Hat City Streets Festival Preview

June 15th promises to be a big day for the Valley! Read below and meet some of the faces of the Hat City Streets Festival! 

ValleyArts Director Richard T. Bryant (left) is executive producer of the Hat City Streets Festival. With him is Orange businesswoman Tracye Johnson, who is the Festival's director of volunteer services, and Festival Mainstage Producer Mike Griot, musician and executive producer of the South Orange International Blues Festival.   Photo by Camara Edwards.

Brass is the order of the day when Kiwi, one of New Jersey's fastest rising bands, leads off the Mainstage line-up with its high-energy combination of traditional Brazilian, reggae, and ska.  Opening at 3pm, the Mainstage also features New Jersey Gospel singer Wincey Terry and her band; New Jersey's popular Swing Sabrosa, the Salsa Dura band led by Ray Rodriguez;  and Brooklyn's energetic High and Mighty Brass Band, which takes New Orleans second line tradition to new heights.   

The Family Stage features acts for and by young people.  Maplewood's popular band 8 Bit, comprised of rising 10th graders, will perform, as will Luna Stage's Mi Casa Su Casa Band, and three different units from Orange High School, including the marching band.

Family arts activities include hat making, printmaking, mask making and more.  Stephen Mckenzie's popular printmaking activities will captivate young and old. Ivy Omere's clay masks evoke an African spirit.

ValleyArts Presents: Hat City Streets Festival, June 15, 11am-9PM

Hat City Streets Festival, Saturday, June 15, 11am - 9pm, will Animate New Jersey's Orange Valley with Music, Art, Family Activities, Food, and More!

ORANGE NJ --- The inaugural Hat City Streets Festival on Saturday, June 15 from 11am to 9pm, is a day-long cavalcade of music, arts exhibitions, family activities, delicious food, and non-stop fun that reflects the spirit and diversity of the region and celebrates the creativity of Orange. The Festival is free and open to the public.

Produced by ValleyArts and hosted by volunteers of Creative Orange, the Festival is centered at the corner of Forest and Tompkins Streets, which will be closed for the occasion, and on the grounds of the International Central Gospel Church (438 Valley Street, Orange NJ). Festival programs will also take place at the Firehouse Gallery, Hat City Kitchen, Ironworks Community Art Center, Yema Gallery, Arts Unbound, and other nearby spaces in the Valley Arts District. Free parking is available at nearby churches, and on the streets.

The Hat City Streets Festival will feature concert headliners that range from Brazilian reggae to contemporary gospel; appearances by marching bands, choirs, dance ensembles, and a step team; arts exhibitions by professional artists from around the region; and a variety of arts activities for children and families, including hat-making workshops that evoke the neighborhood's past as the hat-making center of the world.

  

"Our Festival will be something akin to a great church picnic and art show that transforms itself into a professional concert stage," said Richard T. Bryant, ValleyArts executive director and co-chair of Creative Orange. "In addition to a full day of music, art, food, and fun, festivalgoers will also experience the extraordinary hospitality of the people of Orange." 

Opening at 11am, the "Family Stage" will feature performances by professional bands and dance ensembles, and appearances by award-winning vocal and instrumental performers from Orange High School, including the marching band.

Heralding the afternoon opening of  "The Mainstage" will be 100 Voices of Hillside, the acclaimed children's choir directed by Troy Bell.  Next up is Kiwi, the fast-rising New Jersey band that performs Brazilian music and jazz with influences of Jamaican reggae, ska, rocksteady, American folk, soul, and R&B.  Also featured is Wincey Terry, the gifted storyteller and powerful singer whose songs of life and faith are propelled by a tght band that includes brass and winds. At the dinner hour, one of the New York area's most popular Salsa bands, Ray Rodriquez and Swing Sabrosa, will launch a big, brassy celebration of Latin music that will have you dancing. Capping the evening will be High and Mighty Brass Band, the fiercely entertaining group that channels the energy of a New Orleans second line into a brassy explosion of Funk, R&B , Afro-Beat, Hip Hop, and more!

Visual art on display will include the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery exhibition by Afro-Cuban artist Eduardo Roca (known as Choco), "Retrazos del Sol (Traces of the Sun)."  Choco, who lives and works in Havana, is one of Cuba's most important artists and is internationally recognized for his collagraphs, ceramics and oils. The nearby Ironworks Gallery will open "Tatamae Alive," featuring the paintings of ORNG Ink artist Khari Ricks. The event will also include a hip-hop dance jam. The YEMA Gallery will also be open with "Call & Re-Call: An Exhibition of Artist-made Books," curated by Terry Boddie. 

