Sync or Swim, Brent Klokis

Exclusions, Shane Gertner

Concept comes first. This notion fuels the work of conceptual artists Shane Gertner and Brent Klokis. Both artists employ a wide range of media and techniques to bring their creative ideas to life, but only after their concepts have been established. For Gertner and Klokis, concept is also what drives their choices for medium and technique. Concept: Found is a collection of the artists’ work that employs the use of found objects.

Shane Gertner creates rich narratives through found photographs, objects, and other ephemera. He affords the viewer glimpses into private worlds that are at once relatable, nostalgic, and bizarre. Gertner utilizes his vast collection of found materials to create immersive environments that reveal truths and invoke contemplation.

“As an artist I strive, through various media, to collect and create objects that remind me that each person’s perception is unique to them and never the same as mine; no two truths are ever the same no matter how similar. By collecting and creating various objects, doing research about their origins, gathering data, and performing field work I create assemblages and artworks which work to show someone’s truth, whether it is yours or mine. By collecting and creating various objects, doing research about their origins, gathering data, and performing field work I create assemblages and artworks which work to show someone’s truth, whether it is yours or mine. My work also concerns the relationships and values we create between things in our lives and how singular these are to us. I never approach making art with an idea of the finished piece. Instead I begin with an idea or concept and then decide what materials are needed to best express it. My body of work is therefore collection of different kinds of media all connecting to each other in order to further investigate an idea.

My work in Concept: Found is comprised of a more personal collection of works and artifacts. The photographs and objects on display were all found at various times in different places. My interest in each item led to further investigation and the presented works are the result of various investigations, inquiries, and expeditions. Each piece is part of a collection of insights, facts, and in some case voyeuristic truths that I have assembled. While some give more insight than others, all of the pieces work together to provide an insight into something other than my own perception.”

Brent Klokis uses found imagery and recyclable materials to distill layers of information. He employs the technique of collage to create seamless environments and imaginary worlds that capture an atmosphere that simultaneously evokes both intensity and calm. Klokis also creates three-dimensional topographical works that explore surfaces, layering, and the human form. What starts as a series of rectilinear planes is transformed into three-dimensional geometries that create an exaggerated sense of depth.

“Our reality is built on information. However, it is the specific organization and layering of this information that facilitates our understanding of this reality, whether it’s putting together bits of sound waves to constr uct a conversation, or pieces of visual information to construct our surrounding environment.

“In my work, I seek to explore this information landscape and exploit its constructs as I strive to find ways to present new organizations of that information. In my collection of collage work, this pursuit manifests itself through the creation of vignettes of environmental wholes. These vignettes are personified emotions portraying an almost muted intensity, as the emotion of each scene is balanced with a passiveness that resides as a reminder of the complexity and decentralized structure of the information landscape.

“No effect is the result of a single cause, there is no central focus in life, what’s exciting to one may be terrifying to another and mean nothing at all to a third. These pieces are made from disparate clippings of mainstream publications reinstated as a new whole, with a new story to tell.

“Manufacturing the thought process through a different method, my Topographs collection reimagines visual information as topographical layers. By simplifying visual information into two dimensional, hierarchically-colored elevation planes we can approximate an image with a definite depth. However a side view reveals a different picture. This collection uses cardboard as an easily accessible and workable material for surface exploration and layering.”

Christina Entcheva is an artist and designer. Her main focus as an artist and visual communicator is on concept, mastery of medium, and facilitating communication through common experience. Entcheva is continually inspired by design, technology, humanity, self-similarity, modernity, and urbanity.

• OPENING NIGHT for Concept:Found is Thursday, October 18 from 7-10pm. The opening will feature live music and a presentation by the curator. Free wine and food will be served. The event is FREE and open to the public.

• SECOND LOOK for Concept: Found, an event revisiting the exhibition its second month is on Thursday, November 11, 2010 from 7-10pm. The Second Look event will feature live music, and free wine and food. The event is FREE and open to the public.

