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 

Call & Re-Call, An Exhibit of Artist Made Books

Yema Gallery is please to present our 2nd book arts exhibition entitled Call and Re-Call. 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 opening reception will be held Saturday, May 4 from 7– 10 PM and will include performances by poet Esther Morales and artist and poet Shonda Nicholas.

Curator’s Statement

This exhibition brings together the work of 14 artists who have responded to the challenge of making a book that individually expresses the theme of call and recall. A creative expression is sometimes not complete in its first attempt. There is a continual process of contemplation and action that guides the artist towards the point of completion. The process adds complexity and depth to the work and it is not unlike the process from which the show’s title was derived. The tradition of call and response is rooted in African cultural traditions, but can also be found in many cultures outside of the African continent. Often when something is stated there awaits a response that can add richness to what has been said. This is evident in musical forms such as jazz, gospel, blues, and hip-hop. It is a collaborative process. To some extent this show, which is made up of artists from different backgrounds demonstrates the universality of creative expression. Although the artists in this show work individually the exchange is in the collective display of their images within the context of the theme in a book form. Their individual cumulative creative actions and re-actions displayed will undoubtedly evoke an apposite action/re-action from the viewer.

Terry Boddie

Terry Boddie is a multi-media visual artist and photographer. His work is included in many public and private collections. He is the recipient of several awards and grants including a residency with the Center for Book Arts, NYC, and grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and The George and Helen Segal Foundation. Yema Gallery is located at 540B Freeman St., (between Scotland Rd and Jefferson St.) in Orange, NJ 07050. Gallery Hours are Thursday - Friday 4-6PM, Saturday from 1-5PM & by appt. For information call: 973-699-3269.

This exhibition is free and open to the public.

April 1st New Moon Reading at Luna Stage

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.

Firehouse Gallery Comes Alive with Art by Jennifer Levine

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Ally Blumenfeld

Earlier this month, ValleyArts Connect blogger Brandon Monokian chatted with artist Jennifer Levine as she prepared to open her new exhibition at the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery. Check it out here. 

On Thursday, January 17th, Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood was welcomed into the ValleyArts neighborhood with an upbeat and delightful opening reception hosted by Richard Bryant and Gayle Mahoney of ValleyArts Inc. The artist herself and collaborator Scott Massarsky were both present at the reception, giving gallery-goers the unique chance to ask questions and chat about the art before them. And there was certainly a lot to chat about! From the large, textured, almost collage-like paintings on wood panels to the small and colorful repurposed wine bottles, every piece in the gallery could hold the viewer captive, intriguing and nearly begging him or her to learn the story that each piece contained. 

With upwards of forty pieces within the main gallery space and the adjoining hallway, there were many stories to be told. In the art of Painting the Neighborhood Levine has created entire worlds for the viewer to explore. Even more exciting, however, was the world into which Levine allowed viewers a special sneak-peek: hers.  “Painting a Song” – a fifteen-minute film created by Levine and Massarsky – was shown about halfway into the night, a choice which added tremendously to the gallery experience. 

Christine Bennett (right) and Nicole Boscarino (Left)
at the opening of Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood

During the video, musician Massarsky plays his guitar while Levine uses his music to generate images and feelings which she almost effortlessly conveys on her canvas. Christine Bennett and Nicole Boscarino, two Montclair State University students present at the opening, remarked that watching “Painting a Song” allowed them to better understand Levine's art and encouraged them to look at the work in a new light. Indeed, curious eyes wandered back to the paintings and tableaus after the film was over, re-engaging themselves after seeing the histories behind the stories.

It was an inspiring night at the Firehouse Gallery, which itself served as a perfect backdrop to Levine's colorful and thoughtful work. Her art appears to exist at the intersection of purposelessness and purpose, as seemingly haphazard brush strokes form a narrative. Amongst all this is then the idea of repurposing, as Levine repurposes defunct side tables and French doors just as well as she repurposes music to create visually stunning and complex art. For more, keep up with Jennifer Levine at http://jlevinestudio.com. For more on “Painting a Song” click here, and to see the actual short film click here.

Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood runs now until February 24th at the Firehouse Gallery, located at 580 Forest Street, Orange NJ (free admission). Gallery hours are from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays, 12:30pm to 4pm on Sundays, and by appointment.  

Ally Blumenfeld is a working writer, dramaturg, and photographer based in Montclair, NJ. Two of her original one-act plays have been produced Off-Off-Broadway. She is currently the Gallery Coordinator for the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery. Follow her on Twitter at @allyblume.

ValleyArts District Provides New Opportunities for Performing and Visual Artists

Companies Sought to Perform at Luna Stage; Planning also Underway for Visual Arts Co-ops and Shared Spaces

ValleyArts Inc, the arts service and activist organization of the ValleyArts District, seeks to expand opportunities for both the performing and visual arts by helping Luna Stage find new companies to perform there, and by creating artistic co-ops, shared studio spaces, and shared gallery/retail spaces.

The ValleyArts District is a 15-square block area located in Orange and West Orange NJ surrounding the Highland Avenue Train Station. The District is easily accessible by car or rail from all points in New Jersey and NYC.

Most of the ValleyArts District's creative programs and activities are housed in 46 arts spaces that have already been built through the arts-driven economic development initiatives of HANDS Inc -- the non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Orange for the past 27 years.

HANDS Inc expects to reach its goal of building 100 arts spaces in the ValleyArts District within the next few years. All are designed to be permanently affordable, thereby avoiding the all-too-frequent pattern of artists being driven out of the very neighborhoods whose values have risen because of the presence of a creative community there.  

Shared Performance Spaces are Available in the ValleyArts District Now

For performing arts companies, the opportunity now exists to perform on an ongoing basis at Luna Stage, utilizing the company's 99-seat theater, 50-seat black box theater, and/or the rehearsal hall. Performing arts companies are sought beginning in 2013 on a long or short-term basis for schedules that complement the regular Luna Stage season.

Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Jane Mandel, Luna Stage moved to the ValleyArts District in 2010 after 18 years in Montclair. In the past year celebrated performers at Luna Stage have included Frankie Faison, Suzzanne Douglas, and Andre Braugher. Luna Stage is located at 555 Valley Road, West Orange NJ. 07050.

An Expression of Interest survey for performing arts companies wishing to utilize the spaces at Luna Stage can be found at valleyartsnj.com/for-artists/livework-options/

All inquiries will be answered. Expressions of Interest are non-binding. Companies interested in two or more weeks per season will be invited to enter a formal proposal process.

Shared Visual Arts Co-ops and Studios will be Available in the ValleyArts District Soon

For visual artists, ValleyArts Inc is now inviting expressions of interest from artists who would like to work with the District on its efforts to create artist co-ops, shared studio spaces, and shared retail gallery spaces.

Two new buildings currently under construction by HANDS are expected to come online in the next six to nine months. These include the Kelli J. Copeland Artist Lofts at the corner of Freeman and Jefferson Streets, and The Powerhouse, on Nassau Street.

These renovated buildings will have spaces suitable for the creation of spacious arts co-ops and shared studio workspaces. Initial plans call for ValleyArts to play an enabling role to develop, organize, equip, coordinate, and market the co-ops. 

ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery
photo by Ally Blumenfeld

Research recently conducted for ValleyArts by Seton Hall University indicates interest in the development of co-ops in numerous visual arts disciplines.

ValleyArts is now organizing groups of artists to help plan affordable arts co-ops in four arts disciplines that have evoked strong early interest. These include painting, printmaking, digital media, and jewelry making.

The development of arts co-ops in other arts disciplines will also be considered based on responses to our online survey of artist needs and interests. Please visit valleyartsnj.com/for-artists/livework-options/ to complete the survey.