A range of delicious foods found in the Valley Arts District will be available onsite, with a "Feast on the Street" featuring a long table so visitors can enjoy their food and share their festival experience together. The grounds of the Hat City Streets Festival are alcohol free. Participating restaurants include El Palacio del Pollo, Hat City Kitchen, La Galera Centroamericana, Libretti's, SuzyQues BBQ, Valley Diner, and others, to be announced.

Also participating in the Festival are: the anchor organizations of the Valley Arts District including HANDS, Inc., ORNG Ink, Luna Stage, Arts Unbound, YEMA Gallery, and Garden State Urban Farms; City of Orange Township Department of Parks and Recreation; Orange Board of Education; and several area churches. 

Visit valleyartsnj.com/hat-city-streets for more information and a complete, updated schedule of events and activities.  At this site, you can also sign-up to volunteer or apply for an arts booth. 

About ValleyArts 

ValleyArts is the arts service and activist organization of the Valley Arts District. The highest priorities of ValleyArts are to inspire the neighborhood to recognize the arts as essential to community health and vitality; help build up and serve individual artists, arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs; and encourage everyone to participate in arts, culture, and creativity as part of everyday life. To propel this mission, ValleyArts seeks to attract, serve, and support artists and creative organizations to work and live in the Valley Arts District. ValleyArts is closely allied with HANDS, Inc., a nonprofit organization that combines strategic real estate investment and community organizing to revitalize communities.

ValleyArts is funded in part by JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Kresge Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, Orange Orphan Society, Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills, Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, and others. The membership roster includes visual and performing artists, creative entrepreneurs, area businesses, audiences, art buyers, and community members. 

About Creative Orange

Creative Orange is a city-wide collaborative effort to further advance Orange through arts, creativity, and innovation. In recognition of Orange's emergence as a significant creative place in the State, Creative Orange was formed last year as one of six sites in the state-wide Creative New Jersey movement. Last March, nearly 100 Orange leaders from the arts, business, religion, education, real estate, government, and civic sectors came together for a two-day, multi-generational retreat to build a shared agenda for the future. More information about the Creative Orange agenda can be found at valleyartsnj.com/creative-orange 

