t h e p o w e r o f A R T a l a J E R S E Y

i enjoy museums as much as the next person, but lately with the escalating prices of nyc institutions or the incredibly long lines & crowds, i've given up and missed a few major exhibitions...

this frustration has prompted me to find art closer to home... and that i found!

the jersey city museum is a wonderful, local treasure nestled in the historical van vorst district (grove street PATH or marin light rail stop). this museum is a perfect size, not overwhelming but just enough to satisfy your art fix. the museum "places particular emphasis on exhibiting and supporting the work of contemporary [& local artists] who represent the diversity of our society, and on preserving and making accessible the art and the historical and industrial objects of significance to the region in its collections." i'm looking forward to upcoming exhibits, such as 1967, paintings that reflect the local social unrest of the race riots 40 years ago, and scratching chance, a 9 channel-video about lottery cards & the dream of hitting it big.

if you're looking for a museum on a larger scale, take the PATH a few stops more to penn station in newark, then hop on the new light rail to the newark museum. it's stunning, inexpensive... and still (i think) a well kept secret in jersey. i've seen many exhibits here (my favorites include george tice's photographs from paterson and masters of the american comics). the gift shops are a gem too, the perfect place for getting unique presents. (i'm a definite museum gift shop junkie!)

if you are looking for more thought-provoking movies than what the hollywood blockbuster industry churns out, see the newark black film festival this summer (all FREE at the museum and other locations in the state). "Celebrating its thirty-third year as one of the nation's defining voices on behalf of independent film, the Newark Black Film Festival has become known among its peers as the longest running black film festival in the United States. Throughout the years, it continues to provide a progressive public forum for hundreds of emerging writers, directors, producers, performers, and film buffs who enjoy African American and African Diaspora cinema. Screening in the summer months, the films shown reflect the full diversity of the black experience in America, both past and present. Also included in the festival is a Youth Cinema Series."