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.