About the Jim Hamilton Memorial ShadFest Scholarship
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Over the last forty years, the Jim Hamilton Memorial ShadFest Scholarship has awarded over three-quarters of a million dollars to local students pursuing degrees in the fine arts, performing arts, writing, and culinary arts. And the ShadFest Scholarship works! Our winners have gone on to have meaningful careers in the arts including a Broadway makeup artist, an award-winning filmmaker, a fashion designer, a museum curator, and a Food Network producer as well as full-time fine artists, ceramicists, musicians, and art and music teachers. |
Photo of Jim Hamilton
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The scholarship is funded by an amazing partnership between artists and business-people. The Chamber organizes and runs the auction, but the funding comes from the sale of original works of art generously donated by local artists. These artists are both professional and amateur. Many of the professional artists are regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized.
Each year area students who are planning to pursue a college degree in the fine, performing, or culinary arts apply for the Jim Hamilton ShadFest Scholarship. This is a highly competitive selection process. We receive between 15 and 20 applications each year, but only two students are chosen.
The Jim Hamilton ShadFest Poster Auction was created in 1982 with the dual purpose of funding the next generation of artists from the Delaware River Valley as well as raising awareness of the vibrant arts culture in Lambertville and New Hope. It is our hope that as you browse the auction you will buy a piece of art to fund the scholarship and also discover the joy of collecting and visiting local artists again and again to add to your collection.
Back in 1982, Lambertville was desolate. Storefronts were empty, bats reigned supreme in the railroad station, and no one knew quite what to do. The Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce was headed by two visionary men, Jack Curtin and Jim Hamilton. Both shared a love of Lambertville, and both were talented showmen. Years of manufacturing on the river had killed much marine and wildlife, but the factories were now shuttered, and the men noticed that the shad had returned to their migratory habit of swimming upstream to spawn. Being showmen, they decided to make a festival celebrating the shad run. The event would celebrate the environment and the deeply rooted artistic community that has existed in Lambertville and New Hope since the first half of the 20th century.
At the request of Curtin and Hamilton, Ellen Hall and her husband Harry Haenigson organized the very first art auction. Hall was an artist and Haenigson was the director of the Bucks County Playhouse as well as a nationally syndicated cartoonist. The first auctioneer was theater legend St. John Terrell, who founded the Bucks County Playhouse and the Lambertville Music Circus and began the traditional re-enactment of Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas Day, playing the role of Washington himself. Terrell also helped start the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
That first auction took place on the back of a hay wagon in the North Union Street parking lot, Today, the auction is conducted by auction legend Suzanne Perrault. Suzanne is a partner is Rago-Wright Auctions where she has participated in over 500 sales bringing in a cumulative $420 million dollars in sales. But most importantly, Suzanne collects Shad Posters herself. She is ably assisted by Mayor Larry Keller of New Hope who takes over where Suzanne leaves off. Larry enjoys adding to his collection of Shad Posters each year.
The scholarship is funded by an amazing partnership between artists and business-people. The Chamber organizes and runs the auction, but the funding comes from the sale of original works of art generously donated by local artists. These artists are both professional and amateur. Many of the professional artists are regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized.
Each year area students who are planning to pursue a college degree in the fine, performing, or culinary arts apply for the Jim Hamilton ShadFest Scholarship. This is a highly competitive selection process. We receive between 15 and 20 applications each year, but only two students are chosen.
The Jim Hamilton ShadFest Poster Auction was created in 1982 with the dual purpose of funding the next generation of artists from the Delaware River Valley as well as raising awareness of the vibrant arts culture in Lambertville and New Hope. It is our hope that as you browse the auction you will buy a piece of art to fund the scholarship and also discover the joy of collecting and visiting local artists again and again to add to your collection.
Back in 1982, Lambertville was desolate. Storefronts were empty, bats reigned supreme in the railroad station, and no one knew quite what to do. The Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce was headed by two visionary men, Jack Curtin and Jim Hamilton. Both shared a love of Lambertville, and both were talented showmen. Years of manufacturing on the river had killed much marine and wildlife, but the factories were now shuttered, and the men noticed that the shad had returned to their migratory habit of swimming upstream to spawn. Being showmen, they decided to make a festival celebrating the shad run. The event would celebrate the environment and the deeply rooted artistic community that has existed in Lambertville and New Hope since the first half of the 20th century.
At the request of Curtin and Hamilton, Ellen Hall and her husband Harry Haenigson organized the very first art auction. Hall was an artist and Haenigson was the director of the Bucks County Playhouse as well as a nationally syndicated cartoonist. The first auctioneer was theater legend St. John Terrell, who founded the Bucks County Playhouse and the Lambertville Music Circus and began the traditional re-enactment of Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas Day, playing the role of Washington himself. Terrell also helped start the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
That first auction took place on the back of a hay wagon in the North Union Street parking lot, Today, the auction is conducted by auction legend Suzanne Perrault. Suzanne is a partner is Rago-Wright Auctions where she has participated in over 500 sales bringing in a cumulative $420 million dollars in sales. But most importantly, Suzanne collects Shad Posters herself. She is ably assisted by Mayor Larry Keller of New Hope who takes over where Suzanne leaves off. Larry enjoys adding to his collection of Shad Posters each year.