Fear Junkie 2012: Are you Addicted?
written and performed by Pandora Scooter
August 5, 6, 7 at 8:00 pm
George Street Playhouse (9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
The world is coming to an end in 2012. Or is it? You gonna make a buck or be taken for a ride? Pandora Scooter takes a hilarious whirlwind tour of the craziness that’s gonna rain down on us as the Mayan calendar comes to an end.
$10 tickets

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Puppet Slam!
curated by Mary Gragen
August 8th at 8pm
George Street Playhouse (9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick)
Puppeteers from All Around the Tri-State area come to perform everything from shadow to hand puppetry. This is not-just-for-kids puppetry; this is puppetry like you’ve never seen before on subjects ranging from freedom, to coming of age, to oppression. You don’t want to miss this once-a-year event. Underwritten by IBEX Puppetry.
$10 tickets

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LMAOpen Mic: Laughing My Ass Off – an open mic for Stand Up Comics
Mondays, Aug 9, 16, 23, 30 at 8:00 pm
coLAB Arts (49 Bayard Street, 3rd Floor, New Brunswick)
Come bust a gut with some of the funniest up and coming stand up comics in our area.
$5 Tickets (only available at the door)

BUY TICKETS HERE

Motion: New Dance Works
a collaborative choreographic event by artists from New Jersey
Thursday & Friday, August 12 and 13th at 8:00pm
George Street Playhouse (9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ)
Modern Dance takes center stage at Breakthrough Arts Festival with these engaging and experimental works by the next generation of choreographers.
$10 tickets

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Flash in the PAN: Performance Art Night
Saturday, August 14 at 8:00pm
George Street Playhouse (9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ)
$10 tickets

SLAM! Poets in Action
Sunday, August 15th at 7:00 pm
George Street Playhouse (9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ)
Ever seen a slam poet spit out words like a machine gun and totally change your perspective all at once? Slam Poets (a la Def Poetry Jam) from New York City and all over New Jersey are going to come and compete for prizes. This is where art and competition meet and it promises to be a blast.
$10 Tickets

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Romeo and Juliet / Romeo y Julieta
by William Shakespeare
adapted and directed by Dan Swern
August 19 – 29 (Thu – Sun) at 8:00 pm
First Reformed Church (9 Bayard Street, New Brunswick)
This contemporary bilingual production of Romeo and Juliet, brings the classic tale to present day New Brunswick. Cast with professional actors from New York City and community members from New Brunswick, the Montagues (Romeo’s family) are played by Afro-Caribbean actors and the Capulets (Juliet’s family) are played by Latino actors. The beautiful and tragic love story is set against the sometimes positive, sometimes challenging changes facing our home town. This is a Romeo and Juliet like you’ve never seen.
All performances are FREE!!!

Collaborative Arts is the only guaranteed place to catch the hottest emerging artists in Central New Jersey. Breakthrough Arts Fest, for its third year, is the only summer ticket in New Brunswick, with something happening almost every night through August. There’s something for everyone, featuring puppetry, music, dance, theater, and visual art over three separate spaces in Downtown New Brunswick.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for periodic updates as we countdown towards the festival.

Reception: June 10, 2010, 7-10 p.m.
coLAB Arts
49 Bayard Street, 3rd Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Featuring live music performance by Michael Lawton and his band
through the Somerset Jazz Consortium (www.somersetjazz.com)

Additional gallery hours:
Tues-Thurs
6-8 p.m.

A comparison both visually and conceptually of Maria Giancola and Sam Hetzel’s work is the conceptual embodiment of this exhibition, Dual Perspectives. I see their work as playing off of the standard binary structure, more specifically masculinity versus femininity. The medium, the choice of imagery and how they came to represent the works within the gallery itself, comes from what I perceive as their gendered perspective. The manner in which they use this binary as a means of comparison is subtle. Giancola and Hetzel reference key concepts in the history of art to play with the visually gendered landscapes they depict in their imagery. Their work, strong alone, complements and in a way argues the significance of gender in art; the subtleties of their visual and conceptual references prove the inspiring and knowledgeable ways in which they try to represent their dual perspectives. The perspective of an artist, and any individual is influenced innumerably; it is not just the gender binary that has been the muse to Giancola and Hetzel but also notions such as “private versus public” and “natural versus industrial”. There are so many visual cues that inspire my reasons for analyzing these artists’ works through the simplicity of the binary system but the obvious conceptual duality of their work is unavoidably the most persuasive. – Alana Integlia, Curator

coLAB Arts
49 Bayard Street, 3rd Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Wine and light hors d’ouevres will be served.