Cost to participate in one of the new arts co-ops (including access to shared studio space) is expected to be less than $200 per month. In addition, ValleyArts will make available to co-op members business professional development training and consultation through Rising Tide Capital and other arts business consultants. Master Classes by artistic disciplines are also being planned.

The ValleyArts District is already home to Luna Stage Theatre Company, Arts Unbound, the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery, YEMA Gallery, Oualie Gallery, Garden State Urban Farms, ORNG Ink Teen Arts Center, Hat City Kitchen Presents, and more than 25 visual artists who live and/or work in the neighborhood. The District also shares strong ties with the Orange Board of Education and hosts a variety of education programs both in and outside the public schools.  

For more information on the ValleyArts District, please visit www.valleyartsnj.com

Any questions you may have can be directed to:

Richard T. Bryant

Executive Director

ValleyArts Inc. 

862.252.7035

richard@fohservices.com

PHOTOS: Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood opening

Enjoy these fun photos from the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery 

opening of Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood.

All photographs taken by Ally Blumenfeld and Brandon Monokian. All art by Jennifer Levine. 

Painting the Neighborhood (and a Song) with Jennifer Levine

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Brandon Monokian

Art by Jennifer Levine

Opening this Thursday, January 17 at the Firehouse Gallery is new exhibition Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood. I got a chance to chat for a bit with the artist herself, the wonderfully talented and sweet as can be Jennifer Levine in her home studio. 

Levine is a woman of many talents; a performer, musician, and puppeteer to name a few, so it’s no surprise that when she creates visual art she explores different textures and materials in a style called “mixed media.” Her mixed media technique finds her using a combination of acrylic paints, oil sticks, and collage eliminates such as newspaper and xerox photos. “I use a lot of stamps and different glazes to get different textures which makes it more collage like,” says Levine of her process. “I think from the very beginning i liked the aesthetic of collage.” She went on to say “I didn’t have any formal painting training so it just seemed natural to use what was around. I like the aesthetic.” That aesthetic has helped to create her signature artistic look, presenting people and places in a vibrant and whimsical way.

Paintings are not the only thing you will see at Thursday’s opening of Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood. A short 15 minute film Painting a Song she made with musician and artist Scott Massarsky will also be presented. Painting a Song captures the creative and collaborative process of Levine and Massarsky, as he plays music which inspires her painting. “I was listening to his cd’s a lot,” said Levine of her painting process, when one day she decided to ask him “Why don’t you just come over and play while I paint?” The end results of which you can see by watching Painting a Song below... just a fair warning, prepare to be amazed! 

Click here for to watch Painting a Song

Life will not be slowing down anytime soon for Levine. After her show at the Firehouse Gallery (which will run through February 24), Massarsky and Levine will team up again for a show at The Art Garage in Montclair featuring art inspired by Massarsky’s musical reaction to two films about the Holocaust. After The Art Garage, Levine’s work will provide the visual landscape for a new book about a transgender child. It will be an educational piece used in the New York City school system to educate about gender identity.

To keep up with busy and talented Jennifer Levine and her projects, please visit http://jlevinestudio.com/ Jennifer Levine: Painting the Neighborhood  opens January 17, 6-9PM (free admission) and runs through  February 24 on Saturdays 10am-4pm, Sundays 12:30-4pm; or by appointment. The Firehouse Gallery is located at 580 Forest Street, Orange NJ 07050

Jennifer Levine's studio

Brandon Monokian is currently featured in the Page to Stage documentary produced by the Princeton Public Library as well as their TEDx series as a guest speaker. Up next his play Grimm Women which recently played Off-Off-Broadway will be playing in Philadelphia. For more info: www.facebook.com/brandonmonokian or twitter @brandonmonokian

Luna Stage & New Plays: An Interview with Cheryl Katz

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Amanda Guzman

Luna Stage is a gorgeous theater located in West Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Jane Mandel, Luna Stage was located in Montclair until 2009, when they relocated to their current home in West Orange, New Jersey. It is now an important part of the ValleyArts District.

