Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Explores New Jersey’s Caribbean Diaspora This Spring
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s latest exhibition, Olas Caribeñas/Caribbean Waves, is an interdisciplinary initiative that explores the visual art and folklife traditions of the Caribbean diaspora in New Jersey. Works by Caribbean artists Jairo Alfonso and Kevin Darmanie compliment Los Herederos’ Sonicycle, on display now through June 4. Alfonso’s solo show Objectscapes in the Main Gallery is a survey of the artist’s work from the past decade and features large-scale drawings and paintings concerned with the cultural and societal meanings of everyday objects. Darmanie’s piece, Jack & Jill, featured in the Stair-gazing Gallery, illustrates the artist’s practice in which he references elements of his own life and shared experiences to inform clean narrative works which explore complex relationships between image, object, gaze, and landscape.
The Art Center’s Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery showcases The Sonicycle, a mobile audio-visual unit that engages communities in sharing stories, music, and cultural traditions. Created by Los Herederos, a media arts non-profit organization dedicated to culture in the digital age, this interactive digital caravan is fully outfitted with a DJ turntable, speakers, audio players, a projector, and recording equipment. Los Herederos will activate The Sonicyle to record stories from artists, performers, and community members during a community day event at the Art Center on Saturday, February 11, from 12:30 – 4 PM. In addition to The Sonicycle, the day will feature a tour of the exhibitions, live musical performances, and Caribbean food from local vendors. Visit artcenternj.org for more information and to register for this free, public event.
Olas Caribeñas/Caribbean Waves and its accompanying programs were made possible by support from the National Endowment of the Arts, the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Wilf Family Foundations, and the New Jersey Council on the Arts.
