An Art exhibit featuring the works of the late Artist John Ruddy is being shown at Art 150 Gallery, 150 Bay Street, Jersey City . April 3rd to April 30th, 2022 Sundays from 1pm to 4pm

John Ruddy loved the color orange. Not the pale baby-aspirin orange of a sunrise, or even the urban orange of traffic cones — the shade he liked best was the reddish-orange of the roaring blaze. The paintings on view at “John Ruddy: Celebrating A Life Well Lived” pulsate with vibrant color: magenta suns, egg yolk yellows, glowing ectoplasm greens, Papa Smurf blues. It is Ruddyâ€s searing oranges, however, that make the most immediate impression. Sometimes he depicted fire outright. Sometimes he simply suggested conflagration, with hot colors leaping and spreading from shape to shape as fires do. Even some of his frames have curled edges reminiscent of flames. His retrospective exhibition sets the entire ART150 Gallery (150 Bay Street) ablaze.

Initially this seems logical. Ruddy, who died suddenly in December 2021 at 49, was a firefighter as well as a painter. He wasnâ€t a part-time alarm-answerer, either — Ruddy was a battalion chief in the Jersey City Fire Department. He was well acquainted with the danger of the roaring blaze. Yet it might be surprising that a man whose business involved quenching fires should invest his depictions of fire with so much life. Ruddyâ€s flames are saw-toothed and spike-tailed; they curve and snap and encircle his subjects, many of whom are fantastic creatures drawn from Indian and Near Eastern mythology. Curator Andrea Morinâ€s show, presented by ProArts, reveals John Ruddy to be a complicated, prickly character, unafraid of a challenge, a born adventurer utterly uninterested in aesthetic caution.   

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Throughout the year, Jersey City and other Hudson locales snap, crackle and pop with cultural events – art shows, plays, and dance performances – put on by the diverse and richly-talented artists who live in our local neighborhoods. Art is a huge part of Hudsonâ€s community and quality-of-life; so, from now on, in every issue of River View Observer, weâ€ll list this go-to guide to whatâ€s happening on the local ArtSCENE.

 313 Gallery at JC Art School

 

313 GALLERY, 313 –3^rd Street, JC, (732) 877-9116, www.jcartist.org.

Now through Feb 21: GENTRIFICATION, The Changing Landscape of Jersey City – A documentary art exhibition featuring Narciso Espiritu, Fabricio Suarez, Sam Pullin; curated by Allison Hall.

ART HOUSE PRODUCTIONS, 136 Magnolia Ave, JC, (201) 915-9911, www.arthouseproductions.org. A non-profit organization bringing multi-media arts programs to Jersey City including original theater, music events, visual arts, experimental performance, classes, video/new media and the citywide arts festival, JC Fridays. Feb. 12-14, 19-21 at 8 pm; Feb 15 and 22 at 7 pm: THE SHAPESHIFTER, A sensory play by Meg Merriet.

THE BRUNSWICK WINDOW, 158 Brunswick St, JC, (201) 978-8939, Artistic window displays 24/7.
EVENING STAR STUDIOS, 11 Monitor St, JC, (201) 388-7323, Handcrafted art pieces; pottery throwing demonstrations.

 

GAIA STUDIO 315 3rd St, JC, www.gaiastudio.org. Each month Gaia gallery exhibits the work of a Gaia member and colleagues. Openings are on the first Friday of the month, 6-9 pm.

 ”Wonder Woman” by Teresa Garcia at Grassroots Community Space

 

GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY SPACE, 54 Coles St, JC, (201) 500-5483, www.grassrootscommunityspace.com. Classes held in Bollywood Funk, Martial Arts, Drum Circles; the work of local artists exhibited throughout the space.

 

LITM (Love is the Message), 140 Newark Ave, JC, (201) 536-5557, www.litm.com. In February: SHIFTING REALITIES, works by Liz Defrain, Mumbot, Lau Gallico, Gail Boykewich and Andrea Morin. “These five artists, while having different aesthetic styles, create works that delve into the otherworldly. Some are subtle, leaving the viewer with an inexplicable eerie feeling or strange sense of wonder. Others take you straight into a realm of the fantastic. Come and step into their worlds.”

