“As artists – and as human beings in general – we often have times that we’re moved and we don’t know why,” observed Jersey City artist Nyugen Smith.
It is those sorts of forces, that Smith, curator of “Invisible fields…positively guided by the unseen,” says the new exhibit at Lex Leonard Gallery explores.
Local artists Ariel DeAndrea, Ibou N’doye, Bret Reilly and Noelle Lorraine Williams (REBORN) all present their interpretation of this phenomenon through sculpture, written word, painting and installation art at the one-room exhibit, which runs through October 12.
Smith said he wanted to explore unseen forces, like what makes people walk one way down the street without knowing why, or why painters make a mark that they didn’t intend – “we call it a happy accident,” he said. The pieces displayed reflect this theme.
Many – like DeAndrea’s grouping of 1,000 origami cranes, called “the flock,” – do so through their whimsical nature.
Visitors to the exhibit will see how art can be at the same time visually pleasing and thought-provoking.
Making art engaging and affordable
Smith, who was born in Jersey City, has been working at the Columbus Drive gallery for about a year. In June he started working as a curator. “Invisible fields” is his second exhibit.
One of his focuses as curator has been to make art more accessible to the public, and he is trying to do that through attention-grabbing exhibitions and affordable art pieces.
“Art has always been used as a vehicle for relaying messages – whether it’s through hieroglyphics or a painting with a secret message,” said Smith, who is an artist himself. His work, composed mainly of drawings and found-object sculpture, often tackles issues of morality and social consciousness.
“I try to deliver [art] to audiences in a way that’s easier for them to swallow,” he said. “If you engage [the public] through color, composition or humor – which I like to do – it helps draw them closer in. They may laugh at first, but the message sinks deeper.”
One could argue that he has taken this approach to the works displayed in “Invisible fields.”
The works are definitely engaging, in both their colors and their message. The bright colors and bold shapes of N’doye’s “A face is a face” catch visitors’ attention right away. And the installation work that goes along with Williams’ words entices visitors to read her bold message.
Reilly’s less-than-svelte ballerina sculptures make visitors think about the definition of beauty.
To further engage the public, Smith has coordinated programming to go along with the exhibits.
“I want to make sure we have events that bring people back,” he said.
On Sept. 8, Ariel DeAndrea will conduct an origami workshop, and Ibou N’doye will teach a workshop on how to craft musical instruments from found objects on Sept. 29. Both are free and open to all ages.
The art displayed is also more accessible price wise.
“Sometimes people are drawn to artists, but can’t afford their bigger works,” Smith said. So the exhibit also offers other works by the artists for sale that are smaller and more affordable.
Works from “Invisible fields” for sale range in price from $100 to $2,700.
Still under the radar
Another one of Smith’s goals is to draw more attention to the gallery and the work of local artists.
As an artist, Smith’s work has been shown since 1998. He has witnessed how the art community has expanded in the past 10 years.
“In the sense of an artists’ community, we’re flourishing,” he said.
He said that this sense of community has grown since the closing of the 111 Arts building on First Street forced several artists to branch out.
“The ones that stayed [in Jersey City] hooked in with those who weren’t a part of 111,” he said.
Smith said that when those artists, who were often older and more experienced, joined other collectives like Rock Soup Studios (of which he is a member) they often took on a mentoring role to younger, emerging artists.
This coming together has helped the art community to grow further, and it has recently drawn attention from people outside the area.
“There were a few articles in the New York Times about 58 Gallery. In that sense, we’re getting to be known more,” Smith said. But, but he later added, “we’re still under the radar.”
With the center of the art world just a train, ferry, or car ride away, it’s almost unbelievable that more Jersey City artists haven’t gotten wider notice. Smith said that this may be because gallery owners and collectors from New York are often loath to discuss and explore the new artists and new works being created across the river. But that is something that he is working on changing.
“It’s a matter of getting people to come here to see what we have,” he said.
“Invisible Fields…positively guided by the unseen” is on display through Oct. 12 at Lex Leonard Gallery in Jersey City. The gallery is located at 143 Christopher Columbus Drive. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday 3-8 p.m. or by appointment. For more information call (201) 209-0544.
Comments on this piece can be sent to mfriedman@hudsonreporter.com