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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260717T100000
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UID:10000028-1784282400-1784304000@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Listening Summer Intensive
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Stefon Harris\, Alicia Olatuja\, & the Harmony Lab at Express Newark \n4th Floor of Express Newark \nJuly 13th–17th\, 2026 \n10AM–4PM \n  \nWe are extremely excited to offer this week-long ear training\, theory\, vocal\, and improvisation intensive free of charge as a service to our wonderful community of artists\, educators\, and students. \nThis workshop is an intensive for musicians looking to deepen their listening skills and all-around artistry. Participants will work directly with Stefon Harris utilizing his revolutionary app\, Harmony Cloud\, to learn his unique Melodic Progression Ear Training and Theory System. Vocalists will work with Alicia Olatuja following her vocal authenticity training through vocal mastery techniques and mindset mentorship for singers and non-singers alike. Together we will take a deep dive into the world of organized sound and increase our ability to be articulate and empathetic musicians. \nApplication Due on Monday\, May 18th \nTo apply\, you will complete a short questionnaire and submit a recording of yourself performing: Application Link. Applications are due Monday\, May 18th\, and applicants will be notified of their status shortly after. \nApplicants must be 18 years of age or older. Musicians of all levels and musical backgrounds are welcome—we encourage you to apply and share with others who may be interested. Due to limited space\, participants will be selected based on the applications received. \nTestimonials\n“Beautiful\, incredible – thank you so much for this opportunity.” – I.K. \n“It was such an invaluable experience! I feel so lucky to have participated in this\, and being around this group of musicians reminded me why I’m on this journey in the first place!” – A.C. \n“Stefon is a master artist and teacher. Stefon shared decades of his melodic and harmonic knowledge and research and was very effective in teaching his methods across a range of instruments and levels. Furthermore\, I enjoyed and appreciated discussion of the spiritual\, humanistic\, cultural\, and historical context of the music as well. This was one of the best workshops I have ever been a part of.” – T.Z. \nContact Us\nFor any questions\, email us at harmony.lab@rutgers.edu.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/the-art-of-listening-summer-intensive-5/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260716T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260716T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T011927Z
CREATED:20260415T011927Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T011927Z
UID:10000027-1784196000-1784217600@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Listening Summer Intensive
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Stefon Harris\, Alicia Olatuja\, & the Harmony Lab at Express Newark \n4th Floor of Express Newark \nJuly 13th–17th\, 2026 \n10AM–4PM \n  \nWe are extremely excited to offer this week-long ear training\, theory\, vocal\, and improvisation intensive free of charge as a service to our wonderful community of artists\, educators\, and students. \nThis workshop is an intensive for musicians looking to deepen their listening skills and all-around artistry. Participants will work directly with Stefon Harris utilizing his revolutionary app\, Harmony Cloud\, to learn his unique Melodic Progression Ear Training and Theory System. Vocalists will work with Alicia Olatuja following her vocal authenticity training through vocal mastery techniques and mindset mentorship for singers and non-singers alike. Together we will take a deep dive into the world of organized sound and increase our ability to be articulate and empathetic musicians. \nApplication Due on Monday\, May 18th \nTo apply\, you will complete a short questionnaire and submit a recording of yourself performing: Application Link. Applications are due Monday\, May 18th\, and applicants will be notified of their status shortly after. \nApplicants must be 18 years of age or older. Musicians of all levels and musical backgrounds are welcome—we encourage you to apply and share with others who may be interested. Due to limited space\, participants will be selected based on the applications received. \nTestimonials\n“Beautiful\, incredible – thank you so much for this opportunity.” – I.K. \n“It was such an invaluable experience! I feel so lucky to have participated in this\, and being around this group of musicians reminded me why I’m on this journey in the first place!” – A.C. \n“Stefon is a master artist and teacher. Stefon shared decades of his melodic and harmonic knowledge and research and was very effective in teaching his methods across a range of instruments and levels. Furthermore\, I enjoyed and appreciated discussion of the spiritual\, humanistic\, cultural\, and historical context of the music as well. This was one of the best workshops I have ever been a part of.” – T.Z. \nContact Us\nFor any questions\, email us at harmony.lab@rutgers.edu.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/the-art-of-listening-summer-intensive-4/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260715T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260715T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T011752Z
CREATED:20260415T011715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T011752Z
