That’s a Wrap on 2024 — A Jersey Arts Retrospective
In what seems like the blink of an eye, 2024 has come and gone. Another year has flown by in spectacular fashion and Jersey Arts is looking back on all of the content we have been lucky enough to share with you!
Our team behind the scenes has weighed in to share some of their favorite pieces from a year filled with excellence. These are some of the folks who make ArtPride New Jersey what it is. For those of you out there unfamiliar with the connection between ArtPride New Jersey and Discover Jersey Arts, allow me to present a simple equation:
Advocacy + Promotion = Making and Enjoying More Art(s)
ArtPride New Jersey is the state’s largest arts service and advocacy organization. Their mission is to increase awareness of, and support for, the value of the arts to New Jersey’s economy, education, and overall quality of life. Discovery Jersey Arts is an initiative run by the amazing team at the aforementioned organization. It is an initiative designed to increase public awareness of and participation in the arts. I like to think of them as a megaphone, amplifying the voices of artists gracing the great state of New Jersey. You can’t support the arts if you don’t know where to find it, and that’s why you’ve got us!
The ArtPride team quietly works behind the scenes to make sure that theater, museums, concerts, festivals, and more continue to thrive and then the Discover Jersey Arts contributors shout from the rooftops to make sure those events are attended using videos and podcasts, and articles, oh my! Yin and yang. It’s a collaborative venture.
(With Wicked and The Wizard of Oz at the height of their popularity, you’re lucky that I’ve only made one joke so far, but I digress).
Jim Atkinson, the Director of Programs & Services at ArtPride insists that "the talented writers, producers, videographers, and correspondents that bring these stories to life are our unsung heroes. They do an amazing job of finding the story within the story of the performances and exhibitions that define our state’s arts scene. It’s really a pleasure to work with each and every one of them."
Chiming in to echo that sentiment is the Marketing & Communications Manager, Tanesha Ford. “Without a doubt, the Jersey Arts Features would not be as valuable as they are without the hard work and talents of Isaac Serna-Diez, the Digital Content Manager, and all of our amazing contributors. It is their passion for the arts and their incredible storytelling that make these Jersey Arts Feature Stories - *chef’s kiss*."
For his part, Serna-Diez adds that "Discover Jersey Arts is nothing without the contributors, just as much as it is nothing without the stories we tell. Every writer, producer, and videographer has their own unique touch to the work that they create, crafting a work of art in their own right. It cannot be understated how important they are to the work that we do. I appreciate the passion and emotion they bring to each piece."
Knowing now how highly this team thinks of their contributors, you can imagine how difficult a task it must have been for them to narrow down their favorite features from the past twelve months. But this hard-hitting reporter got it out of them.
Let’s revisit two of Tanesha’s favorites first:
Keith Alessi is a One-Man Show in 'Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life, written by the ever-talented Shen Shellenberger.
"This was a particular favorite because it really spoke to the value of the arts in the ways of individual, mental, and emotional well being. The power of the arts in healthcare is so often overlooked, but the impact of telling the stories, lifting the spirits, and giving folks the ability to express themselves in safe and nurturing ways is invaluable."
She also chose to highlight Newark’s Own Atelier to Runway, a collaboration between yours truly, Gina Marie Rodriguez, and Jersey Arts' fabulous videographer and editor, Dave Tavani. I promise I did not tell her to include this! (Tanesha, do not tell them about the cookies and candy canes I shared. That’s our little secret).
"As an avid consumer of fashion that expresses a person's personality, this Jersey Arts TV production hit all the feels. I love how the Black American culture was infused into traditional red carpet looks and was fabulous on its own terms. The black and white vertical striped ball gown was particularly spectacular. And kudos to The Newark Museum of Art for providing a virtual experience of the exhibition for those of us too far away!"
Second, we have two of Jim’s favorites:
Cult classic 'Empire Records' Gets the Musical Treatment, a video feature reported on, filmed, and edited by the brilliant Maddie Orton.
"The video package we did on 'Cult classic "Empire Records" Gets the Musical Treatment' is such a nostalgic treat and takes me back to the misspent days of my youth, spending countless hours in record stores (including the Princeton Record Exchange) talking about and discovering new music with other 'misfits' like me. While I’m more of a child of the 80’s than the 90’s, those same experiences played a key role in shaping me into the person I’ve become. It’s also pretty cool that the original score was created by New Jersey native, Zoe Sarnak."
Nicole Atkins Returns to New Jersey Roots at Outpost in the Burbs, also written by Shen Shellenberger.
"I started my career in the music industry in Philadelphia, and reading the article ‘Nicole Atkins Returns to New Jersey Roots at Outpost in the Burbs’ brought back a flood of memories. Her stories about navigating the business reminded me of the incredible musicians I had the privilege of working with in their early days. While I collaborated with many established artists during that time, my greatest joy came from supporting up-and-coming talent at intimate venues much like Outpost in the Burbs."
And we’ll round out this retrospective with Isaac’s two top picks:
‘Smoke & Mirrors’ at the Zimmerli Awakens Viewers to the Challenges Those with Disabilities Face while Viewing Museum Exhibitions, written by the wonderful Ilene Dube.
"As a Rutgers alumni, the article "'Smoke & Mirrors' at the Zimmerli Awakens Viewers to the Challenges Those with Disabilities Face while Viewing Museum Exhibitions” made me beam with pride in my alma mater. I’ve set foot in the Zimmerli Museum plenty of times, but this exhibit was the first time I’ve truly thought outside of the box. The arts should be accessible to everyone, and we often overlook the struggles that those with disabilities have when trying to partake. This article offers a glimpse into that world, and makes us aware of the things we take for granted."
Alonzo Adams tells stories of the Black experience at Zimmerli Art Museum, a video collaboration between the great Jesse North and Dave Tavani.
"Not to sound like a broken record, but Alonzo Adams tells stories of the Black experience at Zimmerli Art Museum was my favorite video of the year. Not only because of the production behind the video itself, but because of the quality of work behind the exhibition. Alonzo Adams is an incredibly talented artist who once went to Rutgers himself. His words during the interview were inspiring, and the story behind his journey is a great look into how the art comes together."
This is but a small sampling of what can be found at jerseyarts.com. In the words of Jim Atkinson, "The arts are about people, their stories, and the magic they create. Our Jersey Arts features bring that magic to life, one article, podcast, and video at a time. Every piece uncovers something new and reminds me why I love what I do. At ArtPride, we’re passionate about giving a voice to artists while bringing audiences closer to the arts they love."
As evidenced by the stories in this retrospective alone, I hope it is clear that ArtPride and by extension, the Discover Jersey Arts initiative, seek to honor the diversity of artistic expression across the state of New Jersey. There are many voices yet to be heard and we look forward to the chance to grab our megaphone and amplify them in the coming year.
If you’d like to learn how to keep informed, or how to amplify your voice, please reach out to Tanesha Ford at [email protected].
