The peace and tranquility of the Meadowlands helped inform artist Kay Fialkoff’s exhibit, Prayers for the Earth, Wetlands, Meadowlands, and Woodlands Suites 1990-2018, on display at the Waldwick Public Library through June 30.
Kay’s series of embroidery masterworks took inspiration from New Jersey’s wetlands, woodlands and meadows habitats, including Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, the home of the NJSEA; the Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah; the Celery Farm Nature Preserve in Allendale; the Glen Rock Duck Pond; the Saddle River County Park Glen Rock and Paramus (Dunkerhook); and Cape May.
Prayers for the Earth: Meadowlands Suite, No. 1
The Joy of the Meadow
Copyright Kay Fialkoff
Prayers for the Earth, Wetlands, Meadowlands, and Woodlands Suites celebrate Earth from the time granite formed over a half a billion years ago through our current era, the Cenozoic Era, a time of great diversification of flowering plants and birds. Kay’s practice invokes the art of Zen, portraying nature over time and space.
The Hebrew phrase arching over each motif means “Full of Joy.” Kay said that she enjoys the sense of place and belonging that she feels while walking through DeKorte Park on Bergen County Audubon Society nature walks.
Prayers for the Earth: Meadowlands Suite, No. 2
A Glorious Morning in the Meadow
Copyright Kay Fialkoff
“I especially enjoy the Marsh Wrens trilling among the tall reeds along the boardwalk loop,” she said. “Not only do I enjoy the flora and fauna of the trails, but I also experience the joy of being fully present and grounded in nature with nature lovers of all ages.”
Prayers for the Earth: Meadowlands Suite, No. 3
Late Summer in the Meadow
Copyright Kay Fialkoff
Prayers for the Earth: Meadowlands Suite, No. 4
Seasons of Beauty in the Meadow
Copyright Kay Fialkoff
Kay is a member of the Fyke Nature Association, the Bergen County Audubon Society and the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Bergen Chapter, among others. The Fair Lawn resident’s embroideries have been exhibited at the Paterson Museum in Paterson, New Jersey; the Belskie Museum of Art and Science in Closter, New Jersey; many other libraries in New Jersey; and most recently at Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel Galleries in South Orange, New Jersey.
Needle Arts magazine, a publication of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, published all of the works from 1996 to 2022.
The Waldwick Public Library is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed on Sundays.
The library is located at 19 E. Prospect Street, Waldwick, NJ 07463. Phone: 201-652-5104. Website: https://www.waldwicklibrary.org/