This May in the Valley

valleyartsnj.com   ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery 580 Forest Street, Orange NJ  Direct From Cuba! Exclusive New York Area Exhibition   CHOCO Retazos del Sol (Traces of the Sun) May 9 - June 23, 2013 Artist Reception: Thursday, May 9, 6-9pm  Artist Talk: Saturday, May 11, 3pm Choco, who lives and works in Havana, is one of Cuba's most important artists and is internationally recognized for his collagraphs, ceramics, and oils. Curated by Astrid Martinez-Jones of Latin Art Space, the exhibition will showcase a fabulous mixed-media installation, Yemayá, Goddess of the Sea, first shown at the 2012 Havana Biennial, as well as other three-dimensional works and his coveted collagraphs.    Retazos del Sol is a series of works representative of contemporary Cuban life and culture. Many of Choco's works reflect the magical world of Afro-Cuban religions, as well as the ethnic mix of people, and the racial and economic challenges of daily Cuban life. Choco's art is boldly colorful and his technique gives the images a three-dimensional and stunning textured feel, as if they were in motion.   Refreshments compliments Christine Hyder Events   ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery Hours  Saturdays 10am to 4pm, Sundays 12:30 to 4pm; or by appointment   The exhibition can also be viewed during ValleyArts Drop-in Hours:   Thursdays 2:30 to 4:30pm  ValleyArts Artists' Salon: Writing an effective artist statement Monday, May 13 | 6-8pm | Free | Everyone welcome! Hat City Kitchen, 459 Valley Street, Orange    Do you have a hard time writing about your artwork? We will offer tips on how to write an artist statement that engages your audience and helps them connect with your artwork. Bring your artist statements for critique by your peers... and bring your artist friends! ValleyArts Artists Salon meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at HCK. Free admission plus drink specials and half-price appetizers.   Luna Stage  Moon for the Misbegotten Betrayal. Deception. Lies. A love story. By Eugene O'Neill Directed by Nancy Robillard Final performances! Thursday, May 2, 7:30pm Friday, May 3, 8pm Saturday, May 4, 8pm Sunday, May 5, 3pm 555 Valley Road, West Orange   Josie Hogan is a strong woman, the rock that holds together her family farm. When the fate of the farm is at risk, Josie and her father scheme to trap their landlord into assuring their future on the property. This is a classic story by one of our greatest American playwrights.      Comedy Night | Thursday, May 16, 8pm  Hosted by Monroe Martin III Featuring: Kate Wolff, Josh Wesson, and Menuhin Hart   Moonlight Jazz Series | Sunday, May 19, 7:30pm Greg Bufford    20th Anniversary Gala: A tribute to Jane Mandel Thursday, June 6, 6:30 - 10:30 pm The Club at Orange Lawn, 305 N Ridgewood Rd, South Orange, NJ  Click here to purchase tickets   www.lunastage.org   Hat City Kitchen Presents   459 Valley Street, Orange Live music is a standard at this Valley Arts District landmark featuring American cuisine with a New Orleans influence. Enjoy an eclectic mix of artists playing original music across genres - rock, blues, funk, R&B, soul, &jazz.   Mother's Day Brunch Sunday | May 12, 11am - 3pm Music by the Blue Brush Trio (Jazz) from noon to 3pm  Featuring a Southern Style Brunch Buffet with great homemade breakfast favorites including Fried Chicken and Waffles. It's the perfect destination to show Mom just how great she is in a fun, funky place!  Call 862-252-9147 of email info@hatcitykitchen.com to make your reservation today, as seating is limited.    For band and event listings, visit  www.hatcitykitchen.com Yema Gallery 540B Freeman Street, Orange, NJ Call & Re-Call: An exhibition of artist-made books Curated by Terry Boddie  May 4 - June 15, 2013  Opening Reception: Saturday, May 4 from 7-10pm | Free! Yema Gallery is please to present our second book arts exhibition. This exhibition features the unique perspectives of visual artists that are enticed by the possibilities of creating within the framework of a book and working with the theme of call and response. Exhibiting artists include Shirley Parker Benjamin, Eleta Caldwell, Lebra Turman-Chase, Lauren Dubeau, Mansa Mussa, JC Lenochan, Ibou Ndoye, Shonda Nicholas, Nell Painter, Lynn Presley, Toni Thomas, Gwen Verner-Jarju and Sheltry Ward. The reception will include performances by poet Esther Morales and artist and poet Shonda Nicholas. Catfish Friday Women's Art Collective Meeting and Potluck Dinner Saturday, May 18 I 7pm | Please bring food to share 540B Freeman St., Orange Join this supportive, creative gathering for women artists for inspiration, collaboration and lively conversations about art and life. Info: toni@artsetcnow.org Visit our website!     www.valleyartsnj.com Reach us by email at:    info@valleyartsnj.com Save the Date! Watch your inbox for full details of this day-long cavalcade of music, art, dance, craft, food, and family-friendly fun!    To volunteer, click here!   To apply for an art exhibition & sales booth,click here!  Arts Unbound 544 Freeman Street, Orange, NJ Live Auction and Wine & Cheese Party to benefit Arts Unbound  Sat, May 18, 6 - 9pm  Sneak Previews:  Thurs May 16, 6 - 8pm Fri May 17, 6 - 8pm Items offered include signed artwork by Norman Rockwell, LeRoy Neiman, Marc Chagall, Nina Palumbo, Mary Drylewicz, Ronaldo Byrd and more. Plus, silent auction: Valuable Art Related Items Arts Unbound 544 Freeman Street, Orange, NJ | 973-675-2787/2788www.artsunbound.org   ORNG Ink | Ironworks Community Artspace 406 Tompkins St. Orange Treadbone now on view! Fashion and art by Robyn Modest and Laura Campbell www.orngink.com Call for Artists  Original artwork in all media will be considered for solo and group shows in 2013 including the Orbiting Gallery Series and quarterly installations at Hat City Kitchen, Luna Stage and other spaces, TBA. Rolling deadline. No cost to apply. Click here to download an entry form.  Another Green Chevy  Heidi Sussman Through May 19: Art at Hat City Kitchen Featuring original artwork in a variety of media by ValleyArts and other local artists.  Join ValleyArts! Whether you are an artist, audience member, collector, community builder, or someone who wants a more creative lifestyle, ValleyArts' newly enhanced  membership programhas a variety of benefits!   Click here to join today!   The Valley Arts District is filled with creative spaces for artists, teens, and adults. The 15-square block neighborhood hosts a growing number of exciting events in the performing and visual arts for people of all ages. And the VAD offers plenty of good restaurants, from some of the region's most famous Italian landmarks to the vibrant southern-themed Hat City Kitchen.  ValleyArts Connect  A blog-o-zine featuring interviews, stories & news on all things ValleyArts ValleyArts is a nonprofit arts service and activist organization funded in part by JPMorgan Chase, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and others.

