Artists of all ages and all disciplines descended on the Park Performing Arts Center in Union City last week when, for the 23rd year in a row, the theater held its Union City Multi Arts Festival.
Public, parochial and private schools were represented at the festival. Artists, both professional and amateur, danced, sang and exhibited their artwork. The festival was open to students and professionals from a variety of towns, not just in Hudson County.
Said Fine and Performing Arts Chairperson for the Union City Schools and coordinator of the festival Agnes Dauerman, “This is the culmination of months of work by our talented students, teachers and professional artists from our community.”
The two-day event, which was free to attend, was sponsored by various local businesses including the Oritani SavingsBank of Union City and the International House of Pancakes.
According to Lina Martinez, Chairperson of the Multi Arts Festival, “This really gives the kids a chance to shine and to see kids from schools in other areas perform. And don’t forget that there are professional artists represented here as well as student work.”
All of the professionally-rendered work was executed by alumni of area schools.
One such exhibitor was Eileen Barroso, a 1981 graduate of Emerson High School who is now the Assistant Team Photographer for the New York Yankees. Barroso’s work consisted of the usual action shots of various Yankees stars, but also displayed a more abstract eye in certain photos that Barroso’s “all-access pass” to the Yankees’ players allows.
Barroso also functions as the Festival’s official photographer, something she has been doing on a voluntary basis for 10 years.
So, just how does one become an official Yankees photographer?
Barroso answered the question in a festival interview last week: “Actually, I’ve been quite lucky. I’ve been the photographer for Columbia University (in New York City) for 18 years – that’s my main job. I met the Yankee photographer years ago just by chance. As a joke I said, ‘Hey, if you ever need any help…’ They gave me an opportunity and it worked.”
As for the Festival itself, Barroso was effusive in her opinion of its importance to the community. Said Barroso, “This is a great thing. It shows them that you can do something. I came from a regular household in Union City and I work really hard. I feel really blessed that I am able to do this.”
Another professional artist displaying his craft at the Festival was Jersey City-based sculptor Grigory Gurevich. When The Reporter visited the festival, Gurevich was forming a bust out of clay. In front of him were a cluster of grammar school-aged children intently watching him form a human head. According to Gurevich, this is his third year participating in the festival. Said Gurevich, “I teach painting at Arts on the Hudson in Jersey City and every Wednesday I teach mural painting at Union Hill.” Clearly, the world-renowned artist is indicative of the general feeling surrounding the festival community. For an artist of Gurevich’s stature to return again and again to a local arts festival says a lot.
But judging from comments made by many involved with the festival, it’s really about the kids and giving them the opportunity to show their talents in a public forum.
According to Agnes Dauerman, Fine Arts Coordinator for Union City schools, “It gives the kids an opportunity to showcase what they do through the year. We invite parochial schools and other counties’ schools. It [the festival] helps students who are striving or just beginning. Some are going to do this as a job, some may go on to be scientists, this is really an introduction to the arts, an introduction to the Metropolitan area and all that it has to offer as far as the arts are concerned. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the cream of the crop. My dream was to have a real arts program in Union City, and if it’s lasted for 23 years, I guess we’re doing something right.”
In the backstage area, an air of controlled chaos reigned. Excited students came on and off-stage, hurriedly changing in and out of costumes.
Rina Shah, 18, a senior at Union Hill High School, was acting as an usher last week and said, “Basically, it’s the coming together of people with different backgrounds. There’s so much versatility. Some people may be dancing and then later singing. It’s not the same people doing the same things.”
One of those people was Union Hill student Hansel DeLeon, 18, who incidentally was fresh off his first-place win at the Meadowlands Student Art Expo and the Alliance of Teen Artists held last week in Secaucus. Said DeLeon, “My main goal is to be a professional artist. This event allows us to express ourselves and gives us a chance to see different art from different people.”
Father Kevin Ashe, Executive Director of the Park Performing Arts Center, summed it all up when he said, “This is great for the students to perform in a professional setting. They can express themselves in front of an audience. You also have the things that go on behind the scenes. These kids are learning what it takes to be an artist and to put on a show. I’ve always thought that the arts are a great teacher. The arts have an ability to ‘spark’ a student. That’s what this is all about.”