  

    Costumes from the Armitage at MANA now through March 13

MANA CONTEMPORARY, 818 Newark Ave, JC, (201) 604-2702, www.manacontemporary.com. Large art complex with exhibitions, artist studios, framing and restoration. Through March 13: MAKING ART DANCE: Backdrops and Costumes from the Armitage Foundation. “Curated by Jeffrey Deitch, the exhibit features sets and costumes created in the past 30 years by Armitage in collaboration with artists and designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeff Koons, Christian Lacroix, David Salle, Peter Speliopoulos, and Philip Taaffe.” Now through April 24: John Newsomâ€s ROGUE ARENA, “Each of John Newsomâ€s arresting, kaleidoscopic paintings is a visual adventure. The New York-based artistâ€s super-sized canvases display a dense depiction of life-like animals and vegetation, which sit atop layers of abstract backgrounds comprised of impastoed textures, schizophrenic brushstrokes, and hard-edged, monochrome shapes.” Thereâ€s more to see; visit the website.

  Mary Benson Gallery, Jersey City

 

MARY BENSON GALLERY, 369 Third St, JC. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

PANEPINTO GALLERIES, 371 Warren Street, www.panepintogalleries.com; art@panepintogalleries.com. “Panepinto Galleries was founded by Stefania Panepinto in 2011 as a collective space to host gallery viewings, film screenings, theatrical performances, photo shoots, art exhibitions and events of all kinds, as well as build a vibrant community of artists. Located in the heart of the Powerhouse Arts District in Jersey City.”

  Local artists†work fills the walls at Port-O-Lounge, JC

 PORT-O LOUNGE, 286 1st St, JC. www.portolounge.com.

 

PRO ARTS, 135 Greene St, JC; 201-736-7057; www.proartsjerseycity.org; proarts@gmail.com.

Now through April 27: GESTURES IN ART, New Paintings and the Gimme Shelter Project, featuring works by Michele Vitale and Gail Winbury; curated by Eileen Ferara, and on view at Windows On Columbus on Columbus Drive between Washington and Greene Streets, and at the Lobby on Greene St, at 135 Greene Street off Columbus Drive. The exhibit is free and open to the public 24/7. “Pro Arts Jersey City is an organization of professionals in the visual arts, mainly from Jersey City and the surrounding metropolitan area, who are working to promote the arts and to better communicate Jersey Cityâ€s identity as a growing arts center.” Visit their website www.proartsjerseycity.org or call 201-736-7057 for more information.

 

RAVEN GALLERY AND BOUTIQUE, 304 Newark Ave, JC; (201) 565-3046; www.theravengalleryandboutique.com. Fri, Feb. 13, 6-10 pm: EAT YOUR HEART OUT! “Come to The Raven Gallery & Boutique to mend your broken heart, celebrate yourself, look at some great art from our Industrial NJ show, engage in some interactive anti-Valentine’s activities, check out our broken hearts curtain, drink some Cupid’s blood (hehe!), or just hang out! We will be open special hours for that special person- YOU!” Thereâ€s more to see; visit their website. Artists†works curated by Javiera Rodriguez and Andrea McKenna.

Sno-Balls by Pamela Talese at the Village West Gallery, downtown.

VILLAGE WEST GALLERY, 331 Newark Ave, JC. www.villagewestgallery.com; robinsonholloway@gmail.com. Opening Feb. 18 and running through March 8: BREAD AND CIRCUSES. “The term dates back to ancient Rome (‘panem et circensesâ€), when “bread and circuses” were deemed enough to keep the population distracted and undemanding – our modern day equivalent might be ‘corn syrup and Kardashians.†Twenty eight artists have tackled the theme, both literally and politically. Village West Gallery is located in the Village neighborhood of Historic Downtown Jersey City.  Aside from receptions and special events, it is open by appointment only.

If you have an art opening or performances coming up including visual arts, performing arts and street arts, send an email to:  Riverviewobserver@gmail.com or call 201-776-9222 and weâ€ll list it in ArtSCENE.

Compiled by Sally Deering and Fermin Mendoza.

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