“dudes love his work”

Every guy I ever dated since I’ve known Hiroshi Kumagai has been in love with his artwork.  To be fair to Mr. Kumagai (and persons here by left unnamed) that’s only two guys in three years, but trust me… dudes love his work.

I do too, but I don’t have to stop mid-fork shovel during dinner to scream, “The blue” “The BLUE” as my ex once did in reference to yeah you guessed it a certain blue Hiroshi used in one of his 2007 pieces. Hiroshi is having a show downtown for the next four weeks called Broken Dialect with Songyi M. Kim at Index Art Center. Hiroshi’s work is super seamless and fresh and dope and all kind of other terms to be found in Bell Biv DeVoe songs of the early 90’s. I guess you have to see Hiroshi’s work for yourself to understand why I can only describe it in Pop terms. If I had more than eleventeen cents in my bank account Mr. Kumagai would be the artist I would actively try to collect… but for now I guess those Garbage Pail Kid cards from third grade will have to do.

"Hand-cut vinyl portrait of people who is engaging in some form of digital communication, such as video chat, skype, and AIM. It aims to capture what's lost in translation among digital communications" - Hiroshi Kumagai

Works by: Hiroshi Kumagai and Songyi M. Kim
March 12th through April 2, 2010
Opening reception March 12th from 6 to 9pm.
Gallery hours for index Art Center are as follows
Thursdays: 6 – 9 pm
Fridays: 12 – 6 pm
Saturdays: 1 – 4 pm
viewing appointments are also welcomed.

INDEX ART CENTER
585 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
www.indexartcenter.org
index.gallery@gmail.com
201-218-9725

St. Phillips has been around since 1988, founded by Dean Dillard Robinson and members of his congregation at Trinity & St. Philip’s Episcopal Cathedral. Starting off with only 10 first-grade children in a house that had been donated by the cathedral in downtown Newark, they have grown to an enrollment of 340 students, grades K-8. Now they are located in the former chocolate factory at 342 Central Avenue, an eco-friendly school designed as a learning tool around the United States Green Building Council’s guidelines. Late last week, I had the opportunity to take a tour. I was amazed.

AMAZING THING #1: 52,000 SQ FT. & 15,000 SQ FT. GYM
As you travel up and down to each floor of building, the color changes according to elevation. At the very top of the school the walls and floor tiles are bright blue (SKY, wink, wink). At the very bottom, shades of brown & green. Each classroom is decorated with bright colors and images reminiscent of the floor, age group and subject taught.  An enormous bright yellow gym is separated from the outdoor turf play area by a versatile theatre stage that can be used both indoors and outdoors depending on the weather.

Yoga time

AMAZING THING #2: ROOF TOP GARDEN
4,500 square feet of teaching gardens. And lets not forget the rain barrels to recycle water. St. Phillip’s students learn about gardening and the importance of fresh produce. Groups of students are assigned to different pods on the rooftop garden and are given the chance to grow plants, fruits and vegetables.

4,500 SQ FT Green Roof

AMAZING THING #3: LUNCH TIME! 
No fast food or square cafeteria pizza here! In fact, outside food is not even allowed inside the walls of St. Phillips. St. Phillip’s has arranged to buy local produce from two nearby farms. All meals are made fresh daily. Students do not stand in line, but eat at a large, round table… family style!!! Harvested fruits and vegetables from the rooftop garden are used in some of their dishes, reiterating the importance of fresh food!

AMAZING THING #4: IM HERE, YOUR THERE
Students have the opportunity to learn & communicate with individuals from far away places. This past Monday, they interacted with a scientist in the rain forest that helped them compare soil samples. Rain forest soil vs. Newark soil.

I could go on and on about my experience at this school. I was just so impressed about how they thought out every little detail regarding making this school a one-of-kind, eco-friendly experience. Each student was so vibrant and anxious to learn, which we all know is rare at times. Congrats St. Phillips Academy for bringing that type of  AMAZING enthusiasm to Newark!

Check out St. Phillips for yourself on the web.

The theme of this year’s show was “Funundrum”. While I’m not quite sure what that means I can tell you that throughout the show the crowd was led on a journey into the circus acts of the past. While the skits were well-thought out and entertaining I was most impressed with the athleticism of the performers.

Without giving too much away of the show away, I was particularly amazed by an act that involved three very flexible women that managed to cram into a tiny glass box. I’m not claustrophobic, but the very thought of how that felt certainly made me feel a bit uneasy.