This exhibition consists of works by Terri Beckles and Nakeya Brown; the exhibit provides a sample of their best and/or most recent series. Terminology that is deemed socially appropriate to identify is more often than not a categorizational tool used without true understanding of the subject and in so doing, further homogenizes individual or communal identity. In other words to define these women and/or their subject under standardized terms would not be to provide actualized information instead create a stereotypical depiction in which the previously stated subjects may or may not embody. This exhibit provides visual insight into what can only be an interpretation of the “Identifiable” characteristics of any given individual and/or community.

Hands on:
This ArtHouse (like the past few) will have interactive elements where the audience can artfully engage the theme including:

**Group Mural: Throughout the night people will be able to contribute to the painting of an ArtHouse banner!

Artists and Performers TBA
Please contact Cat (trestini@eden.rutgers.edu) if you are a visual artist and want to show work and Elena Callahan (dansingirl8@gmail.com) if you would like to perform.
If you would like to help plan and/or volunteer contact Avianna Perez (avianna@colab-arts.org).

ArtHouse celebrates the artists who stay and fight; to all those who strive to build something new, original and promising. A place for those who work to make New Brunswick a city we’re proud to call home.

coLAB’s core includes some of the most talented and exciting artists in New Jersey. The Membership Showcase is an opportunity to see their work realized in stripped down productions. Featured work includes theater, film, music, and dance. Friday, July 17 feature coLAB members Dan Swern and Jack Leary. Friday, July 24th features members Jessica Lipman and Avianna Perez. See all 4 new works on Sunday, July 26 at 5pm.

• “Castle On a Hill,” a staged reading of a play by Dan Swern

A high school principal and two students – one past and one present. One apart and one tearing at the seams. Is the principal their only hope or a gilded monster. Fictional characters based on the true events of Teaneck High School in 2003 and 2007.

Dan Swern is a co-founder of Collaborative Arts. Previous positions include NY Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, Studio 42, 365 Days/365 Plays Festival, NYC Fringe Festival, Godlight Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club. Currently works at George Street Playhouse and coLAB. Primarily a director, this is the first play that Dan has written.

• “Make It,” the premiere of Jack Leary’s music/performance happening

“Make It” is an exciting exploration into creating music – it’s part jam band, part audience interaction and an all enthralling music experience.  This unparalleled show will appeal to everyone who would have flocked to Pink Floyd, the Grateful Dead and their spiritual descendants.

Collaborative Arts presents an exhibition inspired by the current George Street Playhouse production of Sight Unseen.

Exhibition runs January 20 – February 15.

Opening on Friday, January 30th

Please join us for the opening on January 30th with free wine and food following that evening’s production of Sight Unseen.

$15 discount ticket price for Rutgers students to the George Street Playhouse production of Sight Unseen.

Curated by Leanne Catena, the exhibition celebrates the talents of local artists Kaitlin Deering, Robert Mermet, Marie Nyguist, Danielle Ramirez, Elizabeth Santana, and Cynthia Yurcisin.

Musical performance TBA.

PRAXIS/POIESIS is curated by Reid Addison Bingham and Jen Sohn-Park as part of the Collaborative Arts Gall3ry series. Gall3ry is designed to give emerging artists and curators the opportunity to produce their own exhibitions under the guidance of Collaborative Arts’ artistic leadership. The curator is guided through the process of refining an exhibition idea, contacting artists, developing materials about the artist and organizing an opening reception. The curator then further develops the exhibition thematically by advising artists on selection and organization of their works for presentation.

Praxis/Poiesis features the work of artists Ariana G. Barat, Alexander B. Conner, Olivia Kaufman-Rovira, and Matthew West.  By showing a short retrospective of each artist’s work, this exhibition hopes to highlight how investigations into new technologies, materials, and ideas have influenced the artists’ Praxes.

