PAST EVENTS + EXHIBITS
Bergen Square Day - Off Site!
Bergen Avenue & Academy Street, 2 blocks from SMUSH
September 10 | 12-6p
Find us tabling at Bergen Square Day! Check out our merch, pick up info on our upcoming season, or just say hi! More Info On Bergen Square Day
JC Fridays Open House & Portfolio Review
September 9 | 6-8p
Sign up for Portfolio Review
Come say hi to SMUSH! Drop in to our open house 6-8p on JC Fridays and help us open our Fall season. During JC Fridays, SMUSH co-artistic directors Katelyn & Benedicto are offering Portfolio Reviews. This is a great chance to introduce yourself, share your work or project ideas, and get immediate responses to your questions.
The Open House is free to attend. Portfolio Reviews are $15-30 sliding scale. Sessions are limited and reservations are strongly recommended. Sign up here.
In Person! Zero to 80
On View May 13 - June 26
Opening reception May 13, 6-9p
Opening weekend May 14-15, 12-6p
Closing weekend June 24, 6-9 | June 25 1-7p
Closing reception June 26, 12-4p
+ On View at our full calendar of events!
Zero to 80 is the latest affordable art show from SMUSH Gallery! Featuring twenty-five artists from Jersey City and beyond, Zero to 80 celebrates photography, collage, mixed media, painting, drawing, fiber, and digital art, all for $80 or less. See artwork from Kat Almirañez, bayard, Laurie Berenhaus, Aidan Boyle, Sarah Brody, Buttered Roll, Cutpasteface, Doodlealldayy, Benedicto Figueroa, Isis Figueroa, Flora.Athens, Flower Power Artworks by Denise, Katelyn Halpern, David LaMorte, Christopher Marti, Michelle Alexandra Mayer, Samuel Mitchell, Rachel Murdy, Ri, Shannon Roberts, Angelina Salgado, Julie Smolinski, Bleriot Thompson, Ryan Treppedi, & Va_Gue.
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional & encouraged for these events <3
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
June 23 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out! This month, the film is… Spice World!
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional <3
In Person! GOMO’s Pre-Summer Open Mic & Lounge
June 16 | 7:30p
$10-30
Can you believe it?! Summer is almost here! Come out for a fantastic summery evening hosted by your favorite ghost, GOMO. It’s part variety show, part open mic, all g-h-o-s-t. See it, believe it. Acts of all kinds are encouraged, and sign ups are promptly at 7:30p. Pre-Summer outfits encouraged!
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional <3
In Person! Summer Community Potluck
June 9 | 6:30p
$5-10 suggested cover
Hey, can you make something for the potluck?! Join in on our seasonal Community Potlucks, back for one more delicious evening before summer break! Bring your best hot dish, savory baked goods, and secret family recipes for an evening of camaraderie and good times! Performances and art surprises grace the evening, and dessert is on us!
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional <3
In Person! Spring Market at Zero to 80
June 3 | 6-9pm
Free! Part of JC Fridays
Shop our Spring Market at Zero to 80! Artisan makers and culture workers from Jersey City and beyond set up shop inside our current exhibition, Zero to 80: An Affordable Art Show to bring you original artwork, prints, stickers, buttons, totes and much more. Featuring Doodlealldayy, MUYU, Bleriot Thompson, and Charise Virgo. Both the Spring Market and Zero to 80 include and celebrate artists with disabilities.
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional and encouraged <3
Online! Community Pitch Meeting
May 23 | 7:00p eastern on Zoom | Join Meeting Here
May 23 | 8:30p eastern on IG Live | SMUSH IG
Hey everybody, we need money to survive! Come hear our pitch for why you should invest in us, plus time for Q&A. Bring a friend!
Ready to help? Make your donation
In Person! The [Jersey] Function
May 21 | 2-6p
Come out for The [Jersey] Function, a community event spotlighting Black businesses and artists in the Jersey City Area! Shop with vendors including Be The Difference Clothing, Childish Glow, Fatama’s Skincare, Living Room Co, Palace 111, Pray Apparel, and more. See spoken word, dance, music, and poetry performances by Eleven, Tamir Rios, Ezenwa Wosu, Shayla Taylor, and Rashad Wright.
Presented by Brooke Rucker as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional and strongly encouraged for this event <3
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
May 16 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out! This month, the film is… Beat Street! You can vote by following and keeping an eye on our stories - a poll is coming soon to @smushgallery.
Masks & proof of vaccination are optional & encouraged <3
In Person! Senior Thesis Art Show
May 5 | 3:30-5p
Join SMUSH, the Jersey City Public Schools, and Jersey City Arts in celebrating Senior Thesis Art Shows! Come see fantastic work by our city’s young people. May 5, see work by Heneen Abdelhamid and Isha Sidibay.
Masks are optional for these event <3
In Person! new immortal
April 30 | 4:30p Movement Workshop, 6:30p Performance
May 1 | 2:30p Movement Workshop, 4:30p Performance
Tickets
new immortal, a multimedia work by Liana Zhen-ai and Jordan Rapaport, imagines a world in which archaeologists of the future dig up evidence of our impact on the planet. With the discovery of discarded single-use plastics, antiquated technology, and skeletons of disappearing species come memories, the faint evidence of the ways these lost objects touched us as much as we touched them. Through movement, sound, storytelling and projection, we speak to plastic bags, cradle the hole in the ozone, and confront the collective grief of the Anthropocene era. In this temporally warped, melting history, who speaks? When we re-write the story of the planet, who lives to tell the tale? Can the dissolution of narrative allow new voices to enter the scene, and history to be written by new victors?
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not actively eating or drinking <3
In Person! Senior Thesis Art Show
April 28 | 3:30-5p
May 5 | 3:30-5p
Join SMUSH, the Jersey City Public Schools, and Jersey City Arts in celebrating Senior Thesis Art Shows! Come see fantastic work by our city’s young people. April 28, see work by Haytam Sfifa, Angela Zheng, Muneeb Alam, and Joaquin Pollard. May 5, see work by Heneen Abdelhamid and Isha Sidibay.
