Ready or Not: An Exhibition at the Newark Museum
Topic: ART NEWS
Ready or Not: An Exhibition at the Newark Museum
By Tammy Duffy
Ready or Not, is an exhibition featuring works by 40 New Jersey-based artists, at different points of their careers. The 2014 edition of the New Jersey Arts Annual in Fine Art varies in practice and style. By using a wide range of artistic processes and approaches in color, form, material and content. This exhibition raises questions about place and experience, expanding the conversation on the region’s identity, its narrative and context in relation to art.
The descriptive title of the show allows for the possibilities for engagement, learning and individual insight.. As one walks through the exhibition, you will experience moments of unexpectedness that only increases your curiosity of the pieces. Take you time walking through the exhibition. Go to every piece and interact with it.
Photo by DUFFY
Ginger Andro and Chuck Glicksman memorize you with their piece entitled, Rear Window, circa 2013. This 14 minute video was shot through a window overlooking a marsh at Barnegat Bay, New Jersey during a rain shower. Many of your senses are tickled with this piece, sight, sound and smell.
The romantic movement of the raindrops hitting the window allows for a distortion and reflection onto the back wall. The sound reminds me of the grandmother clock in my parents home growing up. As you watch this video you can smell the rain, you feel its presence.
The doorway you see in this photograph above, on the right is yet another amazing installation that is quite worth gong through the revolving door, don’t miss it.
These amazing photographs by Lym play an important role in the depiction of American diversity and the effects it has on culture and tradition. The braid patterns seen in these photographs can be viewed as a type of hidden language.
Toai has created a collaborative installation called “The Petri Island Project: He is tapping into the cultural and individual perspective of citizens who visit the Newark museum. The project asks the simple question: “what does an island mean to you?”
The artist asks for as many children and adults in Newark to be a part of this project by inviting each person to contribute to his project and the final installation.
It is a fairly simple process. Every participant is provided with an empty plastic petri dish and asked to “fill” the dish by painting, sculpting, or whatever process of treatment that suits you, to create “what an island means to you.” It can be anything from a collection of items, to a picture or a finger painting, to an elaborate work of art. The result can be metaphoric, literal, simple or complex. The goal is to include every school child, and any citizen who is interested in contributing.
I loved the exhibition and its interactive quality. The security employees at the museum know a lot about the art, they guide you to places where you may not have gone. They make sure your visit is wonderful. There are other exhibitions in the museum that are equally as engaging and intellectually stimulating. Take time to go through the entire museum, its well worth your time.
Newark Museum
49 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Newark's Downtown/Arts District
3 blocks from NJPAC
General Information: (973) 596-6550
Monday | Closed |
Tuesday | Closed |
Wednesday | 12:00 – 5:00 pm |
Thursday | 12:00 – 5:00 pm |
Friday | 12:00 – 5:00 pm |
Saturday | 12:00 – 5:00 pm |
Sunday | 12:00 – 5:00 pm |
Suggested Museum Admission
Adults: $12
Veterans & their families with valid I.D.: $7
Children, Seniors & Students with valid I.D.: $7
(2 years and younger: FREE)
Members & Newark Residents: FREE
Posted by tammyduffy
at 8:20 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 24 August 2014 8:23 PM EDT