Kobraâ€s Iconic Murals Include Portraits of

PHOTO CAPTION:  International mural artist, Eduardo Kobra, stands in front of his mural of Bob Dylan in downtown Minneapolis.

JERSEY CITY – Fresh off setting the Guinness Book of World Records for the “largest spray paint mural by a team” with his Rio 2016 Olympic Games-inspired “Ethnicities,” internationally-renowned, Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra is bringing his unique vision and talent to Jersey City.

Widely known simply as Kobra, the sought-after artist has begun work on a 180-foot tall mural on the façade of 837 Jersey Avenue in downtown Jersey City. 

Kobra, whose murals of notable historical figures include Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Bob Dylan, Nelson Mandela, and John Lennon, are painted utilizing bright colors and bold lines while incorporating a kaleidoscope theme.  Much of Kobraâ€s work represents fraternity, respect for the other cultures and acceptance and love for differences, which was one of the reasons he was approached for the Jersey City Mural Art Program that is rooted in the cityâ€s diversity.

Kobra has worked in more than 20 countries and created more than 30 projects in the United States alone, with murals in London, Athens, Lyon, Los Angeles and New York.

“Jersey City has one of the most diverse and expansive mural arts programs in the country and we couldnâ€t be more excited to welcome Kobra to contribute to the artistic landscape of our city,” said Mayor Fulop.  “His work is recognized around the world and his Jersey City mural will not only be our largest to date, but will also be an iconic image that will draw people here to visit the mural and our entire collection of outdoor art.”

Expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, the new mural will be an exciting addition to the more than 86 other public works of art created throughout the city by local and international artists in the past three years as part of the cityâ€s flourishing Mural Arts Program.

“Itâ€s great to see that Jersey City has embraced street art through its mural program and Iâ€m very happy to be a part of it,” said Kobra.

Launched in 2013 by Mayor Steven Fulop to foster arts and cultural awareness, the Mural Arts Program has effectively transformed the City into an outdoor gallery through the creative works of local, national and international street artists, including Shepard Fairey, Pixel Pancho, Karski & Beyond, Fintan McGee, Faith47, and WK Interact, and local artists Mustart, Fermin Mendoza, Lissanne Lake and Catherine Hart.

The new installation is taking place during Jersey Cityâ€s Annual ARTober festivities that kicked off with the 26th Annual Jersey City Art and Studio Tour (JCAST), a city-wide showcase of the arts featuring nearly 1,000 participating artists in hundreds of venues that include private studios, galleries, local businesses, and pop-up and public spaces.

To further integrate the Kobra mural into the local Jersey City art celebration – which runs through the end of October, – a 10,000-square-foot pop-up gallery has opened in the 17^th Street retail space of the Cast Iron Lofts building that displays a collection of works from nearly half of the participating artists in Jersey Cityâ€s Mural Arts Program.   Entitled “OUTSIDE/in,” the gallery features more than 85 pieces of visual artwork from acclaimed mural artists such as Distort, Emilio Florentine, Hell Bent, John T. Ruddy, Pawn and many others. The exhibition also includes indoor murals and large-scale installations, and is open to the public every Saturday in October from 12pm to 4pm.

The Kobra mural and “OUTSIDE/in” exhibit reflect Jersey Cityâ€s emergence as an important art and cultural destination that attracts the creative class.  The Mural Arts Program has commissioned works that support local art and beautify neighborhoods by programming public spaces with outdoor paintings that deter graffiti and incorporate the cultural and historical aspects of different neighborhoods.  Jersey Cityâ€s Mural Arts program has been compared to those in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Detroit and Miamiâ€s Wynwood neighborhood.  The Kobra mural, and others like it in Jersey City, offer accessible, authentic artwork that can help enhance and re-energize neighborhoods through creativity and aesthetic beauty.

 

The post One of the Largest Names in the International Mural Scene, KOBRA, Begins Massive New Mural in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

 

New Yorkâ€s Broadway Theater District is home to the most beautiful theaters in the world where audiences pay big bucks to see professional actors sing and dance in big, splashy Broadway musicals. As iconic as the Rockettes, the Broadway musical is a big money-maker and star-maker, too.  Stars like Hugh Jackman, Barbra Streisand, Jason Alexander — and so many more — got their first big break singing to the balcony in a great big Broadway show.

 Here in Hudson, many of us have a strong fondness for Broadway musicals. Some of Hudsonâ€s residents attend shows regularly and lots of Broadway actors settle here and commute to and from New York for their 8 shows a week. So, it seems perfect sense that Chase Leyner, artistic director of Hoboken Childrenâ€s Theater, which puts on musicals in Hoboken, would invite friends from the Broadway musical community to put on a show in Hoboken for Hurricane Sandy relief.

On Sun, Jan 20 at 7 pm at the Monroe Theatrespace in Hoboken, Leyner hosts “Broadway in Hoboken,” an evening of musical performances by Broadway singers who have been featured in musicals on Broadway including Wicked, Les Miz, Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, The Wedding Singer, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Alter Boyz, All Shook Up, Brooklyn, and Jekyll and Hyde.

Performers scheduled to appear include Don Brewer (Mamma Mia!), Anne Brummel (Wicked), Lisa Capps (Miss Saigon), Cara Cooper (All Shook Up), Julie Hanson (Phantom of the Opera), Jesse Johnson (Altar Boyz), David Josefsberg (Wedding Singer), Kevin Kern (Les Miz), John Leone (Jersey Boys), Mayumi Miguel (South Pacific), Brian Noonan (Jekyll and Hyde), Katie O’Toole (Jersey Boys), Sara Schmidt (Brooklyn) and Catherine Vaughn (Sunset Boulevard).