Board of Directors
Amy Coss started working on the ShadFest Poster Auction in 1997 when she served on the selection committee. Throughout the years she has worked as the PR liaison, selection committee chair, auction chair, and Shad Queen, a title she holds to this day. Amy is president of the Delaware River Towns Charities and owns a Lambertville Landmark business: Sojourner.
Andrew Nowick currently serves as Mayor of Lambertville. Andrew loves the artistic side of Lambertville and especially enjoys the ShadFest Kids section of the poster auction spending countless hours stringing clothesline and hanging the art work of his youngest constituents.
Carol Cruickshanks holds a master's degree in art history with a specialization in female artists of the Delaware Valley Impressionist School and is director emeritus of New Hope Arts. Carol has served as chair of the auction and served on the scholarship selection committee in the past. Currently, she is a member of the team that puts together the auction and handles all absentee bids during the auction.
Cynthia Richards is a retired lawyer and poster auction contributor. Cynthia is a master seamstress and her ShadFest posters are highly anticipated each year. She has gained a following for her Shad Wear: original creations using ShadFest t-shirts from past years. Cynthia is a member of the check out team during the auction.
Darren McManus is an artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States. He is also the chair of the Arts & Design Department at Raritan Valley Community College where he is a full time Associate Professor. Darren serves on the selection committee for the ShadFest Scholarship.
Jane Wesby is a retired gallerist with a degree in art history. Jane's many years of experience make her the perfect person to co-chair the ShadFest Poster Auction and serve as a member of the selection committee for the ShadFest Scholarship. Jane is also the Vice President of the Delaware River Towns Charities and a former president of the Lambertville Area of Commerce.
John Benson is a senior financial advisor with Equitable Investors. John is passionate about education which compelled him to join the board of the Delaware River Towns Charities. He worked his way through college as a waiter. You will find him passing hors d'oeuvres at the Friday night preview party. John serves on the auction committee.
Kate Winslow can always be found in the kitchen during the artist’s reception during ShadFest weekend. Kate spent many years as an editor at Gourmet Magazine. Now, Kate is a freelance recipe developer and food editor. Kate has co-authored two cookbooks, Coming Home to Sicily: Seasonal Harvests and Cooking from Case Vecchie (2012) and Onions Etcetera: The Essential Allium Cookbook (2017).
When not playing the fiddle, Larry Wohl practices law in Princeton. Larry's firm, Archer Greiner is a sponsor of the ShadFest Scholarship and Larry has been collecting ShadFest posters since 1982.
Laurence D Keller is the long-serving Mayor of New Hope, PA. His commitment to the scholarship goes back over a decade when he took over the role of auctioneer for the ShadFest Poster Auction. Larry has long been a patron of the arts in the Delaware River Valley. In addition to serving on the Delaware River Towns Charities board he is a long-time board member of New Hope Arts and former chairman of that organization.
Marie Gorey recently retired from the position of superintendent of the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission where she oversaw a whole lot of stuff. Marie serves as the treasurer of the Delaware River Towns Charities and enjoys gardening and her dogs. You can find Marie behind the check-out desk at the auction.
Susan Haase is the co-owner of Basil Bandwagon Natural Food Stores. She holds a degree from Pratt and is passionate about art and art education. Susan is a tireless member of the Artist Prize committee and has expanded this program during her tenure.
Andrew Nowick currently serves as Mayor of Lambertville. Andrew loves the artistic side of Lambertville and especially enjoys the ShadFest Kids section of the poster auction spending countless hours stringing clothesline and hanging the art work of his youngest constituents.
Carol Cruickshanks holds a master's degree in art history with a specialization in female artists of the Delaware Valley Impressionist School and is director emeritus of New Hope Arts. Carol has served as chair of the auction and served on the scholarship selection committee in the past. Currently, she is a member of the team that puts together the auction and handles all absentee bids during the auction.
Cynthia Richards is a retired lawyer and poster auction contributor. Cynthia is a master seamstress and her ShadFest posters are highly anticipated each year. She has gained a following for her Shad Wear: original creations using ShadFest t-shirts from past years. Cynthia is a member of the check out team during the auction.
Darren McManus is an artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States. He is also the chair of the Arts & Design Department at Raritan Valley Community College where he is a full time Associate Professor. Darren serves on the selection committee for the ShadFest Scholarship.
Jane Wesby is a retired gallerist with a degree in art history. Jane's many years of experience make her the perfect person to co-chair the ShadFest Poster Auction and serve as a member of the selection committee for the ShadFest Scholarship. Jane is also the Vice President of the Delaware River Towns Charities and a former president of the Lambertville Area of Commerce.
John Benson is a senior financial advisor with Equitable Investors. John is passionate about education which compelled him to join the board of the Delaware River Towns Charities. He worked his way through college as a waiter. You will find him passing hors d'oeuvres at the Friday night preview party. John serves on the auction committee.
