All in Article
I love an "a-ha moment" – that point when timing, circumstance, and cognition meet – and within minutes of stepping into the opening reception for Camden FireWorks current exhibition, "Storytelling Quilts: Celebrating Communal Textile Traditions," I had one of those moments.
The Moore’s Lounge Players, one of New Jersey’s longest-running jazz jam bands, will head up an unforgettable jazz performance and the ultimate jam session as part of the “Jammin’ in the Loft” series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Wednesday, April 24, at 7 PM. Curated by Gregory Burrus Productions, “Jammin’ in the Loft” is a series that takes the local music scene by force with an energetic experience of seeing talented local musicians perform up close and personal, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of friends, fans, and fellow musicians.
Artist Judith Bernstein “gained prominence for her distinctive series of biomorphic screw drawings, initiated in 1969,” according to exhibition materials. “These expansive artworks boldly appropriate the screw as a symbol of phallic oppression, challenging its association with the colloquial expression ‘being screwed’ while exuding a foreboding sense of power.”
Ballet Mecanique, Antheil’s most renowned musical composition, was originally conceived for a Dadaist film co-directed by artist Fernand Léger, with cinematography by Man Ray. But the score grew to be larger than the film itself and premiered as an independent composition in 1924. It excited audiences to riot in the streets.
The Pattern & Decoration (P&D) movement emerged in the 1970s as an “irreverent upstart movement,” to borrow the words of New York Times art critic Roberta Smith. It offered an alternative “to the general manliness of modernism,” and elevated women’s work. It looked to decorative traditions across the world, to surfaces like textiles, and to wallpaper, manuscript illuminations, mosaics, glassware, embroideries, and architectural flourishes, writes Tess Thakara at Artsy.net.
Art featuring faces holds a unique allure because it taps into our intrinsic human desire to connect and understand others. The Just Faces juried exhibition features works that are windows to the soul, conveying a depth of emotion and story without the need for words. They reflect the complexity of human experience, from joy and love to pain and despair, allowing viewers to engage in a silent conversation with the artist and the subject.
Driving from central New Jersey to the Gallery at Stockton University on a late February day in which the sunshine hinted at spring, I became aware of the changes to the landscape. Trees gave way to tall grasses, the earth seemed sandier, and the Shore was not far away. There were signs for rivers and other bodies of water.
When Celtic Woman performs at State Theatre New Jersey at 15 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick, NJ, on March 16, there will certainly be a lot of St. Patrick’s Day energy in the building. The show, which is happening the day before the global celebration of Irish heritage, will mark the latest stop on the group’s 20th anniversary tour across the United States. And it has been entertaining audiences throughout the country through the power of Irish music.
Hailing from the counties Waterford, Cork, Dublin, and Donegal in Ireland, Danú is one of today’s leading traditional Irish music bands to traverse the global stage, playing standing room only concerts. For nearly 30 years, the ensemble has hosted high-energy performances around the world and has recorded ten critically acclaimed albums.
It’s an all-star lineup of artists’ names, from Faith Ringgold and Howardena Pindell to Emma Amos, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Willie Cole, Bettye Saar, Joyce Scott… 59 in total! These are among the best of the best of contemporary artists, who just happen to be Black. And who just happen to be in the collection of the Montclair Art Museum.
Guided by the Ancestors, African Warrior Queens, a woman named Sister struggles to find a place of self-reconciliation and acceptance in the world as she is given a glimpse into the lives and legacy of Black women—past and present, young and old. This is the story behind “Black Girl Magic,” a powerful show coming to West Windsor Township, NJ, hailing from the Underground Performing Arts Collective in Suffolk, Virginia.
As soon as the banner announcing the retrospective of Freda Williams hung from the red brick façade of Artworks Trenton, the excitement began. “She has so many stories to tell,” Artistic Director Addison Vincent said of the 86-year-old artist who has lived all but the first five years of her life in Greater Trenton.
A restaging of the Caribbean-infused musical “Once On This Island” is coming to the Levoy Theatre in Millville, New Jersey, running for four performances from February 9th through February 11th. Filled with immersive storytelling, the show is directed by Domonic Barnes and choreographed by Olivia Cruz. Conducting a live band is music director Bryan Broughton.
The Tony-award winning musical, “The Cher Show,” is on tour and making its way to the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick. The show encompasses everything we know and love about Cher – the Bob Mackie costumes, the musical hits, the love stories, the drama, and moments that may surprise even her biggest fans.
Cirque Us is a contemporary circus troupe known for its innovative and captivating performances. The group features a diverse ensemble of talented performers who combine acrobatics, aerial arts, dance, and theater elements to create visually stunning and emotionally engaging shows. Their performances often incorporate storytelling, unique choreography, and a blend of traditional and modern circus techniques. Cirque Us is celebrated for pushing the boundaries of circus arts and delivering unforgettable experiences to audiences.
It may be the middle of winter, but two exhibitions on view at ArtYard in Frenchtown connect us to the world of plants, living things, and the lightness of being. Kendall Buster: What Blooms is on view through January 21, and Lucia Monge: While a Leaf Breathes can be seen through January 28.
"Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life," the quirky one-man show conceived of and performed by Keith Alessi, will be on stage at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on January 24. The SOLD-OUT show is a co-presentation of MPAC, Morris Arts, and AM Higley Construction.
And while the tomatoes and banjos in the title are emblematic in some ways, they also refer to things that shaped Alessi’s life.
Chinese New Year is always a favorite time of the year. Friends and family gather at favorite Chinese restaurants, wear red, eat dumplings and long noodles, and hand out red envelopes filled with money. But how many of us really know why it’s celebrated?
The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company uses the language of dance to tell the origin story of the holiday. Since 2017, the Newark-based company has been celebrating the Chinese New Year with a performance of Red Firecrackers. Suited to ages 6-15, this year’s production will be performed on January 21 at the Grunin Center in Toms River.
As we near the end of the 2023 calendar year, the Discover Jersey Arts team decided to take a look back at the things we've accomplished. We've published a wealth of content this year, but these five pieces are the ones we're most proud of—these exemplify the Discover Jersey Arts mission most.
We want to tell exciting, unique stories that will pull you in and seat you in the theatre, dance hall, concert venue, or museum floor. We aim to provide a platform for voices to be heard in a space where they may not normally be seen, and above all else, we're here to help you discover (New) Jersey arts.
The New Jersey Festival Orchestra is ringing in the New Year with a superb revue from Golden Age classics to Broadway’s greatest hits in glorious symphonic splendor. Joining in the festivities are soloists direct from the Broadway stage and dancers from the Dance Theatre of Harlem along with Maestro David Wroe and the orchestra as they swing to favorites from America’s Great Songbook. There are two celebratory performances, one on New Year’s Eve (Dec 31, 7 p.m.) at Westfield High School and the other on New Year's Day (Jan 1, 2:30 p.m.) at the Sieminski Theatre in Basking Ridge.