These Were Big Sellers

One particular thing that I found amusing was during the intermission a trivia contest was held between two kids. The grand prize….a copy of the official Barnum and Bailey’s Circus video game. Come on guys really? A circus video game?

I attended the Sunday early afternoon show and I must say the turnout was quite impressive and was composed of a mix of Newark residents, as well as people from neighboring towns. I firmly believe that more family friendly events, such as this one need to be held as they bring in a diverse crowd from all over.

If you missed your opportunity to see the circus in Newark and still want to go, you are not entirely out of luck. The show will be repeated multiple times at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford until March 14th.

Stephen Mishol, Tek'tanik

Tek’tanik a multi-site exhibition, curated by Evonne M. Davis in Gallery Aferro’s Main Gallery and New Media Room, will have it’s opening reception this Saturday, March 13th, 7-10 PM. The exhibition will run till April 24, 2010. The artists in the show include Kate Bonner, Tammy Renee Brackett, Kyle Coniglio, Lisa di Donato, Lisa Elmaleh, Dahlia Elsayed, Jacob Galle, Kelly S. Goff, Michelle Levante, Patrick Millard, Stephen Mishol, Matthew Nicolosi, Joan Pamboukes, K. Shelton, Dmitry Strakovsky, Kai Vierstra, and Sue Zwick.

Tek’tanik refers to “large-scale processes that take place within the earth.”  This exhibition was provoked by the changeability of the internal environment, and the attendant reality that convictions change with the climate, relationships change as convictions do, and nothing is still.

The show will also include a movie in the New Media Room from artist Ryan Schroeder entitled “Nothing to See/Hear.”  Evonne M. Davis says, “The urban environment as a whole, and specifically the evidence that remains from its consumer activity, is the basis of his aesthetic research. His work exists simultaneously in a state of creation and destruction, absorption and expansion.”

See you there-

Gallery Aferro
73 Market St Newark NJ 07102

Come see work by Jacob Miller this Sat. at Gallery Aferro

From what Black Eyed Peas song are these lyrics from?

“Dance everybody move your body through the music…”

 Tell us the artist they collaborated with, the album, the song, and the track number.

The first GlocallyNewark reader to comment correctly WINS! 

Gotta get those, Gotta get those tickets!

Come and Rock To The Beat with Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie!

Tonight's the night, Let's live it up!

Feel the heated passions of Brazil at the Newark Museum’s After Hours: A Night In Rio Dance Party headlining the sensational Samba Novo Band on Thursday, March 18, from 5 pm to midnight. An exciting itinerary is lined up to dazzle the senses — from Brazilian cuisine and drinks, art work, and music. Admission to the event is $10, and free for members

The dance party takes place in the Museum’s Engelhard Court, which itself has been transformed into a dramatic artwork entitled BLACKOUT: A Centennial Commission by Paul Henry Ramirez. And, don’t be shy if you aren’t up on the hot South American dances. Get into the fun of Samba and Bossa Nova by attending a dance class at 7 pm. You surely will become a pro on the floor when Samba Novo Band takes center stage at 8 pm.

BLACKOUT by Paul Henry Ramirez

For a modest cost, taste Brazilian carnivale cocktails or delight in coquetel and dinner specials. There is also a cash bar, and 10 percent discounts at the Museum shop and membership plans.

ENTER TO WIN A TRIP TO BRAZIL!

Stop by the Museum anytime between now and May 23, 2010 and enter to win a vacation package including roundtrip airfare to Rio de Janeiro courtesy of Continental Airlines with 7 days and 6 night accomodations at the beautiful Nannai MuroAlto Beach Resort courtesy of Francine’s Travel of Newark. Newark Museum, and Francine’s Travel employees and their families are not eligible to win.

Only fully completed entry forms will be eligible. A winner will be selected at random from all eligible entry forms submitted on or before Sunday, May 23, 2010. Winner will be notified by the Newark Museum. One entry per family per visit please. Winner must be 18 years or older. No purchase necessary and you need not be present to win.

FREE DRINK FOR GLOCALLY NEWARK READERS – read below for details:

Print out the ticket below and present it at the ID table at the Newark Museum during A NIGHT IN RIO dance party. Exchange the print out for a ticket for a free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. Please note: one ticket per person. Also, if you are a college student, please show your ID, and you will only have to pay $6 for admission.

