BY JEREMY MOSS / NOVEMBER 25, 2024
Manager Curator, Heidi Gallery
Creativity has been in abundance at Heidi Gallery this year. Not only have there been beautiful, thought-provoking exhibitions, which have been broad in their range, we have also introduced Layers of Art. This is a series of creative workshops and performances, made possible by funds from the Essex County Department of Cultural Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The Layers of Art program has been thoughtfully curated to expand the creative reach of Heidi Gallery. Visual art workshops have included: collage, printmaking and mask making which have all been excellent and well attended. The WAE Open 2024, our largest juried exhibit, has featured Layers of Art programs in abundance.
After a successful opening reception, with over 175 attendees, the WAE Open exhibit was the backdrop for a contemporary dance performance by the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company. It was a stunning presentation in a space full of light and art where the dancers dazzled with their grace, poise and movement. A captivated audience witnessed the blending of two art forms in an utterly unique performance. Heidi Gallery will explore the possibilities of developing more collaborations of this kind.
This year’s WAE Open will also welcome back, for the third time the Ekphrastic Poetry Reading performance.
This event is led by Marcia LeBeau of The Write Space, a creative writing space in the Valley Arts District in Orange. LeBeau brings in a cadre of poets to view the WAE Open exhibit, write poems about chosen artwork and perform their finished pieces for the public. Ekphrastic is the Greek word which describes this poetry practice.
The final Layers of Art event of the 2024 program year will take place on January 5th of 2025. This interactive exploration of beautiful healing rhythms, dances and songs from West Africa and beyond will be led by Lara Gonzalez, Artistic Director and founder of Marafanyi Drum, Dance & Song. Guiding audience members through content including traditional music, dance, language and the introduction to indigenous instruments. Bringing with them a holistic approach to music and dance that is fun, encouraging and accessible to people of all abilities. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own shakers and light percussion instruments.
Heidi looks forward to bringing audiences together for many more unique and inspiring art collaborations, during 2025! Check back for that schedule.