Luna's mission is to produce thought-provoking theatre that illuminates the diverse perspectives in our society.  Although they also produce revivals of classic and contemporary plays that speak to our times, they have always placed a great emphasis on new play development and have produced the world premieres of many works by emerging playwrights. Luna is committed to partnering with artists of all disciplines, businesses, and organizations within their community that embrace the notion that the arts can be a powerful tool for revitalization and transformation.

I first encountered Luna Stage as a Dramaturgy intern under Cheryl Katz (Associate Artistic Director/ Director of Play Development) in Fall 2011 of my Junior year at Montclair State University. At Luna, Cheryl Katz has contributed to the development of over 50 new works for the stage as well as several world premieres. As a Dramaturgy intern at Luna, one of my daily responsibilities was to organize the play submissions sent in from emerging playwrights across New Jersey.

I got a chance to speak with Cheryl Katz a little more about the process of selecting from these submissions.

 AG: I understand that Luna accepts submissions from emerging American playwrights. How should playwrights submit their work? What information should they include? 

CK: We accept open submissions from all playwrights who make their home in New Jersey.  Those writers should submit a hard copy of a cover letter, a synopsis, a resume, and the first 20 pages of their play.  For playwrights who either have an agent or an MFA in playwriting, or who can provide a letter of recommendation from a professional theatre, we accept a full script submissions.  Detailed submission guidelines can be found at:

http://www.lunastage.org/index.php/connect/submit-your-scripts/

We also do readings of new plays the first Monday of every month (Oct.-May).  The playwrights are always present at these readings and each reading is followed by a talkback with the playwright. Even just attending a reading and participating in the discussion is a great way for young playwrights to get involved at Luna.

AG: What is the play selection process like? Who is the first to read the submissions and where do they go from there? 

CK: I have a group of volunteers who help me review our script submissions.  Many of these volunteers are playwrights themselves, some are actors, some retired teachers, etc..  If a script has come to me with a particular recommendation, I might review it myself first, but usually, volunteer script readers are the first to review submissions. They return the scripts to me with their recommendations.  Then, I will review each script myself. If I have an interest in the writer or the play, I will ask other members of the Luna staff to read the play. I think it's very important to have many eyes on a script and to hear different reactions when assessing whether or not a play is right for Luna. 

AG: How long does it usually take for submissions to be officially chosen for a production? 

CK: It depends on many things.  It depends on what phase of development the play is in when it comes to us, what else we are considering for a season, etc...  Sometimes, we read a play and think it's ready for production and we put in right up the next season.  But more often, the play will go through some development process at Luna, involving readings and workshops. We commissioned our first play a couple of years ago and I am interested in doing more of that.

AG: What do you look for when selecting a play? (which elements of the play, ideas, deciding factors) 

At Luna Stage, we are committed to nurturing excellence in playwriting, in all phases of development. We are interested in works by diverse voices that have clearly been written for the stage, as opposed to other mediums. We look for well-told stories, in all shapes and configurations. We are attracted to writing that has a depth and a texture in its language and characters, and/or a novel use of structure. We produce material of all genres, but look for work that transcends its immediate story to resonate with audiences on many levels.

AG: Why do you feel it is important that Luna is open to receiving and producing new work? 

Well, I think theatre, like any art form, has to be responsive, and at its best, can be an incredible catalyst for introspection and understanding. So, while I think it is important to revisit timeless works and to discover how the meaning and implication of those works changes over time, I also think it is imperative to hear new voices, living in our time, and writing for our time.

AG: What can we keep an eye out for coming up at Luna Stage? 

