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Arts & Entertainment

Township Couple Host Artist Reception

Alonso Adams work displayed at home of close friend.

At a stately house on a quiet Morris Township street on Sunday, invited guests viewed an exhibit from an artist whose work has been featured on popular television shows and shown in some of the finest galleries in the United States and Europe.

The exhibit, which ran from 2 p.m. into the evening, featured the works of prominent African-American artist Alonzo Adams.

Adams was born in Harlem, but grew up and lives in Plainfield. He's been a professional artist for almost three decades. Adams' paintings and drawings adorn many prominent collectors’ homes. Actor, comedian and social activist Bill Cosby, poet Dr. Maya Angelou and actor Wesley Snipes are among the famous people who own art by Adams.

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But this exhibit wasn't in a celebrity's house, or a famous gallery. It was at the home of Richard and Tanya Webber of Morristown.

Richard Webber and Alonzo Adams have been friends for years, and are fraternity brothers. Webber, who is a consultant as well as managing director of global sourcing for the the New York Times Media Group, began planning the exhibit three weeks ago.

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“I networked using my church [], and reached out to my fraternity, Kappa Alpha PSI, and the Jack and Jill organization to promote the event,” he said.

Webber chose his house as the exhibition site to give guests an intimate atmosphere in which to view Adams' work.

Since the age of 5, Alonzo Adams has been drawing and painting. He admires the work of artistic masters such as Rembrandt, Charles White and Romare Bearden. Adams likes to work with oils, watercolors and pencil.

Through the years Adams steadfastly worked at his craft. Growing up he also participated in numerous sports but art always remained his first love. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Rutgers University in 1984. After graduating from Rutgers, Adams attended the duCret School of Art in Plainfield, in 1985 and 1986.

In 1987, Adams caught the attention of actor Bill Cosby, who liked his art enough to offer him a fellowship. Through the Camille O. Cosby Fellowship Adams furthered his endeavors with graduate studies, and eventually earned his master of fine arts degree in 1991 from the University of Pennsylvania.

“I’ve had the good fortune to have met a lot of great people in my life,” Adams said. “Many of those people I would never had met if not for Mr. Cosby. The fact that Cosby took an interest in me opened doors”.

Adams credits his mother, Katie Adams, as the biggest influence in his life.

“It was just my mother and I growing up, and she told me no matter what you do, do it and be the best you can,” he said. “She was my heart. I owe a lot to her because she sacrificed so much so I could be where I am today.”

Katie Adams died two years ago.

Asked if he kept in touch with Bill Cosby, Adams responded: “Believe it or not Mr. Cosby is the type of person, once he does [something] for you, he kinds of kicks you out of the nest and you have to fly on your own. That’s the way he is.”

Adams graciously greeted a steady flow of guests who toured the rooms filled with his art at the Webber home.

Adams' art has garnered global acclaim and his talent, has allowed him to travel to places many others can only dream of. His art has been showcased on "The Cosby Show" and "The Jamie Fox Show," among others. Publications including Black Enterprise, Homes of Color and ESPN Magazine have featured his work. He has received commissions from companies and individuals from all over the world.

Adams along with his wife, Cydnie, also work with aspiring artists to advise them on the business of marketing their art.  

More of Alonzo Adams' art can be seen at his website, The Artistry of Alonzo Adams, and at BlackGreekFineArt.com, a collaboration with Webber.

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