Birdsong in Califon

On Thursday, July 13th, 2023 – a hot, balmy, and calm evening in Califon, NJ – the new Bex Gallery had its inaugural artist reception. It was a large turnout, and incidentally, a spaghetti feed was going on across the street at the fire department. “Downtown” Califon was poppin’ off! 

Chris’ Curation 

The event was curated and organized by Chef Becky’s Executive Assistant, Chris Callahan, who has a background in both the hospitality and art worlds. With the help of Roddy O’Connell from the Califon hardware store/lumberyard next door, Califon inhabitant,  artist, and photographer, Chris hung the floral-themed paintings of Maja Paumgarten, a local artist. Maja went to art school and often paints in the plein air tradition, where artists set up easels at the location they are painting and do the artwork “live.” Since Maja had a number of smaller framed paintings, Chris grouped them in what is known as “old school European salon style”: hung close together on the opposing walls of the Bex space. In his Curator Notes, he notes that Maja’s pretty paintings remind us to not take beauty for granted, and that beauty is often around us frequently, but we miss it due to not being in the moment. 

Maja’s Method 

“Color, composition, and place are my compass,” Maja writes in her artist statement,
Birdsong. Her paintings all featured spring and summer themes and vibrant colors. The paintings paired well with all the elements at the reception: warm acoustic guitar played by Dave Bolles, a bubbling creek in the back of the gallery, a lazily-sinking sun, and the joy of human connection. Maja’s paintings were perfect for the summertime vibe and fancy-formal attire. It was a particularly hot day, but the attendees and servers were real troopers. 

Bex Superfans

Attendee Amanda has long been a fan of Chef Becky’s food. “I actually moved to Main Street in Califon to be closer to Bex…and then covid happened and Bex closed,” she recounts with a laugh. Attendees were treated to scrumptious appetizers: lamb meatballs with a pomegranate pepper sauce, truffle mac & cheese balls, shrimp cocktail, and baby hot dogs with a spicy mustard dip. Chef Becky has long been interested in creating a sense of community wherever she is, as she was supported by the community growing up. Rafe, an attendee, has an architectural background and would notice light bulbs out when he ate at Bex, so he fixed them for free. It is this sense of people helping out without expecting compensation that warms the Chef’s heart. 

Going Forward, Supporting the Arts 

Maja’s paintings will hang until the fall when a new artist will be featured. “Both Callahan and I have art backgrounds, so it is nice to be able to do something outside the kitchen that puts the focus on paintings/visual art,” Chef Becky notes. “It is also nice to continue the tradition of hosting art in the space as the Solaris Gallery did. Califon is not an ‘art town’ per se, but there are many local artists so it’s great to give them an outlet.” 

Please follow Bex on social media to get word of happenings at the gallery. We look forward to hosting events that build a sense of place and showcase the artistry of both food and the arts.