Up Next at the Firehouse Gallery

ARTIST:	Choco (Eduardo Roco Salazar)
EXHIBITION:	Retazos del Sol Traces of the Sun
DATES:	May 9 -June 23, 2013
OPENING:	Artist Reception Thursday, May 9, 6-9pm
ARTIST TALK:	Artist Talk, Saturday, May 11, 3pm
LOCATION:	ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery 580 Forest Street Orange NJ 07050

Orange NJ --World-renowned Afro-Cuban artist, Eduardo Roca (Choco), is coming to the Valley Arts District in New Jersey for the opening of his upcoming art exhibition, Retazos del Sol (Traces of the Sun).  Choco, who lives and works in Havana, is one of Cuba's most important artists and is internationally recognized for his collagraphs, ceramics, and oils. Co-produced by Latin Art Space and ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery, the exhibition will showcase a fabulous mixed-media installation, Yemayá, Goddess of the Sea, first shown at the 2012 Havana Biennial, as well as other three-dimensional works and his coveted collagraphs.  The opening reception on May 9 will be hosted by the Firehouse Gallery in the Valley Arts District.
  
Curated by Astrid Martinez-Jones of Latin Art Space, Retazos del Sol is a series of works representative of contemporary Cuban life and culture. Many of Choco's works reflect the magical world of Afro-Cuban religions, as well as the ethnic mix of people, and the racial and economic challenges of daily Cuban life. Choco's art is boldly colorful and his technique gives the images a 3-dimensional and stunning textured feel, as if they were in motion. This movement is sustained in Choco's interpretation of the figures themselves, as they twist, reach, sway, swim, and gaze. The sharp contrast of colors - at times from the earth, at others from the sea - responds to his particular symbolism and to a very personal lyricism, which establishes an emotional connection with the viewer. He displays a passion for diversity and admiration for societies with a rich mixture of ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds, such as those found in Cuba, the United States, and Brazil. 

As is evident in Choco's work, and particularly in his collagraphs, his various artistic techniques provide an opportunity for a tremendous scope of innovation and experiment.  Collagraphy is a printmaking technique which Choco incorporates in many of his artworks.  In a collagraph, the original image is composed from a variety of materials placed on a plate, then inked and pressed. These materials, often discarded remnants, are recycled by Choco and turned into pulsating images that beckon to be touched.
  
Choco was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1949 and is a graduate of the Escuela Nacional de Arte (National Art School) in Havana. There have been two crucial moments in Choco´s career. The first, when he was recognized as one of the leading figures of the rural movement in painting which was significant in shaping the '70s generation of Cuban artists. The second was his exploration of collagraphy in the '80s and early '90s, an achievement that has awarded him the distinction, master of collagraphy. 

Choco was one of the first Cuban artists invited to the United States to exhibit his work in 1980, after the 1959 Cuban revolution.  He has had numerous solo and group shows in Cuba, Angola, Sweden, the United States, Mexico, Spain, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Tokyo, receiving many accolades and awards. A most important honor for him was winning the Great Prize in the Triennial of Kochi, Japan. Choco's works can be found in many private and public collections, including:  Museo de Bellas Artes, Havana; African Museum of Art, Chicago; Miró Foundation, Spain; Ludwig Foundation, Germany; Kochi Museum, Japan; El Museo de la Estampa, Mexico; and Casa Lamm, Mexico, amongst others.

In his Taller del Sol (Workshop of the Sun) in Old Havana, art collectors, museum curators, and gallery owners come from all over the world to experience the magic of his artwork.  Choco's visit to the New York Metropolitan Area will afford viewers a rare opportunity to experience his work first hand, and to engage in informative conversations with the artist.  

About the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery

ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery is curated and managed by Valley Arts Inc., Richard T. Bryant executive director, Gayle Mahoney, arts advisor. The Firehouse Gallery was opened last December and now offers a regular series of exhibitions that are free and open to the public.  The Gallery is housed in an historic Orange Firehouse that was recently renovated by HANDS, Inc. The Firehouse contains six artist live/work spaces. Adjacent to the Firehouse Gallery is a large private common space that the Gallery and Firehouse residents program.

The ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery is located at 580 Forest Street, Orange NJ 07050. For more information please visit http://www.valleyartsnj.com  

More about ValleyArts Inc. and the Valley Arts District

Located on the border of Orange and West Orange around the Highland Avenue Train Station, the Valley Arts District is a fifteen-square block area dedicated to the arts and creativity. As an arts service and activist organization, the highest priorities of ValleyArts Inc. are to inspire the neighborhood to recognize the arts as essential to community health and vitality; help build up and serve individual artists, arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs; and encourage everyone to participate in arts, culture, and creativity as part of everyday life. To propel this mission, ValleyArts Inc. seeks to attract, serve, and support artists and creative organizations to work and live in the Valley Arts District.  

"A strong creative spirit continues to build here," said Richard T. Bryant, executive director of ValleyArts Inc. "This is a real grassroots effort that involves artists, neighbors, teens, government, community leaders, educators, funders, and many more that see creativity and innovation as an engine of vibrancy and sustainable growth." 

ValleyArts Inc. is closely allied with HANDS, Inc., a nonprofit organization that combines strategic real estate investment and community organizing to revitalize communities. Development of the Valley Arts District has been a cornerstone project of HANDS, Inc. for more than a decade. 

ValleyArts Inc. is a nonprofit organization funded in part by JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Kresge Foundation, PSE&G, Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, Orange Orphan Society, Andy Warhol Foundation, Community Foundation of New Jersey, and others. The membership roster includes visual and performing artists, creative entrepreneurs, area businesses, audiences, art buyers, and community members.

For more information about the exhibition, press photos, or to arrange an interview with the artist please contact Astrid Martinez-Jones at: latinartspace@gmail.com or 973-715-0427.

For more information about the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery and the Valley Arts District, please contact Richard T. Bryant at: richard@fohservices or 973-886-5118. 

Making Orange Pop: Creative Orange

__________________________________________ The Orange   Call to Collaboration is just three weeks away!  Half the spaces are already taken! Don't be caught by the sold out sign! Register now at: creativeorange.eventbright.com No cost to participants, but reservations are required! Meals provided!    _________________________________________________ Creative Orange: Call to Collaboration Friday, March 15 and Saturday March 16, 2013.   Church of the Epiphany 105 Main Street, Orange NJ There is no cost for you to participate. Meals will be provided.      This day-and-a-half Open Space convening will address the question: Making Orange Pop: How can we engage all sectors of the community, embrace change and culture, nurture creativity, and drive innovation? Creative Orange is organized and staffed entirely by volunteers.  Your involvement will help the City of Orange "create the space" for new connections, new ideas, and new opportunities to unfold.    About Creative New Jersey Creative New Jersey is a statewide, non-profit, multi-year program. Creative New Jersey is dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and sustainability by empowering cross-sector partnerships in commerce, education, philanthropy, government, and culture -- all designed to help ensure dynamic communities and a thriving economy.  Creative New Jersey's programming: Stimulates action-oriented conversations at a local level with opportunities for individuals to network with people whom they traditionally do not have the chance to interface;   Stimulates local and statewide cross-sector partnerships and multi-generational collaboration; Enhances the flow of relevant information between sectors, both locally and statewide, through the technology platform and webinar series. Learn more at: creativenj.org    More About Creative Orange Creative Orange: Call to Collaboration will follow the Open Space Technology format originated by Harrison Owen decades ago. The power of this form of meeting comes from the self-organized agenda setting and group discussions by the participants who bring their  passion and responsibility to the table.  This format creates unique opportunities for intentional and action-oriented discussions among diverse groups of people to explore areas of collaboration, and to share resources and information. It unleashes the leadership of every participant who is passionate about the issue at hand and wants to take action for solution.

Next Exhibition at ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery Opens March 21 with Works by New Jersey Artists Lisa Pressman and Krista Svalbonas

A collaborative exhibition by New Jersey artists Lisa Pressman and Krista Svalbonas opens at the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery, March 21 and runs through April 28. Titled Mapping Time, the exhibition is a site-specific installation that transforms the walls of the Firehouse Gallery into a visual dialogue of architecture, language, and temporality. Featured are two-dimensional mixed media works and integrated wall drawings.

