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By Sonia Schnee | Posted Friday, June 18, 2021
What is “ReVision and Respond”? Now–Aug. 22, The Newark Museum of Art is hosting an exhibition featuring NJ artists from all across the state. Amy Hopwood, Associate Curator of Decorative Arts at The Newark Museum of Art, filled us in on the details. Watch the interview below:
Featured artwork: Miguel Intal. Acrylic (16 x 20); Tray Kwok. Watercolor (12 x 12);
Dylan Wimberly. Acrylic (13 x 20)
PRESS RELEASE | Posted Sunday, March 21, 2021
West Orange Arts Council Presents a Virtual Art Exhibit of
West Orange High School Advanced Placement Studio Art Seniors
Opening Online at www.woarts.org in March 2021
WEST ORANGE, NJ (March 12, 2021) – Through an exciting partnership with the Visual and Performing Arts Program at West Orange High School (WOHS), the West Orange Arts Council’s (WOAC) latest show features rising stars of our community.
The 2021 Virtual WOHS Student Exhibit showcases the work of seventeen Advanced Placement Studio Art seniors: Clark Bunao, Adriana Garcia, Miguel Intal, Chris King, Tracy Kwok, Finnley Lewis, Alina Oser, Cristal Perez, Olivia Pinto, Jordan Roberts, Kyle Selim, Ella Silivanch, Julia Spellman, Mikayla Tilton, Elian Torres, Ilayda Vural and Dylan Wimberly.
The artists work in several techniques including traditional acrylic, graphite, and watercolor to Tombow markers and digital charcoal.
"The students look forward to sharing the work they’ve created over the course of this unusual year of virtual learning,” says Heather Young, AP Studio art teacher. “As over 80% plan to or are in the process of applying to higher learning with an art focus, this group show is a great way to enhance their online portfolios."
The WOHS Arts Program offers a variety of visual and aesthetic art courses. Students are required to complete a one-semester foundation course in studio art before proceeding to advanced studies like advanced drawing, design, painting, graphics and sculpture. After that, juniors and seniors may enroll in Advanced Placement Studio Art, producing portfolios for college admission and earning up to six advanced placement college credits.
This student exhibit has significant meaning for both organizations as it marks the one-year anniversary of the pandemic lockdown. “Last March we no sooner installed the show at the WOAC gallery, when the governor placed New Jersey in lockdown,” Lisa Suss, WOAC board member and co-curator recounts.
“While our doors were closed, we were working behind the scenes to stay connected and keep the arts alive,” states WOAC chair Patricia Mitrano. “The WOAC offered several virtual shows and two hybrid (virtual and in-person at the gallery) this past year with more in store for 2021.”
The virtual exhibit will be available on the West Orange Arts Council website at www.woarts.org. Additional events including a virtual reception are being planned at the time of this writing. Follow the West Orange Arts Council on social media and check the website regularly.
For more information about the West Orange Arts Council and West Orange Arts Center, visit www.woarts.org or email info@woarts.org
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
By Sonia Schnee | Posted Wednesday, May 22, 2019
From now until May 30th, the unmatchable Will Wood — artist, musician, performer, and more — will be unveiling an ambitious multimedia experience in Asbury Park, NJ, featuring never-before-seen works of art, a new concert film, and new music. Entitled “HEAD,” this impressive exhibit is sure to be something you won’t soon forget! Find our more from Will Wood himself in our interview below.
WILL WOOD: This May, I’m going to be taking over a historical building in downtown Asbury Park (529 Bangs Avenue) and turning by brain inside out in it. HEAD is a multimedia experimental art exhibit featuring music, film, intimate performances, and the first ever exhibit of my psychedelic visual art. It’ll be running from May 13th till May 30th, it’ll be completely unlike anything else I’ve ever done, and it’ll be a landmark/milestone event for me as an artist.
Asbury Park is one of the cultural capitals of New Jersey, and a second hometown of mine. I spent a lot of my youth in Neptune, did a lot of my earliest art projects down by the boardwalk, and played a number of my early and most formative shows in Asbury Park.
In October of 2011, I took LSD. At the end of that night, toward the tail end of one of the most powerful experiences of my life, I sat at a bench on a college campus in upstate New York covered in ink, with a handful of markers, and began drawing. I haven’t stopped. I had always hoped that my music career would get me to a place where I could find an audience for the other types of work I do, and I’m finally at a place where I have a platform for my art. Art inspired by altered states, surreal experiences, and visions I’ve had without the use of any substances.