UID:10000026-1784109600-1784131200@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Listening Summer Intensive
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Stefon Harris\, Alicia Olatuja\, & the Harmony Lab at Express Newark \n4th Floor of Express Newark \nJuly 13th–17th\, 2026 \n10AM–4PM \n  \nWe are extremely excited to offer this week-long ear training\, theory\, vocal\, and improvisation intensive free of charge as a service to our wonderful community of artists\, educators\, and students. \nThis workshop is an intensive for musicians looking to deepen their listening skills and all-around artistry. Participants will work directly with Stefon Harris utilizing his revolutionary app\, Harmony Cloud\, to learn his unique Melodic Progression Ear Training and Theory System. Vocalists will work with Alicia Olatuja following her vocal authenticity training through vocal mastery techniques and mindset mentorship for singers and non-singers alike. Together we will take a deep dive into the world of organized sound and increase our ability to be articulate and empathetic musicians. \nApplication Due on Monday\, May 18th \nTo apply\, you will complete a short questionnaire and submit a recording of yourself performing: Application Link. Applications are due Monday\, May 18th\, and applicants will be notified of their status shortly after. \nApplicants must be 18 years of age or older. Musicians of all levels and musical backgrounds are welcome—we encourage you to apply and share with others who may be interested. Due to limited space\, participants will be selected based on the applications received. \nTestimonials\n“Beautiful\, incredible – thank you so much for this opportunity.” – I.K. \n“It was such an invaluable experience! I feel so lucky to have participated in this\, and being around this group of musicians reminded me why I’m on this journey in the first place!” – A.C. \n“Stefon is a master artist and teacher. Stefon shared decades of his melodic and harmonic knowledge and research and was very effective in teaching his methods across a range of instruments and levels. Furthermore\, I enjoyed and appreciated discussion of the spiritual\, humanistic\, cultural\, and historical context of the music as well. This was one of the best workshops I have ever been a part of.” – T.Z. \nContact Us\nFor any questions\, email us at harmony.lab@rutgers.edu.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/the-art-of-listening-summer-intensive-3/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260714T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260714T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T011520Z
CREATED:20260415T011520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T011520Z
UID:10000025-1784023200-1784044800@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Listening Summer Intensive
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Stefon Harris\, Alicia Olatuja\, & the Harmony Lab at Express Newark \n4th Floor of Express Newark \nJuly 13th–17th\, 2026 \n10AM–4PM \n  \nWe are extremely excited to offer this week-long ear training\, theory\, vocal\, and improvisation intensive free of charge as a service to our wonderful community of artists\, educators\, and students. \nThis workshop is an intensive for musicians looking to deepen their listening skills and all-around artistry. Participants will work directly with Stefon Harris utilizing his revolutionary app\, Harmony Cloud\, to learn his unique Melodic Progression Ear Training and Theory System. Vocalists will work with Alicia Olatuja following her vocal authenticity training through vocal mastery techniques and mindset mentorship for singers and non-singers alike. Together we will take a deep dive into the world of organized sound and increase our ability to be articulate and empathetic musicians. \nApplication Due on Monday\, May 18th \nTo apply\, you will complete a short questionnaire and submit a recording of yourself performing: Application Link. Applications are due Monday\, May 18th\, and applicants will be notified of their status shortly after. \nApplicants must be 18 years of age or older. Musicians of all levels and musical backgrounds are welcome—we encourage you to apply and share with others who may be interested. Due to limited space\, participants will be selected based on the applications received. \nTestimonials\n“Beautiful\, incredible – thank you so much for this opportunity.” – I.K. \n“It was such an invaluable experience! I feel so lucky to have participated in this\, and being around this group of musicians reminded me why I’m on this journey in the first place!” – A.C. \n“Stefon is a master artist and teacher. Stefon shared decades of his melodic and harmonic knowledge and research and was very effective in teaching his methods across a range of instruments and levels. Furthermore\, I enjoyed and appreciated discussion of the spiritual\, humanistic\, cultural\, and historical context of the music as well. This was one of the best workshops I have ever been a part of.” – T.Z. \nContact Us\nFor any questions\, email us at harmony.lab@rutgers.edu.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/the-art-of-listening-summer-intensive-2/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260713T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260713T160000
DTSTAMP:20260417T123740Z
CREATED:20260414T183858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T123740Z
UID:10000024-1783936800-1783958400@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Listening Summer Intensive
