“James Carroll: New Works,” a series of experimental works, continues through Dec. 14, James Carroll Studio, Kutztown.

“This is the copy from this carbon,” says Carroll, pointing to the canvas mounted on self-adhesive foam board next to “Untitled” (2025; carbon paper, 10 in. x 24 in.).

Carroll draws designs on a piece of carbon paper that is transferred to the canvas. He cuts sheets from carbon paper rolls measuring 24 feet long by 24 inches wide.

“It’s almost like a butterfly,” says Carroll about how carbon paper seems to flutter to the ground when held up and released. “Carbon is so light. I like it.”

Other pieces in the series are coated with clear acrylic that bring about artistic bleed patterns on the canvas “copies.”

James Carroll Studio, Kutztown, once home to the New Arts Program (NAP), is maintained by Carroll as his art studio and gallery where he occasionally hosts exhibitions of his newer works.

Carroll, as a Kutztown University professor, founded NAP in 1974. The innovative educational venture provided visiting artists with two-day residencies where they would present talks coinciding with their exhibits in the gallery on the first floor of Carroll’s art studio.

“I didn’t have answers. I had questions. And to me, there’s a big difference,” says Carroll of his approach to educating aspiring artists.

For 50 years, NAP hosted forums and performances, produced television programs and publications and became an archive and reference library.

Nearly 300 visual artists, dancers, musicians, writers and poets participated in the program since its founding, including artist Keith Haring, poet Allen Ginsberg, musicians Philip Glass and Lenny Pickett, artist Patricia Johanson and painter and computer artist Robert Stanley.

Ready to retire after serving as director for five decades, Carroll disbanded NAP in 2024 with a series of celebratory exhibitions.

“I spend every morning, seven days a week here,” says the Fleetwood resident.

Carroll has owned the circa 1910 residential and commercial building in Kutztown since 1978. Tenants occupy the upper floors.

The Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institute, accepted NAP archives for repository.

“The Smithsonian dealt with the process,” says Carroll. “Not the products.”

The “process” includes recordings of artists at work, their writings, postcards, and notes chronicling the artist’s creative processes.

A large portion of the NAP archives and works created by Carroll and the resident artists found a new home at Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Allentown.

“In a way, I’ve circulated an element of the process and the work,” says Carroll about the donations.

Carroll has tangible memories of NAP’s glory days carefully stored in flat files in the Kutztown studio. The gallery floor has figures painted in black latex by Haring that are bisected by a wall that separates the gallery from the studio in the back.

“I enjoyed it because I met new people,” says Carroll of NAP.

“James Carroll: New Works,” through Dec. 14, James Carroll Studio, 173 W. Main St., Kutztown. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday - Sunday, and by appointment. Information: 610-683-6440

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com