An Abundant Life - More Abundance

I wrote last week about a beautiful group of amazing and talented young artists who were showing their work at the lovely 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace. Part of the Jersey City Arts High School Program, the show was a tremendous and well deserved success, and this week another group of artists had the opportunity to create their own show there. I say they had the opportunity, because it is difficult for emerging artists to find supportive spaces to show their work, but because of the generosity of 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace, everyone in the area nearby the gallery and anyone willing to travel there had the opportunity to see extraordinary, beautiful and powerful work, and to meet the lovely artists who created and envisioned it. As I have said before, I feel it is important to encourage artists to do the work they love to do because we are all enriched by it, and so although I have other events and spaces and people waiting in the wings for me to write their posts, I wanted to give equal footing to the second group of artists who are a part of this program as I did to the first. Please join me in celebrating and recognizing these tremendously gifted artists for the hard work and passion they share with us.

Jersey City Public Schools-Jersey City Arts High School Program

And 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace Present

Prelude

Marinelle Manansala, Vanessa Hondoy, Jorelle Rea, Jia Jia Zhong

107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace

107 Bowers Street

Jersey City Heights, New Jersey

www.107bowersgallery.com

Blessings,

Jannie Susan 

An Abundant Life - True Abundance

I've written about the beautiful 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace, and the lovely owner Kristin DeAngelis in these pages before, and I have attended events and openings there over the past few months that have all been very special. But the other day when I received an invitation to For Thought: JC Arts Senior Show Reception I knew it would be important for me to be there. Even though the weather has been colder than feels comfortable in Spring, and I don't like being cold at all, especially not in May, I headed over to the gallery, thinking that I would be there for only a short time and then would head back home again. I think it's so important to encourage artists of all ages, and encouraging up and coming artists who are just starting out in their professional life is something that I have always felt is needed. Being an artist is hard enough - seeing the world through your own eyes that sometimes see things in such vastly different ways than everyone else does is not an easy way to live, and often I think that artists can spend time wondering if they are talented or visionary enough rather than focusing on doing the work they feel in their hearts they must do. So even though it was cold and gray outside, I made my way over to the gallery, thinking that I would be doing something very important by giving some encouraging words about the work that I'd see there. What I wasn't prepared for was the beauty and vision and extraordinary talent I'd find, so much that it warmed me right up and made me forget that I had anything to say to anyone, except that their work was lovely and that it was an honor to be there. Breathtaking, yes, lovely, yes, powerful, yes and yes and yes. I look forward to the day when their names are in lights, and I'll be able to say I saw their work one cold May day at a lovely neighborhood gallery.

Franyelly Rodriguez, Jina Alhenawi, Shawna Reid

For Thought: JC Arts Senior Show Reception

107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace

107 Bowers Street, Jersey City, New Jersey

www.107bowersgallery.com

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Spirit Of The Wood

A few weeks ago I went to the gallery opening for "SuperWoman!" at the beautiful 107 Bowers Gallery & Art Space in Jersey City Heights. The room was filled with gorgeous pieces by truly wonderful artists, and though I would not have thought of trying to pick a favorite from among the stunning pieces there, when someone asked me what my favorite was, I pointed out a few that had caught my eye enough to bring me back again for several more closer looks. One of the pieces was by Philip A Robinson Jr., and I said that of all the pieces there his piece had moved me very deeply. The person who had asked me pointed the artist out and I ran to tell him personally how stunningly beautiful and deeply moving it was. I have always loved wood and wood carving, and this piece was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced before. It was a face, done so intricately and yet with such naturally striking colors and textures that it seemed to come alive from the wall and begin to tell its story. There were words carved into it, burned into the wood so delicately and forcefully that the experience of reading them was a visceral one. Beautiful words written and composed with care, speaking with love for a personal and collective history and future.

I arranged to visit his studio, and we met there on a very rainy and windy wild weather spring day. But inside there was peace in the storm as we talked about his history of creating his art. There is so much that he shares in his work that is so personal, and because of the deeply personal connection to his own exploration of culture and race and technology and life and art and music and education and social issues that face youth and families throughout this generation and historically, his themes become far reaching and have an impact beyond what is seen at first glance. Within each piece is a world of ideas and emotions, a personal exploration that becomes universal. His work stayed with me, long after I left the studio, and his quiet and measured words made an impact that still resonates, and will continue to be a part of my understanding, and my questioning, as I connect with the world around me.

Philip A Robinson Jr.

Jersey City, New Jersey

www.philiparobinsonjr.allyou.net
Shown Here With The Artwork Of Helen Kim

Blessings,

Jannie Susan