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Stefon Harris\, Alicia Olatuja\, & the Harmony Lab at Express Newark \n4th Floor of Express Newark \nJuly 13th–17th\, 2026 \n10AM–4PM \n  \nWe are extremely excited to offer this week-long ear training\, theory\, vocal\, and improvisation intensive free of charge as a service to our wonderful community of artists\, educators\, and students. \nThis workshop is an intensive for musicians looking to deepen their listening skills and all-around artistry. Participants will work directly with Stefon Harris utilizing his revolutionary app\, Harmony Cloud\, to learn his unique Melodic Progression Ear Training and Theory System. Vocalists will work with Alicia Olatuja following her vocal authenticity training through vocal mastery techniques and mindset mentorship for singers and non-singers alike. Together we will take a deep dive into the world of organized sound and increase our ability to be articulate and empathetic musicians. \nApplication Due on Monday\, May 18th \nTo apply\, you will complete a short questionnaire and submit a recording of yourself performing: Application Link. Applications are due Monday\, May 18th\, and applicants will be notified of their status shortly after. \nApplicants must be 18 years of age or older. Musicians of all levels and musical backgrounds are welcome—we encourage you to apply and share with others who may be interested. Due to limited space\, participants will be selected based on the applications received. \nTestimonials\n“Beautiful\, incredible – thank you so much for this opportunity.” – I.K. \n“It was such an invaluable experience! I feel so lucky to have participated in this\, and being around this group of musicians reminded me why I’m on this journey in the first place!” – A.C. \n“Stefon is a master artist and teacher. Stefon shared decades of his melodic and harmonic knowledge and research and was very effective in teaching his methods across a range of instruments and levels. Furthermore\, I enjoyed and appreciated discussion of the spiritual\, humanistic\, cultural\, and historical context of the music as well. This was one of the best workshops I have ever been a part of.” – T.Z. \nContact Us\nFor any questions\, email us at harmony.lab@rutgers.edu.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/the-art-of-listening-summer-intensive/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://expressnewark.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Banner-Summer-Intensive-2026-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251009T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251009T210000
DTSTAMP:20251025T211637Z
CREATED:20250918T172702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251025T211637Z
UID:10000023-1760029200-1760043600@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:RHYTHM CHANGES
DESCRIPTION:ANNUAL THEME\nEntering a new season\, EN’s 2025-2026 annual theme is RHYTHM CHANGES\, which embraces improvisation and courageously dances with the inevitable rhythm of change. As a community\, we seek flow\, choose joy in uncertainty\, and create unity in the rhythm of people’s hearts. Through art\, design\, digital storytelling\, music\, and performance\, we’ll explore how rhythm helps us move together through change. \nRHYTHM CHANGES expands EN’s reach with new offerings in music\, printmaking\, and sculpture fabrication; deepens community educational programs; and presents exhibitions in art\, design\, photography\, film\, and public art. The season also features three Artists-in-Residence\, an Organization-in-Residence\, an extended installation\, and a series of artist-activated happenings that bring the theme to life. \nOn October 9\, 2025\, Express Newark hosted a season kick-off with a fireside chat featuring Stefon Harris and Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson\, presentations by our community partners and studios\, followed by the opening of four exhibitions and the extension of two others. \nClick to learn more about the EXHIBITIONS
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/rhythm-changes/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://expressnewark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mary-fields-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250628T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250628T180000
DTSTAMP:20250611T153926Z
CREATED:20250611T153926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250611T153926Z
UID:10000022-1751106600-1751133600@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:Muslim Voices of Newark
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Saturday June 28th for Muslim Voices of Newark\, a symposium of film\, art and talks centering stories of the Muslim experience here in Newark and throughout the history of America. The day-long event will feature film screenings\, lunch\, panel discussions\, a reception\, and access to Express Newark’s 2025 art exhibition\, Powers of the Unseen. \nThe films presented will include a special presentation of the landmark PBS series\, American Muslims: A History Revealed\, and will premiere three new documentary short films created by the inaugural cohort of our Muslim Voices of Newark filmmaking program. \nPanel discussions will feature: \n\nChester Higgins\, artist and photojournalist\nSister Laila Muhammad\, poet and community advocate\nAymann Ismail\, author\, journalist\, host\, American Muslims: A History Revealed\nDr. Kalenah Witcher\, Educator\, Psychologist\, Muslim Voices of Newark filmmaker\nBibi Stewart\, Organizer\, Educator\, Muslim Voices of Newark filmmaker\nNew Freedom Works (Imam MujahidDeen Mohammed\, Marsha Nivins Mohammed\, and Imam Bilal Hassan)\, Muslim Voices of Newark filmmakers\n\nThe conversation will be led by celebrated scholar\, author\, and academic advisor for American Muslims: A