In February, we'll be producing the world premiere of a new play entitled Carnaval by Obie-Award winning playwright Nikkole Salter.  The play is about three young African-American men who take a trip to Rio De Janeiro for a taste of the good life: sun, fun and, of course, women paid to serve. But what starts out as a joyride takes an unexpected turn and the three sex tourists find themselves in a situation that will change their friendships and their lives forever. This play was read in Luna's New Moon Reading series in June of 2011.  For tickets and more information, go to http://www.lunastage.org/index.php/whats-playing/2012-2013-season/carnaval/

Amanda Guzman is currently appearing in the Off-Off-Broadway production of Grimm Women. Her film debut Concussion will be playing the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Miss Guzman is also a featured actress in the upcoming Page to Stage documentary produced by the Princeton Public Library.

Local talent makes for an intimate evening at Hat City Kitchen

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Ally Blumenfeld

Father and Son duo Bobby & Cam Cole
Photo credit Ally Blumenfeld

In a room lit by candles and stage lights, filled with tables and chairs pivoted toward a stage and the sounds of a bar muffled by guitar chords, musicians and patrons alike sit among guitar cases and pints of beer to watch an eager and diverse group of artists do what they love.  It's a far cry from the $100  seats in the nosebleed section of a packed and painfully loud arena.  The lyrics of popular artists today are also a far cry from the meaningful, socially aware, highly personal, and relatable words of the musicians at the All-Acoustic Open Mic at Orange's Hat City Kitchen.

Every other Tuesday, Hat City Kitchen hosts their All-Acoustic Open Mic.  I have to admit: I walked into the restaurant with just the slightest tinge of hesitancy.  I had never attended an open mic before, and my only reference points were formed by the popular characterizations: screechy voices, out-of-tune guitars, and bad 80s covers.  I was not expecting the songs to be so personal, the artists to be so passionate, nor the night to feel so intimate.  It was quite magical to watch ordinary people become transcendent with just a guitar and stage lights.  Set lists included songs both new and old: a feeling of nostalgia swept in as the audience was treated to Joni Mitchell and David Crosby, and the sense of community in the room was strengthened by the original words and stories-through-song of musicians such as KO and Rostafa.

Host Michael Reitman with sigh-up sheet
Photo credit Ally Blumenfeld

Hat City Kitchen has been holding open mics for the past three years, but it wasn't until late 2011 when  blues musician and host Michael Reitman came on board that there was a night just for acoustic aficionados.  I had the chance to chat with him about halfway through the night, when I learned about the history of and mechanics behind HCK's All-Acoustic.  About 30 minutes after a 7pm sign-up, Reitman himself takes the stage to get early audiences ready for a long night of guitars and harmonicas – the last act typically closing down around 11 or 11:30pm.  Each act is allowed three songs or fifteen minutes, “just like every other open mic in the world,” according to Reitman.

Yet this open mic was anything but run-of-the-mill.  Whether it was the talent, the atmosphere, the venue, or perhaps all three combined, there was definitely something special about HCK's All-Acoustic.  In the audience were community members, family, friends, and strangers alike, yet the common thread was clear: we were all there to support real music and true music-makers.  The intimacy of the space made it feel like I was in someone's living room, watching a relative perform just for me.  For lyrics that give this community a voice, and for a sense of community unparalleled by most other music venues, Hat City Kitchen's open-mics are a must for any music lover.

After a stirring cover of Mumford & Sons' Little Lion Man in which some profanity was thoughtfully edited out, the singer quipped, “This is a family joint!”

Family joint indeed.

All-Acoustic Open Mic: every other Tuesday at Hat City Kitchen, 459 Valley Street, Orange, NJ.  Check out hatcitykitchen.com to find upcoming open-mics and other events happening every week.

Musician KO
Photo credit Ally Blumenfeld

Ally Blumenfeld is a working writer, dramaturg, and photographer based in Montclair, NJ. Two of her original one-act plays have been produced Off-Off-Broadway. She is currently the Gallery Coordinator for the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery. Follow her on Twitter at @allyblume.