Newark Museum

49 Washington Street

Newark, NJ 07102-3176

Phone: 973-596-6550

Photo Credit: Rutgers University

On Friday night, the Rutgers-Newark Men’s Basketball team made school history by becoming the first basketball team ever to make an appearance the NCAA Division III championship tournament.

The team was pitted against Rhode Island College in a match-up in Middlebury, Vermont, which is over five hours away from their home turf here in Newark.

The first half of the game featured a great see-saw battle between the two teams. For the most part Rutgers had the upper-hand and closed out the half leading by a score of 37-to-36.

Unfortunately, the second half was a different story, as Rutgers allowed Rhode Island to go on a twelve point scoring run with a little under nine minutes left in the game.

This proved to be the nail in the team’s coffin and they were never able to regain the lead. In the end, Rhode Island won by a score of 72-to-60, thus eliminating Rutgers.

The Raiders, however, did not go down without a fight. Senior guard James Johnson scored twenty points, which was the most for the team.

Fellow senior and teammate, DeShawn Singleton, wasn’t far behind as he scored 16 points and picked up ten rebounds.

In my mind, despite the loss, the game itself was a huge accomplishment for the Scarlet Raiders. The team was able to differentiate itself as being more than the younger brother of the Divison I Rutgers team in New Brunswick. In some ways they also showed fans that college basketball in Newark isn’t just limited to Seton Hall.

While a couple of key players, who helped make this season a success one will not be back, I feel that this is a step in the right direction and wouldn’t be surprised to see the team contend again next year.

Filmmaker Tonia Grady said the documentary “is nothing more than a call-to-action by one woman who is watching helplessly as her daughter is caught in the throws of this merciless disease — I like to call fatherlessness…I sink to a new low every time my child asks me, “Mommy where is my daddy, and why doesn’t he come to see me?” I have always despised the vicious cycle of fatherlessness, but never did I think that a child of mine would fall victim to it.”

Newark was the 5th city of the 10-city tour. What’s interesting is that Newark is included in this tour because of a Newark-based organization’s involvement in the film – as an example of solutions. Now, to be honest, I don’t think the film covered nearly enough of what this organization – the Newark Comprehensive Center for Fathers (NCCF/Fathers Now) actually does.

Father's Now Director, LaVar Young engages the audience at the Man-Up: The Exploration of A Fatherless Nation premier about the importance of fatherhood, March 4th, 2010 at the Newark Museum.

But it seems there was a reason for this. “The film was already completed. They found out about us, came out here, and taped for a week,” Lavar Young, Director of NCCF said. “It made sense [to participate in the project]. There are so many fathers that don’t have relationships with their children…it’s like there this Fatherhood Industry….far too many are not involved. And so the young are leading the young, no values are being instilled in these children. The feelings that come with the lack of a father get suppressed as you get older. This film definitely brought those feelings back to me.” But Mr. Young also spoke from the perspective of the missing men. “Now that fatherlessness is in the media again (noting various PSA’s on the issue), we’re also bringing to light that historically, fathers haven’t received the same support and attention as mothers in terms of services, custody, general assistance.”

I hear NCCF wasn’t on the DVD’s – heavily pushed during the event…what’s up with that?

It covered the problems and symptoms pretty well, though in some cases ManUp’s subjects seemed to equate fatherless children as a sort of a consequence of the pursuit of happiness; and not necessarily irresponsibility or even poor decisions. Case: One woman had five children (all) by different fathers. Although I understand that most people want a significant other, this seemed a high price to pay for such a quest. The film didn’t get into that. I’m not sure that this “societal ill” can ever be healed if such perspectives are overlooked.

ToniaGrady- Man-Up: The Exploration of A Fatherless Nation director and executive producer, Tonia Grady talking with the audience about her vision behind the documentary.

I spoke with Tonia Grady later on; my goal was to have her articulate why everyone should care about the contents in the film – what if your Dad was in your life? After all, while the film was a real tearjerker – listening to little girls and boys talk about a void…In the end how does fatherlessness matter to society?

“It is a social issue. Young men who don’t have a father will grow up and perhaps become a robber, a rapist, or worse,” she said. “Is it really that bad?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“What has this film accomplished?” I asked. “This film is providing a platform for the fatherless to speak. You no longer have to keep it bottled up; you are not isolated – 24 million children are without a father right now.”

Panelists: moderator and NYU graduate student, Marcus C. Harvey, executive producer and director of the film, Tonia Grady, UMDNJ Fatherhood Program Director, Charles Dixon, music industry executive and author of "Be A Father to Your Child", Bill Stephney, Father's Now Director, LaVar Young.