History Revealed\, Dr. Zain Abdullah. \nThis program is the culminating event of a series of exhibitions and events exploring Express Newark’s 2024-2025 annual theme\, RITUAL. The theme explores the relationship between Islamic spiritual practices\, rituals\, and creative expression—featuring experimentations in photography\, film\, sound art\, and textiles. These projects span Newark\, which has long been home to one of the nation’s largest African American Muslim communities\, while also branching out beyond the domestic borders of the United States to unite members of the global community. \nThe Muslim Voices of Newark filmmaking program is a partnership between Express Newark’s Community Media Center and Philadelphia’s Scribe Video Center. Scribe created Muslim Voices\, a national community history project supporting Muslim storytellers in creating short documentary films highlighting Muslim experiences and histories. The initiative is designed to highlight and celebrate the presence\, history\, contributions\, and challenges of African American Muslims in America. \nImage from “Muslims of Hunterdon Street“\, courtesy of the filmmaker\, Dr. Kalenah Witcher
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/muslim-voices-of-newark/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://expressnewark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/muslim-voices.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250801
DTSTAMP:20250225T211427Z
CREATED:20250225T014022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T211427Z
UID:10000017-1740441600-1754006399@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:Carroussa Sonore
DESCRIPTION:Carroussa Sonore: Newark\nYounes Baba-Ali  \nExpress Newark welcomes multimedia artist Younes Baba-Ali as its first international Artist-in-Residence. Baba-Ali is a Moroccan-born artist based in Brussels who engages the public by mixing technology\, objects\, sound\, video\, and photography with political\, social\, and ecological issues. Throughout his residency\, he developed the performance and installation “Carroussa Sonore\,” which translates to “sounding cart\,” engaging those who live and work in Newark. Originally\, the “carroussa” was a makeshift vending cart used by merchants on the streets of Morocco and other North African cities to sell recitals of the Quran or sermons from popular preachers. In this iteration\, local artists and students worked closely with Baba-Ali to create site-specific sound artworks performed throughout Newark neighborhoods by street vendors and performance artists. “Carroussa Sonore” departs from a religious act and becomes an intervention that archives urban soundscapes\, abstract noises\, and alternative narratives throughout the African Diaspora. \nParticipating Artists \nAli Motamedi (Ir/Us)\, Amélie Laurence Fortin (Can/Pl)\, Binta Diaw (sn/it)\, Fajr Kegler (Us)\, Haochun Yang & KeKeZ(Chn/Us)\, Jamilah Malika Abu-Bakare (Nga/Us)\, Khaled Jarrar (Pse/Us)\, Laïssa C. Alexis (Hti/Us)\, Magali A Cult (Hkg/Us)\, Nene Aïssatou Diallo (Gin/Us)\, Paul Pinto (Us)\, Richard Garet (Ury/Us)\, Shara Lunon (Us)\, The Just Now Orchestra (Ukr/Us)\, Tiffany Salas (Us)\, Vanessa Blake (Us)\, Wannes Deneer (Be)\, and Younes Baba-Ali (Ma/Be) \n \nRead the Catalogue\n  \nSchedule of Performances : \nNEWARK – February 25\, 2025\, 10.00 AM – 1.00PM \nDeparture: Express Newark \nNEW YORK – February 28\, 2025\, 6.00 PM – 8.00 PM \nDeparture: Flanders House Destination: Fridman Gallery \nFollowed by the exhibition opening of Cities and Eyes (7.30 PM – 9.00 PM)\, curated by Anouk Focquier (Berserk Art Agency). \nNEW YORK – March 2\, 2025\, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM \nDeparture: Fridman Gallery Destination: Lenfest Center for the Arts \nFollowed by the panel discussion: Inviting Imagination: Artistic Generosity as Resistance to Exclusivity (3:00–5:00 PM) moderated by Katharina Otto-Bernstein. \nNEWARK – MAY\, 2025 \nDeparture: Express Newark More details on the final performance will be announced via expressnewark.org \nProduced by: Express Newark \n54 Halsey Street\, 2nd Floor \nNewark\, NJ \nCollaborating venues: \nFridman Gallery 169 Bowery\, NYC \nLenfest Center for the Arts\, Columbia University 615 W 129th St\, NYC \nFlanders House New York Times Building\, 620 8th Ave\, 38th Floor\, NYC \nProject collaborators \nAlliyah Allen (Production)\, Hervé S. Denis (Videography)\, Abigail Geronimo (Assistance/Mediation)\, Fajr Kegler (Performance/Mediation)\,  Yucef Mayes (Mediation)\, and Aude Tournaye (Photography) \nSpecial Thanks to: Salamishah Tillet\, Nick Kline\, Anthony Alvarez\, Alex Dika Seggerman\, Wendell Marsh\, Sandrine Colard\, Iliya Fridman\, Seth Cluett\, Miya Masaoka\, Pat Sweeting\, Yvonne Shirley\, Karen Bernard\, Anonda Bell\, Bryant Lebron\, Gwen Thomas\, Juan Giraldo\, and Gil Hochberg.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/carroussa-sonore/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://expressnewark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_3119-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20250328T164220Z
CREATED:20250328T164220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250328T164220Z
UID:10000019-1740441600-1751327999@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:Woven Prayers
