Diana Carrera140 Gallery presents the work of Diana Carrera. Join them for their opening reception Sunday, July 13th from 5-8pm for wine, cheese and traditional indigenous instrumental music by Pepe Santana.

Exhibition will be up from July 13th-August 10th.

140 Gallery
140 Bay Street
T 908 296 7679
joe@shopdeen.com
myspace.com/140gallery

Gallery Hours:
Monday-Friday 12-7 Saturday 12-6 and Sunday 12-5

June 22 - August 10, 2008
Curious Matter
272 Fifth Street, Jersey City
Sundays noon to 3:00pm and by appointment
For more information call: 201-659-5771
On visit Curious Matter on the web: curiousmatter.blogspot.com

Arthur Bruso’s small box constructions explore complex scientific themes and phenomenons. Sharing Joseph Cornell’s appreciation for discarded fragments, Bruso creates his tiny universes with bits of frayed wire, old rubber balls and spent tape spools. The humble materials belie the simple, elegant compositions. In concert with his constructions Bruso is showing a collection of photograms that continue the theme of scientific inquiry. Shards of shattered glass and crumpled wax paper suggest the big bang, while the translucent silhouettes of rubber toys call to mind primordial forms of life.

Constantly reexamining and reinterpreting, Bruso’s personal history and entire artistic output can inform or become the basis of a new collection of work. The photograms on display were recreated from prints that were among his first photographic explorations. The deterioration and silvering of the originals was a motivation for the artist to look at this body of work anew. The constructions are also abundant with personal history. Many of the elements are from his horded childhood treasures. This layering and reusing makes placing the artist’s work on a tidy time line challenging, yet makes for work that is richly nuanced.

Bruso explains, “Lillian Hellman talks about pentimento in relation to a person’s past. Pentimento is an art conservation term that describes the effect of oil paint becoming more transparent over time, allowing the changes the artist made to show through. Hellman uses the term to explain her way of looking back over a life and reconsidering it with the knowledge and wisdom of the present... For me, my art exists in a continuum. What I thought were failures [can] look new and interesting now.”

Arthur Bruso was born in Albany, NY and received his M.F.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has lived and worked in the New York City area since 1993.

Founded by artists for artists, Curious Matter is an exhibition venue for contemporary visual art located in downtown Jersey City. Curious Matter strives to foster dialogue among artists at all career stages with a calendar of regular exhibitions. Our commitment extends to our audience as we endeavor to open a door to appreciating contemporary art in an atmosphere that encourages engagement and curiosity. Curious Matter is opened during exhibits on Sundays noon to 3pm and by appointment. For more information, email: curiousmatter@comcast.net

Lisa Dahl is one of the many featured artists in the Jersey City Museum's current exhibition, SPRAWL (which runs through Aug. 24). On Thursday evening, she will be appearing at the Museum for a talk with Jersey City-based architect Brian Loughlin for the latest in the "Introducing" discussion series, "Little Pink Houses to McMansions." The two will "discuss the themes of sprawl and the american suburb in their work as well as the intersection and interplay between art and architecture."

NEW recently caught up with Dahl via email to learn a little more about her work and her thoughts on our suburban nation.

So what kind of work do you have in the exhibition?

I have three small works from my “There Goes the Neighborhood” series where I block out the form of a house in a color photograph with a single color of glitter. The series has many sub-series to it – some are mixed media, others are paintings on actual real estate magazines images, and some use photographs I took myself in the same style used by the magazines – houses front and center with no neighbors, or clutter. All of them use the same method: transform the house by covering it over and turning it into a single, solid form.

Click to read more ...

58 Gallery presents ELEVATED, recent paintings by KIRK BRAY
Opening Reception Thursday June 12th 7-11pm
Exhibition up from June 12th - July 6th

For more info: fifty8.com

Be sure not to miss another performance from Cate Musiq Group at LITM June 21st

The Cate Musiq Group is:
Cate vocals / piano / guitar
Dr. Q bass
Antonio Facchini drums
Mike Maher trumpet / flugel horn / vocals

For more info visit: litm.com

NYUGEN SMITH: BUNDLE HOUSE from LE ARSENAL AV on Vimeo.

Sunday Sampler: Local Color
Sunday, May 18, 2008, 2pm, Free Event

“In honor of Historic Preservation Month, The Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, The Jersey City Public Library and Jersey City Museum team up to present and preserve the colorful and engaging stories of our local neighborhoods!”

Join Jersey City Museum for an afternoon of history and stories. John Hallanan from the J.C. Landmarks Conservancy will speak about his research into Jersey City during the decades Mayor Hague was in office. The history of education in Jersey City will be the subject of a talk by Cynthia Harris, Manager of The New Jersey Room at the Jersey City Public Library. Council President Mariano Vega will discuss the local Latino experience post WWII to the present. Finally, Barbara Bickart, artist in residence at JCM, will talk about her recent collaborative projectwe call it the river..., a video performance that explores the effects of gentrification on the residents who live, work and worship in Downtown Jersey City. JCM Curator Dr. Rocio Aranda-Alvarado will introduce and moderate the discussion.

Share your stories:
Spearheaded by the Jersey City Museum and the Jersey City Public Library, this program will kick off a special year-long project of collecting and preserving local stories, The public is invited, as are groups who are interested in creating oral histories with their members. Information on how to conduct oral histories and sign up sheets for groups or individuals who wish to become part of the project will be available at the event.

Sunday Sampler is an evolving series that happens each month. The series will highlight the many types programs and events we have on view at the museum. Sunday Sampler is a laid back and casual Sunday afternoon event where wine and light snacks are served as a way to bring artists and art enthusiasts together to mix, mingle and network. Gallery tours will be offered as part of the Sunday Sampler Series. Sunday Samplers act as a way to enhance events and programs already in place.

Yes, I know there has been some PAD bias on the site lately -- they have soo much going on those busy bees! But the PADNA (Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association) is really a neighborhood association that the whole city should be involved in. The historic buildings and cobblestone streets are some of the oldest in our city and the struggles they have faced are of interest to all JC residents. Show your support and thanks for all they do to preserve an arts district in JC by attending their fundraiser:

Saturday, April 26th, 8pm-midnight
150 Bay Steet
(two blcks from the Grove Street PATH)
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Live music, fine art, raffles, hors d'oeuvres, drinks and a silent auction (including design services from yours truly!). Featured performances by: American Watercolor Movement, Tremble In The Heat and The Meltdowns.

There are only 200 tickets available:
Go to www.padnajc.org to buy your tickets now!!