Tickets are $100 and all proceeds go to “Rebuild Hoboken” to aid Hoboken residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. Your ticket is also tax deductible.

Monroe Theatrespace is located at 720 Monroe Street, Hoboken, at the 9th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail stop. Thereâ€s lots of parking behind the building, too. For tickets, go to www.brownpapertickets.com. For more info, call 646-339-8485.

 

 

 

 

The post Broadway Belters Shuffle Off to Hoboken- Singers from ‘The Great White Way’ to Raise Money for Hurricane Relief first appeared on River View Observer.

River View Observer Photographer Captures the Event on Camera

On Saturday, May 15th The Village Neighborhood Association, with the support of 4th Street Arts,  hosted The 2nd Annual Village Art & Flea Market. A few thousand people came out to shop and mingle…

Taking place at the crossroads of 4th Street, Newark Avenue and Brunswick Street, the event featured an array of local artists†works, the finest up-and-coming bands New Jersey has to offer, and delicious food from local vendors.

See more photos of the day…

The post The 2nd Annual Village Art & Flea Market Held on Saturday May 15th Brings Out Huge Crowd first appeared on River View Observer.

Record producers will tell you that in order to make it in the music business you have to be equipped with; a good strong voice, loads of confidence and the ability to perform on the spot, and to have passion! The passion to give it all you’ve got and the drive not to stop until you get there!

Just ask Johnny Martin (aka John Marino) a singer whose drive and passion have propelled him to record his first CD, “Johnny Martin, I Will Always Love You.”

Growing up in Jersey City, N.J. Martin loved to sing; he was drawn to it and did it well. As a grammar school student at Holy Rosary in downtown Jersey City, Martin first realized that he had the ability to sing. Speaking to his parents he explained his desire to sing, soon after he began taking voice lessons to master his vocal technique, but after grammar school it soon came to a pause.

As a high school student at Ferris High School, he sung on street corners with small groups, always testing his vocals and enjoying his love for music, but never going beyond that.

In the year of 1974, Marino opened up his own business in hair restoration, and with true dedication to his business and raising his family, he took another pause from his music.

Although the passion to sing lived within him, he worked hard and dedicated all of his time into making his business a success.

The years would soon pass by, and Martin still continued to embrace his true feelings of singing deep within; so in the early 1990’s, he decided to finally take the next step into making his singing career a reality. With the support of his wife and family he picked up where he left off and committed himself to taking voice lessons. He worked hard at it for several years and perfected his voice, he refined his styled and decided that it was time to get serious.

Martin explains, “I started recording myself at home and playing it back and listening to myself. I started thinking if I want to get serious again, I better go back and take some lessons and that’s what I did.” As he continued with his lessons, Martin began to focus on his goal to make an album of songs that he loved.

In 2008, through friends of Martin’s he met a couple from N.J who had a studio, their names Sharman and Alfred Nittoli (the Nittoli’s are well-known for writing the song “Here’s to the Band” for Frank Sinatra.) Upon meeting the Nittoli’s, Martin realized that this was the direction he wanted to take in order to bring his album to fruition. Soon after their meeting Martin concentrated on his goal, he gathered together a talented ensemble of musicians, which consisted of Tommy Cavalucci (Drums), Frankie Cupo (Bass, Keyboards), Gill Chimes (Vibes, Harmonica) Sharman Nittoli (Piano, Keyboards, Background Vocals, Musical Director and Arranger) and Alfred Nittoli (Saxophone, Violin, Musical Director and Arranger). Together the entire team began recording and what transpired was not only Johnny Martin’s album, but a life-long dream of Martin’s that had finally become a reality. 

 His new CD is made up with a compilation of songs from the “great American songbook.” He explains, “I’ve always been a lover of the American songbook. As a matter of fact if you look at my high school yearbook, you’ll see that I was a big Sinatra fan.” Although at the time it was all about rock, I was always quoted as being a fan of his”.

The title of Martin’s new CD, “I Will Always Love You,” which is also the first cut on the CD and a wonderful song made famous by another crooner Dean Martin, is the perfect title and song to begin Johnny Martin’s tribute to the “great American song book”.

Johnny Martin shows real vocal mastery on each track of his CD, he demonstrates impeccable phrasing in each song and his love of this genre of music can be felt on each track. I especially loved “My Baby Just Cares for Me, “an up-tempo number with female background vocals that will have your foot tapping throughout the song.

Based on his first CD I believe Martin has a long singing career ahead of him. He does a wonderful rendition of “More”, and the “Way You Look Tonight.” Martin’s CD will always have a place as part of my own permanent record collection. I enjoyed the CD that much and you will  too!

Martin credits Sharman and Alfred Nittoli and his wonderful and talented musicians for their help and dedication to making this album. He also expresses heartfelt thanks and dedicates his CD to his wife Pat and his family, which he expresses, “Without their love and support, it wouldn’t have been possible.” His advice for up and coming singers is this, ” If you feel that you have a talent, pursue your talent and get professional help; pursue your dream and never give up. Never stop meeting people; by meeting people  that’s how you’ll network yourself and make connections. No one is ever going to promote you, you have to promote yourself.” Pursuing your dreams and never giving up is something this talented singer has truly accomplished; with a successful business, a completed CD and the realization of a dream, Martin is a true inspiration to us all.

If you’re interested in learning more about Johnny Martin or if you would like to listen to some of his songs, sign on to www.johnnymartinsings.com 

Also, if you’re interested in booking Martin for your next event you can email him at johnmartinsings@aol.com

Read more music stories @www.riverviewobserver.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Introducing the One and Only “Johnny Martin” first appeared on River View Observer.