The ANEW Artists Alliance

Yesterday at the post office, I saw a poster on a bulletin board crammed with flyers and papers. The poster must have been pinned up before Christmas, and it had the words “comfort” and “joy” on it. As I walked home in the bleak winter sunshine, I thought about the meaning of those words, which I think (as often happens with words) becomes somewhat obscured when they’re repeated and repeated as the chorus of an age-old carol. Taken on their own merit, they are powerful words, important words. Times are very difficult in this country right now, and it’s hard to feel hopeful or retain much faith in the decency or empathy of the people making all the decisions about the direction of our country. But at times like this, we must search for anything that can provide hope and strength, and two of the most important are community and creativity.

The ANEW Artists’ Alliance is a beautiful testament to both those things. In their work, you can feel the joy of creation; their work is full of grace. In their artist’s statements, the ANEW artists almost universally say that creating art makes them happy. And they say that sharing their art and seeing the joy their art brings to others expands on their happiness. They tell us that creativity brings them peace, and they talk about their association with the artists’ alliance as bringing them comfort and strength to face the problems in their lives and in the world around us. With their vibrant art, they explore the scary things in the world, the beautiful things in the world — the flowers and birds — and they explore the worlds of their own creation, the worlds of their imagination. Their art sustains them, and in their generosity of sharing it with us, they offer strength and hope to us as well. They offer comfort and joy.

We’re so pleased and honored to present the fourth annual ANEW Artist’s Alliance Group Show. The story behind the alliance is beautiful and compelling, but it’s the artwork itself that speaks so powerfully.

Click on the image for the artist’s name.

About ANEW Artist’s Alliance

In 2001, five self-taught visual artists who used the services of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) met with a TASK voluntee to discuss forming an artist cooperative. The nascent idea was to offer all TASK patrons, who possessed artistic interests and talents but did not have the personal resources to pursue their creative activities, a collegial environment in which to hone their talents and sell their artwork, reaping the benefits of their creative efforts. 

From the outset, the artists made all the decisions about how the cooperative was run and what projects it undertook. Membership in the group also provided an opportunity for the artists to learn entrepreneurial skills. The artists named their organization “The A-TEAM Artists of Trenton,” and the group grew quickly. Soon, the soup kitchen became a year-round gallery for the display of A-TEAM artwork. 

Over the years, the A-TEAM artists participated in hundreds of shows at diverse venues, including museums, galleries, corporate and government offices, hospitals, religious institutions, and other non-profit organizations. The artists also reached out to the Trenton community by lending their work to local businesses and non-profit groups, leading monthly art workshops, and hosting visits of students from local public schools and universities and patients from hospital art therapy programs. 



During the COVID pandemic, the artists decided to strike out on their own in a display space donated to them in Princeton. They named their new venture the ANEW Artists Alliance and now meet regularly in the ArtSpace gallery at HomeFront, a Trenton non-profit organization that works to end homelessness. 

Following their original A-TEAM principles, the artists, themselves, run all aspects of the ANEW cooperative, and membership remains open to all self-taught artists with limited financial means. The artists’ goal is to master the skills required to establish their own artistic careers. These skills include finding venues; meeting with curators and gallery owners; showing and selling their art; framing and preparing their artwork for exhibit; arranging publicity; and managing their individual and group finances. A small group of volunteers is available to provide advice and logistical support whenever requested by the artists.

The ANEW artists appreciate your interest and hope you will enjoy their artwork. 

To see more ANEW artwork and read artists’ bios, please go to the ANEW Artists Alliance website at anewartists.com. 
If you have questions or suggestions, you can reach the ANEW Artists Alliance at anewartistsinfo@gmail.com.