DESCRIPTION:Artist Nzingah Oyo presents “Woven Prayers\,” a series of large-scale portraits staged in front of hand-sewn prayer rugs that contemplate the complexities of faith\, hope\, and connection in a world yearning for meaning. Activating Express Newark’s Lobby\, Oyo’s images build from her “Dreams and Prayers” series to spotlight members of Newark’s local Muslim community —families\, students\, and spiritual leaders—to bring greater visibility to their intergenerational practices and legacies. Her hand-sewn prayer rug scales to roughly fifteen feet high\, and is made up of a series of smaller prayer rugs that Oyo has collected. The portrait sessions were held in the SHINE Portrait Studio at Express Newark.  \nTextiles\, particularly the diverse colors\, designs\, and textures of prayer rugs\, served as an early inspiration for Oyo’s work and can be seen incorporated into many of her photographic compositions.  A Woven Prayer (sajjādat) #3 is Oyo’s third iteration of her practice of selecting\, assembling\, and sewing individual prayer rugs from her personal collection to create one larger prayer rug. Whereas prior prayer rug tapestries served as backdrops in Oyo’s photographs\, here Oyo moves to physically center the work in a space of installation in Express Newark\, inviting the viewer to an intimate and surreal encounter of ritual and connection. In reflecting on the significance of prayer rugs and the work\, Oyo noted\, “It represents a place and space for peace not only within one’s home but within themselves… I wanted to share this experience that many feel when entering the Masjid––a sense of peace and calm.” \n 
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/woven-prayers/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://expressnewark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZING_WATER_40x30small-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250226
DTSTAMP:20250918T172904Z
CREATED:20250121T143358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T172904Z
UID:10000016-1740441600-1740527999@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:RITUAL Opening
DESCRIPTION:Express Newark’s 2024-2025 annual theme Ritual is a series of exhibitions and events that explore the relationship between Islamic spiritual practices\, rituals\, and art—featuring experimentations in photography\, film\, sound art\, and textiles. Ritual features work by artists\, curators\, students\, and community members who’ve immersed themselves in nonsecular expressions of spirituality and Islamic traditions across the Muslim world. These works span Newark\, which has long been home to one of our nation’s largest African American Muslim communities\, while also branching out beyond the domestic borders of the United States to unite members of the global community. \nBy bridging traditional spiritual practices and aesthetic innovations\, these artistic explorations turn towards Muslim interiorities—an often underrepresented perspective in art—to create timely meditations that center art and ritual and inspire new discourses\, worldviews\, and conversations about belief and identity. \n\n\n\n\nImage: Malick Welli in collaboration with Charlotte Brathwaite\, Forgotten Paradise #2\, from the series Dream the Other Side of the River \nOpening Reception: February 25\, 2025 \nExhibitions On View: February 25 – July 31\, 2025 \nRSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/express-newark-presents-ritual-tickets-1142909094869?aff=oddtdtcreator \n\n\n\n\nExhibitions\nPowers of the Unseen \nIn the Paul Robeson Gallery\, the exhibition “Powers of the Unseen” features photography works that explore the Muslim concept of the Unseen (al-Ghayb)\, which refers to that which is hidden from the visible world and beyond human perception. In this exhibit\, the theory of the Unseen frames photography by thirteen international artists\, including Laylah Amatullah Barrayn\, Chester Higgins\, Gordon Parks\, Kameelah Janan Rasheed\,and Malick Welli.These artists explore the frontier between the visible and invisible\, the intersection of spirituality and photography\, and the limits of perception and representation. While many artists have some relationship with Muslim-majority contexts worldwide\, their work resists singular labels. \n\nFeatured Artists: Yasi Alipour\, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn\, Younes Baba-Ali\, Charlotte Brathwaite\, Nene Aïssatou Diallo\, Binta Diaw\, Bruno Hadjih\, Chester Higgins\, Amina Kadous\, Baseera Khan\, Gordon Parks\, Kameelah Janan Rasheed\, and Malick Welli \n\nAs the exhibit includes European\, American\, and African artists\, it also questions the standard geographies of the “Muslim World.” Amidst calls for inclusive representation across spheres of public life\, this work challenges us to consider the right to remain hidden. Powers of the Unseen is co-curated by Sandrine Colard\, Wendell Marsh\, Alex Dika Seggerman\, and Aude Tournaye and will be on view until July 31\, 2025. \nWoven Prayers\, Nzingah Oyo \nPhotographer Nzingah Oyois presenting “Woven Prayers\,” in which the artist captures large-scale portraits in front of hand-sewn prayer rugs to contemplate the complexities of faith\, hope\, and connection in a world yearning for meaning. Activating across the entire second floor of Express Newark\, Oyo invites members from the local Muslim community to participate in the portrait sessions held in the SHINE Portrait Studio. \nSacred Rugs: Contemplation\, Hope\, Resilience \nAcross in the Windows Gallery\, “Sacred Rugs: Contemplation\, Hope\, Resilience” showcases the work of fourteen students who completed the fall 2024 class\, “Problems in Contemporary Art: Ritual.” The course\, led by Assistant Director of SHINE Portrait Studio\, Anthony Alvarez\, encouraged Rutgers students to develop critical insights informed by Elsayed’s artistic practice and to design and create new rugs. Together\, Alvarez and Elsayed urged students to consider the prayer rug as a medium for contemplation\, hope\, and resilience\, inspiring them to envision aesthetic