On Exhibit – Multi Media Art by Suzi Gerace & Dream Makers Art Studio

January exhibits showcase works by Gerace and three other artists

An artist reception with live music by guitarist Pete Pizzuti will be held on Saturday, January 18, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Check out the library’s latest exhibition in the Lobby glass cases and the Meeting Room gallery. Items on display cover a range of media, including ceramics, watercolors, cartooning, and drawings. This show combines artwork from Suzi Gerace with that of three other artists — Youseff, David Strauss, and Margaret Durbeck — from Suzi’s Dream Makers Art Studio, located at 101 West Street, Suite 2, in Hillsdale.

Learn more about these accomplished artists below.

Suzi Gerace – Meeting Room and Lobby display cases

Suzi, a designer for more than 40 years with a BS in Fashion Design from Drexel University, began her career with designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo as an assistant designer. She selected and sourced fabrics, designed seasonal fashion collections, and ran his fashion shows for Vogue Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. She then became a toy designer and worked for several toy companies, creating toys from many famous children’s book and media characters. She brought to life in three dimensions such books and characters as Madeline, Arthur, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Blues Clues, Goodnight Moon, Pat the Bunny, Guess How Much I Love You, Thomas the Tank Engine, Amazing Baby, and more. She also designed toys for Beatrix Potter, Paddington Bear, and Curious George collections.

Suzi presently owns and manages an art studio that has a wide selection of many one-of-a-kind pieces of pottery, upcycled fashion, upcycled hand-painted furniture, jewelry, and more. She teaches classes from sewing to watercolor, jewelry making, vision board workshops, and kids’ crafts. With a strong sense of design and color, she uses these skills in all of her creations.

Suzi is displaying her pottery at the library. Pieces include clay masks decorated with items created using the library’s laser cutter. She notes, “Dave Franz taught me how to use the laser cutter and I got really carried away with the creative possibilities.”

Dave Franz and Susie Gerace in from of library display case — Library Director Dave Franz and Artist Suzi Gerace

Youseff – Meeting Room

Youseff is a street artist from NYC that Suzi met outside the Guggenheim Museum in NYC more than 20 years ago. He came from Africa with no money and started drawing on NYC Subway maps. His art can be seen daily outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ten of Youseff’s prints are on display at the library.

David Strauss – Meeting Room

David, a graduate of Pratt, works daily on his art. On display at the library is a combination of his watercolor and graphite drawings that were previously shown in New York City. He is currently working in pen and ink. He is an avid gardener, gourmet cook, and Suzi’s life partner.

Margaret Durbeck – Meeting Room

Margaret is a pop artist from Hackensack, NJ. She holds a degree in Fine Art from Molloy College. She is the treasurer of the Hackensack Art Club. Her work is playful, using bright colors and cartooning. Margaret started as an artist at 50 years of age. She says, “Start when you’re old! It’s never too late to start being creative.” She grew up in New York City and has been inspired by the amazing architecture and places to go and see in the surrounding area. She displays her work in Suzi’s art studio, local libraries, and various art shows.