Notes From The City: An Abundant Life

I met the mesmerizing Maria Kosdan, the Gallery Director of Prime Gallery, at the lovely 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace at the opening reception for the Jersey City Arts High School Program that I wrote about two weeks ago. Kristin DeAngelis, the beautiful Director of 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace introduced us, and though I was exhausted after a very long week and long day, Maria's enthusiasm, warmth, and passion for supporting artists energized me and encouraged me to stop on my way home to attend the opening at Prime Gallery. Maria had stopped by 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace because in her words, "We need to support each other," and my experience of her each time we have met shows that her actions meet her words. She is so full of light and life, and so full of love for art and supporting artists and their work that her energy is contagious. She is from a family of artists and is an artist herself, but early on she had the heartfelt and brilliant idea to learn about and focus on the business side of the business to help and support artists in that area so that they could focus on their work. I have had a similar experience in my own journey, and meeting Maria was a breath of fresh air. So many times people say they want to help artists or work with artists, but when it comes down to it, that's not really the case. With Maria, her love for doing the work of the business shows in all she does, and her respect for the artists she works with is clear. And now with Prime Gallery, her quest to fuse together the worlds of art and real estate have come together perfectly. My hat is off to Prime Real Estate Group for their enormous part in supporting the vision of a gallery in one of their offices. It's one more time that I've been amazed by the open hearts and minds of a group of people who are willing and open to creative thinking and to thinking creatively. The opening I attended was in a word perfection, and when I followed up with a visit during a regular office week day it was just as lovely and marvelous. With food and wine and collaboration from local businesses The Cliff, Jersey Girls Food Tours, Dine DK and CoolVines, and lovely designs from Tribeca Grain, the space and events at Prime Gallery have brought a beautiful new space and place to gather as a community.

Maria Kosdan

Gallery Director/Sales Partner

Prime Gallery

Current Show: "Artists Who Print"

Jay Batlle, Carole Feuerman, Bob Gruen, Shelter Serra

Curated By Maria Kosdan & Melissa Marr, Director of Operations

Gary Lichtenstein Editions @ Mana Contemporary Fine Art

Prime Real Estate Group

Jesse Halliburton, Principal Broker

Maria Kosdan, Gallery Director/Sales Partner

351 Palisade Avenue

Jersey City Heights, New Jersey