futures that challenge fear and despair. \nFeatured Artists: Christeen Abdelshahied\, Carmelle Alexis\, Caylie Baker\, Brit Derilus\, Victor Elizondo-Martinez\, Bryan Euvin\, Amber Evans\, Daniel Flores\, David Gonzalez\, Jazmyne Johnson\, Vylette Mcknight\, Aasiyah Rogers\, Sonam Salvi\, and Imani Southerland \nCarroussa Sonore\, Younes Baba Ali \nExpress Newark welcomes multimedia artist Younes Baba Ali as its first international Artist-in-Residence. Baba Ali is a Moroccan-born artist based in Brussels who engages the public by mixing technology\, objects\, sound\, video\, and photography with political\, social\, and ecological issues. Throughout his residency\, he is developing a two-part installation\, “Carroussa Sonore\,” which translates to “sounding cart\,” that engages those who live and work in Newark. Local artists and students work closely with Baba Ali to create site-specific sound artworks performed throughout Newark neighborhoods by street vendors and performance artists. “Carroussa Sonore” departs from a religious act and becomes an intervention that archives urban soundscapes\, abstract noises\, and alternative narratives throughout the African Diaspora. \nFeatured Artists: Ali Motamedi (Ir/Us)\, Amélie Laurence Fortin (Can/Pl)\, Binta Diaw (sn/it)\, Fajr Kegler (Us)\, Haochun Yang & KeKeZ(Chn/Us)\, Jamilah Malika Abu-Bakare (Nga/Us)\, Khaled Jarrar (Pse/Us)\, Laïssa C. Alexis (Hti/Us)\, Magali A Cult (Hkg/Us)\, Nene Aïssatou Diallo (Gin/Us)\, Paul Pinto (Us)\, Richard Garet (Ury/Us)\, Shara Lunon (Us)\, The Just Now Orchestra (Ukr/Us)\, Tiffany Salas (Us)\, Vanessa Blake (Us)\, Wannes Dender (Be)\, and Younes Baba-Ali (Ma/Be) \nSubtle Centers\, Dahlia Elsayed & Andrew Demirjian \n“Subtle Centers\,” an immersive installation imagined by SHINE Portrait Studio artist-in-residence Dahlia Elsayed\, in collaboration with artist Andrew Demirjian. This immersive installation meditates on the permeability between interiorities and exteriorities\, prompting visitors to imagine a space between the physical and spiritual worlds collectively. Transforming the Box Gallery into an invented outdoor courtyard featuring mirrored reflection\, moving sounds\, and tangible objects\, the space offers an invitation from the material world for greater comprehension and interpretation of the immaterial.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/express-newark-presents-ritual/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20241030T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20241030T203000
DTSTAMP:20241029T185134Z
CREATED:20241029T185134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T185134Z
UID:10000012-1730309400-1730320200@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:Brand Launch Party
DESCRIPTION:Express Newark is pleased to celebrate its refreshed brand identity\, highlighting Newark as a vanguard of art and activism. The new visual identity foregrounds a black-and-white palette that nods to our city’s past\, while the bold type emphasizes our drive toward artistic experimentation and collaboration. The new brand system reflects our name: Express—a gathering place for ideas\, innovation\, and creativity; Newark—a vibrant cosmos of cultural work\, community accountability\, and civic pride. This rebrand acknowledges Rutgers University – Newark’s ongoing commitment to the campus\, community\, and the city’s dynamic arts ecosystem. The updated look will be rolled out throughout the fall via new signage\, digital and print collateral\, a social campaign\, and a new website. \nThe program will feature a live-music performance by Alicia Olatuja\, screen-printing and photography activities\, and light refreshments. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public. Our venue is wheelchair accessible; elevator access is provided at the Halsey Street entrance to Hahne & Company.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/brand-launch-party/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240220T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240220T210000
DTSTAMP:20250529T135210Z
CREATED:20240112T233920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250529T135210Z
UID:10000004-1708452000-1708462800@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:Blues People Opening Reception
DESCRIPTION:Blues People has always meant a great deal to me. It was a dramatic self-confirmation\, as a personal intellectual and artistic “presence\,” but also as the expression of a set of ideas and measures that I have carried with me for many years. Most\, even until today. –Amiri Baraka \nInspired by the 60th anniversary of the acclaimed book Blues People: Negro Music in White America by writer\, poet\, and political activist Leroi Jones\, who later renamed himself Amiri Baraka\, visual artists – Derrick Adams\, Adama Delphine Fawundu\, Adebunmi Gbadebo\, Cesar Melgar\, and Accra Shepp – have reimagined a pivotal work of theirs and created five newly commissioned art installations in Express Newark that explore what it means to be “Blues People” in the twenty-first century. \nOpening Reception: Tuesday\, February 20th 6:00pm – 9:00pm
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/blues-people-opening-reception/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240220
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240720
DTSTAMP:20240310T000613Z
CREATED:20240220T010209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240310T000613Z
UID:10000007-1708387200-1721433599@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:The Holdout II