Masks are optional for these event <3
Online! Community Pitch Meeting
April 26 | 7:30p eastern
Zoom link
Hey everybody, we need money to survive! Come hear our pitch for why you should invest in us, plus time for Q&A. Bring a friend!
Ready to help? Make your donation
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
April 24 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out! This month, the film is “Adventures in Babysitting”! You can vote next time by following and keeping an eye on our stories - a poll is coming soon to @smushgallery.
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
Bodies Boobies Bootys: An Intimately Public Display of Pleasure and Play
March 4 - April 23, 2022
Opening Weekend March 4, 6-9p (JC Fridays!) & March 5, 2-6p
Color Me Closing *BYO markers and colored pencils! April 23, 2-6p
Gallery Hours Saturdays 2-6p
Bodies Boobies Bootys: An Intimately Public Display of Pleasure and Play celebrates bodies and playful pleasure in a show full of color and excitement. Explore whimsical dick doodles, pillowy pink sculpture, color-me-in wallpaper, glittering banana bunches, and soulful portraits. Featuring artwork by Laurie Berenhaus, Mark Buryk, Christina Dietz, Kate Eggleston, & Jasmine Pierik, curated by SMUSH Gallery.
Proof of vaccination and masks are required. This show contains nudity and mature themes, and may not be appropriate for all audiences. Thank you!
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night - Frankie’s Birthday Edition
April 21, 6-9p
$5 suggested cover
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our next Neighborhood Game Night. Join Frankie to celebrate his birthday and enjoy the last installment of Neighborhood Game Night!
Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome! Yes, kids & families, too!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
Spring Community Potluck
April 14 | 6:30p
$5-10 suggested cover
Bring your best hot dish, savory baked goods, and secret family recipes for an evening of camaraderie and good times! Performances and art surprises grace the evening, and dessert is on us! This season, hear from Jersey City Mutual Aid Society and see performance by Diana Uribe & Emily Ruiz!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not actively eating or drinking <3
Hybrid! Tarot with Joe's Instant Reading Guide Release Party
In Person: April 1, 7:30 | Tickets $20-35
Zoom: April 1, 7:45 | $10 Suggested, Zoom Link
Now in person & on zoom! Join the live event in the gallery and get a copy of Joe's Instant Reading Guide free with admission OR jump on Zoom for the talk; zines not included for virtual guests. Private readings are available in person and online. Email hello@smushgallery.com to book!
This April Fool's, let the first card in the tarot deck, The Fool, be your guide. Join us for a new adventure in tarot at the release party of master teacher and modern mystic Joe Monteleone's Thoth Tarot: Instant Reading Guide! The evening includes a presentation from Joe about tarot, how to use the guide, and a Q&A, then time to explore. Limited private readings are available; email hello@smushgallery.com to reserve a private reading. Admission includes a copy of the Thoth Tarot: Instant Reading Guide, and additional copies are available for sale.
Proof of vaccination is required in the gallery. Masks are required when not actively eating or drinking.
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
March 29 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out! This month, the film is Harry and the Hendersons! You can vote by following and keeping an eye on our stories - a poll is coming soon to @smushgallery.
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! Begin, Again
March 26-27 | 2p
Tickets $10-30
Begin, again is an hour long dance performance occurring simultaneously in SMUSH Gallery and out in the surrounding neighborhood. Sarah Rose, Curatorial Fellow in Dance, invites you to take a walk in the neighborhood and experience three ongoing dance pieces at your own pace. Rose and collaborators Taylor Ballard, Ciara Byrne, Janet Cesarotti, Helen Greider, and Kimberly Sausman use the architecture of the body as a research medium to explore the gentrifying landscape in and around Journal Square. Maps will be provided for the journey. Join us back at SMUSH Gallery for a post performance reception. Presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance
This event will take place rain or shine! Proof of vaccination required, masks required in the gallery when not actively eating or drinking <3
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night
March 22, 6-9p
$5 suggested cover
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our next Neighborhood Game Night! Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome! Yes, kids & families, too!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
Online! Summer 2022 Arts Residencies Info Session
March 6, 5p | Zoom
Join the meeting
Learn about our Summer 2022 Arts Residencies and get your application questions answered! Applications are open through April 1st at smushgallery.com/opportunities
SMUSH Gallery’s Petit Four-th Birthday Formal
February 26 | 7p
Tickets | Early Bird Tickets On Sale January 15 - 31!
Celebrate a 4th, weird year of art and community with SMUSH!
Enjoy fun & friendship, food & drink, performances, games, and a silent auction. Recommended Dress: Get Fancy, Wear Pink <3
Please note: This event is planned to take place in person at SMUSH Gallery. If conditions do not allow for safe, in-person gathering, the program will shift to zoom at 7p eastern.
There’s more Birthday fun right over here!
Pick-A-Plaque | Support Summer 2022 Arts Residencies | Silent Auction | Gift Us Any Amount <3
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night
February 17, 6-9p
$5 suggested cover
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our next Neighborhood Game Night! Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome! Yes, kids & families, too!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! The Body As An Archive
On view January 28 - February 19
Opening Reception January 28 | 6-9p, Performance at 7p
Free!
Evening of Solos & Duets
February 18 & 19 | 8p
Tickets $10-30 - SOLD OUT!
The Body As An Archive is a visual art and performance project devoted to the unique ability of our bodies to store memories, emotions, and experiences.