The Real Will Wood is the result of two years of confusion. Shot at some of the most iconic and bizarre places in New Jersey, and featuring never-before-heard or seen performances, TRWW is a feature-length concert film with a very unusual bent.
Thank you. HEAD is the inevitable culmination of the last two years of my career, I hope it’s as impressive as it sounds. If you’re hoping to do something similar, wait until I’m done first so I don’t have to compete with you.
Make something. Anything. Don’t worry about whether or not it’s any good – because odds are you don’t know what’s good. Your audience does. And if they say it’s not good, ignore them and keep making things. Really good art happens by accident, when the results of your unfiltered creating meets the audience’s unknown desires. When you stumble across the thing that people didn’t know they wanted. I have no idea if it’s ever come out of me. We’re going to find out. If I can do that, you definitely can.
I’ll be talking about it more at HEAD.
On May 25th and 26th (Memorial Day Weekend) I’m hosting a pair of special, intimate performances at HEAD featuring new music that I hope to be doing some very big stuff with soon. Tickets are limited, and on sale here: https://willwoodandthetapeworms.bigcartel.com/product/will-wood-live-head-the-multimedia-pop-up-gallery-asbury-park-beach
Follow me at @therealwillwood on Instagram to stay in the loop. If you wanna stay DEEP in the loop and on the inner circle, find me at patreon.com/willwoodandthetapeworms for exclusive videos, music, writing, art, and discounts on everything I do – definitely the best and closest way to experience my work.
All artwork property of Chris Raia. See more of Chris’s work at christopher.raia.art and christopher-raia-art.com.
By Nicolas Palermo | Posted Friday, December 21, 2018
Chris Raia is a visual artist from Freehold, NJ. By working in different mediums, Chris doesn’t allow himself to get boxed into one specific style. The subject matter of his work has a wide range as well. Taking influence from his favorite animators, he creates anything from still life charcoal drawings to abstract paintings. I spoke to Chris to learn more about his techniques and artistic influences.
When it comes to a favorite, I’ve definitely been bouncing around, but ever since I touched Watercolors a couple of years ago I’ve been hooked. I love how it naturally makes marks that are organic and gestural. When it comes to choosing a media, it often feels impulsive. I, of course, try to think about materiality and what using a certain medium over another may suggest, but sometimes being overly analytical can inhibit me from making art at all.
Both. I think that to be able to draw from your head, you first have to draw from life so that you can build a vocabulary of visual information. It’s important to know the rules before you can effectively break them in your own work. If I don’t know what to draw then just I study what’s around me.
I think I bounce around a lot because I am somewhat indecisive and just want to learn everything. I think artists feel a pressure to quickly develop a brand that is easy to package and sell to an audience. Not to say that I won’t eventually have a more singular practice, but I think that artists owe it to themselves to take their time with finding their voice.
There’s a billion haha, but right now, I have been focusing on a lot of animators. Max Fleischer, Lillian Friedman Astor, Don Hertzfeldt, Pat McHale, Kazuo Oga, Satoshi Kon, and Alexander Gellner to name a few favorites. I don’t think I intentionally drop hints of them in my work, but I think they always seep through. It’s actually most exciting when people tell me that my work reminds them of an artist that I’ve never even heard of. It’s always great to discover artists who care about the same ideas that I do.
I am on instagram at christopher.raia.art and my website is christopher-raia-art.com!
Hello October! Lots of Free Outdoor Live Music Events
All Around Our Essex County Towns
By Gregory Burrus | Posted Friday, October 5, 2018
OK folks, it's beautiful October, a little chilly at times, then a little warm which is great, and some outdoor activities tend to come to a close but not just yet as Outdoor Live Music Continues. BTW all events listed below that I'm involved with are free unless noted otherwise below.
So, “Hello October!”
4 more jazz jams coming at you led by the awesome Peter Lin and his band. Every Wed 5-8 PM at 17 Sloan Street in South Orange NJ. Shop at the Farmers Market, secure some food and we invite you to come on over to sing, play, or listen and help us close out the last month of our 2nd Annual South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam. GPS 17 Sloan Street. Learn more: FB https://www.facebook.com/sofmj...
