Event
Siren Arts, DRIFT
Siren Arts: DRIFT: July 10 – Aug 18, 2023
Transformer brings Siren Arts back to the beach in Asbury Park, NJ for its 7th Annual Summer Artist Residency & Performance Art Series
Performance Art Events: 7pm Thursdays on the 2nd Avenue Beach, Asbury Park, NJ
Artist Talks: 6pm Wednesdays at Transparent Clinch Gallery
All Audiences Welcome; All Programming Presented Free of Charge
Transformer celebrates the 7th year of our Siren Arts program back on the beach in Asbury Park, NJ this summer, supporting 13 east coast-based artists presenting innovative performance art works that address human & environmental interconnectedness. Each artist’s beach residency includes public artist talks 6pm Wednesdays at Transparent Clinch Gallery, and performances 7pm Thursdays on the 2nd Avenue Beach:
- July 10 – 14 | Pussy Noir (Washington, DC)
- July 17 – 21 | nia love (New York, New York)
- July 24 – 28 | MuEr: Wood Ear/Eye Bait (Che Chen, Anne Ishii, Eugene Lew, Patrick Shiroishi, Matthew Smith Lee, Alex Zhang Hungtai) (Philadelphia, PA)
- July 31 – Aug 4 | Yali Romagoza (Queens, NY)
- Aug 7 – 11 | Maira Duarte/Dance to the People (New York, NY)
- Aug 14 – 18 | Dusty Childers (Brooklyn, NY)
Launched in 2017, Siren Arts is a summertime micro-residency program taking place in Asbury Park, NJ that supports emerging visual artists working within evolving performance art disciplines. Created and curated by Victoria Reis, Transformer’s Executive & Artistic Director, Siren Arts is an expansion of Transformer’s mission to connect and promote emerging visual artists, to advance them in their artistic careers, and to build & engage audiences with new & best contemporary arts practices.
With new support from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Presenting & Multidisciplinary Arts grant program, Siren Arts: DRIFT will explore themes of movement and transition within the continued lens of celebrating the ocean, while building awareness on the intersectional implications of climate change. Artists have been invited to participate in this year’s program via nomination by peer arts colleagues including: Kara Gilmour, Brooklyn Arts Exchange; John Chaich, Queer Threads; and Kim Chan, National Sawdust; in addition to Siren Arts curator Victoria Reis.
All performances will take place at 7pm on the 2nd Avenue Beach in Asbury Park, NJ. Performances will last approximately 30-45 minutes and are open to all audiences free of charge. Audiences are encouraged to gather on the 2nd Ave beach at 6:45pm, bringing beach towels or chairs for seating. In case of rain, please visit @sirenartsap on Instagram for rain location details.
Can New Jersey’s New Festival Top Coachella or SXSW? It Thinks So.
New York Times
By Tammy La Gorce - June 2, 2023
Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, along with the first lady, Tammy Murphy, had a vision: A new performance festival in their home state that could rival South by Southwest in Texas or Bonnaroo in Tennessee. And they had a plan to distinguish it.
“Austin and Nashville are great towns,” the governor said, referring to two famous arts hubs that are connected to notable festivals. “But if you stop to consider the cultural priorities of the states that govern them, you say, ‘Wait a minute.’ You’re hoodwinked if you get taken by the coolness.”
A festival in New Jersey, they argued, would be produced in a state whose values align with issues like gun safety and reproductive rights, a bragging right difficult to come by in the south. But what organizers are really touting with the event, which is being produced for the first time this summer, is the mix of homegrown talent and national acts (Halsey, Santana, Jazmine Sullivan) performing across three different cities, from the state’s largest city to the coast.
The North to Shore Festival will roam from Atlantic City to Asbury Park to Newark throughout the month. Its inaugural run will feature more than 220 acts — including music, comedy, dance and film — in 115 venues. “When you combine all the talent we have in New Jersey with the fact that our values are on the right side of history, we thought, there’s no reason we couldn’t give this a shot,” Mr. Murphy said.
In May, the festival doubled in size, in part because of a commitment to local talent. Grants of up to $5,000 were handed out to 58 New Jersey-based artists.
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“What I love about it is that it’s a combination of the biggest names in entertainment and comedy and film,” said John Schreiber, president and chief executive of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which is producing the festival, “but it’s also a chance to turn up the volume on the local folks I call the local heroes — the artists, the creators, the presenters, the producers — who work in these cities 365 days a year.”
One example of this kind of artistic convergence is “You Got VERRRSED: NJ Poets vs. New York Poets,” which will take place in Newark on June 24, the day after Marisa Monte, a Grammy Award winner, performs there.
In each host city, venues stretch beyond the familiar. Newark, for example, will host “Jersey Club 101,” a combination dance lesson and party, at Ariya Plaza Hall, a local dance club known for hosting private events and the occasional concert, on June 24.
