The post THE ART OF JOHN T. RUDDY JR. january 1-january 15, 2022 first appeared on River View Observer.

   JCs Cathedral Arts Festival to Host “Big 3-0” Gala, Sat, May 18

   Artists, Friends & Grace Church Community to Come Out & Celebrate

By Sally Deering

Itâ€s probably the hippest church in Hudson County: a congregation of people from all walks of life, where artists are not only welcomed, theyâ€re celebrated.

On Sat, May 8, beginning at 7 pm, Grace Church Van Vorst on Erie Street in Jersey City will host its 30^th Anniversary celebration of the CATHEDRAL ARTS FESTIVAL (CAF), a gala of friends and community members coming together to support the churchâ€s outreach and regale in artworks by local artists. This year, five curators have put together an exhibition of eclectic art that will dazzle and inspire.  Beth Achenbach, Cat Hecht, Robinson Holloway, Andrea Morin and Amy Elise de Jong.

The post art gala’s ‘big 3-0’ first appeared on River View Observer.

Hobokenâ€s Mile Square Theatre Presents Big Bunny Laughs

Kids Will Love This Popular Childrenâ€s Musical Based on the Best-Selling Book

What happens when a family unknowingly brings home a vampire bunny much to the dismay of the familyâ€s cat and dog who must save the family from this “wascally-wabbit”?

“On a dark and stormy night, the Monroe family decides to go see a movie. Their pets Chester (the cat) and Harold (the dog) patiently await their return. When they finally come home, they come bearing a surprise: they have found a bunny in the movie theatre. However, this is no ordinary rabbit…this is the extraordinary Bunnicula! When the familyâ€s produce starts losing its juice, Chester thinks he knows what is causing the fantastic phenomenon: Bunnicula is a vampire who sucks the color out of the vegetables! Or maybe Chesterâ€s imagination is getting the better of him. Singing and dancing their way through this hilarious mystery, the furry friends find room in their hearts, and in their home, for one very unique bunny.”

Bring the kids to solve the hilarious mystery of BUNNICULA, now showing at Mile Square Theatre, Hobokenâ€s resident professional theatre company. This family musical runs through May  5 at the companyâ€s 14^th Street theater; and, the plot goes something like this:

The childrenâ€s musical was written by  Jon Klein and Chris Jeffries; Jillian Carucci directs. Bunnicula brings back some recognizable artists to the MST stage, too, like Joelle Zazz, who played Violet in MSTâ€s recent Itâ€s a Wonderful Life as Chester, and Cameron Blankenship who played Rikki in The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi returns as Harold. Rachel Eddy, who delighted audiences as Lucy in Youâ€re a Good Man, Charlie Brown plays Toby Monroe, and Andrew Baldwin (Core Values, 12^th Night, Rikki Tikki Tavi) will employ his puppetry skills as Bunnicula.

The creative team includes resident scenic designer Jennifer Price Fick, costume designer Stefanie Genda, resident lighting designer Matthew J. Fick, resident scenic painter and prop designer by Emmett Grosland, and puppet designer Mary Gragen Rogers. Estimated run time: 1 hour and 20 minutes. Recommended for ages 5+.

“I encountered this extremely entertaining young audience play about 25 years ago when I was working with Seattle Childrenâ€s Theatre,” MST Artistic Director Chris Oâ€Connor says. “Itâ€s funny, engaging, entertaining, and wonderfully adapted from the well-known book by Deborah and James Howe. Itâ€s another great example of theater for young audiences that goes from the page to the stage. I love how plays like this ignite the imagination of young people and also get them enthusiastic about reading the source material. This will be a great show for school groups and for families looking for a rich family experience.”

If you go

April 13-May 5

BUNNICULA

Mile Square Theatre

1400 Clinton St, HOB

(201) 683-7014

Milesquaretheatre.org

The post BUNNICULA’S BACK! first appeared on River View Observer.

   Art Fair 14C Created Had Big Turnout at The Hyatt in Jersey City

   Two Floors of Art and Hundreds of Art Loving Guests Attended

By Sally Deering

Imagine a high-end hotel transformed into an art gallery with mobiles hanging in entranceways, sculptures grouped on end tables, and paintings draped on easels made of bed pillows. Creativity and artistry practically bounced off the walls at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City, last weekend, when artists exhibited their works, and networked with other artists and art-lovers.