Kate Winslow can always be found in the kitchen during the artist’s reception during ShadFest weekend. Kate spent many years as an editor at Gourmet Magazine. Now, Kate is a freelance recipe developer and food editor. Kate has co-authored two cookbooks, Coming Home to Sicily: Seasonal Harvests and Cooking from Case Vecchie (2012) and Onions Etcetera: The Essential Allium Cookbook (2017).
When not playing the fiddle, Larry Wohl practices law in Princeton. Larry's firm, Archer Greiner is a sponsor of the ShadFest Scholarship and Larry has been collecting ShadFest posters since 1982.
Laurence D Keller is the long-serving Mayor of New Hope, PA. His commitment to the scholarship goes back over a decade when he took over the role of auctioneer for the ShadFest Poster Auction. Larry has long been a patron of the arts in the Delaware River Valley. In addition to serving on the Delaware River Towns Charities board he is a long-time board member of New Hope Arts and former chairman of that organization.
Marie Gorey recently retired from the position of superintendent of the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission where she oversaw a whole lot of stuff. Marie serves as the treasurer of the Delaware River Towns Charities and enjoys gardening and her dogs. You can find Marie behind the check-out desk at the auction.
Susan Haase is the co-owner of Basil Bandwagon Natural Food Stores. She holds a degree from Pratt and is passionate about art and art education. Susan is a tireless member of the Artist Prize committee and has expanded this program during her tenure.
Who Was Jim Hamilton?
Goodbye to the Porkyard Spirit
word portrait by Robert Beck, 2018
Goodbye to the Porkyard Spirit
word portrait by Robert Beck, 2018
Painting of Jim Hamilton by Robert Beck
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The story of Jim Hamilton’s life requires a much longer consideration than this. In a region of exceptional people, he was a Hall of Famer, living his life to the edges, grasping every shred, a man of unflagging zest. Jim’s accomplishments included designing and building A-list Broadway and rock concert sets (right in Lambertville), introducing the original Mustang at the World's Fair for Ford, creating wonderfully atmospheric architectural spaces and events around the country, establishing a celebrated restaurant, and much more. The Grill Room, the Boat House, the Swan, and many private homes speak the Hamilton language. The mark he left on Lambertville and New Hope is immense. Jim fed us. He helped us raise money. He showed us how to throw a party, how to work together, and how to be a friend. |
He supported it all. Fisherman’s Mark, New Hope Arts, Ely Field – more than I can list. Dinner for 1,000 in the street to benefit the Fire Department? Okay. A gala event for the schools? Sure. Towards the end, he could only sit on a stool or make a brief appearance, but it still gave the occasion a spotlight.
Jim lived a life of risks – a creative life propelled by his love for making fabulous things happen. He was theatrical, stylish, classy, and driven. When Jim called asking you to get involved you climbed on the rocket, reservations or not. It wasn't always a smooth ride but you could count on an adventure and some excellent food. He might wander out ahead of the rest of the squad and things could get complicated but there you were: part of a grand undertaking and having a blast. He pulled everyone with him in his dreams for better things.
Painting of Hamilton's Grill by Robert Beck
There was a yin to the Hamilton yang. Tragedies, dysfunction, and slap-your-forehead stories that showed him no different or better than the rest of us at being human. And just like any artist not all his ideas worked or got realized. But if there was something in the water that accounted for the unconventional creativity that thrived in this area, Jim bathed in it.
He was quoted as saying, "Mediterranean cooking is a marriage of respect, integrity, enthusiasm and sheer joy," which sounds like he was talking about more than food. It sorta of all ran together. Jim lived his entire life over-capacity and was still engaged at the end despite staggering heath issues; finally crumpling, his body used up, nothing left. It deserves a book.
He was quoted as saying, "Mediterranean cooking is a marriage of respect, integrity, enthusiasm and sheer joy," which sounds like he was talking about more than food. It sorta of all ran together. Jim lived his entire life over-capacity and was still engaged at the end despite staggering heath issues; finally crumpling, his body used up, nothing left. It deserves a book.
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Jim's passing warrants a long pause and reflection. It comes at a time when Lambertville and New Hope are reconfiguring at a dizzying pace, closing the door on a time, a life, and a way. Our towns have become hot property. We can look back to the seventies when Lambertville was a real mess and see Jim helping pave the road back to vitality in his hometown, creating plans for the business district, co-founding the ShadFest, and helping the locals with solutions for rehabilitating their houses. He was an advocate for the kind of progress and enterprise that worked for everybody, and he backed it up with hard work. Jim understood community and believed there was an "us." He gave so much.
There are many photos of Jim but the perfect one has him in his kitchen-whites and bandana giving a crêpe the two-handed flip from a large, well-used pan. He's got his eye on the delicate pancake as it executes a lazy backflip a good three feet in the air, and a look on his face of command and enjoyment. A pinch of flair, a dash of circus. Every bit the Ringmaster. And so he was. |
Photo of Jim Hamilton by Jack Rosen
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Videos courtesy of Danny Popkin and James Mastrich
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