On Thursday, April 11th, the FREE Art Walk returns to Montclair Center from 4-9 pm, rain or shine! Over 70 local businesses will open their doors to host artists for an evening of art, talks, performances, classes, live mural paintings, and more. There is something for everyone! To help you plan your evening and navigate the district, we've created a digital map you can access from any device. Follow the map to find all the galleries and read artist biographies. You can also see where and when scheduled events are taking place!
From 4-7 pm, at Crane Park, Lackawanna Plaza, and Glenridge Avenue, the "Family Art-in-the-Park" event will be held, offering diverse activities designed to keep the entire family feeling creative and engaged! Peg Kenselaar from Montclair Art Museum will lead a family art-making project on "Family, Community, and Belonging." In addition, several local businesses, including Art with All, Spidey's House, Vanguard Theater, Retro Fitness, and others, will provide unique activities you will want to attend!
We have an exciting "Spark Talks" lineup scheduled throughout the evening. These talks will feature local artists and entrepreneurs sharing their craft with insights and inspirations about their creative process and how it intersects with the community.
- 4 pm – “The Art of Queer Poetry,” Four writers will be performing their beautiful, powerful poems: Mariah Ayscue, beloved local poet-activist and published writer, and Claudia Cortese, Montclair State instructor, and award-winning poet and teacher, will be reading with Montclair State students Spencer Crines and Isabella Pozo. Join us for this 45-minute event featuring the art of the spoken word at Minia’s Breakfast & Lunch (22 Lackawanna Plaza).
- 5 pm – Hippolito Pollantis, conversations with a local fashion designer about the creative process of design and fashion and sharing tips about discovering your style at Art is Bond at (8 Lackawanna Plaza).
- 6 pm - Juan Quintero, the Director of the short film “Beck Up,” will have a Q&A with attendees after a film screening at Montclair Film’s Cinema505 (505 Bloomfield Avenue).
- 7 pm – “The Art of Improv” by Jazz House Kids (347 Bloomfield Avenue). Step into the world of improvisation and collage-making, where every artistic choice and jazz rhythm intertwine to form a mesmerizing tapestry of expression. Embark on a journey where visual art meets color and rhythm, exploring the seamless connection between music and collage. Led by a master visual artist and accompanied by the soulful melodies of a JAZZ HOUSE Emerging Artist Trio, guests will uncover the fundamentals of jazz - blues, improv, and rhythm, while crafting their mixed-media masterpieces.
- 8 pm –Melanie Tomaszewski, the owner of Montclair Mud, touches upon her passion for clay with a satisfying pottery wheel demo and conversation about her journey. She will dive into the profound connection between culture and community, emphasizing how creating pottery fosters relationships, encourages vulnerability, and sparks individual creativity. Through her demonstration, she will highlight the significance of embracing failure as a natural part of the creative process and learning from it. Melanie’s talk inspires the audience to recognize the transformative power of making art together, forging deeper connections, and celebrating the beauty of successes and setbacks.
You won't want to miss the featured muralists: Chris “Cent” Reyes, CHRISTIAN, and HiCoup! These talented artists will be creating stunning murals in different locations downtown, and you'll have the opportunity to watch them work and interact with them. But that's not all! Once the murals are completed, they'll be auctioned off, with 50% of the sale proceeds donated to a charity of the artists' choice. Supporting local art has never been so rewarding! So, join us at the Art Walk and show your support for these amazing artists and the causes they care about. Locations of live art muralists:
- HiCoup will be located outside of Kreme & Krumb at 147 Bloomfield Avenue
- Chris “Cent” Reyes will be located at Church Street Plaza at Bloomfield and Church Streets
- CHRISTIAN will be located outside of the Montclair Art Museum in the lower parking lot (Bloomfield and St. Lukes Place)
Plan your evening, invite your friends, and experience an art-filled event celebrating creativity and community.
Instagram: @MontclairCenter - art walk I Facebook: Montclair Center Art Walk
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