On Friday March 15 and running through Sunday, March 17, the Hyatt Regency on the Jersey City waterfront was where 50 galleries booked rooms on two floors of the hotel, hung original art on the walls and flung open the doors to art-lovers. Guests had the opportunity to roam the hotelâ€s 8^th & 9^th floor and visit the galleries that exhibited some terrific paintings, sculpture, mixed-media and more in their respective hotel rooms.

There was the group of “Penguins” by sculptor Barbara Fiore; the true-to-life “Red Fan” by Christopher Stott, and alcohol art paintings by Bryant Small.  Members of Pro Arts in Jersey City, including president Mollie Thonneson, showed their work including Thonnesonâ€s colorful hanging sculptures that fluttered gracefully when someone walked by.

As groups of art lovers strolled through Pro Arts exhibition, Thonneson said that her experience at Art Fair 14C was extremely positive. She was joined by artists Linda Streicher, Bryant Small and Christine Barney.

The event was sponsored by the Jersey City Arts Council and curated by volunteer Executive Director Robinson Holloway, the founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jersey City Arts Council who stepped down in January 2019 to run Art Fair 14C. Holloway created and runs two non-profit art galleries – the Gallery at 350 Bleecker in New York City, and Village West Gallery on Newark Ave in Jersey City.

Jersey City artist Theda Sandiford exhibited collages like her “Foxy Brown for President” piece.

David Barnett, who creates 2D-and-3D collages and sculptures exhibited several works including a dog with mechanical parts he created as an homage to his pup, Oscar; and a mechanized man in a hat.

“I like merging the idea of humanity and technology,” Barnett said. “Where one begins, the other ends.”

If you missed Art Fair 14C, check out

http://artfair14c.com for more information.

The post ART FAIR HOTEL first appeared on River View Observer.

 What happens when a North Hudson artist, writer and marketing specialist get together? They meld their passions for art & culture and become the founders of Only in Nohu, a grassroots online newsletter that highlights happenings in North Hudson.

As the culture mavens of Only in Nohu, Javiera Rodriguez and Glenda Guevara of North Bergen, and Cindy Rodriguez of Guttenberg post photos and news bytes on art shows, live performances, boutiques and restaurants—in North Hudsonâ€s Union City, Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen.

Javiera, Cindy and Glenda have always been hip to the culture scene blooming in their backyards. Javier is a jewelry artist, Cindy is a writer and podcaster, and Glenda works in publicity and marketing. So, when they discover something, up it goes on social media. Only in Nohu can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with thousands of followers who keep a look out for their posts on places to visit and pop-up happenings in North Hudson.

Only in Nohu serves as a guide to events and trendy places to visit in North Hudson, places that sometimes end up in Hoboken and Jersey Cityâ€s shadow.

The women gather for a work session in Javieraâ€s North Bergen backyard, where a Tabby cat plays under a picnic table and the three friends and colleagues sip iced teas and munch on fruit, potato chips and pizza.

“There is so much happening in North Hudsonâ€s towns that nobody knows about,” Glenda, who holds a BA in Marketing from NJCU says. “The major reason we wanted to showcase all the local businesses is because everyone has a story.”

The three friends pore over their laptops, tablets and cellphones as they prepare for an upcoming event theyâ€re sponsoring. On Thursday, July 19, from 7-9 pm, they will be hosting TEA TIME, a ‘get to know your neighbor†meet-and-greet at Parker, a cozy eatery on 65^th & Park in West New York. Recently, Only in Nohu held a “Wishing Tree” happening in James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen, where people posted their wishes and hung them on trees near the soccer field parking lot.

When theyâ€re not hosting events, theyâ€re posting them. Since February, Only in Nohu has been posting photos and blurbs on local places of interest like the West New York Bodega on 63^rd Street where artist Fermin Baret shows his work while selling groceries to local residents.

“He paints right in his store in a corner in the back,” Glenda says. The women posted pics of the Bodega on social media and encouraged viewers to follow Baret on his Instagram page.

Sometimes theyâ€ll be on a stroll in the neighborhood and discover a business theyâ€ve never seen before. That was the case when Cindy was out taking pictures and came upon the 3d Café at 67^th & Park in West New York; and when Javiera came upon Thought Bubble Comic Shop on 43^rd & Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen.

“There are a lot more,” Glenda says. “Thereâ€s live music at Harryâ€s Food & Drink which is on 81^st & Bergenline in North Bergen.”

“Only in Nohu will have a website up soon,” Cindy, who has a Bachelors Degree in Journalism from Rutgers says. “We wanted to get the word out about Only in Nohu on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, first.”

