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AbouttheNewJerseyStateMuseumandtheNewJerseyArtistSeriesInitsearliestincarnationstheNewJerseyStateMuseumwasamuchdifferentinstitutionthantheexpansivediverseanddynamicinstitutionitistoday.Establishedin1895bytheNewJerseyStateLegislatureandGovernorGeorgeWertswithcollectionsdrawnfromtheStatesGeologicSurveysbeguninthe1830stheMuseumwashousedinasmallspaceintheStateHouse.AtthattimetheMuseumspurposewastocollectandexhibitspecimensinnaturalhistoryarchaeologyandindustrialhistory.Itwastherststatemuseuminthecountryorganizedwitheducationasitsprimarymission.Between1900and1912theStateMuseumstrengtheneditsarchaeologyfocusbyinitiatingaeldresearchprogram.In1929expandedspaceinthenewlyconstructedStateHouseAnnexpermittedextensiveexhibitionsofthenaturalhistoryandNewJerseyprehistorycollections.DecorativeartsbecameathirdcollectioneldatthistimewhentheStateMuseumexpandeditsfocusbeyondindustrialhistorytoincludethemanufactureofceramics.Theethnographiccollectionwasinitiatedin1932whentheStateMuseumpurchasedpartofanexhibitionofNorthAmericanIndianart.Whiletherewasnoofcialfocusonneartintheseearlyyearsexhibitionsofpaintingsdrawingsprintsandsculpturewerepresentedasearlyas1929.OrganizedbytheLadiesArtCommitteetheseexhibitionsshowcasedartfromaroundthestateandaroundtheworld.NewJerseysartistswerefeaturedinbiennialexhibitionsbrieyinpartnershipwithTheNewarkMuseum.Inadditiontotheseexhibitionsillustrationcostumedesignarchitecturecraftsstainedglassandotherdiverseformsofcreativeoutputwereshown.Growinginterestineducationandcultureinthelate1950sresultedintheconstructionofthemodernculturalcomplexneartheStateHouse.Openedin1965theMuseumscampusasweknowittodayincludesthemainbuildingaplanetariumandanauditorium.Inthemid-1960sneartformallybecametheMuseumsfourthcollectionarea.TheexhibitionsofworksbyNewJerseyartistscontinuedthroughto1970whentheStateMuseumcreatedtheBureauofFineArtandhiredcuratorstrainedinartandarthistory.Averyprescientdecisionwasmadein1970tofocustheFineArtcollectiononAmericanartbeginninginthe19thcenturyhighlightingNewJerseyartistsandtheircontributionstothehistoryofAmericanart.AsfewmuseumswerefocusingsolelyonAmericanartatthetimetheStateMuseumwasabletobuildanesurveycollectionthatreectsthebreadthoftheartcreatedinthiscountry.TheroleofNewJerseysownartiststhosebornlivingorworkinginthestateisprominentintheAmericanartstory.ThecontributionsofGeorgeInnessSusanWatersCharlesB.LawrenceBenShahnDorotheaLangeAlfredStieglitzJohnMarinJacobLawrenceGraceHartiganTonySmithRoyLichtensteinGeorgeSegalGeorgeTiceWillieColeandmanyotherNewJerseyanshavebeencriticaltotheadvancementofanAmericanaesthetic.TheNewJerseyArtistSeriescontinuestobeimportanttotheexhibitingartistsandtoStateMuseumaudiences.TheMuseumisprivilegedtopresenttheextraordinarydiversityandvitalityofourstatescontemporaryartistsandreinforcethevalueofartinourlives.Fortheartiststheseriescanbealaboratoryfornewideasbyestablishedartistsabreakoutexhibitionforemergingprofessionalsoranopportunitytolookbothretro-andprospectivelyattheworkofanartistinmid-career.TheSeriesallowstheartiststohavetheirworkseenbyawiderangeofvisitorssomewhovisitspecicallytoviewtheirworksandotherswhomayhavecomeforourexhibitionsandprogramsinscienceorhistorybutdiscoverartandartiststheymaynothaveencounteredotherwise.ItisourpleasuretocontinuetopresenttheworkofsignicantNewJerseyartists.ThissurveyoftenyearsofworkbyDahliaElsayedremindsusoftheimportanceofideaspersonalexpressionanduniquevision.Herpaintingsareculturalsignpostsleadingustoexploreidentityplaceandinternaldialogue.OnbehalfoftheNewJerseyStateMuseumsBoardofTrusteesandtheFriendsoftheNewJerseyStateMuseumitismypleasuretoextendcongratulationsandgratitudetoDahliaElsayedforthefascinatingbodyofworkthatsheallowedustoshareandtotheMuseumsCuratorofFineArtMargaretOReillyforhercuratorialvisionandcommitmenttoNewJerseyartistsandourvisitors.AnthonyGardnerExecutiveDirectorNewJerseyStateMuseumIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII