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Monday, September 30, 2019

“Family Day: Spread Your Wings” in Princeton

Family Day: Spread Your Wings

WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton
All ages are welcome; no tickets or reservations are needed.

Enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family with art-making and activities inspired by the exhibition Helen Frankenthaler Prints: Seven Types of Ambiguity. Refreshments will be served.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Jazz At Bethany 20 Years: Jazz Vespers Featuring Carrie Jackson & Jazzin' all Stars

Welcome Back to Bethany Jazz Vespers

WHEN: Saturday, October 5th, at 6 pm
WHERE:
275 West Market Street, Newark
(973) 623-8161
www.bethany-newark.org

GUEST ARTISTS:

  • Carrie Jackson & The Jazzin' All Stars:
  • Bradford Hayes, sax; Dave Braham, pn;
  • Thaddeus Expose, bass, Gordon Lane, drums

COME HEAR CARRIE JACKSON & THIS GREAT BAND ON OCTOBER 5TH FOR FREE!

Carrie's style rekindles thoughts of America's great jazz history and attributes her vocal style to the great ladies in Jazz.

Auditions for “The Foreigner”: A Comedy by Larry Shue

AUDITIONS:

WHEN: October 1 and 2 by appointment only
WHERE
: Drama Geek Studios · Sparta

Sides will be provided. Show dates to take place the second and third weekends of November.

To schedule an audition please send an email to auditions@dramageekstudios.com or call 973-512-8251.

Rob Kapilow's “What Makes It Great/Cole Porter” at The Bickford Theatre October 6th

What Makes It Great/Cole Porter

WHEN: Sunday, October 6th, at 2pm
WHERE: Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Hgts. Rd., Morristown
TICKETS: Museum members: $35, Non-Members $40, Under 25 with valid ID: $25
Call 973 971 3706 Or visit: https://morrismuseum.org/events.cole-porter/

The witty and urbane Cole Porter joyfully pushed the envelope of musical theater in the 1920s, 30s and 40s with ultra-sophisticated, often risqué songs banned by the censors and adored by theatergoers. Unlike most of the 20th century’s great songwriters, Porter grew up in a world of unbelievable wealth and privilege that included Yale, Harvard and astonishingly lavish travel. Yet beneath his socially perfect public persona was a hidden private life that influenced nearly all of his music and lyrics.

Broadway stars Sally Wilfert and Michael Winther join Rob Kapilow for a sparkling musical tour through Porter’s extraordinary life and career, as they take a fresh look at Porter’s complex highbrow/lowbrow sensibility in classic songs like “You’re the Top,” “Night and Day,” “All Through the Night” and “Begin the Beguine."

What makes great music great? Through his concert presentations, commentaries on NPR’s Performance Today and CD series, Rob Kapilow takes listeners inside the music: he unravels, slows down, and recomposes key passages to hear why a piece is so extraordinary. Theatermania.com calls Rob Kapilow’s engaging commentaries “a knockout combination of entertainment and education.” Great music rewards great listeners, and Rob Kapilow’s What Makes It Great? is about great listening.

Check out this preview:

"Irresistible. Kapilow is as lively as a top-flight sports announcer and as entertaining as a stand-up comedian. But he's also got substance in spades." —Kansas City Star.

Live Arts at the Morris Museum is an innovative new series of performances which will complement the Museum's exhibitions, presenting artists working across mediums with productions in music, dance and theatre. In addition to our popular Jazz showcase, Film Programs and entertainments like What Makes It Great, this new series provides new experiences and sparks new conversations. Taking place primarily at The Bickford Theatre, productions will also utilize the Museum as a performance venue from time to time with site-specific performances. Experience emerging and established artists who work defies conventions and expectations.

Art exhibition in Jersey City during JCAST, Oct 5&6

PANEPINTO GALLERIES & SPEAR STREET CAPITAL PRESENT

REFLECTIONS
by Jersey City based artist Candy Le Sueur

WHEN: September 6 – November 8, 2019; Please visit the gallery on Oct 5 & 6, 12pm – 6pm, part of JCAST. Open Weekly: Monday through Friday, 9am – 6pm
WHERE:
70 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey (Entrance on Hudson River Waterfront Walkway & Grand Street)

Candy Le Sueur is known for her large-scale expressive abstract paintings and her intimate mixed media on paper, which include monotypes. Her imagery offers spontaneous expressions of her perception of the land, sea and sky, seeking to remind us of the eternal beauty of the natural world.

www.panepintogalleries.com

ARB Presents: Beauty and the Beast!

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Choreography | Kirk Peterson
Music | Tchaikovsky

WHEN: Saturday, October 5 | 7:30 PM
WHERE:
Mandell Theater at Drexel University, 3220 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
TICKETS: $25 & $35
ORDER HERE!

"This Beauty and the Beast tells a romantic, emotional story with a great deal of challenging classical dancing and beautiful costumes." —Kirk Peterson

"American Repertory Ballet has a new hit!" —Critical Dance 

"Kirk Peterson's take on this magical tale is a good fit for all ages"—Pointe Magazine

“BROADWAY FRIGHT NIGHT” CELEBRATES MUSICALS WITH SUPERNATURAL, HORROR & SCI-FI THEMES

BROADWAY FRIGHT NIGHT

BROADWAY FRIGHT NIGHT

WHEN: Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:00 PM
WHERE:
UCPAC Main Stage, 1601 Irving St., Rahway, NJ
GET TICKETS

BROADWAY FRIGHT NIGHT is a celebration of songs from musicals with Supernatural, Horror and Sci-Fi themes.

Created and hosted by New York Casting Director Stephen DeAngelis, five of New York’s finest vocalists will pay homage to Broadway and Off-Broadway’s most original, intriguing and terrifying characters in this all-new concert event.

Scheduled performers are Richard Todd Adams (The Phantom of the Opera; CATS; Jekyll & Hyde; The Pirate Queen; The Woman in White), Jackie Burns (Wicked; If/Then; Hair), Ali Ewoldt (The Phantom of the Opera; The King and I; Les Miserables), Jenny Lee Stern (Rocky; A Christmas Story; Forbidden Broadway) and Joey Taranto (Kinky Boots; Rock of Ages; Bat Out of Hell-The Musical; Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark).

Musical Director/Accompanist will be Eugene Gwozdz. The evening will include musical selections from Wicked; The Phantom of the Opera; Jekyll and Hyde; Little Shop of Horrors; The Rocky Horror Show; Young Frankenstein; Sweeney Todd; Spider-Man: Turn O.

“Elf: The Musical Jr” Class Starts 10/8/19 in Red Bank

CLICK HERE FOR MOR INFORMATION (link on graphic does not work)

About Phoenix Productions

Phoenix Productions is a non-profit community theatre organization. We recreate your favorite Broadway musicals in full scale revivals.

Phoenix Productions
9 Chestnut Street, Red Bank
732-747-0014
www.phoenixredbank.com



State Theatre New Jersey presents Dancing with the Stars Live Tour: BUY TICKETS NOW!

Dancing with the Stars Live Tour
starring Dancing with the Stars season 28 professional dancers

WHEN: Sunday, January 19, 2020, at 8pm
WHERE: State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
TICKETS: Special VIP packages are available and range from $210-$599. Performance tickets range from $55-$125
For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm; Saturday from 1pm to 5pm; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates unless otherwise specified. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

The all-new production will feature fan-favorite professional dancers wowing audiences with every type of dance style as seen on ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. The show continues its legacy of performing showstopping routines alongside new numbers choreographed just for the live show ranging from the time-honored dances of the Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Salsa, Tango–and everything in between.

The tour delivers a spectacular night of dance performances from world-renowned dancers including Brandon Armstrong, Lindsay Arnold, Alan Bersten, Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Gleb Savchenko, and Emma Slater, with more surprise casting to be announced.

LAST CALL FROM AN EXTRAORDINARY SHOW DIRECTLY FROM ARGENTINA AND URUGUAY

WHEN: October 6, 6 PM
WHERE
: UCPAC, 1601 Irving St., Rahway
Click For Tickets

“If you don’t like Tango, you are going to start loving it.”

“Only one presentation in New Jersey. With a cast of award-winning musicians, dancers and singers.”

Awarded “Best Show of the Year” and “Best International Production” on several occasions, presents its new production I AM TANGO. With an ensemble of 24 world-renowned professionals, World Tango Dance Champions and acclaimed musical prodigies, I AM TANGO presents a distinctive perspective of tango by staging its artistic evolution over time. The genre is represented by a central character named “Tango,” who questions his essence (represented by the bandoneon) about the fusion of tango with classical dance, jazz, folklore and contemporary dance.

The character transits through different ages and cultures, evolving with the passing of the years while maintaining the essence of the music that made its mark all over the world.

I AM TANGO generates the appropriate creative setting to engage your senses in the world of tango, from the Golden years to contemporary times.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

WOMEN IN MEDIA OFFERS FREE SCREENING/DISCUSSION WITH FILMMAKER ON OCTOBER 2

Save the Date: October 9th...Black Public Media's Story Summit...more information to follow!


Please join us for this free screening. Discussion with filmmaker following the screening

WHEN: Oct. 2nd @ 6pm
WHERE:
Express Newark, Lecture Hall, 54 Halsey St., Newark, NJ

Woman in Media - Newark is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization with a mission to educate the public about global issues facing women.

Rhino Theatre Struts its Stuff!

FREE SHOW TICKET CAN BE USED FOR

FALSETTOS OR A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS

Must call the theater for this SUPER SPECIAL!

973-248-9491

We are still seeking a Pepper and children's/adult ensemble and adult featured parts for ANNIE THE MUSICAL

SHOW DATES: NOV. 29 - DEC. 29 NO SHOWS DEC. 13/14/15

WHERE: 247 Wanaque Ave., Pompton Lakes NJ

Participation fee if cast. Please register HERE

Friday, September 27, 2019

Sensory-Friendly Astronomy Show Set at RVCC Planetarium in October, November

The Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium in Branchburg presents

The Sky Above

WHEN: Saturdays, October 5 and November 2. Both screenings will begin at 5 p.m.
WHERE:
RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ
ADMISSION: $10 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly suggested.
For additional information and to make reservations, call 908-231-8805 or visit www.raritanval.edu/planetarium.

The sensory-friendly astronomy and music show, approximately 45 minutes in length, is specially designed for families with children on the Autism spectrum or those with developmental disabilities. Neurotypical children are welcome as well.

The program, which is presented on a kindergarten level, is appropriate for audiences of all ages. We provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to everyone. During the show, the doors will remain open so children may freely leave and return if they choose. Lights will be left dim (instead of dark) and the audio will be lowered and kept at a consistent level. The show will include music, laser lights, stories, and information about the planets, the Moon and constellations. All material will be presented on a very basic level.

For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

Learn about the famous Angel of Allamuchy on a Bus Tour!

Rutherfurd Hall's Bus Tour of Historical Allamuchy

WHEN: Wednesday, October 2, at 11am
WHERE:
Rutherfurd Hall, 1686 Route 517, Allamuchy
COST: $15 per person. Stay after and take a tour of the Mansion if you wish $5.

Visit the sites located within Allamuchy and Tranquility that are tied to Rutherfurd Hall.  Take a ride while listening to the tour guide go back in history to the time when the Rutherfurd family stayed in Allamuchy for summer vacations.

This special bus tour will last approximately 1 ½ hours. 

Click Here to Register or call (908) 852-1894 ext 338.

Come kick off the Halloween Season with The Rat Pack UNDEAD @ UCPAC in Rahway

THE RAT PACK UNDEAD - Direct from 42nd Street!

THE RAT PACK UNDEAD—Direct from 42nd Street!
Created & Produced by Cooper Jordan
Musically Directed by Michael Thomas Murray
Choreographed by Avital Asuleen

WHEN: Fri, Sep 27, 2019 8:00 PM
WHERE:
UCPAC'S Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton St., Rahway
GET TICKETS

Come kick off the Halloween Season with The Rat Pack UNDEAD! One thing's for sure: they may be dead, but their voices aren't!

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. are back from the dead, crooning their hearts out for the literal undead show that critics have raved blew them away and left them wanting more. The Pack adds a spookish spin to their biggest hits, changing up their lyrics to honor their undead lifestyles. More comical than creepy, more entertaining than eerie, you'll hear all of your favorite Rat Pack tunes with an "undead" twist, including "Come Die With Me," "Lay Me in the Tomb," "What Kind of Ghoul Am I?" and many more!

"Rat Pack Undead BLEW US AWAY!" —Claridge Hotel, Atlantic City

"It left us wanting more" —Marilyn Miller, former girlfriend of Frank Sinatra

"Truly fine incarnations of the stars" —AndyB Sports & More Reporter

A Fall Harvest Jam with Dan Levinson & Molly Ryan

www.lksarts.org

Thursday, September 26, 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS @ MORRIS COUNTY PARKS

Morris County Park Commission

speedwell games4TH ANNUAL SPEEDWELL GAMES!


WHEN: September 28

Enjoy games, and play with toys that entertained kids the bygone era of the Vail family. Yes, I want to learn more.



predators and prey

A DAY OFF WITH NATURE: PREDATORS AND PREY


WHEN: September 30

Enjoy a day of fun while learning about both hunters and the hunted. Learn about animals’ special adaptations to survive and play games on the trail that simulate what life is like for both predators and prey species. Tell me more.

park palooza october

MORRIS COUNTY PARK PALOOZA:

A SPOOK-TACULAR TIME


WHEN: October 5


Enjoy 20+ food trucks, a biergarten offering hand-crafted beers, wine and sangria, and live music featuring 2 bands. Halloween activities for adults and kids, carnival games, face painting, and so much more! Wear your costume, too! Parking is FREE, and admission allows for re-entry throughout the day. Check it out here.

lenape day

LENAPE DAY


WHEN: October 12

Celebrate the Lenape with dancing, drums, and historical talks by the Ramapough Lenape People. Mold clay by the fire, go inside a wigwam, and see authentic tools and artifacts! Check it out here.

scarecrow building workshopSCARECROW BUILDING WORKSHOP


WHEN: October 12


Learn to create a scarecrow for this year’s Scarecrows in the garden program. Join this fun workshop designed for families, scout groups, and individuals. Tell me more.

A DAY OFF WITH NATURE: AUTUMN ART


WHEN: October 14

Learn about artists who use colorful foliage, and create your own art masterpiece to take home! Take walks on the trail, hear stories, and play games! Yes, I want to learn more.

golden hour

GOLDEN HOUR FARM PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION


WHEN: October 19


Hobbyist photographers are welcome to the farm during ‘Golden Hour’ to photograph the picturesque landscape, architecture, and animals in the atmosphere only previously known to our farmers! For more info, click here.

Whitehouse Wind Symphony Presents Free Outdoor Concert in Clinton!

The Whitehouse Wind Symphony, a community band under the direction of Branchburg resident, James P. Sheeley, Jr., will present

FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 at 1:00pm. In the event of inclement weather, the announcement to cancel will be made on the band’s website  and Facebook page. Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs.
WHERE:
the terrace of the Hunterdon Art Museum (7 Lower Center Street, Clinton, NJ).
ADMISSION: free and open to the general public, although donations will be accepted to benefit the band, a non-profit group comprised entirely of volunteer musicians.
This concert is presented in partnership with the Town of Clinton Recreation Commission and the Hunterdon Art Museum.

Says Mayor Janice Kovach, “It is always a highlight for me when the Whitehouse Wind Symphony Symphony plays in Clinton. It is a pleasure to be able to host them; Clinton is happy to welcome them back for the fourth year!”

The program for this family-friendly concert will feature classical selections such as Johann Strauss's "Thunder and Lightning Polka," classic marches such as “Redetzky,” and selections from Broadway and film such as “Hello Dolly.” 

The Whitehouse Wind Symphony was founded by conductor emeritus Casey Bork on April 15, 1996.  It is dedicated to presenting the best in all varieties of wind band literature. Since its founding, the band has grown rapidly, attracting experienced musicians as regular members from all over New Jersey, as well as New York City and eastern Pennsylvania. It is now comprised of approximately 50 amateur and professional musicians who perform together regularly to enthusiastic audiences throughout central and northern New Jersey. It was recently voted a finalist in the Hunterdon Happening List in the category of favorite musician/band. For more information, including information about future performances, please send an email to whitehousewindsymphony@gmail.com.

Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through funds administered by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

Four-Person Exhibition of Faculty Artwork Slated at RVCC

No-Thing In Common

WHEN: September 27-October 18. An artists’ talk will be held Friday, September 27, from 5-6 p.m., in the Art Gallery, followed by a reception from 6-7 p.m. Both are free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Gallery hours are Mondays, 3-8 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesdays, 3-8 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Fridays, 1-4 p.m. On Friday, September 27, the Art Gallery will not open until 5 p.m.
WHERE:
Raritan Valley Community College Art Gallery, 118 Lamington Rd., Branchburg
For further information, visit Arts & Design, 908-218-8876. or Arts & Design, 908-218-8876.

Raritan Valley Community College’s (RVCC) Arts & Design department will present a four-person exhibition of work spanning various disciplines and creative processes. The exhibition, featuring work by RVCC faculty members Eric Araujo, Ji Yong Kim, Jeff Mason and Dot Paolo, will be held in the Art Gallery at the College’s Branchburg campus.

Kim, a resident of Brooklyn, NY, is a full-time instructor in the Arts & Design department. Araujo (New York, NY), Mason (Cranford), and Paolo (Flemington) are all adjunct instructors in Arts & Design. The show is being coordinated by Darren McManus, Assistant Professor and Art Gallery Director.

Eric Araujo is an interdisciplinary artist from New York whose artwork extends across various mediums including sculpture and drawing, as well as site specific public installations. His current work tests the limits of material strength by the combined application of finesse and force. By mixing mediums, he creates complex forms and symbiotic relationships within patterned surfaces. Araujo received his BFA from Pratt Institute and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. He is owner and principal fabricator at Maven Designs LLC and an Installation Specialist for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. (Above: “Pudenda” (detail), by Eric Araujo; plywood, 72 x 48 inch, 2019)

Ji Yong Kim is a Korean American artist whose work explores an intersection between popular culture and spiritual practices. His drawings and paintings adopt traditional and religious imagery and reinvent it into a contemporary, meditative space, while his recent video and installation work meditate upon his personal history and multicultural background. Exhibitions of note include “Scent of Water” in Kofu City, Japan; “New Media Exhibition” at CICA Museum in South Korea; and a group printmaking exhibition in The Glasshouse in Brooklyn, NY. Kim is a recipient of a Civil Society Fellowship through the Vermont Studio Center and has been awarded residencies at AIRY Yamanashi in Japan, Marpha Foundation in Nepal, and Anderson Ranch in Colorado. (Left: “Hurry Up and Jump In,” by Ji Yong Kim; graphite, colored pencil & pen on paper, 14 x 11 inch, 2016)

Jeff Mason develops his abstract pictures over periods of weeks or months through multiple layers of revisions with the intent to create visual order. His most recent paintings evidence a broader spectrum of color and texture while maintaining his preoccupation with pattern and design. These works seek to justify elements of regularity and irregularity within a more plastic space. Mason is a recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and a Geraldine R. Dodge Fellowship Artist/Educator Grant.

Dot Paolo’s studio practice is primarily rooted in printmaking and photography. In her photographic work, she utilizes toys and miniatures in a diorama format to create narratives about how artists make and display their work. Paolo has a BFA from the University of Bridgeport and an MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. A recipient of the Brodsky Center print grant, she has exhibited her work in many group and one-person shows in New Jersey and the tri-state area. (Above: “Mantle,” by Dot Paolo; archival digital print, 18 x 23 inch, 2019)

ALMOST SOLD OUT! Two International Theater Shows this Week in Jersey City

WATCH NOW

WHEN: Thursday, Sep 26, 08:00 PM; Doors 7:30 PM / Show 8 PM
WHERE:
Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Ave, Jersey City, New Jersey
Tickets

WATCH NOW is a cutting edge, international dance performance from Slovakia delves into issues of identity and privacy in our contemporary, high-tech global society.

Truth

WHEN: Friday, Sep 27, 08:00 PM; Doors 7:30 PM / Show 8 PM
WHERE:
Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Ave, Jersey City, New Jersey
Tickets

Truth is a performance about the absence of the sacred, the lack of metaphysics and truth; it exposes life devoid of any mystery, where there is no feeling for life’s meaning and purpose. The performance is directed by Piotr Borowski and performed by Studium Teatralne.


See Broadway Stars Jackie Burns, Ali Ewoldt and more at UCPAC!

BROADWAY FRIGHT NIGHT

WHEN: OCTOBER 4, 8 PM
WHERE
: UCPAC, 1601 Irving St., Rahway
CLICK FOR TICKETS

A celebration of songs from musicals with supernatural, horror and sci-fi themes. Five of New York’s finest vocalists will pay homage to Broadway and Off-Broadway’s most original, intriguing and terrifying characters in this all-new concert event.

Scheduled performers are Richard Todd Adams (The Phantom of the Opera; CATS; Jekyll & Hyde; The Pirate Queen; The Woman in White), Jackie Burns (Wicked; If/Then; Hair), Ali Ewoldt (The Phantom of the Opera; The King and I; Les Miserables), Jenny Lee Stern (Rocky; A Christmas Story; Forbidden Broadway) and Joey Taranto (Kinky Boots; Rock of Ages; Bat Out of Hell-The Musical; Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark).

GREAT SEATS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!

ROSELAND ARTIST TO DISPLAY WORK @ LIVINGSTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING

New York City Cthulhu: The Artwork of Evan Stuart Marshall of Roseland

WHEN: through Monday, November 4; a reception for the exhibit will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 17.
WHERE
: Livingston Municipal Building Gallery, 357 South Livingston Ave., Livingston

The exhibit is sponsored by the Arts Council of Livingston.

Born in Boston and raised in Sharon, Mass., Marshall is an award-winning contemporary painter. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Mary Koether Merit Award from the West Essex Art Association. His work has been featured in many juried exhibitions, both group and solo, and is held in many private collections. One of his paintings was recently selected by the renowned curator and art consultant Paige Powell (once a member of Andy Warhol’s Factory) for inclusion in the permanent art collection of the new MC Hotel in Montclair.

“New York City Cthulhu,” the central painting of the exhibit, is a fanciful portrayal of New York City with modern and Steampunk elements. Featured in the painting is Cthulhu, a monster created by the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, of whom Marshall is a fan. Another painting in this series, “Victoria Cthulhu,” shows levels of London in Victorian times, from royalty down to mine workers, with Cthulhu lurking underneath. Also included in Marshall’s exhibit are a number of abstract works in acrylic, mixed media, and oil and cold wax.

Tall Tales Saturday Night @ RVCC

Mike and Amy Aiken

Tall Tales & Troubadours

The Mike Aiken Band
WHEN: Saturday, September 28, at 7PM
WHERE:
RVCC, 118 Lamington Rd., Branchburg
FEST TICKETS

Well-traveled Virginia songwriter and sea captain, Mike Aiken, may have been born in the wrong century. An inner sense of chivalry oozes from every story he tells and every song he sings. Aiken has drawn tales—and hope—from "trail riders, aging rodeo champs, sea captains, Rastafarians and outlaws" to craft a treasure chest of tunes that draws the threads of these independent spirits together. Always having fun on stage, you can expect to hear upbeat, rootsy grooves, from slide guitar to honky-tonk piano, percussion and sweet harmony vocals that take you to the heart of a summer jump-up. 

On stage with Mike Aiken will be his trusted band of wayward troubadours - Amy Aiken (vocals, percussion), Jordan Ponzi (vocals, upright bass), Ron Fetner (vocals, guitars), and Cara Lauzon (vocals, fiddle). 

Open mic winners will open the show!

Kim ParentCarolyn Messina

Kim Parent (L) and Carolyn Messina (R) were our winners and will be joining us to open for the Mike Aiken Band, at Tall Tales & Troubadours, Saturday, September 28 at 7PM. Congratulations Kim and Carolyn!

Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Now Registering for Fall Offerings from JCC University

JCC University

WHEN: Thursdays with coffee and conversation beginning at 10:30 am. Morning presentation runs from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch (buy or bring your own) from 12-12:45 pm; and afternoon presentation from 12:45-2:00 pm.
WHERE:
Kaplen JCC, 411 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly
TUITION: Cost for 3 Thursdays is $95 for JCC members/$115 public; Cost for single Thursday is $36 JCC members, $44 public. First 10 participants to register for the full JCC U series will receive Julie Salamon’s book An Innocent Bystander: The Killing of Leon Klinghoffer.
For more information, visit jccotp.org/jccu or call Kathy Graff at 201.408.1454.

JCC University at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is now taking enrollment for its three-session fall term, where people can connect, find new interests and stay involved in current developments that shape our world. Top professors and experts will present on topics that include science, literature, film, politics, psychology, art and more, creating platforms that allow people to listen, learn and get answers while meeting people and making new friends.

October 3

An Innocent Bystander: The Killing of Leon Klinghoffer

In 1985, four Palestinian terrorists hijacked the Achille Lauro. Wheelchair-bound passenger Leon Klinghoffer was shot and thrown overboard. For her book, author and journalist Julie Salamon meticulously researched this story, interviewing almost all the living participants. She will present a full understanding of Klinghoffer’s murder in the larger geopolitical context.

Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro: An Intense Collaboration

Martin Scorsese defined a genre in filmmaking with his dark, gritty, violent portrayals of urban life. His searing and unsparing collaborations with method actor Robert De Niro on such films as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull retain their emotional and artistic impact decades later. Film historian Max Alvarez will offer a compelling overview.

October 17

Genetic Engineering: A Look at How Technology is Changing the Way We Create Babies

Dr. Robert Klitzman, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, and director of the Masters of Bioethics Program will discuss his book Designing Babies and examine the complex ethical, social, and policy concerns surrounding new assistive reproductive technologies. The newest gene-editing technology allows for even more direct manipulation of embryos’ genes. How far is too far?

From Mickey Mouse to Star Wars and Beyond: How the Walt Disney Company Conquered Entertainment

Over the last nine decades, Disney has transformed every facet of the entertainment business—from the creation of feature length cartoons, to television programming, from theme parks that span the globe to Broadway musicals. Fordham professor Brian Rose will examine how Disney became the most powerful force in worldwide entertainment.

October 31

The Accusation: Blood Libel in an American Town

In an upstate New York town in 1928, a child strayed into the woods and went missing. A rumor started that Jews had kidnapped and killed her. The rumor caught on and suddenly the allegation of ritual murder, known as blood libel, took hold. NYU history professor Edward Berenson will discuss the history and response to this all too common accusation.

Contemporary Chinese Art

The Cultural Revolution’s effects on contemporary Chinese art created a common national experience that binds Chinese artists from diverse backgrounds. Professor Thomas Germano will introduce and discuss the work of well-known Chinese artists, as well as infamous dissidents such as Ai Weiwei and lesser known artists featured in the 2019 Venice Biennale.

Duda Penteado: Artist, Educator, Filmmaker and Cultural Activist, Featured in Solo Exhibition at Kean University

Brazilian-American Artist and Cultural Activist Duda Penteado: Solo Exhibition

WHEN: now through December 12. Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
WHERE:
The Karl and Helen Burger Gallery at Kean University, CAS Building, 1000 Morris Ave., Union
ADMISSION: open to the public
For more information: www.kean.edu/kean-galleries, email galleries@kean.edu or call (908) 737-0392.

Duda Penteado has lived in both the United States and Brazil for more than 20 years. His multidisciplinary work is based on performances, videos, installations, murals, sculptures, paintings, and other visual projects. He has dedicated much of his work to issues related to peace, globalization, dual citizenship and other geopolitical and social problems of the 21st Century. He is known for pushing the boundaries of the status quo in order to improve society through the power of art. (Top: Duda Penteado: Beauty for Ashes)

Penteado’s work has been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the United States and Brazil, as well as in Europe.

“Duda Penteado creates artwork that provokes us to think about issues in our social and personal world — the work is visceral and visually engaging,” said Director of Kean University Galleries Neil Tetkowski. “The installation includes sculptures made of real bones as well as high-tech video. His creative vision literally cross-fertilizes primal imagery with modern culture, provoking us to question our own personal values and the values of a conflicted yet sophisticated society we all depend on.”

The Burger Gallery exhibition will include a viewing room for Penteado’s documentary film entitled How Many Lives, in which he exposes how gun violence has affected a group of young people in Jersey City and across the nation. To explore this issue, the artist directed the creation of a 180-foot mural painting with the participation of young people who have been directly or indirectly affected by this type of violence. The painting of this mural is the subject of the film.

Fall Exhibitions Opening at Visual Arts Center of New Jersey on September 27

Painted Threads and Nadia Haji Omar: Ascension

WHEN: On view through the entirety of the fall and into winter, closing on February 9, 2020. Opening reception Friday, September 27, 7:30–9 PM. Gallery Hours: Monday–Wednesday and Friday, 10 AM–5 PM; Thursday, 10 AM–8 PM; and Saturday & Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM. Please call 908.273.9121 to confirm holiday hours. Adult and children’s group tours are available throughout the year.
WHERE: Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm Street in Summit
Visit artcenternj.org for more information.

“In organizing Painted Threads I am honored to add to the Art Center’s impressive history of fiber-oriented exhibitions, which have explored the synergy between fine art and craft,” said Curator Mary Birmingham. “The work presented by Nadia Haji Omar in Ascension and Natural Selection offer an ideal complement to Painted Threads because of a natural affinity between her work and that on display in the Main Gallery.”

Appearing in the Art Center’s Main Gallery, Painted Threads explores the impact of weaving on contemporary art. Participating artists include Mark Barrow and Sarah Parke, Samantha Bittman, Crystal Gregory, Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson, Victoria Manganiello and Julian Goldman, Desire Rebecca Moheb-Zandi, and Oriane Stender. These artists view the loom as a place for experimentation and discovery and a means for creating unique hybridized works. Some of them paint during the process of weaving, integrating pigment directly into the warp threads. Others weave textiles that become supports for paintings, and several others utilize weaving as the starting point for mixed-media wall assemblages that hover between two and three dimensions. Their unconventional approaches invite viewers to consider the interconnectivity of weaving, painting, and sculpture while challenging the traditional hierarchies of fine art and craft.

The exhibition includes several site-specific works that identify and explore a conceptual link to the history of computers and digital technology. On view in our Stair-gazing space is a new iteration of Samantha Bittman’s site-specific project, Interlace—a digitally printed wallpaper created in Photoshop. This colorful and greatly enlarged pixilated graphic is based on weaving drafts and underscores the influence of weaving on the development of the first computers.

A catalogue illustrating work by each artist featured in Painted Threads will be available and includes essays by Sarah Archer and Sarah Mills, as well as an introduction by Mary Birmingham. Major funding for this exhibition and publication has been provided by The Coby Foundation, Ltd.

The work of Rhode Island-based artist Nadia Haji Omar will be on display concurrently in the Mitzi and Warren Eisenberg Gallery & the Marité and Joe Robinson Strolling Gallery I. Haji Omar’s intricate paintings and works on paper examine the intersection of language and abstraction. Her method of mark making is similar to sewing and weaving, as it relies on the accumulation of repeated marks—mostly dots and dashes—to create color and form. A series of seven paintings titled Ascension will be on view in the Eisenberg Gallery. Inspired by the seven layers of heaven as described in the religion of Islam, each painting incorporates an Arabic numeral and represents a different aspect of heaven. Natural Selection, a series of related drawings will be on view in the Robinson Strolling Gallery I.

About the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

For 85 years, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has been exclusively dedicated to viewing, making, and learning about contemporary art. Recognized as a leading non-profit arts organization, the Art Center’s renowned Studio School, acclaimed exhibitions, and educational outreach initiatives serve thousands of youth, families, seniors, and people with special needs every year.

Support

Major support for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is provided in part by the Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation; the Wilf Family Foundations; and Art Center members and donors.