Curated by choreographer/photographer Olga Rabetskaya, the project includes a visual art exhibition with selections of her dance photography as well as two evenings of solo & duet dance performance showcasing her work alongside other choreographers who share their own experience through movement. Visual art, performance, and live music help us to celebrate the body. Presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not actively eating or drinking <3
In Person! Winter Community Potluck
February 3 | 6:30p
$5-10 suggested cover
Bring your best hot dish, savory baked goods, and secret family recipes for an evening of camaraderie and good times! Performances and art surprises grace the evening, and dessert is on us!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not actively eating or drinking <3
Online! Body of Letters Virtual Workshop
January 29 | 1-4p eastern
RSVP & MORE INFO | DONATE
This virtual workshop, Body of Letters, will offer the participant a host of tools and techniques to investigate and use text-based sources, from which to generate movement ideas. You’ll have time in the workshop to explore and apply these methodologies as you begin to build a new work in process. Everyone will have the opportunity to show and receive feedback on their work during a Critical Response Process session. Ultimately, participants will have the option to show their work, initiated in the workshop, in a virtual celebratory showing the following at a later TBD date.
Select works will be curated for a performance-exhibition at SMUSH Gallery, in April.
Before You Attend the Workshop:
1) Take the time to write a letter that you will use as the basis of your research. The prompt for this letter is “Something I’ve been meaning to tell you is…”
2) Make an audio recording of yourself reading the letter aloud.
Presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance.
In Person! Improv Jam - CANCELED DUE TO SNOWSTORM
January 29 | 11a-1p @ MANA Contemporary
Sign up!
Open space to move, draw, journal, speak, etc., hosted by Katerina Belmatch. Open to the public. Presented as part of SMUSH Gallery’s Performance Residency with the Monira Foundation.
Please Note: This event takes place at the 4th Floor Dance Studio at MANA Contemporary, NOT at SMUSH <3
In Person! Nick Carra Presents A Comedy Show!
January 27 | 8p
Tickets $10
Stand up comedy returns to SMUSH with A Comedy Show, a Nick Carra Production. Come out for sets by Riley Lassin, Derek Humphrey, Meka Mo, Oscar Aydin, Grant Sheffield, and Jersey City's own Kayt Hester.
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
January 25 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out! This month, the film is Purple Rain.
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! Alive is a Matter of Opinion: Photography by Christian Gallo
November 20 - January 8
Opening Reception: November 20, 6-10p
Gallery hours Saturdays 2-6p, Nov 27 - Jan 8 (closed Dec 25, Jan 1)
Visit Christian online!
Alive is a Matter of Opinion explores the idea of what life really means to an individual. For some it’s late nights with people you love, looking over the fence to see what treasure (or trash) lies await on the other side, or losing yourself in a lush countryside. The images serve as a reminder of the past and motivation to stay present.
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night - CANCELED
January 6, 6-9p
$5 suggested cover
DANG! THIS IS CANCELED. STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY XO
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our next Neighborhood Game Night! Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
Xmas Emergency Dance Jam
December 25 | 4p eastern
Free on Zoom
Wow this Xmas is really [emoji sequence]. Time for a dance jam - tune in to dance it out. There will be feelings. Hosted by Katelyn Halpern.
Other info - appx. 60min, PJs and ugly sweaters welcome, hot cocoa welcome, no dance experience necessary. Free but you can always give us money (button on the homepage).
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival - Canceled!
December 21 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! GOMO’s Pre-Christmas Open Mic & Lounge
December 9 | 7:30p
$10-30 | Tickets
It's that time again - time for GOMO's Pre-Christmas Open Mic & Lounge. And hey, it's the 2nd annual! Come out for a fantastic event hosted by your favorite ghost, GOMO - it’s part variety show, part open mic, all g-h-o-s-t. Acts of all kinds are encouraged, and sign ups are promptly at 7:30p. Pre-Christmas outfits welcome!
Proof of vaccination required for entry. Masks will be required for all guests throughout the event except when performing, eating, or drinking, per current guidance. Thank you!
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night
December 7, 6-9p
$5 suggested cover
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our next Neighborhood Game Night! Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! Cold Weather Free Store
December 4, 2:30-5:30p
Pick up free, community-sourced clothing for the cold weather. Bring your own bag and shop (for free!) for what you need.
Contribute to the free store! Drop off your clean, gently used (and mended!) sweaters, coats, jackets, gloves, hats, scarves, and socks at SMUSH during our upcoming events and gallery hours, including the (free!) opening of Alive is A Matter of Opinion Nov 20th 6-10p, gallery hours Nov 27th 2-6p, and MUYU Market Dec 3rd 6-9p.
In Person! MUYU Market @ SMUSH Gallery
December 3 | 6-9p
Join MUYU, local cultural incubator for low-income creatives, for a holiday market at SMUSH Gallery! Artist-vendors include Rosemary, Sally Helmi, Bleriot Thompson, Agua de Jade Apothecary, noaesthetics, Garden Grocery, and Taina Spicer. MUYU re-launches online this winter -- catch them in person this JC Fridays!
Masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
November 30 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
Online! White Space - Conversations for Anti-Racism
3rd Sunday of the Month, Sept-Nov | 7-9p eastern
Free | Join on Zoom << click here
Due to our discussion format, everyone is encouraged to arrive on time. The zoom room will close at 7:15p.
White Space - Conversations for Anti-Racism is a Jersey City-based discussion group for white-identifying people seeking support in the efforts of unlearning racism, raising our internal consciousness, and working for racial justice and the dismantling of white supremacy. Participants are welcome to join from anywhere. Free, facilitated. Hosted through SMUSH Gallery with Rabbi Bronwen of Carov.
Fall 2021 Dates: September 19, October 17, November 21
Why meet as a group of white people? | See our meeting format
In Person! Fall Community Potluck
November 16 | 6:30p
$5 suggested cover | RSVP
Bring your best hot dish, savory baked goods, and secret family recipes for an evening of camaraderie and good times! Performances and art surprises grace the evening, and dessert is on us!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! The New Fantastics
November 13 | Doors 7:30p
Tickets $15 suggested, $5-30 sliding scale
Poetry & performance by Edo Tastic with Kwami Winfield (DJ) and Kate Williams (music). Door tickets available as capacity allows.