The Firehouse Galley Opens, Features Art of Dan Fenelon

                                        Posted on November 25th, 2012 by Ally Blumenfeld

The Art of Dan Fenelon, photo credit Ally Blumenfeld

Inside the new Firehouse Gallery and Artist Lofts, very few vestiges of the 1905 Forest Street Firehouse remain.  In fact, it is quite hard to imagine that the building was once populated with firemen, fire trucks, and an ever-present sense of urgency.  Now, it is mostly quiet inside the walls of the gallery, but it is certainly not without energy.

On Friday night the firehouse was transformed yet again, this time into the world of artist Dan Fenelon.  'The Art of Dan Fenelon' opened to an impressed and excited crowd who had the pleasure of mingling with Richard T. Bryant and Patrick Morrissy, executive directors of ValleyArts and H.A.N.D.S. respectively, and Fenelon himself.  The hardwood floors, exposed brick, and freshly painted white walls were the perfect canvas for Fenelon's colorful and intriguing work.  It wasn't your typical four-wall gallery, however, as artwork hung not only on the walls but on stands, from poles, and from the rails of the large white garage door – perhaps the only clue to the previous career of this beautifully renovated building. 

Many of Fenelon's pieces were, much like the gallery that housed it, repurposed.  There were tables, shelves, hangers, a wheel, a television, a bass, and a toy truck – all now art.  One of Fenelon's many talents seems to be turning the ordinary into the extraordinary: taking a “non-art” item, and by using color and imagination, transforming it into something creative.  It became clear that this exhibit mirrors the vision of at-the-helm organizations ValleyArts and H.A.N.D.S. in its insistence on finding art in new places, and creating where others may not see space for creation. 

The Art of Dan Fenelon,
photo credit Ally Blumenfeld

This is exactly what is happening in the ValleyArts District. About halfway through the opening, Bryant, Morrissy, and Fenelon spoke to a captive audience of community members, friends, art aficionados, and supporters.  Morrisy explained that their vision for bringing art to the Valley is not “chardonnay and expensive paintings” – it's about creating: creating an arts district, creating a strong community, and most importantly, creating opportunities for expression for those whose voices are not always heard.  So far in the Valley, thirty-nine artist spaces have been built and occupied, seven are just opening (including the Firehouse), and fifteen are currently under construction.  Their wish is to build 100 spaces where local artists can live, work, share, and create with the community of Orange.  As an artist, Fenelon is also a part of this creation.  He often includes community members – mainly those who are not artists – in the creation of his public projects and murals.  He has said that it is important for locals to have a chance to take ownership in his work, which is an ideal way to truly bring arts into the Orange community. 

'The Art of Dan Fenelon' is the perfect exhibit to open the new Firehouse Gallery because, like Fenelon's incredible art itself, the ValleyArts District consists of old spaces becoming new, the archaic becoming the accessible, and the “non-art” becoming art.  Just as a blank canvas emblazoned with Fenelon's signature designs becomes a piece of artwork, so too does a previously abandoned firehouse, with a black and white mural signed by Dan Fenelon on the facade, become a place for art.

Outside the ValleyArts Firehouse, photo credit Ally Blumenfeld

'The Art of Dan Fenelon' is not to be missed.  Open through Sunday, January 6 at the Firehouse Gallery and Artist Lofts, 580 Forest Street, Orange NJ 07050.

Ally Blumenfeld is a working writer, dramaturg, and photographer based in Montclair, NJ. Two of her original one-act plays have been produced Off-Off-Broadway. She is currently the Gallery Coordinator for the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery. Follow her on Twitter at @allyblume.

'The Art of Dan Fenelon' to mark inaugural exhibit for Firehouse Gallery: An Interview with Dan Fenelon

Posted on November 13th, 2012 by Ally Blumenfeld

Dan Fenelon- photo credit: Ellen Denuto

This Friday, a re-purposed firehouse in Orange, NJ will begin its career as a gallery and artist loft.  I had the pleasure of talking with Dan Fenelon, the renowned artist whose work will be featured in the inaugural exhibit at the new ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery. 