 Since Cindy, Glenda and Javiera live in North Hudson, they are always on the lookout for interesting places in their neighborhood. Sometimes, the small business owners they spotlight are surprised that Only in Nohu doesnâ€t charge for their postings.

“Weâ€re doing this because we want to elevate our neighborhood,” Javiera, who holds a Masterâ€s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers says. “It creates a sense of community.”

For more info or to follow Only in Nohu,

go to their pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

The post ONLY IN NOHU – Three Artists Shine Social Media Spotlight On North Hudson’s Art & Culture first appeared on River View Observer.

 AT THE GALLERIES

SMUSH GALLERY, 340 Summit Ave, JC. www.smushgallery.com. Opens June 15 (Opening Reception 6-9 pm) and runs through Fri, July 6, (Closing Reception 6-9 pm):  MODERN LIFE: paintings by Tom Wolf. “The opening reception will feature a performance by The Prom Dates.” Performance at 7:30 pm.

FRAGMENTED IDENTITY, 389 Washington, St, JC. Opening Reception Fri, June 8, 7-9 pm. (The show runs through July.) Solo show by Theda Sandiford, a self-taught installation and mixed-media artist based in Jersey City. “Theda began exploring her artistry by transforming collected materials into mixed-media works, photographing her process and then digitally manipulating these images to extend the narrative as part of her personal mythology.”

NOVADO GALLERY, 110 Morgan St, JC. (201) 744-6713; novadogallery.com. Through Sat, June 23:  PERMUTATIONS OF VULNERABILITY. The International Sculpture Center presents an exhibition of artists in ISCs residency program at Mana Contemporary. Artists in the show are Carole Halle, Jessica Taylor-Hale, Christina Dietz and Dominic Sansone.

MANA CONTEMPORARY, 888 Newark Ave, JC. www.manacontemporary.org. Through Aug 1 on the 1^st & 5^th Floors:  PLEASE TOUCH: BODY BOUNDARIES. “The show is an exhibition of more than 50 artists who reference the body to illuminate conceptions of identity, femininity, and the gaze.”

OPEN MIC

SMUSH GALLERY, 340 Summit Ave, JC. www.smushgallery.com. Wed, June 27, 7 pm: SLYCE OF LYFE V: VARIETY HOUR EDITION. “Open mic slots are 3 minutes each, first come, first served. Hosted by Marcus Emel” Tix: $10 online and at the door.

MILE SQUARE THEATRE, 1400 Clinton St, HOBO. www.milesquaretheatre.com. Sat June 30 @ 8 pm; Sun, July 1 at 3 & 7 pm:  THE 8^TH ANNUAL ONE-MINUTE PLAY CONTEST. Works by Brad Baron, Della Brown, Marian Calabro, Alexander Doyle, Mike Duffy, Laura Ekstrand, Lisa Huberman, Steven Haworth, Chisa Hutchinson, Stephen Hiltner, Margo Hammond, Angela Kariotis, Michele Aldin Kushner, Ari Laura Kreith, Mayumi Lane, Lyn Marie Macy, TS Murphy, Lisa Mary MacNair, Erin Mallon, Benjamin Marshall, Chris Oâ€Connor, Barry M. Putt, Nicole Pandolfo, Seamus Scanlon, Sylvia Schwartz, David Lee White, Stanley Werse, Amy Witting, Karin Diann Williams, and Brendon Votipka.

JERSEY CITY THEATER CENTER (JCTC), Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Ave, JC. www.jctc.org. Fri, June 15, 8 pm: JCTC PRESENTS THE BOX: RESISTANCE EDITION.  Thurs, June 21, 7 pm: JCTC FILM: HOW MANY LIVES? Directed by Duda Penteado. Tues, June 26, 6:30 pm: JCTC 12-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION honoring William La Rosa, former Director of the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs.

HUDSON SHAKESPEARE COMPANY @ Hamilton Park, Corner of 8^th & Jersey, JC. www.hudsonshakespeare.com.  Thurs, June 21 @ 7 pm: THE TEMPEST. “The Hudson Shakespeare Company (HSC) returns for its 27th season of touring Shakespeare in the parks with one of the Bardâ€s most magical plays.  Admission is free.”

 ARTISANS MARKET

MARKETPLACE JC @ MAGNOLIA LANDING, 136 Magnolia Ave, JC. Sat, June 16, Noon-5 pm. “Marketplace JC brings 20+ artisans, crafters, chefs and vintage sellers to the neighborhood. Come visit the newest pop-up location in the newly renovated plaza behind Journal Square PATH. Live music will be provided by RiverviewJazz.org and will feature some of Jersey Cityâ€s favorite local bands.”

