Some might think that a hot-pink neon light heart would stand out against the backdrop of a century-old church. But the piece, called “Eye of God Bleeding,” by light sculptor Norm Francoeur, seems perfectly at home hanging atop the 155-year-old sanctuary.
Along with Francoeur, some of the best artists in Jersey City and beyond are included in the exhibit at Grace Church Van Vorst’s Cathedral Arts Festival, which runs through this weekend.
This is the 18th year for the annual festival that helps fund some of the community outreach programs that the church provides.
Mixed media
Like one of Calder’s famous mobiles, Francoeur’s “Eye” slowly sways and rotates with the air currents in the building, as visitors also move among the works on display. With over a hundred different artists showing, there is a lot to see, from the traditional (paintings, photos) to the non-traditional (Lego sculptures, masking tape portraits, Barbies-as-social-statements).
The exhibit and its artists skillfully blend the tasteful and the tacky, and the abstract and the not-so-abstract. Chi Modu, the ex-Source magazine photo editor who has photographed some of the biggest names in hip-hop, presents some of his most recent work chronicling life in Cambodia, with black and white photographs of fishermen on the Mekong River.
Beth Bentley pokes fun at serious social matters with her Spin-E_Coli Ba(r)b(I)e and PeasMaker Ba(r)b(I)e. Yet perhaps the most dramatic work is an installation piece located in the church’s bell tower. It is not for the claustrophobic or faint at heart, as visitors must climb the narrow, winding staircase that leads up to the tower.
At the top, old books line the walls, backlit from small lights. And the floor is covered in a dance-floor like panel of them, opened to random pages. Projected upon them is a woman, who moves in response to every sound.
Church rector Janet Broderick explained that it was the first time in the festival’s 18-year history that the tower had been used as part of the art display.
Visitors can ring the bell to watch the woman’s responses, Broderick said, adding that the bell is usually only rung for executions.
“If someone just comes up here for that, it’s sad,” she said.
A sanctuary for artists
Broderick reflected on Jersey City’s emergent role in the art world while giving a recent tour of the exhibit: “Jersey City is on the verge now in having a significant voice in art,” Broderick said. A look around makes it clear that the creativity shown by these artists is what is propelling Jersey City forward. Broderick believes that part of the artists’ appeal is that the whole scene truly is up-and-coming.
“[The Jersey City art scene] is exciting to me because it is not yet part of the Chelsea world,” she said. “These artists here are open to things that are truly happening. There are pieces here that are yet to be understood.”
Originally from Manhattan, Broderick, who has been rector of the church for five years, has been supportive of the city’s artists since she joined the church.
“We want to support the artistic community here,” she said. “After they lost so much space here,” she added, referring to the displacement of artists who were at the now-closed arts building at 111 First Street, “the community has been decimated.”
“They really believed they had a safe arts space here,” said Broderick. “They didn’t think the developers would come in.”
Production team coordinator for the Cathedral Arts Festival Claire Guerette said that is one of the reasons why the church tries to be as supportive of the arts community as possible, within the context of its mission. Guerette has been a member of Grace Church for over ten years.
She said that the fact that the exhibit is held in the church’s sanctuary is symbolic. “It creates a sanctuary for artists,” she explained.
Poetry, performance and film
Since opening, visitors to the festival were treated to an evening of poetry and a performing arts showcase, and this coming weekend, there will be a local filmmaker’s showcase.
The showcase, which will be held on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m., will feature wide variety of genres. According to Guerette, there will be mostly short films, and at least one documentary. She said that organizers worked in collaboration with representatives of Jersey City’s other film fest, Black Maria.
Both Guerette and Broderick said they were really pleased with the turnout for this year’s festival. Guerette, a resident of the Heights for over two decades, was also pleased with the creative energy coming from the city.
“It’s an exciting place right now,” Guerette said. “Twenty years ago, we were told ‘don’t even think of going downtown.’ Now it’s coming alive and people are moving here intentionally.”
The Cathedral Arts Festival runs through May 19 at Grace Church Van Vorst, located at 39 Erie Street in Jersey City. For more information about the exhibit or about the film showcase on May 18, visit: www.gracevanvorst.org, or call (201) 658-2211. Comments on this piece can be sent to mfriedman@hudsonreporter.com