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! Please Scream Inside Your Heart
September 18 - November 6
Opening Reception: September 18, 6-10p
JCAST Weekend: October 1, 6-10p | October 2, 2-8p *meet the artist 3-5p* | October 3, 12-6p
Closing Reception November 6, 6-8p
Gallery hours Saturdays 2-6p, September 25 - November 6
Please Scream Inside Your Heart is a tribute to finding humor and light amidst chaos. Kate Eggleston’s solo exhibition reflects her joyful moments and high anxieties as a mother, wife, teacher, and artist while struggling to maintain her sense of self during the pandemic. Her repetitive stitch-like marks are encapsulated by playfully hued, amorphous mounds. These whimsical forms resemble earthen protrusions, the female bosom, patient vessels, and the artist herself.
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night
November 4, 6-9p
25 cent game rentals | $5 suggested cover
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our next Neighborhood Game Night! Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games for 25 cents a pop, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome!
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! The “I Haven’t Seen It” Film Festival
October 26 | Doors 7p, Movie 7:30p
$5-10 sliding scale cover | Free popcorn!
Famous films you haven’t seen - or maybe you have - screened monthly at SMUSH <3 Very fun, come out! It’s spooky season, so we’re going to be screening the cult classic Monster Squad.
Proof of vaccination required, masks required when not eating or drinking <3
In Person! GOMO’s Pre-Halloween Open Mic & Lounge
October 21 | Doors/Sign Ups 7:30p, Show 8p
$10-30 | Tickets
We’re in real L-I-F-E! Come out for a fantastic event hosted by your favorite ghost, GOMO - it’s part variety show, part open mic, all g-h-o-s-t. Costumes welcome!
Proof of vaccination required for entry. Masks will be required for all guests throughout the event except when performing, eating, or drinking, per current guidance. Thank you!
In Person! Visible Mending w/Kate Eggleston
October 16 | 12:30-2p
$10-30 Sliding Scale | RSVP by Oct 12th
Join Kate Eggleston for an afternoon of needles and thread, surrounded by her solo show Please Scream Inside Your Heart currently on display at SMUSH Gallery. The repetitive mark making in her work resembles a running stitch, which is a simple sewing technique that can be used to mend clothing by hand. Learn how to decoratively repair a rip in your favorite pair of jeans or a holely t-shirt. This style of mending is meant to be a visible embellishment, so bring your creative energy!
Participants should bring an article of clothing or fabric item that needs a small repair. All other materials are included. All levels welcome - no sewing experience needed. This workshop is appropriate for all ages 8+ and adults.
Your RSVP is appreciated by Oct 12th as we require a minimum of 6 attendees to run this workshop. <3
In Person! Neighborhood Game Night
September 23, 7-10p
25 cent game rentals | $5 suggested cover
The neighborhood’s own Frankie Boardgames hosts our first ever Neighborhood Game Night! Come with friends or alone, play Frankie Boardgames’ incredible collection of games for 25 cents a pop, and have a great time meeting your neighbors. All ages welcome! Masks required throughout the evening; no food or drink at this event, please.
In Person! “The Meaning of The Seed” Screening
RAIN DATE September 16, 7:30p @ SMUSH
Details & Tickets by Donation, $15 Suggested - Standing Room Only
Join us for a fundraiser & screening of “The Meaning of the Seed,” an environmental justice documentary about the Ramapough Lunaape (Lenape) Turtle Clan of Ringwood, New Jersey and their Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm. Live music by Nick Jorgensen!
Donate directly to the farm: munseethreesisters.org
In Person! JC Fridays Open House
September 10 | 7-10p
Come visit! See the space, learn what’s coming this Fall, and hang out with us! We miss you <3 See you soon!
Summer 2021 Arts Residencies
July - August 2021
July 5 - 11 | Muhammad Moves and Artists, Movement
July 12 - 18 | Reaction Dance Company NYC, Movement
July 19 - 25 | Black Sheep Contemporary Ensemble, Music
July 26 - Aug 1 | coHERence, Movement
August 2 - 8 | Aubin Niragira, Photography
August 9 - 15 | Jacqueline Viola Moulton, Poetry
August 16 - 22 | Candice Schnurr, Movement
August 23 - 29 | Julie Opiel, Movement
Read more about each of our residency artists HERE <3
Innards
June 18 - July 3, 2021
Opening Reception June 18, 2-9p, w/music by Blaise Ambrose
Closing Reception July 3, 12-6p
Gallery hours Saturdays 12-3p
Online Gallery
The three artists in Innards delve into the spots that hold our greatest vulnerabilities: our homes, the most personal spots within our minds, and the spaces that we build for ourselves between. Featuring work by Lilli Helling, Noelle Velez, and Becky Bailey, curated by Danni Bellando.
Online! - MUTANT GIFTS: I AM HERE JUST BECOMING SOME STRANGE KIND OF LOVE
June 24 | 9p eastern
WATCH | TICKETS BY DONATION
PROGRAM | FOREWORD
Virtual premiere by Alison Clancy in collaboration with Albert Esquilin Jr aka Ghost, Max Louis Miller, Testu Collective, Brent Arnold, Esteban Haga, and Allison Jones. Followed by a Q&A with the artists.
Presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance.
Protean Pieces
Outdoor Screenings June 11 - 12, 8p
Secret Location, Downtown Jersey City | TICKETS
Virtual Premiere June 12, 2p eastern
WATCH | TICKETS BY DONATION
Curated by Jonathan Matthews, Protean Pieces collects four choreographic entities with extant work they are willing to reckon with, dismantle, and rebuild on a different set of bodies – namely, that of their fellow choreographers. Equal parts performance and creative incubation, audiences will witness original pieces of repertory and the results of their reconstitution on film, with the opportunity to attend workshops in the processes of each choreographer along the way. Presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance. Join a Zoom talk back following the virtual premiere! Link provided in the Premiere chat.
