Experience the best of three centuries of artistic genius throughout New Jersey
during the 2008-2009 season.
American Masterpieces is an initiative designed by the National Endowment for the Arts to introduce Americans to the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. The following events have been designated by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as American Masterpieces because they represent the incredible talent embodied in American master artists. Click here for more on the American Masterpieces Initiative.
"Deliverance: The Art of Ben Jones 1970-2008"
The Jersey City Museum (Jersey City) Sep 18, 2008 - Feb 22, 2009 (201) 413-0303
This major retrospective of the work of Ben Jones features a complete survey of the artist's work, dating from the mid 1970s through his most recent paintings. "Deliverance" explores various aspects of the artist's body of work, and delves further into its close relationship to religions of the African diaspora. Many of the artist's key works are in the exhibition, including the iconic Black Face and Arm Unit, from 1971 (State Museum, Trenton). Organized by independent curator Ed Spriggs, whose relationship with Mr. Jones dates back to the early 1970s, when he was director at the Studio Museum in Harlem and Ben Jones was exhibiting his work there, this survey is an unprecedented examination of this important American artist's work.
"Philip Pearlstein: Objectifications"
The first survey of the artist's work in 25 years!
Montclair Art Museum (Montclair) Oct 19, 2008 - Feb 1, 2009 (973) 746-5555
This exhibition, featuring 40 works by artist Philip Pearlstein, is the first retrospective in 25 years, since his 1983 survey at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The Montclair Art Museum’s exhibition includes paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints that cover Pearlstein’s art from 1940 through 2008.
Masterworks II: Elemental Music
Performed by the
Garden State Philharmonic
The Strand Theater (Lakewood) Nov 22, 2008 (732) 451-0064
Music is an elemental force; nature in sound. Composers have explored this theme for centuries. Mercury, the quick silver messenger, Capricorn, the earth sign and life giving water. Each element with its own characteristics; each piece with its own sound.A multi-media display enhances the program. Program includes Handel: Water Music, Barber: Capricorn Concerto, Copland: Quiet City, Haydn: Symphony No. 43, Mercury
Two-Year-Old Gentleman
Performed by choreographer Ronald K. Brown
and his company, EVIDENCE
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (Newark) Dec 6-7, 2008 1-888-GO NJPAC
Choreographer Ronald K. Brown and his company, Evidence, are renowned for using a wide variety of dance forms—ranging from African to modern, ballet, and hip-hop—to reveal stories about the human experience. Here, they perform a new work, commissioned by NJPAC, entitled Two-Year-Old Gentleman, developed around the stories that grandfathers pass on to future generations. An NJPAC Alternate Routes event.
Happy Birthday Lenny (90th Birthday Celebration)
Performance by composer and Pianist Jimmy Roberts
Newark School of the Arts (Newark) Dec 13, 2008 (973) 642-0133
Happy Birthday Lenny (90th Birthday Celebration) - A look at the life and work of Leonard Bernstein featuring excerpts from his musical masterpieces. Jimmy Roberts, composer of "I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change" will talk about Mr. Bernstein and play excerpts from some of his works. Students and faculty will also be performing.
Momix Re-Mix
Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) Feb 27, 2009 (732) 842-9000
A spectacular company of dancer/illusionists, Momix and choreographer, Moses Pendleton are on, "An endless search for another gravity." Using an inventive mix of athletics, dance, theatre, comedy, riveting music, outrageous costumes, inventive props and light, shadow and the human body, they create shows that transport audiences from the everyday to a surreal fantasy world of exceptional beauty. The Chicago Tribune calls Momix "inspired vaudevillians" and "crowd pleasers," giving their programs, "A charge of amusement and excitement absent for many years from modern dance." The NY Times calls Momix, "This zany group," the Toronto Globe and Mail calls Momix "mad and marvelous," and the L.A. Herald Examiner says, "Momix is ideal for turning audiences onto dance."
1776: Pulitzer Prize winning musical by Peter Stone
Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn) Apr 15 - May 17, 2009 (973) 376-4343
The pivotal event in American history blazes to vivid life in this most unconventional of Broadway hits. It's the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence... if only our founding fathers can agree to do it!
1776 follows John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Richard Henry Lee and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia as they attempt to convince the members of the second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the shackles of the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence.
A musical about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, 1776 puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the men behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation.
Living jazz legend Jimmy Heath and his Quartet
Rutgers - Camden Center for the Arts (Camden) May 8, 2009 (856) 225-2700
Living jazz legend and native Philadelphian, Jimmy Heath, is best known for his earliest big bands of 1947-48 which included such notables as John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Cal Massey, and Johnny Coles. Recognized as a brilliant saxophonist, composer and arranger, Jimmy is the middle brother of the legendary Heath Brothers (Percy on bass, Tootie on drums). He has performed with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis to Wynton Marsalis.
RCCA will bring the Delaware Valley jazz community together to pay tribute to Jimmy Heath. In addition to audience members who remember his music “back in the day” , fellow renowned jazz artists will come together to salute their colleague in a pre-concert event hosted by WRTI 90.1 FM radio host Bob Perkins who grew up with Jimmy Heath.
LADY, BE GOOD
Joseph P. Hayes Surflight Theatre (Beach Haven) May 27 - Jun 14, 2009 (609) 492-9477
LADY BE GOOD - A classic Gershwin musical, the show's loose-jointed plot revolves around the exploits of abrother-and-sister vaudeville team, who, through a series of madcap adventures hinging on missing wills and haughty heiresses, find themselves rocketing from the state of the dispossessed to wealth and popularity among the Long Island haut monde. Toe tapping musical numbers include Fascinating Rhythm, The Half of it Deary Blues and Oh, Lady Be Good. This light-hearted musical comedy is still entertaining more than 80 years after it’s conception.
Peter Paul and Mary (RESCHEDULED DATE) - SOLD OUT
Retrospective Performance
The Community Theatre (Morristown) Jun 20, 2008 (973) 539-8008
With such timeless classics as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Lemon Tree” and “Puff (The Magic Dragon),” Peter, Paul and Mary’s folk music has sparked the imagination and the passion of a generation intent on social change for over 40 years.
