Windows at Studio Montclair Gallery
127 Bloomfield Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
Work is viewable 24/7 in the Studio Montclair Gallery Windows adjacent to the Studio Montclair Gallery
The Windows at Studio Montclair:
Featuring Callie Campbell, Jane E. Crow, Laura Fontanals, Neena Shah
The Windows at Studio Montclair is an exciting alternative venue
where our members curate small group and solo exhibitions.
On view all day, every day! Stroll on by!
About the Artists
Artists Statement: Callie Campbell
When I first began painting, my focus was outward—driven by a desire to create what others deemed important or beautiful. This mirrored my life as a woman, constantly striving to maintain appearances, please others, and follow the latest trends. My early work reflected a yearning to fit in, to be seen. But true artistic fulfillment only came when I turned inward, painting for myself. This shift marked the beginning of my evolution as an artist.
My work is a continuous experiment, shaped as much by failure as by success. Not every idea materializes as intended, but each one contributes to my growth, pushing me to explore and innovate. My background in mathematics and computer science naturally draws me to geometric patterns and the structured chaos of cubism, which I often incorporate into my art. Yet, my compositions remain free from the constraints of defined objects—no people, animals, or scenery—inviting the viewer to interpret and experience the work in their own way.
Abstraction, for me, is a form of meditation, both in the act of creation and in the experience of viewing. The vivid layers of color, intense textures, and dynamic forms I employ are not meant to depict the tangible world, but rather to evoke an emotional response. The layering in my paintings allows for multiple interpretations, as different images emerge depending on the viewer’s vantage point and the changing light.
My process is fluid, driven by a need to communicate feeling rather than achieve a predetermined outcome. A painting may take days or years to feel complete, and I embrace that uncertainty. I work primarily with oils, acrylics, and inks, constantly seeking new materials and tools to expand my creative vocabulary. Through my art, I aim to bypass literal perception and tap into a more profound, unconscious awareness—creating works that are as intense as they are meditative, as bright as they are layered.
Artists Statement: Jane E. Crow
I have been told my work is a Rorschach test for the viewer. My process is usually instinctual and organic: a natural unfolding of form, feeling, texture, and color.
I am largely self-taught, and experiment with different media and styles as I am drawn to them. I predominantly work with acrylics, oils, digital drawing, and photo collages. I also occasionally dabble in decoupage and glass etching.
Art allows me self-discovery and catharsis. It is integral to my emotional and physical well-being. Art is how I express myself and process all the things in life. Art therapy is heart therapy!
I would describe my style as “delicately edgy”. I am inherently drawn to abstract works-textures, shapes, and colors behold! I love how abstract work evokes emotion and allows for such different interpretation by the viewer.
About this collection:
This collection was created in response to my breast cancer diagnosis, resulting in a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction process throughout 2020. I was unable to use my arms to paint because of the surgery, so I began to pursue digital endeavors. Hidden in several of the collages are photos I took during the reconstructive process- fairly imperceptible, but I know they are there! I chose this time period to display because it will be up in October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month!) and on the anniversary of my diagnosis. It is very meaningful to me, as such.
Artists Statement: Laura Fontanals
It’s not a cat by a window or flowers or a tree. It is visual emotion. I paint because there is nothing through which I can combine my love for color with a tactile experience and create such an exciting, raw result. I am driven in a very primitive direction by a very instinctive force. Physical elements are as important as the visual. Closure of a piece, when I know I am done, is when the movement is complete. Then I can step away and release it. What I hope the viewer will feel, whether consciously or not, is the flow of each piece, the feeling of completion, of a harmony within the initially chaotic.
I started college as a Commercial Art major but then changed to Fine Art as I realized I found graphic art fun but fine art emotional and moving. For that reason it took quite a while before I felt comfortable telling people that I paint, never mind showing my work to anyone. My work has now been shown in various local shows over the past few years. I have also created specific works on commission.
Artists Statement: Neena Shah
Color is life.
I express my love and joy with colors and shape it with free and bold brush strokes. This process of creation is my sustenance. For me a painting is never planned. It is born of a very personal and meditative process. An interaction between colors and brushes that land on a canvas. I dress it with few additional strokes. I share this urchin with the world to make it a little more joyful place.