On June 9 in Atlantic City, a brewery, The Seed: A Living Beer Project, will host a multidisciplinary event, “From Earth to Cup,” with live music, pottery making and samples of its craft beers. The following afternoon at Sovereign Avenue Field, a popular skatepark, local hardcore and punk bands will play free shows in the “Back Sov Bullies Concert.”
While Asbury Park’s famous rock club, the Stone Pony, will see its share of action — with Eric B. & Rakim, Brian Fallon, Demi Lovato and the B-52’s all scheduled to perform — stages at the lesser-known Watermark, down the street, will also be in heavy rotation and can expect to see more traffic than usual.
Alexander Simone and his seven-piece band, the Whodat? Live Crew, will play there on June 14. Mr. Simone, 34, who is from the area and the grandson of Nina Simone, won a grant to take part in North to Shore with the band, which leans toward funk and R&B, after being nominated by local fans. The recognition confirmed something he already knew: “I am definitely one of the most known bands in this community,” he said.
Now he hopes that other parts of the country will pay more attention to his music. “Artists are coming this way, to Jersey, and bringing people with them the way South by Southwest brings people to Texas,” he said. “They’re coming to see what we have to offer on this end.”
Billboards along the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike are promoting the festival. Mr. Schreiber said he expects more than 350,000 people to attend. The overall windfall for New Jersey’s economy, he added, could be $100 million. “We’re betting the economic impact in all three of these communities will far outweigh any of the investment we have to make,” Mr. Murphy said.
Natalie Merchant, accompanied by New York City’s Orchestra of St. Luke’s, will perform in Newark on June 25. “I think it’s really ambitious and impressive,” she said of the idea behind the festival.
But her decision to participate did not have much to do with performing in a liberal-leaning state, Ms. Merchant said. “I tend to not penalize my fans in states with political conditions like abortion restrictions.” Instead, “I talk about them onstage.”
The North to Shore Festival will take place June 4-11 in Atlantic City, June 14-18 in Asbury Park and June 21-25 in Newark.
North to Shore
NJPAC is producing the inaugural North to Shore Festival, a three-city celebration of arts and technology that will feature programming in Asbury Park from June 14th-18th. Many local producers and artists were awarded grants to showcase their talents.
2023 APin3 Film Challenge Press Release
The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) is pleased to announce its second annual ‘APin3’, to take place in August. This three-minute film challenge is open to anyone who thrives on the fun of filmmaking within the parameters of a deadline and is ready to shoot their short in Asbury Park. The top ten short films, as judged by a panel of independent creatives, will be screened before a live audience on Sunday, October 22nd. Prizes will be awarded.
“We had such a great turnout last year at our contest screening, we expect more entries this year, vying for the recognition of their peers and, of course, the prizes.” said Mike Sodano, one of the founding members of APAC. Those who apply will be required to write, shoot and edit a 3 minute short film set in Asbury Park during a three-week period in August, utilizing a specific line of dialogue and incorporating a designated prop and location.
Nancy Sabino, Executive Director of the Challenge remarked, “We believe Asbury Park has a variety of compelling locations, easily making it a layered backdrop and key element in any short subject.”
The online submission platform, Film Freeway, will be utilized for the challenge and a link can be found through APAC’s website: asburyparkartscouncil.org. There is a $25 entry fee, but no one should feel that the cost is a barrier as there are discounts and sponsorships available for qualified applicants to help with the entry fee. The filming timeframe will start on August 7th when filmmaker kits will be sent via email to all applicants and will end on August 27th.Registration for the Challenge is open now.
Carrie Turner, Executive Director of APAC said, “We’ve reached out to a number of organizations this year and expect to have more participation with the longer, 3-week completion timeline. The concepts showcase the city and to see our streets alive with video artists capturing its magic Is wonderful.” The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the city. For more information on APAC: www.asburyparkartscouncil.org
Start thinking about how you’d like to tell your story in Asbury Park and apply now to be a part of this year’s ‘APin3’. Mark your calendar and come see the finalists on the big screen.
For more information contact:
Michael Sodano:
mike@asburyparkartscouncil.org
Asbury Park Arts Council Announces 2023 APin3 Film Challenge – May 8, 2023 – For Immediate Release
Sonic Mass
Sonic Mass: An Audio Visual Experience to benefit the Trinity Church's well being Program.
Presented by Light Brigaide Collective Luminous Abstract Society
April 1st, 2023 – 6pm
Trinity Church, Asbury Park
Suggested Donation $20
Live Sets From:
- SOMA (Album Release)
- meteor meteor
- Jerry Kaba
- Mr. Hideyoshi B2B Toadofsky
- DJ Spicy Brown
And immersive projection Mapping from:
- Movemebrightly Lightshow
- Midi Lizard
- Jupiter Liquid Lightshow
- DR. For Science
Asbury Park Arts & Culture Plan
PUBLIC MEETING
Save the Date 3/30/23
Asbury Park Arts Council is hosting an upcoming open public meeting for the Arts & Culture Plan.
