The 2nd Annual 24-Hour Songwriting Challenge consisted of musicians from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania who recorded new and original music in a 24-hour period on September 12th, 2015.
For the artists, whomever’s track receives the most individual downloads from now until November 16th will win time at EightSixteen Studiosto re-record their submission as a proper single (minus the 24-hour restriction).
Tonight is the opening gala of Michael Hanna’s “Enchanted Physics” in Chelsea at Wix Lounge (235 West 23rd St.) from 6-9pm.
Hanna has had 8 solo exhibits in the past year, and seeks “an emotional response” to his sociological and analytical art. He provokes with chaotic, visually stimulating works.
Visit Michael-Hanna.net to see interactive oil paintings, cyberpunk paintings, transhuman digital fine art and drawings. Yes, it’s intense.
The 25th annual Jersey City Art & Studio Tour kicks off tonight, Jersey City! Perhaps one of the most anticipated events in Jersey City, JCAST (as it’s referred to by residents) is set to make even more of a mark this year.
JCAST features over 800 artists during its weekend-long event. It’s not only a great opportunity to meet your local artists and purchase unique pieces at reasonable prices, it’s a fine time to get to know your neighbors, government officials and connect with the burgeoning city’s ever-growing diverse community of eclectic citizens.
Tonight is the kick-off opening gala presented by Mayor Steven Fulop, the JC Municipal Council and the Office of Cultural Affairs at the JCAST Flagship Gallery Pop-up at the Lackawanna Center (629 Grove Street). Free transportation is provided via shuttle bus from the Grove Street PATH every half hour from 7pm-11pm and by Lyft (code: JCAST2015). Parking is available on-site in adjacent lots: 16th and Grove Street and 18th Street between Grove St. and Jersey Ave. Or take advantage of our newly-installed Citi Bikes at stations: JC009 & JC034.Directions here.
The event is free and open to the public, and offers an array of entertainment for all ages: Interactive fun provided by Hudson County Art Supply; Film Screenings by the Jersey City International Television and Film Festival; Small bites from The Hamilton Inn, The Kitchen at Grove Station, and Mill Creek. And then for the 21+ crowd: Adult bevvies provided by Raval, Satis Bistro, and Lucky 7’s.
Find out about all Saturday and Sunday showingshere. I always try to soak up as much as I can, but it is nearly impossible to see everything over the two days; choose wisely and plan well. If you somehow make it to every stop, please let me know!
Sometimes it takes a T-shirt to open up a conversation about social change. Enter Joy, who began the company Be The Difference, LLC.
The company originally started because Joy was heavily into fitness, and she wanted a shirt that said “Work Hard, Snack Harder.” When the first self-made T-shirt became such a conversation starter, Joy went out and looked for designers to create more.
The operation evolved into a mission to get strangers on the street and even your friends to begin discussions about social change and spreading positivity and support. “I was tired of seeing negative images,” says Joy. “Why can’t I just do something positive? This movement is about change,” says Joy.
Some shirts: “Say No to Workforce Bullying.” “The Grass is Greener…Right Here.” “Hard Work Pays Off.” Other shirts have positive affirmations: “I Can, I Will” and “Built for Tough.” Joy gets her inspiration from everyday people and things. “If I believe it, somebody else will believe it,” she says.
The subject matter is not always sunny, but begs to invoke change, such as the shirt emblazoned with “The Addiction Kills the Family.” Many have experience with that and it open up lines of communication.
“People are looking for something,” says Joy. “I know that in the long run these T-shirts will help raise awareness and help people treat people differently, even if a person just notices the words subliminally while passing by and recalls the message later.”
Joy donates 10% of profits every month toHayden’s Heart charity organization, which raises awareness for infants with Congenital Heart Disease and helps families with expensive medical bills. She is also doing a series called “Our Lives Seen Through My Eyes,” based off of the “Addiction Kills the Family” T-shirt, and would like volunteers to come foward and share their stories as well. Watch the video here.
Check out Joy’s online shophere, or catch her merchandise at Teez N’ Things, (181 Monticello Ave.); A New You Hair Salon (593 Ocean Ave.); Uneeek Success Styles (407 Ocean Ave.); or at one ofJersey City’s outdoor markets. T-shirts range from $15-20.
“Landed.” Candy Le Sueur, 2013, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in.
Art Exhibition “Candy Le Sueur: Where Dreams Land,” opens at Hamilton Square condominiums (232 Pavonia Ave.) in Jersey City on Friday, September 11 at 7pm.
The show features nine large abstract landscape paintings that were created between 2012 and 2015. Each painting is oil on canvas. The exhibition also includes a series of small-scale prints and encaustics.