CLUBSCENE

BRIGHTSIDE TAVERN, 141 Bright St, JC. www.brightsidetavern.com. Mon: Jazz Jam Session; Tues & Wed: Karaoke; Thurs: Open Mic Night; Fri: Comedy, Private Parties, Dance, Karaoke, Open Mic; Sat & Sun, Brunch, Private Parties, Dance, Karaoke, Open Mic.

FOX & CROW, Bar & Restaurant, 594 Palisade Ave, JC. www.foxandcrowjc.com. Thurs, June 21, 8-10 pm: SPAGHETTI SESSIONS SHOWCASE. Fri, June 22, 8-10 pm: PAUL SANCHEZ.  Fri, June 29, 10-11:59 pm: DEMOLITION STRING BAND.

FOR THE KIDS

 LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER (LSC), Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd, JC. (201) 200-1000; www.lsc.org. Now showing: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure “Join Sesame Street friends in an out-of-this-world planetarium show!

Explore the night sky with Bird Bird, Elmo, and a friend from China named Hu Hu Zhu. In this show, you’ll learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun and the Moon. The show is the newest feature at the JENNIFER CHALSTY PLANETARIUM AND LSC GIANT DOME THEATER at LSC, the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Only three others in the world—two in Japan and one in China—are bigger.”

NEW VICTORY THEATER, 209 W. 42^nd St, NYC. (646) 223-3010; www.newvictory.org. Through June 17: PANDAâ€S HOME. “Fusing ancient art forms and contemporary dance, Italy’s Compagnia TPO with Teatro Metastasio Di Prato and China’s TONG Production invite children to follow a panda’s footprints and roam a bamboo forest as they explore the five elements of Wu Xing—wood, fire, earth, metal and water. With kaleidoscopic imagery and the sounds of traditional instruments, PANDA’S HOME is anything but black and white.”

 SEND US YOUR ARTS LISTINGS. 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 and weâ€ll list it in ARTScene.  ALL ARTScene LISTINGS ARE FREE.

The post ARTScene/JUNE 2018 In & Around Hudson listings first appeared on River View Observer.

  By Sally Deering

A life in art, thatâ€s exactly what William La Rosa set out to do in his 30-year tenure as Director of the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs. Before retiring in September 2017, La Rosa facilitated programs that helped local visual and performing artists. He founded the Local Arts Program (LAP) grants that, over the years, provided thousands of dollars to local artists and arts organizations.

On Tuesday, June 26, from 6:30-10 pm, the Jersey City Theater Center will honor La Rosa contribution to Hudsonâ€s art scene with an award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Culture. The event also celebrates JCTCs 12-Year Anniversary and will be held at White Eagle Hall on Newark Ave in Jersey City. The $100 ticket price includes open bar, hot & cold hors d’oeuvres and jazz from the Hudson Banks Trio.

“Bill La Rosa always saw the arts as a means to unite the community,” Olga Levina, Artistic Director of JCTC says. “As Director of the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs, Bill always came from a place of love for the arts and respect for artists, giving them the attention they deserve. No arts organization can stand alone, and Bill has been a supporter of JCTC from the very beginning. It is an honor for JCTC to give our first lifetime achievement award to someone who made a difference in the arts in Hudson County and New Jersey.”

La Rosaâ€s support, consultation and encouragement to arts organizations and artists in Hudson never wavered. A graduate of New Jersey City University and New York University, La Rosa served as Vice President of the Association of New Jersey County Cultural & Historic Agencies, and as a member of the New Jersey Center for Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Council. In 2000, he was acknowledged by a Joint Legislative Resolution from the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly for “meritorious record of service, leadership, and commitment on behalf of the New Jersey tourism industry.”  He is the recipient of various community service and New Jersey Association of Counties awards, served as the Chairperson of the Product Development Committee for the New Jersey White House Conference on Tourism Task Force (1993), is a member of the County Open Space Trust Advisory Board, and Chairperson of the Hudson County Public Art Commission.

If you go

Tues, June 26, 6:30-10 pm, Tix $100
12-Year Anniversary Celebration

White Eagle Hall
335-337 Newark Ave, JC

(201) 795-5386

To purchase tix: JCTCenter.org

The post JCTC to Celebrate 12-Year Anniversary on June 26 – Honor Bill La Rosa Lifetime Achievement in Arts Award first appeared on River View Observer.