A side note - Yeah it's getting colder and have not found an indoor arena in South Orange yet to bring bands to but I'm open to suggestions and I'm still searching for indoor places to book some live music bands.... Hint hint restaurants and music venues. And on the inside venue we have a very special event:
Jazz973@Clements Presents the marvelous, awesome Kelly Green Trio at Clements Place. It's very special place in memory of Newark Historian Clement Price (RIP) and run by Institute of Jazz Studies Executive Director Wayne Winborne. It's all about jazz, it free access, snacks and libations are donated and the music is just swinging. Kelly is coming to rock your world and folks are excited like you wouldn't believe for Kelly Green as 65 of the 80 seats are gone already so if you plan on coming get your access RSVP now at Jazz973@Clements Place Oct 17 7-9 PM. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/j...
OK. Back to this week...
IJS Concert Series presents Mimi Jones- 15 Washington Street in Newark and this event be truly a great one as Mimi was fabulous last time. Bassist/vocalist/producer/label owner and now filmmaker Mimi Jones has reigned supreme for the more than two decades she’s been on the scene as a side woman to an impressive coterie of musicians and as a leader with three CDs on her own Hot Tone Music label. She has been voted #2 rising star by the DownBeat poll for 3 years straight. Free but you must RSVP Go and click to RSVP register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i...
George Coleman has worked with some of the most prominent figures in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Lee Morgan, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, Betty Carter, Chet Baker, Charles McPherson, Cedar Walton, Ahmad Jamal, and Hilton Ruiz - 275 W Market St. Newark NJ
Lil Bastad will be playing at Bloomfield, NJ's Octoberfest on Sat. Oct. 6 @ 3:30-4:30 - Makin' it funky... The dynamic character of the band is a result of its members' personalities. On lead guitar& vocals, Mark Bowers (JT Taylor of Kool & The Gang, The Manhattans, Mary J. Blige, Otis Rush, Lowell Fulson, Wilson Pickett); on drums, Dave Moore (Dave Fields, Nikki Armstrong, Kings in Disguise); on bass, Ronald "Boz" Bostick (Blue Magic, Funkadelic, Della Reese & Super Blue). From Long Island, NY on keyboards is John Palmer (Doyle Bramhall, Terence Trent-D'Arby); and on guitar & vocals, Luke Michura (Tanglefoot, Bourbon Street). You've got to hear them to believe it! Located across from the Public Library -- the rain date, if needed, is Oct. 7 at the same time. https://www.facebook.com/pg/lilbastad
Valley Arts Community Gallery brings you the Pop Up Vinyl Shop with Brainiac Records - Brainiac Records and other vinyl vendors will be in the Community Gallery all weekend with tons of vinyl! All genres - you will definitely find something new for your collection. The biggest vinyl pop-up shop around! ValleyArts 400 S Jefferson St, Orange, New Jersey 07050
https://www.facebook.com/events/239013333473530
South Orange Pierro Gallery invites you to join us for a free, one-night, open-air show on the South Orange Duck Pond. The debut of a water-born and waterborne series of visual and spoken poetry, the performance will take those gathered around the shore on an illuminated journey Below the Waterline.
The October 6th show will be presented outdoors and free to the public. Guests are invited to bring their own blankets and chairs for sitting on the grass. In case of rain, the show will take place October 13th, 6:00-8:00 pm. See the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/339637276803202/
Speaking of Valley Arts - you may know that I'm doing some music programming for Valley Arts Community Gallery right up the rode in Orange N.J. A number of folks have hit me up with ideas and that they want to play so here's a few parameters.
1. I'm looking for some Solo and Duo acoustic artists to come on on out and play some music for an hour or two on certain days of the week in the Artful Bean Coffe Shop. Expenses Only Gig. If interested please email me your interests or FB Msg me (gregoryburrus) your interest and your email.
2. I'm also going to start a Live Music Series in the beautiful Valley Arts Gallery space next door. It's an intimate gorgeous space and we want the music to flow. Here I am looking for some smooth folk singers, country, jazz, neo soul, vocalist, classical music and more. It's an intimate space holds lots of seats but not looking to Rock the Block or the neighborhood. It will be a paid gig so If you have an idea hit me up here on FB Msg (gregoryburrus) or email me at gregoryburrus@gregoryburrusproductions.com, I can give you more details and maybe we can work something out.
Gregory Burrus with Chelsea Burrus at Clements Place
Gregory Burrus, Your Live Music Ambassador, invites you to stay tuned as there is much more to come.
Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions. Gregory Burrus curates events at Jazz973 at Clements Place, Valley Arts Gallery along with being promoter and manager of Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, Playing Pianos Around South Orange, NJ and is the founder, curator of South Orange 24 Hours of Music and the South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam along with many other live music ventures.
Gregory promotes events through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photojournalism. Having fun, living life, while helping others.
Keywords: clementsplacejazz playingaroundsouthorange downtownaftersundown jazzonsloan southorangegazebo southorangevillagecenter southorangenj gregoryburrusaroundtown sopianos sofarmersmarket sopac livemusicambassador
By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2018
For the 5th year, to the delight of many residents in the community, Playin’ Around South Orange project pianos were deployed on August 25th all Around South Orange. Playin’ Around South Orange is a public art project that highlights both the visual and the performing arts. Pianos transform into works of art themselves by extraordinary local artists, providing unexpected and delightful encounters and encourage active arts engagement in our day-to-day lives through the spontaneous making of music. https://www.sopacnow.org/community/sopianos/.
This year, five artists were selected to design these pianos and then they are placed on the streets of South Orange, NJ. The artists are:
The ARTS COUNCIL OF EAST ORANGE painted the piano at the South Orange Gazebo venue. Members of the council are: Gwendolyn ‘Arri’ Jackson, Irene Pomianowski lead the team (Jae Bianca Jackson, Helena L Branch, Jeffrey ‘Sizzy’ Osborne and Marsha Wilderson).
Elina Rosenblum and Veronika Hapco painted the piano located at Spiotta Park.
Jessica Skultety painted the Baby Grand piano on South Orange Ave.
Kurk Maynard painted the piano located at Irvington.
Bill Beillec painted the piano located at Seton Hall.
A wonderful part of this project is that anybody can play these pianos. In the last years, the community has come to expect them and start inquiring to their deployment Around South Orange in June. Since the normal deployment is at the end of August, much anticipation is built up all summer long. The pianos are out on the South Orange streets for 6 weeks and folks from in and out-of-town come through and enjoy them all day and night, too. There is a map at https://www.sopacnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/PASO-Map-2018. These pianos are available for all to perform on, anytime the urge hits you.
Part of this weekend’s fun was the musicians that came out to play, such as Theo Walentiny playing on the South Orange Baby Grand piano with vocalist Elora Aclin while Mark Madonna of the Five Cent Philosophers and his son played tunes at the Jersey Divas piano.
Next up, we conduct community jams and performances during the evening for folks to come out and enjoy. With some returning performers and a few newly selected performers, we now have a weekly performance/community jam schedule. Also, in line with the Jazz Divas piano theme, our first selected pianist, Hal Keshner, has informed us that he may honor each Jersey Diva by playing a tune dedicated to each diva.
The selected musicians that you should come out and support are:
Bandleader, guitarist, singer, and pianist Hal Keshner - Thursday 8/30/2018 6-8PM
Piano Man Robert Richardson & Vocalist Steven Grice - Thursday 9/13/2018 6-8PM
Vocalist Barbara Hassenfeld and Friends - Tuesday 9/18/2018 6-8PM
Music teacher and pianist Mustafa “Music King” Daniels - Thursday 9/27/2018 6-8PM
Join us, as all vocalists/instrumentalists are welcome to come join in the fun, before, after and during the performances.
The closing of the Playin’ Around South Orange program falls on or about Sunday, October 7th. To honor each year’s pianos as pieces of art, they are auctioned off and/or donated to benefit SOPAC’s education programming. Playin’ Around South Orange is proudly sponsored by Patti Donovan. Artist and piano design are managed by the South Orange Performing Arts Center with local live music promoter Gregory Burrus managing the weekly community jams. For more details please contact Linda Beard at (973) 382-1035.
Gregory Burrus with Artist Irene Pomianowski
Gregory Burrus, Your Live Music Ambassador, invites you to stay tuned as there is much more to come.
Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions. On a regular basis, Gregory Burrus is promoter and manager of Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, Playing Pianos Around South Orange, NJ, Farmers Market Jazz Jam along with many other musical ventures.
Gregory promotes events through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photojournalism. Having fun living life while helping others.
Follow on Social Media with #SOPianos
Check us out #playingaroundsouthorange #downtownaftersundown #jazzonsloan #southorangegazebo #southorangevillagecenter #southorangenj #gregoryburrusaroundtown #sopianos #sofarmersmarket #sopac #eastorangeartscouncil #blumart #theowalentini #livemusicambassador