An Artist’s Duty
May 22 - June 12, 2021
Opening Weekend: Sat May 22 12-7p, Sun May 23 2-6p
Regular Gallery Hours: Saturdays 12-3p
Extended Hours: Sat June 5 12-7p, Sun June 6 2-6p
SEE THE ONLINE GALLERY
Related Events
Artists’ Talk: May 27 | 7-8p edt | Online
DONATE | WATCH (Zoom link posted day of)
Jam Session: June 5 | 6-7p | In-Gallery & Live Streamed
DONATE | RSVP for In-Person | WATCH
—
“An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.”
- Nina Simone
An Artist's Duty honors the unapologetic Nina Simone and, just like Nina, reflects the times. By depicting fearless politicians and public figures who fight for social justice and creative icons who use their platform to advocate, we aim to instill hope and to discover that we are never alone in our battle because in every generation there will always be those using their spotlight to “reflect the times.” Featuring work by Stephanie Geremito, Grace Kim, and Sara Lauth, and curated by Stephanie Geremito.
Online! Improv Jam with Indah Walsh
Monday, May 17 | 10:30a-12p
PAY WHAT YOU CAN | ENTER CLASS
Choreographer Indah Walsh leads “Improv Jam,” a workshop presented as part of the upcoming performance Protean Pieces. This Zoom improv jam will serve as a community gathering to process, explore, reflect, and get present in ourselves and the moment. Prompts will range from physical/anatomical to conceptual, allowing for individual navigations of a collectively created, safe, fun, and meaningful mind-body journey. Having your video on is optional. You may decide to have it on for some explorations but not others. As with all improvisation, you get to decide how you wish to engage and are free to change your mind throughout. No previous improvisation or movement training is necessary! Zoom link posted day of <3
Protean Pieces is presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance, curated by Jonathan Matthews.
Online! Drills and Skills with spacejunk Dance
Tuesday, May 11 | 5:30-7p
PAY WHAT YOU CAN | ENTER CLASS
Choreographic duo spacejunk Dance leads “Drills and Skills,” a workshop presented as part of the upcoming performance Protean Pieces. The workshop will be an accumulation of drills and skills, followed by a comprehensive cooldown, focusing on our movement language and its requisite physical conditioning. Zoom link posted day of <3
Protean Pieces is presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance, curated by Jonathan Matthews.
Exile In Orange: Visual art by Buttered Roll
March 27 - May 9, 2021
Opening Weekend: Sat Mar 27 12-6p, Sun Mar 28 3-7p
Gallery Hours: Saturdays 12-3p
Closing Weekend: Sat May 8 12-6p, Sun May 9 3-7p
Visit the Online Gallery
Exile In Orange is the story of a stranger fated to wander through liminal space in search of signs of authenticity. The series of work presented here is meant, in some sense, to be read as a historical record, a map into the past which, one faithful day, may lead toward home. Exile In Orange is the first solo visual art show by the artist Buttered Roll.
In Person Listening Session w/Kevin Bing
May 8 | 12-3p
Jersey City Council candidate Kevin Bing wants to hear from you! Drop in and share your ideas for a better Ward C.
Masks and social distancing required.
Online! Spatial Economy with Hannah Garner
Tuesday, April 27 | 12-1:30p
PAY WHAT YOU CAN | ENTER CLASS
Choreographer Hannah Garner leads “Spatial Economy,” a workshop presented as part of the upcoming performance Protean Pieces. This shared practice will cycle through a grounded warmup intended to organize the body, conditioning to further investigate use of tone and economical energy, sequential and momentum based "traveling" material (moving consciously in our individual spaces), and will culminate in a final phrase designed to further our physical research. Text and vocalization will be utilized to familiarize the body and mind with speaking and dancing so that when we are asked to do so in a performance context we don't FREAK OUT. Zoom link posted day of. <3
Protean Pieces is presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance, curated by Jonathan Matthews.
Online! GOMO’s Pre-Tax Day Open Mic & Lounge
Friday, April 9 | 8:00p
TIP JAR | ENTER THE OPEN MIC & LOUNGE
GOMO the Ghost presents GOMO’s Pre-Tax Day Open Mic & Lounge. Joined by instrumentalist Double M 2000 and his Zoom-assistant P. Garvey, GOMO lounges his way through the week before the most reliable holiday of the year - Tax Day! - with an hour plus of all your open mic needs: songs, stories, dances, readings, and NO COMEDY. Pitch in for your performers — you know what they say about death and tip jars. Lounge performance and sign ups at 8:00p, open mic at 8:30p est. Zoom link posted day of. <3
Online! Structured Exploration with Sienna Blaw
Friday, April 9 | 12:30–2p
PAY WHAT YOU CAN | ENTER CLASS
Choreographer Sienna Blaw leads “Structured Exploration,” a workshop presented as part of the upcoming performance Protean Pieces. Together, we will share in a guided improvisational practice, with space carved for personal exploration through structured breath and phrasework. Zoom link posted day of. <3
Protean Pieces is presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance, curated by Jonathan Matthews.
Essence of Embodiment: Dance, Somatic Movement, and FIlm Festival
Thursday - Sunday, March 18- 21 | Tickets & Schedule
Move | Watch | Talk | REad
Through dance and film, we’ll be examining techniques to release fear & trauma, re-align the body with the mind while bringing togethether a group of multi-generational, multi-racial, dancers, artists, & writers through conversations about lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers. Ultimately, we are exploring the theme of Somatic Awareness, Authority, and Ownership of the Body. Presented as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance. SUPPORT THIS PROJECT
Online! - Preview the Essence of Embodiment Festival
Friday, March 5 | 6-9p | Catch us between 6-7p!
Free! Part of JC Fridays | Register
Curator Iman Louis-Jeune shares a preview of her upcoming Essence of Embodiment Festival, celebrating somatic movement, dance, and film. She'll share a trailer for the film festival and introduce festival teachers! Essence of Embodiment is presented virtually March 18-21 as part of the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance.