  Pulitzer Prize Play Resonates in These Turbulent Times

 By Sally Deering

A three-hander – a play featuring three actors – can be an intimate theater experience, especially when its performed in Mile Square Theatreâ€s gem of a performance space on Clinton Street in Hoboken. In this case, the three-hander is the Pulitzer Prize winning play Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry, the story of an aging Southern Belle, Daisy Werthan, and her aging African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn. During the course of the play, these two seniors, with a lot of history behind them, cover 25 years of a relationship that begins as a thorny dance between two strangers and develops into a deep love between two friends.

Driving Miss Daisy opens Wed., Jan. 31, and runs through Sun., Feb. 25, and features Barbara Broughton, Count Stovall and Matthew Lawler. Broughton, who plays Daisy, was recently seen on Broadway in the revival of Stephen Sondheimâ€s Sunday in the Park with George. Stovall, who plays Hoke, was in Broadwayâ€s A Streetcar Named Desire. Lawler, who plays Daisyâ€s son Boolie was in MSTâ€s Betrayal and has been seen in ABCâ€s The Family.

The creative team features Matthew J. Fick, set design; Peter Fogel, costume design; Justin Partier, lighting design; and MSTs Associate Artistic Director Mark Cirnigliaro directs.

Cirnigliaro directed last seasonâ€s hit The Net Will Appear – a two-hander about the friendship between an old codger and his young neighbor who help each other through a tough time. With Driving Miss Daisy, Cirnigliaro again directs a very intimate play in MSTs intimate theater.

“How do we find the humanity in each other,” Cirnigliaro says. “Thatâ€s the core tenet of the piece. Race is also a big part of the play. Both Daisy and Hoke are in a place at the top of the play where they are dealing with the other through stereotype. As the play moves forward, they come to see each other as people and in seeing each other as people, they fall in love. When I say fall in love, I mean itâ€s a deep romance. Thatâ€s more accurate.”

Cirnigliaro cast Broughton and Stovall – both Broadway veterans — because they bring years of life experience to their roles, he says. And for Stovall, after understudying James Earl Jones in the revival of Driving Miss Daisy on Broadway, he gets to put his own spin on Hoke. It seems James Earl Jones never missed a performance and, therefore, Stovall never got the chance to step into the role. All thatâ€s changed, and now Stovall will have four weeks to play the coveted role.

“Count gives a wonderful vibrancy and energy to the work,” Cirnigliaro says. “Heâ€s a wonderful person.”

Cirnigliaro speaks highly of Broughtonâ€s portrayal of Daisy, too. Last seen on Broadway in the Sunday in the Park with George revival, Broughton brings a strong commitment and an “open heart” to her part.

Cirnigliaro says: “We have an amazing cast. The play spans 1948-1973. A lot happens in America over that time, technologically, culturally, politically. Thereâ€s a lot that has to be delved into and understood, so that the actors representing these wonderful people understand the world theyâ€re living in at any given moment.”

Some might remember the film, Driving Miss Daisy, which starred two great actors, Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, who played Hoke to Dana Iveyâ€s Daisy in the original Off-Broadway production. The car, an old classic Oldsmobile, was also an important part of the film, and Cirnigliaro says a good portion of the stage play also takes place in the car, giving the audience the opportunity to use their imaginations.

“What separates theater from film, is that theater allows the audience to be an active participant,” Cirnigliaro says. “That is what makes theater unique. It engages the audienceâ€s imagination in ways the movie can never.”

Chris Oâ€Connell, Artistic Director of Mile Square Theatre says he chose Driving Miss Daisy for the theaterâ€s 2017-2018 season because he wanted to honor Black History Month with an intimate play that would resonate in MSTâ€s intimate space.

“I wanted to find a play that would draw an audience, that would get people in the door to see our work in this part of our development,” Oâ€Connor says. “Then Driving Miss Daisy came to mind. I read it, but had never seen it on stage. So I re-read it, and I was really moved by it. Even though itâ€s a play written by a White writer and through a ‘southern white lensâ€, it is really a play about acceptance, about how we are all connected.”

If you go

Wed, Jan. 31-Sun, Feb. 5

Driving Miss Daisy

Mile Square Theatre

1400 Clinton St, HOB

(201) 683-7014

www.milesquaretheatre.org

Tix: $30-$40; $18 for students/seniors

The post A FINE ROMANCE   Mile Square Theatre’s Driving Miss Daisy opens Jan. 31 first appeared on River View Observer.