By Sally Deering

 Flowers, feathers and frou-frou from Hudsonâ€s finest dollar stores adorned dresses, hats and other fantastical costumes worn by artists and arts-lovers who braved the blustery temps last Saturday to attend Art House Productions†Snow Ball in Jersey City.

Held in the non-profitâ€s black box theater and art gallery on Magnolia Street in Journal Square, the evening gala was the organizationâ€s 10th annual fundraiser for its performing and visual arts programs. The sell-out crowd of artists and supporters didnâ€t disappoint as they danced, schmoozed and celebrated the arts groupâ€s artistic contribution to the Jersey City community. .

To open the evening, singer Giselle, who received help from Art House to create her new single and music video, sang tunes from her repertoire with guitarist Adam Tilzer before Executive Director Christine Goodman took to the stage to address the crowd. 

“Thank you all for coming,” Goodman, who wore a blue wig highlighted with sparkling lights and a long flowing black dress, told the crowd. “We believe in the arts in Jersey City. We were founded to connect the community through art, and as you know, a non-profit is 24/7 every single day of the year. There is so much talent in Jersey City and I would personally like to say Viva the Arts.”

Art House Productions has been a leader in Jersey Cityâ€s art scene and supports artists by helping them launch new works, and it encourages artists in all mediums, like playwrights presenting new plays; visual artists exhibiting new works, musicians and singers in concert, and arts classes for students of all ages.  Art House also produces the citywide arts festival JC Fridays.

A highlight of the Snow Ball every year is the Best Dressed parade of artists and supporters vying for the Best Dressed trophy. Some contenders went all out, like last yearâ€s winner Beth Bentley who covered herself in fake flora and fauna that she purchased at a huge discount.

Iâ€m a resident of the enchanted forest and I came to wish everyone an enchanted evening,” Bentley said with a wry smile.

People sashayed across the stage showing off their costumes including this yearâ€s runners†up, Tony Skalicky and Ann LePore, formerly of Jersey City, who wore his and her deer antlers

The judges chose Best Dressed winners Chelo and Sirena Mercado who run Grassroots Community Art Space in downtown Jersey City. The couple wore beautiful costumes with owl-like headdresses designed and created by Sirena Mercado.

“I would like to thank my beautiful wife of almost 20 years for making these costumes by hand,” Chelo Mercado told the crowd. “And I want to thank Christine. Art House is amazing.”

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop stopped by with Jersey City Council President Rolando Rivera to show their support for Art House.

“Art House is an inspiration to the people of Jersey City,” Mayor Fulop said. “The Snow Ball attracts so many different types of people. It helps make Jersey City special.”

For more info, visit www.arthouseproductions.org

 

The post SNOW BALL EFFECT- Local Artists support Art House Productions’ at 10th Annual Gala first appeared on River View Observer.

INTERESTED ARTISTS STILL  HAVE TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW MEMBER

The newly formed Art Circle of Bayonne announces its first Members Show/Sale with an Opening Reception open to the public on Friday, September 21^st in the Bayonne Community Museum, 229 Broadway, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

 The show will run from September 22nd through the 29th, Monday through Friday, 5:00 -7:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.  The show is not open on Sunday.

Anyone interested in participating in the show is required to join the Art Circle of  Bayonne;  residency in Bayonne is not a requirement for membership.  Entry Forms with detailed guidelines and Membership Registration Forms are available at Ferdez Gallery, 237 Broadway, Bayonne.   Entry is limited to the first 60 applicants.  All artists will be  required to hang their own matted and framed 2D work on Saturday, September 15.   Pick up of work will be Sunday,  September 30.

Some of the artwork will be available for sale as well.  Committee members will be available throughout the show to assist patrons with art work sales.  All work must be on display for the duration of the show.  All sold pieces will be ready for pick up on Sunday, September 30^th only.

 Information about the show is available at Ferdez Gallery 201 443 2681.  Follow us on Facebook at Ferdez Art Gallery.                                                              

  contact:   Fernando Fernandez, galleryferdez@hotmail.com, 201 443 2681

Joan Hajducsek Rosen, joan.rosen311@gmail.com   201 401 6678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post ART CIRCLE OF BAYONNE ANNOUNCES FIRST MEMBERS SHOW/SALE first appeared on River View Observer.

Fun Day Out in the  Jersey City Heights

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy proudly posses with two Jersey City residents at the Everything Jersey City Festival which was held on Saturday May 22nd.

The annual event which ran from 11am to 6pm along 10 blocks of Central Avenue hosted over 300 + Artisits, Crafters, Festival Food Vendors, and local businesses.

The Festival also had 4 stages of free music and entertainment, and kids attractions. Sponosred by the Central Avenue S.I.D Management Corp in partnership with Mayor Healy, and the City of Jersey City Municipal Council, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and the Board of Chosen Freeholders and paid for in part by the Jersey City Urban Enterprise Zone Program.

All Smiles After the Cantigas Women’s Choir Performance at St. Matthew Trinity Church in Hoboken

 

Cantigas Womenâ€s Choirâ€s assistant director Erasmia Voukelatos, Argentine guest conductor and composer of Magnificat Leonardo San Juan, and Cantigas director Joan Litman beam with pride after the Hoboken-based choir performed the North American premiere of San Juanâ€s piece on Saturday night at St. Matthew Trinity in Hoboken. Cantigas will perform the same program on Wednesday May 26th at 7:30 p.m. in Manhattan at the Church of St. Joseph at 371 Sixth Avenue in the West Village.      PHOTO CREDIT: Angelika Fuelleman/CantigasCanco

Canco Lofts in Jersey City Gets New Market  

Jersey City Mayor Jerrimiah Healy and Jersesy City Council President Peter Brennan  cut the ribbon for the Grand Opening of the new Zeytinia Market located in the beautful Jersey City’s Canco Lofts located on 50 Dey Street off St. Paul’s Avenue in Jersey City. Once the home of the American Can Company this property was developed to include 158 lofts and 44 spectacular duplex penthouses.         CANCO LOFTS

 

Bayonne High School junior exhibited Ceramic Piece at the Clay Studio Gallery in Philadelphia

 Junior Anthony Rodriguez a Ceramic 2 student of Ms. Terri Graham will had his ceramic piece  Slab Vessel displayed at a professional art gallery in Philadelphia PA. Anthony’s piece was entered in the Clay In Mind show at Burlington County Regional High School for jurying where it was selected to be exhibited at The Clay Studio Gallery.  This show presents the best of student ceramic art throughout the State of New Jersey.  Anthony’s Slab Vessel was selected for a 2^ND place award. The exhibit ran from Friday May 7^th and run until Saturday May 14^th. 

Anthony  Rodriguez plans on a career in Architecture.  His interest in geometric spaces and building design is evident in his winning art work.

The post May 2010 -EVENTS IN PHOTOS first appeared on River View Observer.