Ariana G. Barat is currently pursuing her B.F.A. at Mason Gross School of the Arts, with a minor in French Language at Rutgers University. She has previously studied at the Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art in Pont-Aven, France, worked at the Glasgow Print Studio in Glasgow, Scotland, and interned at the Lower East Side Printshop in New York City. Her work explores the psychology of time perception by utilizing imagery that speaks to the genre of problems, uncovered in such narratives relating to time, issues of interiority and exteriority, absence, presence, transcendence, and the partiality of perspective. She depicts life as a dream whose shapes return due to the never-ceasing strain of thought and consciousness. myarugula@aol.com

Alexander B. Conner is an artist living and working in Philadelphia and a 2008 graduate of Rutgers College with a dual-degree in Sociology and Middle Eastern Studies. Conner began his artistic practice independent of any formal art institutions. His works document and filter the dense milieus of social interactions in urban environments as it relates to his examinations of psychological space.  Currently focusing on photography and painting, he has worked with other diverse mediums such as crochet, plaster casting, mail art, and MS Dos.  His works have been exhibited in New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. His website is http://surnameconner.blogspot.com/ and can be contacted at alexanderbconner@gmail.com.

Olivia Kaufman-Rovira, a sculptor and printmaker, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2006 where she was awarded the James Dickinson Carr Scholarship – a four-year full academic scholarship. Her work ranges from large-scale installations involving ceramics and grass, to handmade paper sculptures that focus on the interplay between light and shadow. After studying in Barcelona at the international contemporary art workshop Metáfora, she has begun to incorporate plastics and other recyclable materials into her work. Her website is http://oliviakaufman.com. She can be reached at oliviakaufman@gmail.com.

Matthew West is a resident New Jersey artist, born and raised in South Dakota. Matthew West creates sculptures and installations that range from the realistic depictions of buffalos and automobiles, to large-scale works of abstract minimalism. West creates his own vernacular of images, symbols, and investigations of form drawn from his experiences growing up in South Dakota. He uses media as diverse as paper, clay, and computer animation.  He has shown work in New Jersey and abroad in Germany, and currently works for the Matrix Art Collective where he resides in Jersey City. His website is http://westieinc.com. He can be reached at westieinc@mac.com.

Jen Sohn-Park is a recent visual arts graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts. Her focus in media spans from photography, videos, and illustration, to mixed-media collages. Through her work she concentrates on transformative possibilities, rearranging so-called “set” constructs, issues of control, and the battle between self-determination vs. destiny and chance. She has previously participated as an artist in coLAB Arts’ Resonate series, shown work at the Seed Gallery in Newark, New Jersey, studied and worked in Puerto Limón, Costa Rica, and was a curator for the Alfa Art Gallery in September 2008.  In addition to her work as an artist, Sohn-Park was an active organizer of art happenings throughout New Brunswick including This Town Needs A Parade (now in its fourth year), is a coLAB Arts visual arts producer, and currently resides in Central New Jersey. Her wesbite is http://jensohnpark.com. She can be reached at penjark@gmail.com.

Reid Addison Bingham is an electronics and video artist currently based in New Jersey.  He graduated from Rutgers College in 2007 with a B.A in the arts, spending most of his time making short video pieces and circuit bending.  Bingham has performed and exhibited throughout Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and New York.  He has been active in organizing many shows and events in the New Brunswick area, including the first installment of This Town Needs a Parade and the 431 Albus Cavus Gallery in Highland Park. He is a coLAB Arts visual arts producer and is presently interning at the digital media arts center, Harvestworks in Manhattan. He is currently learning the programming language, ‘Processing,’ to build audio/video synthesizers out of micro-controllers. His website is http://alloverthewhere.org. He can be reached at reidbingham@gmail.com.

Gall3ry at Alfa Art Gallery
108 Church Street, New Brunswick

Opening on Friday September 5, 7pm – 10pm

Gallery runs through September 24th

Featuring:
Arielle Baio
Celeste Compton
Tom Curcuruto
Anthony Dominiczak
Colleen Kathenes
Damian Suarez

Ghosts of imprints, observations of surroundings, and direct human engagements – as a visual collage of seven artists’ immortalization of fleeting moments, interactions, and temporary scenes, Illegitimi non Carborundum is an invitation to step into an intimate space, and experience a dialogue expressed by the subject. From the humor of Celeste Compton’s Duck Hunt and Tom Curcuruto’s Clothes for All Occasions, the privacy of Damian Suarez’s Untitled, Ecuador, to the remembrance of Anthony Dominiczak’s 29f34, Illegitimi non Carborundum forever ingrains man made and natural creations, stills the seconds of time that have otherwise passed, and gives recognition to the face that no longer belongs to a stranger. Illegitimi non Carborundum is about the appreciation of perspectives that make the daily grind seem less humdrum.