Online! SMUSH Gallery’s Triple T(h)reat 3rd Birthday
Friday, February 26 | 8:30-10p via Zoom
TICKETS! | INFO
Celebrate a 3rd, weird year of art and community with SMUSH!
Hosted by GOMO the Ghost with performances by SMUSH artists, plus a silent auction and games of chance and skill!
Recommended Dress: sparkles, shine, and anything pink <3
Can’t make it but want to support? Check out other (fun) ways to do it. Thank you!
Did you know? The Birthday is our fundraiser & a community celebration. Our fundraising goal is $5k. (What do we do with our money? See pg 2) Our community goal is to see YOU and our whole creative community there. Please reach out to hello@smushgallery.com for a free or reduced ticket.
Online! DREAMLIFE
Friday & Saturday, February 19-20 | 8:00p
TICKETS BY DONATION | WATCH | PROGRAM
Our dreams pose questions we wouldn’t have thought to ask. As we try to share them they change, stretch, distill, dissolve… what emerges is a landscape of our collective subconscious - filtered and refracted through our bodies. DREAMLIFE brings together a group of choreographers, each creating an original dance film inspired by dreams, and features new work by Alaina Wilson, Kareem Woods, Tushrik Fredericks, and Maranda Barry with Jes Wittig and Rosy Gentle. Curated by Maranda Barry and presented through the SMUSH Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in Dance. Join us for a Q&A following Saturday’s show!
WATCH link above will be activated prior to the performance. Please note: the link will not be emailed out. <3
Online! GOMO’s Pre-Valentine’s Open Mic & Lounge
Friday, February 5 | 8:00p
TIP JAR | ENTER THE OPEN MIC & LOUNGE
GOMO the ghost presents GOMO’s Pre-Valentine’s Open Mic & Lounge. Joined by instrumentalist Double M 2000 and his Zoom-assistant P. Garvey, GOMO lounges his way through the week before the greatest holiday of the year - Valentine’s Day! - with an hour plus of all your open mic needs: songs, stories, dances, readings, and NO COMEDY. Sparkle something into the virtual tip jar if Cupid moves you. Doors and sign ups at 8:00p, show at 8:30p est. Zoom link posted day of. <3
Online! - Work/Share
January 24, February 18, March 17, April 28, May 19
6:30-9p (*intro for new artists at 6p*)
Sliding scale $5-30 | RSVP
Work/Share invites creative people of all fields and disciplines to share work-in-progress and get top-notch feedback in a constructive setting, moderated by Katelyn Halpern, Artistic Director of SMUSH Gallery. We can accommodate up to 5 presenters per session at 8-12 minutes of presentation each; an unlimited number of responders are welcome to attend. Your RSVP is appreciated as we require a minimum of 3 presenters to run each session.
We will meet on Zoom!
Sign up by 5:30p the day of your session to ensure you receive the meeting link. Sign up asap to ensure you get a Presenter slot!
THIS SECTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Work/Share January 5 | 6:30-9p
$15-30, sliding scale | RSVP
Work/Share invites creative people of all fields and disciplines to share work-in-progress and get top-notch feedback in a constructive setting, moderated by Katelyn Halpern, artist/artistic director of SMUSH Gallery.
We can accommodate 5-7 presenters per session at 8-12 minutes of presentation each; an unlimited number of responders are welcome to attend. Your RSVP is appreciated as we require a minimum of 3 presenters to run each session.
The Just Now Orchestra & Bonnie Lander
December 23 | 7p
$10 door
Live improvised music and poetry from Jersey City’s The Just Now Orchestra with guest performance by singer Bonnie Lander.
Presented as part of the MORESOUND Music Residency, a co-production of After School Activities and SMUSH Gallery.
The Ukuladies in Wintertime!
December 14
Kids Show at 5p | $5-10 | Tickets
Adult Show at 7:30p | $15-30 | Tickets
Nothing says the holidays like cowboy aprons, fake mustaches, and a tap-dancer on a stick horse! Celebrate the season with the perpetually touring Ukuladies, bringing their Canadian-wintry-wonder to Jersey City. Expect an evening of angelic 3-part harmonies and a colorful array of instruments and antics. "The four endlessly charming Ukuladies...zany, smart, musically spot-on and action-packed – full of sass and spunk..."-Albany Times Union
At the Kids show, enjoy balloon animals and sing-alongs - fun for the whole family!
At the Adult show, expect a whole helping of double-entendre!
Find these events on Facebook!
Gengis Don & the Empire
December 13 | 7:30p Doors
$12
Gengis Don - drummer, producer, song writer, engineer and bandleader - combines his deep knowledge of Hip Hop and his study of jazz/improvisational music to create the music of The Empire. Gengis Don & the Empire are MORESOUND Music Residency artists, and this concert is presented as part of the MORESOUND Music Residency, a co-production of SMUSH Gallery and After School Activities.
SMUSH Moves, Vol. 9
December 12 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
Join us for up-close-and-personal dance and performance from Jersey City and beyond, featuring Elizabeth Burr, Gabriella Di Giuseppe & Bridget James Ling, Arianna Dunmire & Adelo Rodriguez, Nathan Forster/ReFrame Dance Theatre, Mikaela Morisato, Linda Ryan & Melissa Joy Livermore, and Jennifer Wrede. Reception to follow!
Introduction to Ableton w/Elliot Cole
December 10 | 3-9p
$25-50 sliding scale | Registration required
This 6-hour workshop will introduce you to the music production software Ableton Live. You’ll make beats, work with samples, edit MIDI, record audio – all the basics you need to create your own music. Bring your own laptop with Ableton downloaded (trial version OK); headphones; optional: any MIDI keyboard or controller you may have; and if you want to record audio, bring a microphone and audio interface. Please RSVP to instructor: elliotccole@gmail.com.
