The U.S.A.’s 250th Anniversary of Independence and a Local Art Challenge
This past Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, was the opening reception of the art exhibition “Revolutionary Monmouth County – Freedom’s Battleground” highlighting Monmouth County’s role in the American Revolution and the creativity of both professional and nonprofessional county residents.
The opening took place at The Gallery at the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center (805 Newman Springs Road Lincroft, New Jersey 07738).
Images: The website features a 3D virtual tour of the gallery and pieces. You can zoom in on each work and even download to see all the details. My painting “Hornet’s Nest” (Loyalist’s Raid Pleasant Valley – June 28, 1778) is #28. Better yet, go check it out in person. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday 12:00-4:00pm and will be on view through the end of the year.
I became aware of the art challenge over a year ago at another art opening when I picked up the brochure. It stated the purpose of the competition: “to encourage the creation of quality fine art that interprets a historic event that took place in Monmouth County, NJ during the Revolutionary War era” and “to enhance the general public’s understanding and appreciation of Monmouth County’s role in the fight for independence”.
I am a Jersey girl, born and raised in Monmouth County but also lived in Middlesex County during my years at Rutgers College. I returned to Monmouth County after the birth of my third son and may never leave because I love it here so much. Couple that with a fondness of history and historical fiction (Outlander fans, I’m talking to you: “A Bullet Strikes Claire At The Battle of Monmouth”), this art challenge definitely spoke to me.
Images: The Battle of Monmouth scenes in Outlander Season 7 were filmed in Scotland, but it totally looks like NJ! The production team recreated the exterior of the historic Old Tennent Presbyterian Church in Manalapan, NJ which served as a field hospital during the battle in 1778.
As a former business and visual arts student at Rutgers/ Mason Gross School of the Arts, I instantly became nostalgic for my Art History classes. Images of iconic paintings depicting the Revolutionary War popped into my thoughts like Washington Crossing the Delaware (by Emanuel Leutze in 1891), Spirit of ’76 (by Archibald MacNeal Willard in 1876) and of course the iconic portrait George Washington at Princeton (by Charles Wilson Peale in 1779; several versions/iterations of this painting were made with different backgrounds, sizes, and other changes).
As art and art makers have evolved over the centuries, as well as other aspects such as the purpose, message, intention, subject, meaning and impact of art…I wondered:
· What is currently “missing” from the Revolutionary War story as shown in art? Often the brave generals and soldiers are glorified, but there were many other people (of all ages, status, genders and country of origin) who were integral in victory over Loyalists and “the Crown”.
· What point of view would I want to highlight in my own rendition of a battle that occurred in Monmouth County? I thought back to those heroic paintings mentioned earlier, and felt the pull to show what some unsung heroes may have been doing as a family, as a community during these fights.
· What questions could I pose to a viewer through my piece? How can my painting simultaneously pay homage and celebrate the 250th anniversary (a.k.a. semiquincentennial, quarter-millenium or sestercentennial) of a pivotal moment in history, as well as incorporate my own story of growing up in a town and a neighborhood where raids occurred?
The MonmouthNJ 250 Committee, host of the art challenge, specified criteria which included that artists’ submissions must capture one of ten historic events in Revolutionary Monmouth County history between the years of 1775 and 1783. They were:
1. Battle of Navesink – February 13, 1777
2. Destruction of Union and Shark River Salt Works – April 1778
3. Burrowes Mansion Raid – May 27, 1778
4. Battle of Monmouth – June 28, 1778
5. Loyalists Raid Pleasant Valley – June 28, 1778
6. Razing of Tinton Falls – June 10, 1779
7. Allen House Massacre – June 13, 1779
8. Capture of Britannia – December 28, 1779
9. Showdown of Joshua Huddy and Colonial Tye – September 1, 1780
10. Joshua Huddy Hanging – April 12, 1782
Descriptions of these 10 events are below.
I chose #5 Loyalists Raid Pleasant Valley because this fight, and likely many similar skirmishes, took place in my hometown, possibly on the very street and property I lived and played as a child. This visual made me feel so grateful for the sacrifices the farmers and their families made to fight for independence while protecting their land, community and animals from plunder, fires and continued violence. Sidenote: I learned how to milk a cow and shovel manure in a summer camp on Longstreet Farm (Holmdel Park) in 1984-ish!
Please read the full artist statement below for “Hornet’s Nest” (Loyalists Loyalists Raid Pleasant Valley – June 28, 1778) to explore more details about my process, what inspired components of the painting, and the artists who influenced the direction of my piece: Hornet’s Nest Artist Statement (Download the PDF).
I certainly went down a rabbit hole after ideas for the painting came to mind. I watched many PBS and Youtube videos about women and their roles in the Revolutionary War. It was so inspiring! I have a file with hundreds of reference photos, from stylistic elements I wanted to incorporate, compositions, paintings with a similar tone that I was striving for, historically accurate objects, figure drawings, flora/fauna that would be present in the month of June in New Jersey and even images of my own dog, Remi, that I absolutely HAD to incorporate. Remi deserves to be captured in fine art.
Eventually, the deadline started creeping up and I had to climb out of the rabbit hole. I did a rough sketch on my iPad, refined it, picked a conducive canvas size, and after a few adjustments, ensured the scale of everything was appropriate.
This was a painting I could have done several iterations in order to enhance its capturing of a historical moment in a very child-friendly, imaginative, storybook way. Thank goodness for deadlines! I called it complete and delivered it to the gallery earlier in April.
Above: Here are is my initial sketch (using the Procreate app on my iPad) some of the photos that both influenced my painting and images I referenced for specific parts of the piece.
Upon delivery, I was asked if I would be willing to stand beside my piece for a photograph…for, you know… POSTERITY…the permanent county records…because 50+ years from now, someone might be interested in what the artist looked like. Well, f*ck, I thought we’d be doing that at the opening! I had not anticipated a photo moment but totally obliged after the hundreds of hours I put into this painting. If this photo surfaces, please understand I had just finished a run and walked my dog; totally sweaty. If that is the legacy I am leaving behind, so be it. I surrender. I am not the first artist to look like an unkept and wild animal. It’s actually very real and a hilarious comedy of errors, which I can fully appreciate and enjoy despite feelings of embarrassment.
With some distance, I am now proud of the effort that went into my painting and how I stretched WAY out of my comfort zone to stylistically do something different. I incorporated a few signature elements (check out the grid upholstery on the chair), but also there are many, many symbolic “Easter egg” shoutouts that only certain friends and family will understand; it is a nod to our personal histories, places of origin, connection and relationships. I invite the viewer to assign their own meaning and use their own life experiences to enjoy the imagery.
Above: Here is my initial sketch (using the Procreate app on my iPad) and details of the painting.
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Stay inspired,
Melanka
