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Bayonne First Annual Arts and Music Festival June 14, 2013 from River View Observer on Vimeo.

The First Annual Bayonne Arts and Music Festival was held on Friday, June 14th, 2013.
Over a thousand plus people came out to view the Art Exhibits at the Bayonne Museum.
There were also Outdoor Art Demonstrations, Live music and outdoor dining by participating restaurants from the area.
The Bayonne Arts and Music Festival was presented in conjunction with
Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith, the Bayonne City Council and the Bayonne Arts Circle
This is a River View Observer Video

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By Sally Deering

A year ago, artist Fermin Mendoza of West New York decided he would paint a portrait every day of people he reached out to in person and on the Internet. Taking their pictures or having them email their pics, Mendoza used the photos as the basis for a series of portraits – 183 to be exact – in the project he calls “artists/models/others” opening this week at LITM Bar, Restaurant, Art & Video Gallery on Newark Avenue in Jersey City.

“I started the ‘artists/models/others†project in January of 2012 and I originally planned on meeting one person and then painting their portrait for each day of the year,” Mendoza says.

“It turned out 2012 was a leap year so that meant the magic number was 366. Well, somehow life got in the way and I was only able to complete 183, exactly half.”

Mendoza completed one painting every 48 hours and many artists he knows personally are represented in the show like Peter. S. Bill of Jersey City and Greg Stone of Ridgefield Park. Thereâ€s even a portrait of me, Sally Deering – yes, thatâ€s me – painted from a photograph he took after we shared coffee and conversation at Dunkin†Donuts.  People he met on Linkedin.com and other social media websites were also invited to participate.

“Some of those people that will be at the opening, I’ll be meeting in person for the first time,” Mendoza says.

 IF YOU GO:

Through June 30th

Fermin Mendozaâ€s Solo Show: “Artists/Models/Others”

LITM – Bar, Restaurant, Art & Video Gallery

140 Newark Ave

Jersey City

(201) 536-5557

www.litm.com

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   By Sally Deering

 Tucked inside the downtown Jersey City community on Coles Street is a rather plain looking storefront that when you step inside makes you feel like Dorothy landing in Munchkinland in “The Wizard of Oz.”  

 Welcome to the Grassroots Community Space, an intimate one-room studio rental where dancers, actors, drummers and other artists teach classes and put on performances. Warm and welcoming, the Grassroots Community Space has a vibe that seems to say “letâ€s have fun and create something” and it serve an even greater purpose as a small business incubator for local artists to try their hand at teaching their craft. Some groups, who have rented the Grassroots Community Space to teach classes have gone on to start their own business in their own space.

 Jersey City is home to many professional artists, actors, singers, dancers, writers and poets from all over the world, but performance space is limited – and pricey. In 2008, with a couple of partners, Chelo Mercado of Jersey City saw the need for a community space where local artists could teach and perform. The trio decided to fill the gap and open Grassroots Community Space for artists to share their artistry.

 Seven days a week, Grassroots Community Space bustles with activity.  Bollywood Funk classes on Thursdays; Hula Hoop fitness and Egyptian Belly dance Classes on Mondays; Musical Theater, Guitar, Hatha Yoga, Tap Dance, Baby Music/Movement, Sign Language, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Drumming, Zumba, Salsa, and Song and Dance classes are held throughout the week with new classes forming all the time. There are special events, too, like the Saturday night Drum Circles, art shows and performances that keep the space humming while  Mercado and his wife Sirena Mari Mercado keep it growing.

 Recently, Chelo Mercado took time out of his busy schedule to share with Riverview Observer his thoughts on the importance of creating performance space for artists and how Grassroots Community Space sprouted from that need.  

 RVO: Chelo Mercado, how did you become founder and CEO of Grassroots Community Space?

CM: When I moved to Jersey City, I discovered the Jersey City art scene and I wanted to help the talent here, people who didnâ€t have the resources to make their art a viable way of making a living, I decided to get involved. I saw a void and I wanted to help fill that void and create a space that was open to and interested in developing this city artistically. So in December of 2008, I opened Grassroots Community Space with two other partners. The following April we had our first customer, a Brazilian martial arts group. Fortunately they opened up their own studio about two years after they were with me.

 RVO: How did it actually come about?