Elliot Cole is a composer and producer. He teaches Ableton at The New School and Juilliard. His album Nightflower is "music of endless discovery" (A Closer Listen).
T-Shirt Pop Up Shop
November 30 | 2-8p
Celebrate Small Business Saturday with SMUSH! Our pop up shop highlights local artists’ t-shirts and artwork, just in time to kick off your holiday shopping season. Featuring noaesthetics, Last Place Winners, KeithKreations, Luner, Growth Edge, and New Genre, plus artwork and merch from SMUSH’s Art on Toast.
Netted Seas: work by Zoe Frederick & Caroline McAuliffe
On view October 4 - November 9
Opening reception October 4, 6-10p [JCAST!]
Extended JCAST hours October 5 & 6, 12-8p
Gallery hours Thursdays 5-8p & Saturdays 12-4p
Netted Seas surveys a landscape of the ocean as woman and creator, forming alien artifacts. Departing from the romanticized histories of seafarers and women’s labor, Netted Seas assembles a collection of masks, weavings, and curiosities that piece together a new truth.
Work/Share
November 3 | 6:30-9p
$15-30, sliding scale | RSVP
Work/Share invites creative people of all fields and disciplines to share work-in-progress and get top-notch feedback in a constructive, moderated setting. Facilitated by Katelyn Halpern, artist/artistic director of SMUSH Gallery. We can accommodate 5-7 presenters per session at 8-12 minutes of presentation each; an unlimited number of responders are welcome to attend. Your RSVP is appreciated as we require a minimum of 3 presenters to run each session.
Masked Halloween Dance Party
October 31 | 7-10p
$10 presale, $15 at the door | Tickets
Come ready to dance your face off at SMUSH's Masked Halloween Dance Party, presented in affiliation with "Netted Seas: work by Zoë Frederick & Caroline McAuliffe”! Wear masks provided by the artists or bring your own. Free popcorn and candy all night long!
Beginning Weaving Workshop
October 26 | 1-4p
$10 suggested | RSVP by 10/25
Make a mini weaving with colorful and funky supplies on simple DIY cardboard looms or with sticks! All supplies provided. Participants will learn various techniques including plain weave, rya knots, and loops. Provided materials include: yarn, tapestry needles, cardboard, sticks, pencils, scissors, and resource materials. Presented in affiliation with Netted Seas: work by Zoe Frederick & Caroline McAuliffe, on view October 4 - November 9.
Your RSVP is appreciated as we require a minimum of 5 participants to run this workshop.
The Wet Lounge: A Meadowlands Clubhouse
October 25 | 7:30-10:30p
$10 suggested
The Wet Lounge: A Meadowlands Clubhouse is a pop-up community space dedicated to the pleasures of intimacy and co-existence with Jersey City's neighboring ecosystem, the New Jersey Meadowlands. Brought to you by SMUSH Gallery and the Meadowlands Party, a new initiative devoted to creating intimate and just connections with the Meadowlands, we invite you for an evening of chill vibes, tunes, and relaxation inside a saucy multi-media dream of ecological communion with our local wetlands.
The Wet Lounge is a counter-space to the opening of the new mega-mall American Dream Meadowlands, an enormous complex of shopping and entertainment set to open after 16 years under construction. In response, we invite you to get to know the squishy and strange land it occupies and engage with how the project fits into the long, complex, and often extractive history of land use in the Meadowlands.
The Wet Lounge is generously supported by FRANKIE.
The Just Now Orchestra w/ Max and Los Americanos
October 23 | 7p
$10 door
Presented as part of the More Sound Music Residency, a co-production of SMUSH Gallery and After School Activities. <3
Open Crafting Circle: Lez Craft
October 20th | 1-4p
$10 suggested w/a percentage benefitting the Hudson Pride Center | RSVP by 10/18
We invite you to an open crafting circle hosted in partnership with Lez Fest. You are welcome to bring in projects you are working on, like mending, knitting, quilting, and embroidery, or collaborate with the artists on aspects of their personal projects, such as braiding plastic bags into rope and hand crocheting. Foster a sense of community and connection while you work! Presented in affiliation with Netted Seas: work by Zoe Frederick & Caroline McAuliffe, on view October 4 - November 9.
Your RSVP is appreciated as we require a minimum of 5 participants to run this workshop.
Alex & Ben Play Quietly
October 5 | 7p
No cover!
Celebrate JCAST with the quiet stylings of Alex Pergament & Ben Figueroa. No cover; contributions accepted <3
The Silent Committee
Saturdays September 7 - October 12 | 10:30-11:30a
$5 door
Join fellow silence-lovers in peaceful silence for a silent hour on Saturday mornings. Bring anything you’d like - yoga mat, journal, The New Yorker, needlepoint, sketchpad, coffee thermos - to occupy your silent time. No tech. No shoes.
Tangible Imaginings
September 6 - 29
Opening reception September 6, 6-9p [JC Fridays!]
Artists’ Talk September 28, 5-6p
Closing reception September 28, 6-9p
Tangible Imaginings, curated by Fred Fleisher, draws together the visual artwork of Eun Young Choi, Marguerite Day, Laurie Riccadonna, and Woolpunk. Centered on the notion of the Material, the show considers each artist’s manipulations, transformations, and uses of materials to comment upon our larger frame of reference in the everyday.
On view Thursdays 5-8p, Saturdays 12-4p, Sunday 9/14 and 9/28 12-4p, in conjunction with gallery events, and by appointment.