DESCRIPTION:The Holdout II\nDerrick Adams\nWith “The Holdout II\,” Adams revisits a social sculpture that he initially debuted at Alijira: A Center for Contemporary Art in Newark in 2015. Now\, using a house-like structure and the format of a pirate radio station\, “The Holdout II” is hosted by Sister From Another Planet (Andrea Rose Clarke\, SFAP) and welcomes creatives and cultural practitioners to engage in conversation about gentrification\, economic development\, and land ownership\, set to the curated sounds of SFAP. \n“Holdout” is a real estate term for an owner of property in a row of acquired buildings who refuses to sell. Adams’s sculpture poetically references individuals within communities united as a wall of resistance and support. The installation and performative work acknowledges what is priceless and important to preserve in one’s own culture. It highlights a value system that appreciates these ideals. \nThe sculpture and custom furniture was designed and created by L. Dawn Designs\, Jahmir Duran Abreu\, Rich Dubois and Ziello Frames. \nListen now to The Holdout II live\, hosted by Sister From Another Planet! \n \n  \nAbout Derrick Adams\nDerrick Adams (b. 1970\, Baltimore\, MD) is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Brooklyn\, New York. He received his BFA from Pratt University\, New York\, in 1996 and graduated with an MFA from Columbia University\, New York\, in 2003. Adams has held numerous teaching positions and is currently a tenured assistant professor in the School of Visual\, Media and Performing Arts at CUNY Brooklyn College. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Maryland Institute College of Art. Adams celebrates and expands the dialogue around contemporary Black life and culture through scenes of normalcy and perseverance. He has developed an iconography of joy\, leisure\, and the pursuit of happiness within a practice that encompasses paintings\, sculptures\, collages\, performances\, videos\, and public projects. Adams synthesizes representational imagery with planar Cubist geometry to produce multifaceted figures and faces that address the richness of the Black experience. \nIn 2022\, Adams established Charm City Cultural Cultivation\, an organization to support and encourage underserved communities in the city of Baltimore through events conducted by three entities: The Last Resort Artist Retreat\, a residency program that subscribes to the concept of leisure as therapy for the Black creative; The Black Baltimore Digital Database\, a collaborative counter-institutional space for collecting\, storing\, and safekeeping the data of local archival initiatives; and Zora’s Den\, an online community of Black women writers started in January 2017\, which has since expanded into in-person writing workshops\, a writers’ circle\, and a monthly reading series that strive to promote instruction\, support\, and social engagement. \nAdams has been the subject of solo exhibitions at institutions such as The Cleveland Museum of Art\, Cleveland (2022); The Momentary\, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art\, Bentonville (2021); Hudson River Museum\, Yonkers (2020); and the Museum of Arts and Design\, New York (2018). The artist has mounted public installations commissioned through Art at Amtrak at NYC Penn Station\, New York (2023); MTA Arts & Design at the Nostrand Avenue LIRR Station\, Brooklyn (2020–ongoing); and RxART at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem (2019–ongoing). His work has been featured in notable group exhibitions including The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century\, Baltimore Museum of Art\, Baltimore (2023); Packaged Black: Derrick Adams & Barbara Earl Thomas\, Henry Art Gallery\, Seattle (2022); Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair\, Kent State University Museum (2021–2022); and Performa\, New York (2015\, 2013\, 2005). His art resides in the collections of The Brooklyn Museum\, The Metropolitan Museum of Art\, New York; The Studio Museum in Harlem; the Whitney Museum of American Art\, New York; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts\, Richmond; and the Birmingham Museum of Art\, among many others. \nAbout Sister from Another Planet\nAndrea Rose Clarke began building her music library in the 5th grade. Her Guyanese father\, an audiophile and computer programmer\, encouraged her to set up his then state-of-the-art Fisher Tune-o-Matic 500TX stereo system\, which later was conducive in her feeling at ease in settings like a master control room or DJ booth. \nHer journey continued through classical violin study and art school\, which immersed her in the vibrant culture of downtown Manhattan during the 1970s and 80s. A regular in celebrated clubs like Danceteria\, Area and Mudd Club\, and at the Soul Boys and 12 Tribes gatherings in Brooklyn\, her musical horizons expanded across many genres including rare soul\, 70s/80s reggae and golden age hip hop\, African\, new wave\, and rock. \nBy creating Sister From Another Planet (SFAP)\, Andrea found a platform to share her music discoveries. DJing at venues like the World\, MK’s\, Pyramid\, Wetlands\, Madam Rosa’s and Mars\, she later extended her listenership through a 14-year stint producing and hosting a radio show for WBAI 99.5 FM that connected with a diverse audience spanning age\, race and gender. \nCollaborations with icons like Chuck D resulted in the production a second show for WBAI\, “...ANDYOUDONTSTOP!“\, that focused on social commentary and the impact of independent and golden-age hip hop on global culture. \nNotable interviews include such luminaries as Octavia Butler\, Avery Brooks\, Nikki Giovanni\, Gil Scott Heron\, Kanye West\, Nona Hendrix\, and Sananda Maitreya/Terrence Trent D’Arby. \n 
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/the-holdout/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240220