CM: A friend of mine Lex Leonard had a gallery here, the Lex Leonard Gallery, and he would periodically rent the space to artists. They would paint and do various things of that nature. Along with a local entrepreneur friend of ours, Lex and I discussed getting a location and continuing to support the art scene and making space available for artists. From there we found a space. In the beginning it was the Grassroots Community Café, but there were too many cafes in Jersey City.

 RVO: What is the mission of the space?

CM: Grassroots Community Space is an organic movement thatâ€s paying attention to the needs of its surrounding community. We are a small business incubator. Any entrepreneur who has gotten certified in a discipline can approach us with a small business idea and get started with us. Weâ€ll give them the support to start their business. Some classes have been with me almost since the beginning like Belly dance, Zumba, Hula-hoop fitness. What we offer is space, our community, and the network weâ€ve built over the years. And through Sirelo Entertainment , the company my wife and I own, we offer a lot of events where these disciplines can be put on display and promoted, giving them more opportunity to grow.  Weâ€ve helped about 30 small businesses. Some have come and gone, some have been able to open up their own space.

 RVO: What are the most interesting classes at Grassroots Community Space?

CM: We have many multi-cultural classes like Bollywood Funk, Afro-Caribbean  and Egyptian Belly dance. At the end of the day, we are all welcoming if you will. We have a diverse schedule. We are all encompassing as long as all of the groups are all-inviting.

 RVO: Letâ€s talk about drumming, is that something you teach?

CM: We have a monthly drum circle at Grassroots called Community Rhythm. Weâ€re into drumming and percussion, Thatâ€s been my induction to the arts.

 RVO: How much does it cost to rent the space?

CM: Our rates are competitive with other non-profit spaces in Jersey City.

 RVO: Can you offer advice to others who may want to open their own community art space?

CM: Itâ€s not an easy thing. Thereâ€s a lot of backend work, but if youâ€re hungry and open enough to go after your dream it is something that can be achieved. Ask yourself, do I want to open my own space and deal with the costs of leasing the place for a number of years or do I test it somewhere where my only commitment is a month-to-month  hourly basis where you can see if this is something you can and want to do.

 RVO: I imagine you have a pretty big fan base of artists?

CM: Iâ€m very fortunate. They thank me and I thank them back.  I wouldnâ€t be here if it wasnâ€t for their energy. I feel we are creating a community of interest and improving the quality of life. Jersey City is my home. This is the place where I want to live and see the arts survive.

 Grassroots Community Space

54 Coles St

Jersey City

(201) 500-LIVE

www.grassrootscommunityspace.com

www.chelomercado.com

   

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The art exhibit is open to members of the Art Circle of Bayonne. Membership applications for non-members are available on the entry form. There is a $10 entrance fee for this show. Art submissions must be framed, wired, and otherwise ready to hang. The artistâ€s name and title of the artwork must appear on the back of each piece with the provided show label. Eligible media for the show include two-dimensional work for sixty artists. Each participating artist will have one panel to exhibit his or her art. A workable space of 42 by 48 inches will be provided, with no work displayed on the bottom 32 inches of the panel. Each artist will be responsible for hanging his or her own work. Hooks will be provided. Gallery workers will be on hand to assist each artist. All art, including sold pieces, must remain on display for the duration of the show, and signed out on Saturday, June 22.

Details about artwork sales are available on the entry forms. Applications are available from the Recreation Division in Room 13 at City Hall, 630 Avenue C.

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OPEN TO ALL ARTISTS FROM ALL AREAS

            The Art Circle of Bayonne announced that applications are available for artists to exhibit their work April 13 to 19, 2013 at the Bayonne Community Museum.

The April show will display the following types of art: photography, mixed media, oil paintings, acrylics, and watercolors.  Limited space will be available for three-dimensional art. All work submitted must belong to one of the foregoing categories. There will be an entrance fee of $10 per artist, payable to the Art Circle of Bayonne. Participation will be limited to sixty artists. Applications will be available Monday through Friday, except holidays, at the Bayonne Recreation Division, Room 13, at City Hall, 630 Avenue C.  The deadline for applications is Thursday, March 28. Applications will also be available by e-mailing info.artcircle@yahoo.com.

            Participation in the exhibit is open to members of the Art Circle of Bayonne.  It is not necessary to be a Bayonne resident to join the organization.  Membership in the Art Circle is available for $25 per year.  To join the Art Circle, please send an e-mail to info.artcircle@yahoo.com.

            The opening reception for the April art show will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.

This will be the second art show at the museum in 2013.  Other events will be scheduled throughout the year.  Details will be announced.

 

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