chance to speak with them about their work is something that can be inspiring and awe-inducing. I highly recommend it.
So, if you’re looking for something to do after hitting a casino, a show, or the Atlantic City Outlets, stop by. You can also grab lunch from White House Subs or a treat from Formica Bakery, two Atlantic City institutions that are a block away. You’re bound to find something interesting to look at, or a conversation to be had. Their annual holiday market and gingerbread village is coming up on December 2 and 3, so it’s the perfect time to add them to your calendar.
Admission to the Arts Garage is free, and on-street and deck parking is available (sadly, not free). You can get more info about the arts garage and the Stockton University Cultural Institutions here.
© 2023 Kim Selby, All rights reserved.
All photography © Kim Selby unless otherwise credited.