Those were clear answers as far as I was concerned; I was all done. But before I could thank Ms. Grady for her time, she says, “Are you done? I have to go…”

I was thinking, “Is she serious?” I smiled and said, “Yes. Have a nice evening.”

Smile.

This past Friday, the Daily News once again addressed the City of Newark in an article called “It’s a Wonderful Loft,” analyzing and praising the half a dozen recent loft conversions.   

The article mainly profiles the projects, while pumping the NEW appeal of Newark  with the hope to pull in outside buyers. While Newark is always looking to bring in new residents, as a Newarker, I am very excited to see new potential places to live.

Attention Newarkers: You have a few new options!!!

1. The Button Factory Lofts HERE!
59-65 NJ Railroad Avenue
201-362-7168
www.buttonfactorylofts.com

NY Daily News says: “After Hal Laessig and his wife lost their downtown Newark art gallery and living space in an eminent-domain fight with the Newark Housing Authority over the Prudential Center, they were determined to save an old building. Three years and $3 million later, an 1879 former button factory in the Ironbound District houses their gallery, the Sumei Multidisciplinary Art Center, and serves as their home. They developed Button Factory Lofts into 14 condo units, nine of which have sold since the building opened in October.”

2.  StudeBaker Lofts COMING SOON!
368 Broad Street
http://studebakerloftsnj.com/Home_Page.html

NY Daily News says: “The former Studebaker car service center on downtown Newark’s outskirts will be converted to 68 rental units, 50% affordable and 50% market rate, over 14 months.”

3. Packard Lofts COMING SOON!
1002-1008 Broad St.

NY Daily News says: “Packard Lofts, at a 90-year-old former car dealership, will be finished sometime this summer. Tom Banker, a spokesman for developer Dubrow Management, said the 28 rental units will have high ceilings and mezzanine spaces, “the same flavor you’d get in SoHo or Chelsea,” and the target market will include “people who are working in downtown Newark but not living in downtown.”

4. Richardson Lofts COMING SOON!
50-60 Columbia St.
http://richardsonlofts.com/

NY Daily News says: “His (referring to Michael Saltzman, Owner) Newark-based company, Newwork, is turning a 100-year-old former jewelry factory into the 67-unit Richardson Lofts — the company’s first project in the city. The centerpiece of the project, due for completion in May, is the six-story spiral steel staircase winding up through an atrium topped by a skylight. Among the many other salvaged elements, oversize balconies have been crafted from fire escapes.     Units will range from 450 square feet for $1,080 a month to 950-square-foot duplexes for $2,464.”

5. TBD!

NY Daily News says: “Billy Haberthur and his business partner, Michael Hanley, are carving out a niche with mega-lofts that range from about 2,600 square feet to a 15,000-square-foot penthouse.  Their $20-odd million condo project, 90 South Street Lofts, will add four floors to a three-story former toilet factory, creating about 25 units.      The Ironbound project, which just won approval and will take about a year to complete, will be loaded with amenities, including a swimming pool, a basketball court and a 22,000-square-foot roof deck with a running track and a driving range”
 

Many New York sportscasters seem to be under the impression that the superstar, who is averaging just under 30 points per game, is New York Knicks bound.

While that is certainly a possibility, I think it’s a bit too premature to be buying the #23 Knicks jerseys.

Recently there have even been rumors floating around that the Nets may get in on the King James bidding. It makes sense, as the team is in desperate need of an offensive catalyst and LeBron is just that.

One advantage that the Nets have over the many other teams vying for James’ services is a well-documented friendship between the star forward and rapper/part owner Jay-Z.

Also, Yahoo Sports recently suggested that James may only be seeking a three year contract, which is certainly reasonable and well-within New Jersey’s budget.

Still though, the chances of King James coming to Jersey are slim at best. That being said, it would not surprise me if the Nets’ new management was aggressive in pursuing the superstar in an attempt to restore faith in the franchise before the team departs for Brooklyn.

To answer the question point blank: No, I do not believe LeBron James will be suiting up as a member of the New Jersey Nets next season. In my opinion, I see LeBron going to a contender where he can rake in a couple of NBA championship rings.

On the Nets end, I do expect the team to be aggressive in filling their many holes by dabbling into this upcoming summer’s incredibly deep free agent class.

You’ve heard my take on the LeBron James saga and now it’s your turn. Where do you think King James is headed this season?