Fenelon's art will catch your eye, and you won't be able to look away.  At first glance, it's tribal art.  Then, wait – is that Krusty the Clown?  From murals to installation art, each piece seems to come from the same explosive, vibrant, cartoon world where colors never clash and where lines and patterns serve not as restraints but as layers.  Endlessly exciting and always thoughtful, Fenelon's work has seen both coasts, been exhibited at numerous galleries in his home state of New Jersey, and been displayed at museums, in libraries, and on the sides of buildings. Fenelon was recently commissioned to design the Peace Mural to welcome the Dalai Lama to the 2011 Newark Peace Summit, and this winter the eyes of the nation will be on his artwork, as he was chosen by Governor Chris Christie to design the Christmas ornaments for New Jersey's Christmas Tree at the National Christmas Tree Display on the White House Lawn. 

I got to chat with Fenelon, where he shared a bit about his experience working within communities to create public murals, his relationship to the ValleyArts District, and why art programs and organizations are vital to an artist's success.

AB: First, I'd like to ask you about your artwork in general.  I'm sure you get these kinds of questions a lot, so I'll simply ask: what do you want people to know about your art?

DF: I have a lot of influences in my work.  Some are serious and others are playful and fun.  I do appreciate humor and satire.  I am fascinated with the spiritual and the tribal aspect of man and the psychology of modernism.

AB: What do you strive for your art to accomplish in the communities in which you work?

DF: I know that my work comes from a core style and from that I am trying to branch out and challenge myself to keep it interesting and vibrant.  A lot of the public projects I have been doing involve other people getting their hands into it.  Most of the time they are not artists, but I have found a way to adapt my style to be accessible to their skill sets.  This has been very rewarding to me and everyone involved.  I want them to have ownership in the work, especially because it will be seen in their own community.

AB: What do you feel is the significance of artists making a name for themselves locally?  How has this benefited you as an artist?

DF: I like being involved in my local community and the support I get in New Jersey is overwhelming.  I feel honored to be chosen for so many great projects around the state.  I think that for different artists there are different approaches to take and it has been my fortune to make my name locally.

AB: Your show is the inaugural event at the Firehouse Gallery in Orange.  Could you tell us a bit about the space?  How did you adapt your work to the space?

DF: Richard Bryant approached me about the show and I was already involved in creating an installation called Insta-Freaking-Lation for Gallery Paquette in Boonton.  Now I will repurpose the work to fit in the Firehouse Gallery.  There is one spot in particular that caught my eye and will work as a centerpiece for the exhibit.  One large archway that is sealed with plywood will be the place for a sight specific piece.  That's all I am telling you!

AB: Why are you excited to bring your work to the ValleyArts District?  What was it like to work with ValleyArts in the past?

DF: Valley Arts was the first place to grant me a public mural.  I have been able to turn that opportunity into over 20 murals throughout NJ and elsewhere.  Every project I have worked on for ValleyArts and H.A.N.D.S. has been a delightful experience.  One of my favorite parts its the thanks I get from local people as they pass by to admire the work.

AB: What do you feel is important about an organization like ValleyArts?

DF: Without these think tanks for creativity the world would be a dreary place.  Artists need to be around other artists in order to grow.  We all need our communities and organizations so society can flourish.  During WWII When Winston Churchill was told that parliament was cutting art programs he responded by saying, “Good God, man, what do you think are we fighting for?”

'The Art of Dan Fenelon' can be seen at the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery November 16^th-30^th, located at 580 Forest Street in Orange, NJ.  Free admission.

Ally Blumenfeld is a working writer, dramaturg, and photographer based in Montclair, NJ. Two of her original one-act plays have been produced Off-Off-Broadway. She is currently the Gallery Coordinator for the ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery. Follow her on Twitter at @allyblume.