Mana Contemporary Fall Open House Sept. 15

by Michael Scivoli

Ever since our first visit, Mana Contemporary Fall Open House has become something of a September ritual around here. If you’re not familiar with the open house, each year, Mana artists open their studio to the public giving us a look behind the scenes. In addition, the Jersey City campus hosts a wide array of performances and installations during the event’s runtime.  Mana Contemporary’s Fall Open House begins at 1PM on Sunday and concludes at 7PM to 9PM with their annual afterpary. Here’s a look at what you can expect via the Mana team:

Performances

1–1:45PM: TRINA MANNINO, BRUTTA MA BUONA (WORK IN PROCESS)
Brutta ma Buona explores the history of female labor, the ancient weaving tradition of Tappeti Ericini in Sicily, and the photography of Letizia Battaglia.

1:45–2:30PM: JOY DOUGLAS, this is my design (WORK IN PROCESS)
this is my design is an exploration into what is being hidden and inherent human compassion.

2:30–6PM: ERIK THURMOND, FAMILY DRAMA
Family Drama is an installation where the performers act as a family for your viewing pleasure. They make this time and space their home so that you may consider the ways in which you perform familial roles in the theaters of your lives.

4–5PM: Z BEHL, Hit Your Self: Self Indulgence as Radical Vulnerability
Z Behl attacks a self-portrait piñata. This blindfolded performance explores self-indulgence as radical vulnerability, using strength and violence to destroy and at the same time expose herself.

4–6PM: KURT HENTSCHLÄGER, SUB—evolver 
SUB is an immersive environment by Austrian-born, New York-based, Kurt Hentschläger. In evolver, the installation’s second phase, visitors encounter organic and evolving forms of visual and sonic impressions. 

6–7PM: DANI COLE, in lungs (WORK IN PROCESS)
in lungs acknowledges a distinctive bravery in spaces that ask us to be here, and move backwards, without fear of losing pace.

mana contemporary

Music

2–3PM: SEGUNDA QUIMBAMBA FOLKLORIC CENTER
Segunda Quimbamba is a Jersey City-based nonprofit cultural arts organization that celebrates Puerto Rican folkloric drum music, Bomba and Plena, through education and performance.

3:15–4:15PM: ROB GARCIA
In partnership with Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, Rob Garcia and his quartet perform original music, and new arrangements of American folk songs.

3–4:30PM: EARTH TONGUES PERFORMANCE
Earth Tongues performs a durational work, between a concert and an immersive sound environment, in the exhibition I Shall Tell Only What I Want to Tell.

4:30–5:30PM: CHHANDAYAN INDIAN PERCUSSION
An Indian percussion ensemble led by Samir Chatterjee, a virtuoso tabla player and a catalyst in the fusion of Indian and non-Indian music.

5:30–6:30PM: DJ SABINE BLAIZIN
DJ Sabine Blaizin’s work focuses on the exposure and pleasures of African diasporic music. Blaizin spins global soul: house, Afrotech, Afrobeat, Haitian roots, and more.

Art

1:30–2:30PM: DECENTRALIZED
Ray Smith joins visitors for a table drawing session, set among the Decentralized Features installation of his series of Table Drawing works.

1–7PM: EXHIBITIONS
Works on view with solo exhibitions by Andy WarholDan FlavinJohn Chamberlain, and more, plus special exhibitions featuring works by Melissa McGillJo Nigoghossian, and more.

1–7PM: OPEN STUDIOS
Mana Contemporary’s community of over two hundred artists open their studios to give visitors an inside look into their practice.

1–7PM: HELIOTROPE FOUNDATION PRINT SALE
Founded by artist Caledonia Curry (also known as Swoon), the Heliotrope Foundation presents an installation of artist-curated limited edition prints for sale. All proceeds benefit Heliotrope’s long-term relief efforts in Haiti.

1–7PM: KIDS ROOM
The kids room provides children of all ages space and materials for artistic creation. Parents or guardians must be present at all times.

1–7PM: BSMT CROP
A community exhibition featuring BSMT artists including Z Behl, CHiKA, Jay King, KLANDO, Milosz Koziej, Kristianne (Kate) Molina, Katherine Quimbayo, Amelia Shields, and Cydney Williams, organized by Z Behl.

5–9PM: LA CHAIR DE L’ESPRIT (SPIRIT OF FLESH)
A liberating journey into the volcano of creation where the limits between art and reality are dissolved to explore the unknown, hosted in artist Carlito Dalceggio’s studio.

About the Author/s

All posts

Michael is the Editor-in-Chief of New Jersey Digest, COO of X Factor Media, and an avid writer. Growing up in Bergen County, he discovered his passion for words while in Friday detention. Michael loves kayaking, a fat glass of Nebbiolo, and over-editing.

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