West Orange Arts Council Exhibit: ‘Juneteenth Joy: Unchained’

WEST ORAGNE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Arts Council. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The West Orange Arts Council (WOAC) announces "Juneteenth Joy: Unchained," presented to the community in partnership with the West Orange Juneteenth Film Festival. This exhibit, installed by gallerist Rey Arvelo, features the works of twenty-five WOAC artists: Judyann Affronti, Kim Alexander-Cook, Michelle Alexander, Luis Alves, Peter Astor, Mary Byrnes, Colleen Creedon, Kwaku Debrah, Antoinette Ellis-Williams, Maria Estrela, Nette Forné Thomas, Laurie Harden, Kathleen Heron, Bradford Hunter, Akiba Ismail, Carol T. Jenkins, Theodore M. Jenkins, Joanne Leone, Cathy McCoy Bristol, Yvonne Onque, John Piccoli, Ameerah Shabazz, Amy Storfer-Dorschlag, Denise Toney and Elaine Wladyga. Exhibit hours are Saturdays from Noon – 4 pm and by appointment.

Juneteenth Joy: Unchained can be viewed June 8, 2024, through July 6, 2024, at the West Orange Arts Center on 551 Valley Road, West Orange. On Saturday, June 22, from 1-4 pm, the West Orange Arts Council, in collaboration with the West Orange Human Relations Committee, invites the community to a combination Artists’ Reception. As a participant in the First Annual West Orange Juneteenth Film Festival the short film "Niko Newark," will be presented at the gallery at 2:30 pm. It is a story told through the eyes of a young Niko at his father Dimitri's Newark, NJ diner during the summer of 1967. A post-film discussion with the producer Nick Dessipris will follow.

The WOAC Gift Shop is highlighting hand-crafted home accents and bath products using the brilliant colors of Juneteenth Freedom Day and specifically created and selected exhibit-related items, jewelry, pottery, and one-of-a-kind pieces.

The West Orange Arts Council's mission is to cultivate, inspire, and support the arts in West Orange. Area artists and community leaders remain the core of this all-volunteer organization that operates the West Orange Arts Center Gallery and Gift Shop at 551 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ. For more info visit www.woarts.org, www.facebook.com/woac.org or email info@woarts.org

The West Orange Juneteenth Committee has curated three amazing days of film screenings, panel discussions and talkbacks with directors, producers, and actors. Experience electrifying performances, riveting films, engaging youth programming, informative workshops, insightful academic discussions, and vendors. Full film schedule on Eventbrite https://bit.ly/WOJuneteenth

This program is made possible partly by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund.

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