Arts & Entertainment
Award-Winning Guitarist John Carlini In First Concert Held by Farmstead Arts
John Carlini Trio performs at the Environmental Education Center to kick off Farmstead Arts' new concert series.
A concert featuring award-winning guitarist John Carlini and his trio was the first-ever performance in the First Sunday Concert Series offered through the township's new Farmstead Arts facility. However, because snow and ice covered the parking area at Farmstead Arts, the venue of the concert was moved to the Environmental Education Center at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge.
Basking Ridge artist Beth Murphy, whose botanical collages will be on display and for sale through February at the Farmstead Arts at 450 King George Road, also showed up with some samples of her work.
Guitarist and composer John Carlini presented a journey of classical, Broadway, jazz, and bluegrass music with vocalist Bill Robinson, and Jim Whitney on acoustic bass. The trio played many classics, from "Mood Indigo" to "My Funny Valentine."
"It's a perfect Sunday afternoon," said Paul Heitmann from Basking Ridge, one of the music lovers in the audience. Heitmann said he himself plays guitar.
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"It's nice to be in a small setting where you can be so much closer to the musicians," said Karen Cassity of Basking Ridge, who accompanied Heitmann to the concert.
Carlini, a resident of Berkeley Heights who grew up in Summit, specializes in the acoustic music genre. Robinson, who lives in Summit, has played with him for many years. Whitney traveled from Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Beth Murphy Botanicals will continue to be displayed from Feb. 5-27 at the Farmstead Arts.
The exhibit features individual botanical collages made from all natural pressed materials. An introduction to botanicals workshop is scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, 10-11:30 a.m. A $15 donation to Farmstead Arts is suggested.
Murphy is scheduled to demonstrate the technique of pressing materials and will provide assistance in creating a unique botanical artwork. Attendees should bring a small paint brush.
Next month's scheduled concert will feature Celtic music for St. Patrick's Day, said Ann Rosenblum, who is in charge of programming at the Farmstead Arts.
