“Art is not what you see but what you make others see” Edgar Degas 
After retiring from my teaching career, I am recreating myself, embarking on a continuing journey as an artist. As I discover the endless possibilities that await my senses, I approach my subject with expectation as I explore each medium, trying to embrace beauty and serenity in each new work. I have been influenced by many muses, studying with Lorraine Niemela, Martha Ferguson, Linda Colter, Renee Leopardi and Tony Ventura, who all bring their own visions to their teaching. The photography of Victor Calvo, my husband, has also been a profound influence as I interpret his visions in many of my paintings. Like Edgar Degas, I want to continue to share my visions of art with others.
Barbara began her art career after earning her BA degree in Fine Art Education at Montclair State University and a MAT degree at Marygrove College. Barbara taught elementary art in Ocean Township, NJ for 37 years, retiring in 2011. During these years, Barbara was the recipient of the Art Educators of NJ 2005 Anthony Guadadiello Award for Outstanding Service to Visual Art Education, the NJ Governor’s Award in Art Education in 2006 and the 2007 Art Educator of the Year Award by Monmouth Arts. After retiring, Barbara continued to teach students in her studio for several more years and recently retired as an adjunct professor at Kean University, supervising student interns in art education.
Barbara is a member of Art Educators of NJ, where she served on the board as membership chair from 2003 to 2017, The National Art Education Association, The Ocean County Artists Guild, The Guild of Creative Arts as an Exhibiting Artist member, The Audubon Artists as an Exhibiting Artist member, The Art Society of Monmouth County, The Arts Alliance, and currently serves as President of The Manasquan River Group of Artists.
Recent Exhibits
Perlman Gallery, The Philadelphia Museum of Art; Member Musings Show, The Grounds for Sculpture; Monmouth County and NJ State Senior Shows; The Canterbury Artists Show, Rumson; James Howe Gallery, Kean University; Art Educators of NJ Artscap Exhibit, Asbury Park; The Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury; Leroy Neiman Gallery, NYC; Monmouth Festival of the Arts, Tinton Falls; The Art Alliance and Gallery U, Red Bank; Belmar Arts; The Upper Gallery, Spring Lake; The Salmagundi Club with Audubon Artists, and has had solo shows at The Monmouth Beach Cultural Center; Ocean County Artists Guild, Island Heights and in The Turner Gallery, Ocean Township.