Jersey City is getting ready for “JC Fridays,” a day of free art, music, dance, photography, theater, film, spoken word, and more at various locations throughout the city. This is the one-year anniversary celebration for the now-seasonal event.
With success from the previous Fridays, it has expanded to include new locations throughout Jersey City and has doubled in size from the first event.
So whatever your pleasure, Friday, June 2 offers something for everyone.
The idea behind the movement
“JC Fridays” came about in response to the closing of 111 First St. in Jersey City. Some of the art leaders in Jersey City discussed how they could build up an audience for art in town and find a place for the displaced artists. Their project included going around the community to local businesses to get people involved in art in their own neighborhoods.
Some of the groups at the first meeting included: Art House Productions, Jersey City Museum, Pro Arts, Victory Hall, Grace Church, Gallery 58, Mana Fine Arts, and others.
It looks like all their hard work has paid off. With each new JC Friday, the event has spread to new venues and gained a bigger audience. There are over two dozen venues participating for the anniversary celebration. This is the fifth JC Fridays event after a year of successful events in the summer, fall, winter, and spring. The spring event brought over 500 people to the Jersey City art scene, which is up from the 300 people who attended in the fall.
“I think it’s wonderful to see how much we’ve grown and how much Jersey City has embraced the event,” said Christine Goodman, director of Art House Productions. “We’ve more than doubled in size. It’s very exciting. We are branching out into new neighborhoods and cross collaborations.”
The Next JC Fridays
Because of the overwhelming response, it has been officially determined to hold JC Fridays four times a year, at the change of every season. The fall event is already scheduled for Friday, September 8.
Many of the venues, like Grace Church Van Vorst, City Hall, Victory Hall Cultural Center, and The Jersey City Museum, have participated in all of the JC Fridays thus far and are strong supporters of the arts. According to Goodman, the response from the community has been great.
“It was so cold [in March],” said Goodman. “People were shocked that so many people came out in the cold. That’s a testament to how people are embracing the event.”
The event is set up to allow people to go to many events to get a real sampling of the art and culture scene in Jersey City.
“I would encourage people to check out the map and pick a few places and maybe something they’ve never seen before,” said Goodman. “I think there is something to be said for having a night where you can’t possibly see it all.”
The event
On Friday, the event starts at 11 a.m. and goes until 2 a.m. (For complete list of times and events, see sidebar.) The Jersey City Museum is offering free admission to all exhibitions including the group show Surveillance, which features the work of: Mauro Altamuro, Melanie Baker, Kabir Carter, Roger Sayre and more.
The Jersey City Main Public Library presents Wonder Women: Explorations of the Subconscious Hero. This exhibit was curated by Doris Cacoilo and Ingrid Dahl.
Chamot Gallery presents an open studio day in loft 1B. Please use intercom 102.
The Trees of Nerve Endings Gallery features the art of Maggie Ens. There will be an art ritual workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Please RSVP for workshop: (201) 209-9764.
Sight & Sound Productions presents “Nature Celebration” which includes the art of Jim Legge and the music of local Kevin Spyker. Mediterranean cuisine will be available. BYOB.
Art House Productions and 58 Gallery present: At A Glance: Rush Hour Theatre: featuring Play by Samuel Beckett. The audience can get a “peep show” view of the performers, (Christine Goodman, Jack Halpin, and Maeve Sweeney), who will perform the piece in cycles for two hours. According to Goodman, this is the 100-year anniversary for Beckett, so people all around the world are performing Beckett in celebration.
Sandra Desando Loft presents an open studio day in loft 1C.
Pro Arts and Emerson’s Coffee Shop present an opening party for the exhibition Migrate, a contemporary installation of painting and drawing by Beth Gilfilen. The exhibit was curated by Vikki Michalios for Pro Arts.
Mana Fine Arts presents an opening party for Alternative Voices, which contains diverse work by women. The exhibit was organized by Ev Stone and Meredith Lippman.
Grand Street Gallery presents a complimentary wine & cheese reception, plus special discounts on certain frames.
Eye4One Studios at Subia’s Café presents The Eyes of Inspiration, a photographic ensemble celebrating the multiplicity of all people. In addition, Sum of All Parts, a photo series by Beth Achenbach explores the similarities of the human form.
Cooke Contemporary Gallery presents 15 Images, Mekong River, a series of photographs by Ken Browar and Human Modern-Objects for Life by Peter Mann.
Gallerie Hudson presents a wine & cheese reception and primitive art from Africa and Australia. Art Studio 411 presents an open studio day with a collection of contemporary paintings.
Gallery 58 presents a wine reception for American Formula: Recent Work by Dylon Egon.
The Studio presents an artist talk with Lisa Quinones for TIBET: A New Reality.
The Sunday Painter presents an open studio day with paintings by Hiroshi Kumagai and a jazz performance by Nobuki Takamen and Hitoshi Kanda.
Victory Hall presents the opening for the Pro Arts Members exhibition, which was curated by Beth Venn. It features the work of over two dozen artists.
Janam Tea presents a night of short films by local filmmakers.
Grace Church presents the closing party for the Cathedral Arts Festival. It will be a night of dance, music, & more!
Kevin Spyker and Co. at Bar Majestic presents live music, including: guitar, voice, flute and percussion.
The Iron Monkey presents a closing party for the exhibition by Marshall Mann and will feature DJ D. Groove in the second floor lounge area.
Hourglass Fine Foods presents a cocktail reception with live music.
LITM presents a homage to the Disco Era with a music, video and light show by Lex Leonard and Norm Francoeur.
Breher Brothers building presents a 24 hour drive by exhibit by E. Jan Kounitz.
Pro Arts at Montgomery Window presents a 24 hour group exhibition, Art Across the Plaza.
The sponsors
The free events presented throughout the city were made possible by support from the following: Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, The Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs, The Jersey City Reporter, The Jersey City Magazine, Historic Downtown SID, Art House Productions, and The Jersey City Museum.
This program was made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, which was administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Local business supporters include: Emerson’s Coffee Shop, Gallerie Hudson, Pro Arts, Bar Majestic, CreateSpace and Trish Szymanski, Grand Street Gallery, Hudson County Art Supply, LITM, MANA Fine Arts, Sam Pesin (in honor of Liberty State Park’s 30th birthday), and Yoga Shunya.
For more information on the event please visit: www.jcfridays.com.
JC FRIDAYS
Jersey City Museum, 350 Montgomery St., art, 11 to 5 p.m.
Jersey City Main Public Library (Gallery Room), 472 Jersey Ave., art, 12 to 5 p.m.
Chamot Gallery, 2 Union St., (Loft 1B, intercom 102), open studio, 12 to 6 p.m.
The Trees of Nerve Endings Gallery, (Loft 2K, intercom 211), 2 Union St., art and demo, 4 to 7 p.m.
Sight & Sound Productions, 281 Grove St., art, music, & food, 4 to 9 p.m.
Art House Productions, 58 Coles St., play, 5 to 7 p.m.
Sandra Desando Loft, 2 Union St., (Loft 1C), open studio, 5 to 8 p.m.
Pro Arts and Emerson’s Coffee Shop, 133 Morris St., art, 5 to 9 p.m.
Mana Fine Arts, 227 Coles St., art, 6 to 8 p.m.
Grand Street Gallery, 270 Grand St., wine & cheese reception, 6 to 8 p.m.
Eye4One Studios at Subia’s Café, 506 Jersey Ave., photography, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Cooke Contemporary Gallery, 125 First St., 2 exhibits, 6 to 9 p.m.
Gallerie Hudson, 197 Newark Ave., reception and art, 6 to 10 p.m.
Art Studio 411, 411 Monmouth St., art, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Gallery 58, 58 Coles St., art & wine reception, 7 to 9 p.m.
The Studio, 196 Morgan St., artist talk, 7 to p.m.
The Sunday Painter, 244 York St., open studio and jazz, 7 to 9 p.m.
Victory Hall, 186 Grand St., art opening, 7 to 10 p.m.
Janam Tea, 353 Grove St., films, 7 to 11 p.m.
Grace Church, 39 Erie St., dance, music, & closing party, 8 to 10 p.m.
Kevin Spyker and Co. at Bar Majestic, 275 Grove St., live music, 8 p.m. to ?
The Iron Monkey, 97 Greene St., art closing party and DJ, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Hourglass Fine Foods, 528 Jersey Ave., cocktail reception and live music, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
LITM, 140 Newark Ave., music, video, & light show, 9 p.m. to ?
Breher Brothers building, 357 Palisades Ave., outdoor art, all hours
Pro Arts at Montgomery Window, 272 Grove St., outdoor art, all hours