‘Nork! Photo Fest’ Will Honor Newark’s Film Legacy With Public Art

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of The Nork! Project. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

This summer, Newark’s revolutionary history in film and photography takes center stage with Nork! Photo Fest, a month-long public art installation and cultural celebration hosted by The Nork! Project. Kicking off Sunday, June 1 at Military Park, the festival commemorates the city’s lasting impact on visual storytelling—dating back to 1898 when Reverend Hannibal Goodwin invented celluloid film at the historic Plume House in downtown Newark, forever changing photography and making motion pictures possible.

Presented by The Nork! Project, an independent art and apparel brand rooted in Newark’s creative spirit, Nork! Photo Fest is an evolution of lens-based activations that began in 2020. What started as a grassroots photo walk has grown into a full-fledged cultural festival highlighting street and documentary photography with deep ties to Newark’s urban landscape and storytelling traditions.

“Newark began for me on foot, and photography has been an extension of my awareness—both physical and spiritual,” says Gabe Ribeiro, founder of The Nork! Project. “What started with a handful of photographers walking together in 2020 turned into a literal parade by 2022. This year, we received over 400 photo submissions and are proud to display 25 selected works in a large-scale outdoor exhibition in Military Park.”

The installation runs from June 1 through the end of the month, and a full schedule of events—photo walks, panel discussions, community gatherings, and more—can be found online.

Festival Sponsors

This year’s festival is made possible with generous support from:

• Project for Empty Space & the Newark Artist Accelerator Grant , Powered by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program
• City of Newark & the Creative Catalyst Fund
• Newark Alliance, supporting extended programming and outreach
• Newark City Parks Foundation, for facilitating the art installation in Military Park

Community Partners & Collaborators

• Sihana Hospitality Group (Five Corners Ristorante, Sihana Bistro, Sihana Café)
• HARVEST
• Passaic River Fishing Club
• Bunkr.
• So-Called Studios
• The Newark Times

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