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240720
DTSTAMP:20240220T201459Z
CREATED:20240109T235134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240220T201459Z
UID:10000003-1708387200-1721433599@expressnewark.org
SUMMARY:Blues People
DESCRIPTION:“Blues People has always meant a great deal to me. It was a dramatic self-confirmation\, as a personal intellectual and artistic ‘presence\,’ but also as the expression of a set of ideas and measures that I have carried with me for many years. Most\, even until today.”  —Amiri Baraka \nInspired by the 60th anniversary of “Blues People: Negro Music in White America”\,—the acclaimed book by writer\, poet\, political activist and Newark native LeRoi Jones\, who later renamed himself Amiri Baraka—visual artists Derrick Adams\, Adama Delphine Fawundu\, Adebunmi Gbadebo\, Cesar Melgar\, and Accra Shepp have reimagined pivotal works of theirs to create five newly commissioned art installations at Express Newark that explore what it means to be a “Blues People” in the twenty-first century.  \nAccra Shepp’s “Occupying Wall Street” and “Covid Journals” feature black-and-white portraits of protesters during New York City’s Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011 and the global Black Lives Matter uprising of 2020. Installed on the main floor of the building and incorporating Baraka’s poetry and the music of Shepp’s father\, the avant-garde jazz musician Archie Shepp—a good friend of Baraka’s—Shepp’s work dissolves the boundaries between the individual and the collective\, reminding us that those who participated in the demonstrations played an essential role in the safeguarding of American democracy and achieving radical forms of justice. \nIn the Window Gallery\, multimedia artist Adebunmi Gbadebo features two new handmade\, site-specific paper textiles inspired by her work “At the Bottom of the Atlantic Ocean There is a Railroad Made of Human Bones.” Taking its title from a line in Baraka’s poem “Wise\, why’s\, y’s\,” her pieces are made from Black hair\, cotton\, and indigo dye and meditate on labor\, land\, and familial legacy at True Blue Plantation\, the rice and indigo plantation where her ancestors were enslaved in Fort Motte\, South Carolina.  \nAcross from these textiles\, in the Box Gallery\, photographer and visual artist Adama Delphine Fawundu revisits her experimental short film\, “Who We Be”\, which explicitly takes up Baraka’s emphasis on Black music by exploring hip-hop\, social language\, and activism in Freetown\, Sierra Leone\, in West Africa. Serving as a backdrop to the film\, “Who We Be II” is a wallpaper designed using Fawundu’s technique\, kpoto patchwok\, in which she blends photographic transfers of Black crowds throughout the African diaspora\, further expanding the musically immersive experience of her installation. In the Mende and Krío cultures of Sierra Leone\, the term kpoto loosely translates to “gathering.”  \nIn the Paul Robeson Gallery\, multidisciplinary artist Derrick Adams plays with the real estate term protesting gentrification\, by reimagining “The Holdout\,” a house-like social sculpture with a curated radio station that he initially exhibited at Alijira: A Center for Contemporary Art in Newark in 2015. Experimenting with the format of a pirate radio station and live guest DJ sets\, Adams highlights conversations with renowned artists and local activists about displacement\, economic development\, and land ownership. \nSurrounding Adams’s sculpture is street photographer Cesar Melgar’s “Newark Master Plan\,” a debut series of black-and-white images of Newark properties from 2019 to 2022 that bear “Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Development” banners.  Exhibited alongside his photos from his 2018 “Street Views” series\, set in the Ironbound and Downtown Newark\, Melgar’s romantic images remind us of the vitality and vibrancy of Newark communities and the increasing threats posed by higher living costs\, corporate home purchases\, and the enduring wealth gap. \nThe “Sounds of Newark” installation displays five works from Express Newark’s Community Media Center residents Laïssa C. Alexia\, Kendra Brandon\, Gary Campbell\, Celli Pitt\, and Chris Simmons on the fourth floor. Considering silence as a marker of gentrification\, the installation presents a soundscape in which these five artists remember the value of their community as the city changes around them. Working with artist Jamilah Malika Abu-Bakare\, these CMC residents use sound as a sonic space of refusal and a creative way to rescue an archive. Taken together\, the installation asks: What sounds shall we save? \n“Blues People” is curated by Alliyah Allen\, Express Newark’s associate curator and program coordinator. Additional support is provided by executive director Salamishah Tillet; creative director Nick Kline; Anonda Bell\, director of the Paul Robeson Galleries; Brooke Finister\, program coordinator of New Arts Justice; and Anthony Alvarez\, assistant director of Shine Portrait Studio and coordinator of the Free School at Express Newark. \nRutgers University-Newark\, the Ford Foundation\, the Andy Warhol Foundation\, the HarbourView Equity Foundation\, the Devils Youth Foundation\, and Duggal Visual Solutions provide generous funding for this exhibition. Additional support is from New Arts Justice\, Shine Portrait Studio\, Paul Robeson Galleries\, and Harmony Lab.
URL:https://expressnewark.org/event/blues-people/
LOCATION:Express Newark\, 54 Halsey Street\, Newark\, NJ\, 07102
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
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