Opening on Thursday, March 21 at 6pm with a public reception at which the artists will be present, this is the third exhibition in the Firehouse Gallery -- New Jersey's newest art gallery and anchor of the Valley Arts District of Orange and West Orange. The first two Firehouse Gallery exhibitions also featured New Jersey artists, Dan Fenelon and Jennifer Levine.

The Mapping Time exhibition will run through April 28 with the gallery open Saturdays 10am-4pm; Sundays 12:30-4pm; or by appointment. The exhibition can also be seen during ValleyArts drop-in hours Thursdays from 2:30-4:30pm.

Both Pressman and Svalbonas have exhibited their work throughout the United States. Lisa Pressman describes her work as a type of visual language. "I focus on fragments in my work, just as our culture is fragmented and disconnected, but my worldview is one of interconnection. I try to reveal elements that many people have lost sight of, elements that communicate to a place deeper than words."

"Krista Svalbonas refers to her work as a reflection of the urban landscape, which she states, "can be described as hard and opaque with spaces that are ill-defined, neither deep nor wide, offering a psychological sense of control and homogeny. I explore these ill-defined spaces, the desert physiography, and the homogenous infrastructure of humanity."


About the Artists

Lisa Pressman's 2013 exhibitions include Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic at the Cape Cod Museum of Art and at theFine Art Museum at Western Carolina State, Cullowhee,NC. Recent group exhibitions include The Amy Simon Gallery, Westport Connecticut and The Rye Art Center, Rye, New York. She has a solo show planned at The Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA in 2013. Along with the Rosenfeld Gallery, Lisa is represented by the Susan Calloway Gallery, Washington, DC and the Allyn Gallup Gallery in Sarasota, Florida. She teaches locally and nationally classes in painting and encaustic and is an adjunct professor at the Art Institute of New York.

Krista Svalbonas is a professor in the Design program at the Art Institute of New York. She has been the recipient of a Cooper Union Artist residency and was recently awarded a New Arts Program residency and solo exhibition. Her work has been shown throughout the United States and in Europe. Krista recently completed a solo show, Towards a Phenomenology of Space at AFA Gallery in Scranton, PA and will have a solo exhibition at the Dairy Center for the Arts this fall in Boulder, Colorado.

Additional information about Lisa Pressman and Krista Svalbonas can be found at http://www.lisapressman.net and http://www.kristasvalbonas.net

About the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery

ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery is curated and managed by Valley Arts Inc., Richard T. Bryant executive director, Gayle Mahoney, arts advisor. The Firehouse Gallery was opened last December and now offers a regular series of exhibitions that are free and open to the public. The Gallery is housed in an historic Orange Firehouse that was recently renovated by Hands, Inc. The Firehouse contains six artist live/work spaces. Adjacent to the Firehouse Gallery is a large private common space that the Gallery and Firehouse residents program.

The ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery is located at 580 Forest Street, Orange NJ 07050 For more information please visit http://www.valleyartsnj.com

More about ValleyArts Inc. and the Valley Arts District

Located on the border of Orange and West Orange around the Highland Avenue Train Station, the Valley Art District is a fifteen-square block area dedicated to the arts and creativity. As an arts service and activist organization, the highest priorities of ValleyArts Inc. are to inspire the neighborhood to recognize the arts as essential to community health and vitality; help build up and serve individual artists, arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs; and encourage everyone to participate in arts, culture, and creativity as part of everyday life. To propel this mission, ValleyArts Inc. seeks to attract, serve, and support artists and creative organizations to work and live in the Valley Arts District.

"A strong creative spirit continues to build here," said Richard T. Bryant, executive director of ValleyArts Inc. "This is a real grassroots effort that involves artists, neighbors, teens, government, community leaders, educators, funders, and many more that see creativity and innovation as an engine of vibrancy and sustainable growth."

ValleyArts Inc. is closely allied with HANDS, Inc., a nonprofit organization that combines strategic real estate investment and community organizing to revitalize communities. Development of the Valley Arts District has been a cornerstone project of HANDS, Inc. for more than a decade.

ValleyArts Inc. is a nonprofit organization funded in part by JPMorgan Chase Foundation , Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, PSE&G, Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, Orange Orphan Society, Andy Warhol Foundation, Community Foundation of New Jersey, and others. The membership roster includes visual and performing artists, creative entrepreneurs, area businesses, audiences, art buyers, and community members.