The details:
Asbury Park Arts & Culture Plan
Public Meeting
Thursday, March 30th
6pm
Asbury Park Library -500 1st Ave, Asbury Park, 07712
Arts & Culture Plan Open House
Drop In Session
December 13, 2022 / 5pm-8pm
APAC Open House
Asbury Park Arts Council is hosting an upcoming open public meeting for the Arts & Culture Plan.
The details:
Asbury Park Arts & Culture Plan
OPEN HOUSE/DROP IN SESSION
Tuesday, December 13th
5pm to 8pm (Come Any Time!)
Blackbird Commons-131 Atkins Avenue, Asbury Park, 07712
The APin3 Film Challenge
The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) is pleased to announce its first annual ‘APin3’, a three minute film challenge open to all local amateur filmmakers. Those who apply will be required to write, shoot and edit a short film about Asbury Park during a three-day period in October, utilizing a supplied theme, a specific line of dialogue and incorporating a designated location and prop. The top ten short films, as judged by a panel of independent creatives, will be screened at the House of Independents on Sunday, October 23rd. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded to the top three films and one audience-choice winner.
“We know that there are filmmakers, their families and friends who enjoy the teamwork aspect of this type of challenge and this is a great way to showcase talent in our great little city,” said Mike Sodano, one of the founding members of APAC. “Making Asbury Park the focus of short films allows anyone to have a voice in how the city is perceived and keeps the artform on the street.” Sodano, and his partner Nancy Sabino, originally the created the ‘APin3’ concept in 2014 when they were owners of the Showroom Cinema on Cookman Avenue; they ran the challenge twice and were impressed with the variety and creativity of the entries. Sodano brought the idea with him to APAC, which was successful in attracting grant funding to help underwrite the project this year.
The online submission platform, Film Freeway, will be utilized for the challenge and applications can be found through APAC’s website: asburyparkartscouncil.org. There is a $25 entry fee, but no one should feel that the cost is a barrier as there are discounts and sponsorships available to help with the entry fee. The actual filming timeframe will start at 6pm on Thursday, October 13th when filmmaker kits will be sent via email to all applicants and will end at 6pm on Sunday, October 16th, the time by which all films will need to be uploaded
Carrie Turner, Executive Director of APAC said, “It is our hope that there is participation from a wide range of individuals and organizations; Asbury is full of artists and characters alike and we expect to see that represented in the submissions. Since films can be shot on such widely available tools as your cell phone, almost anyone is able to take part in the challenge. APAC looks forward to growing AP in 3 to become an annual event that showcases the creative spirit that is found in every corner of our city.”
Start thinking about how you’d like to tell your story of Asbury Park and apply to be a part of this year’s APin3. Mark your calendar for this cinematic weekend in October.
Tickets for the premier screening on the 23rd will be available soon on the Film Freeway website – www.FilmFreeway.com/APin3 – and cost $5.
The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the city. For more information on APAC: www.asburyparkartscouncil.org
For Immediate Release – Contact: Nancy Sabino 201-207-9249
Free Pop Up Performance at the Carousel building
Asbury Park Dance Festival In association with Wooden Walls Project presents a free pop up performance and talk.
Saturday, August 13th at 5:30 PM
Free Pop Up Performance at the Carousel building At the Carousel Building on the Asbury Park Boardwalk
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- Excerpts from a new work by APDF co-founder Laura Halzak
- Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater
- Martha Graham Dance Company Alum: Blakeley White-McGuire
- Current and former Paul Taylor dancers:Kristin Draucker & Michael Trusnovec
- Dance Therapy presents Hasseim Bey
Sunday August 14th 4pm
A Conversation with former Martha Graham Dance Company star and author Blakeley White-McGuire. Moderated by Kim Powers
A reading and conversation with Blakeley White-McGuire, former Martha Graham Dance Company star and author of The Martha Graham Dance Company: House of the Pelvic Truth.
Through a series of insightful interviews, this book illuminates the ongoing significance of Martha Graham and her eponymous collective. The conversation will be moderated by Emmy-winning producer and author Kim Powers.
Asbury Book Cooperative
644A Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park
Siren Arts: Salt
Siren Arts: SALT series of artist talks & performance July 11 – August 19, 2022
Transformer presents the 6th year of our Siren Arts program at the beach in Asbury Park, NJ, supporting 9 east coast based artists presenting innovative performance art works that celebrate the ocean and address themes of labor, climate change, and human & environmental interconnectedness.
Each artists’ five day beach residency includes public artist talks 6pm Wednesdays at Transparent Clinch Gallery, and performances 7pm Thursdays on the 2nd Avenue Beach.
All programs are presented free of charge; all are welcome to attend.