The Just Now Orchestra & Viktor.Digital
September 23 | 7-10p
$10 door
Live & improvised music <3
SMUSH Moves, Vol. 8
September 20 | 8p
$10-30 | Tickets
Up-close-and-personal dance and performance from Jersey City and beyond, featuring work by Paul Giarratano, paspe/moves, Black Sheep Contemporary Ensemble, Ellie van Bever, Sydney Parker, and Sarah Rose. Reception to follow! <3
Bonnie&Batya + LoveLoveLove
September 15 | 7p
$10 door
New + experimental music <3 Baltimore-based Bonnie&Batya (Bonnie Lander [soprano] and Batya Macadam-Somer [violin]) present excerpts from György Kurtág’s Kafka Fragments, as well as music by Los Angeles-based composer Carolyn Chen. LoveLoveLove (Paul Pinto, Bonnie Lander, Kayleigh Butcher) is a dramatic cult-leading, jive jaw, strange, stoic, sprechstimme, shiv-to-the-rib, vit-vit-vittles virtuosic Shaggy meets Alanis meets dream-ballet shoved-cloth scream muffled soundascope from a new trio of voxes representing Brooklyn, Baltimore and Jersey City; LLL presents performance pieces, songs and microtheatres featuring voice, electronics, lamps and video projection.
Work/Share
September 11 | 6:30-9p
$15-30, sliding scale | RSVP
Work/Share invites creative people of all fields and disciplines to share work-in-progress and get top-notch feedback in a constructive, moderated setting. Facilitated by Katelyn Halpern, artist/artistic director of SMUSH Gallery. We can accommodate 5-7 presenters per session at 8-12 minutes of presentation each; an unlimited number of responders are welcome to attend. Your RSVP is appreciated as we require a minimum of 3 presenters to run each session.
Find Your Funny: Improv Comedy Workshop
September 10 | 7-9p
$35 | Tickets *Registration deadline Friday, 9/6*
Find your funny! This workshop is designed for both beginning and experienced improvisors who want to learn how improv can benefit their personal, professional and creative lives. The two-hour crash courses is supportive, fun, and engaging, and taught by Brittany Brave (UCB, The Second City, iO).
Refresh Your Headshots w/ Joey Sbarro
August 31 | 10a-6p
$50 w/ reservation | $75 walk-in
Email joeysbarrophotography@gmail.com to book
Summer 2019 Interdisciplinary Arts Residencies
July 8 - August 25
Myssi Robinson, Visual Art
Sarah Rose, Dance
Nerissa Tutiven, Visual Art
Larissa Belcic, Landscape Architecture/Social Practice
Holly Ledbetter, Dance
Leslie Ann Kilpatrick, Dance/Pedagogy
Field Trip w/ Larissa Belcic [Bayway Oil Refinery/ Morses Creek Area]
August 3 | 11a-3p
RSVP Required
“As part of the early phases of a larger project to create intimacy and connection between the landscapes of the New Jersey Meadowlands and its surrounding communities, we will take a trip to the area around the Bayway/Phillips 66 Oil Refinery, located at the border of Linden and Elizabeth, New Jersey. There we will explore and inhabit this simultaneously industrialized and wild landscape through walking/moving, our senses, and structured activity. Space is limited as we will travel by car, so please RSVP to labelcic@gmail.com. We will begin and end the day at SMUSH Gallery.”
- Larissa
After School Activities | “TouchTouchTouch”
July 3 | 7:30-10p
$5 door | FB Event
Open stage music and poetry improvisation. All performers are in contact with two others while on stage.
TouchTouch: Interactive Sculpture by Alex Pergament & Friends
June 13 - July 3
Opening reception June 13, 6-9p
Come touch art! Become the viewer and creator with Alex Pergament and collaborators’ interactive sculptures. Collaborators include John Fathom, Katelyn Halpern, Lucy Rovetto, and Nicky Watts. Snacks and drinks on offer; cash contributions appreciated ♥
On view Sat & Sun 12-4p, in conjunction with gallery events, and by appointment.
After School Orchestra | COVER(songs)
June 23 | 7:30p
$10 door | FB Event
Improvisations starting as cover songs, featuring After School Orchestra (Benedicto Figueroa, Nick Afflitto, Zach Herchen, and Alex Pergament), Chill Brown, and The Cobbles (Maxwell Feinstein, Darryl Joo, and Nick Rifkin).
7:30p After School Orchestra
8:20p Chill Brown
9:00p The Cobbles
Sound + Motion Improvisation
June 18 | 7-9p
$10 door
Alex Pergament and Katelyn Halpern lead two hours of music- and movement-based improvisation.
SMUSH Moves, Vol. 7
June 8 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
Join us for up-close-and-personal dance and performance from Jersey City and beyond, featuring work by Katelyn Halpern & Dancers, Symara Johnson, Lydia Perakis, Britta Joy Peterson, Tessa Ritchey, Kelsey Saulnier, Alaina Wilson. Reception to follow!
Sound + Motion Improvisation
May 28 | 7-9p
$10 door
Alex Pergament and Katelyn Halpern lead two hours of music- and movement-based improvisation.
Message In A Bottle
May 17 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
"Message In A Bottle" is a surreal but true-to-life love story between a woman and her bottle of vodka, from the early days of awkward first love to the ultimate betrayal, and realization that life going forward isn’t just doable — it can be beautiful.
Written and Performed by Michelle Drozdick
Directed by Adrian Sexton
Zero to 70 // Seventy Works of Art for $70 or Less
May 3 - June 9
Opening reception May 3, 6-9p
Closing reception June 7 (also JC Fridays!), 6-9p
Last year’s “Zero to 60” was so much fun, we decided to do it again in 2019 — just a little… more so. Join us for this high energy art show with work priced to move! On view Sat & Sun 12-4p, in conjunction with gallery events, and by appointment. featuring work by Audrey Chou, Celeste Hutchings, Kruti Rita Kothari, Natalie Lam, Rachel Murdy, Deirdre Newman, Alex Pergament, Dan Peyton, Christian Porfido, Carolyn Ramella, Kelsey Reilly, Myssi Robinson, Buttered Roll, Frances Ross, Kasia Skorynkiewicz, Kayla Smith, Brad Terhune, Emily Walek, Randi Wolfman, and Jacqueline Wu.
We Are Particles : A Contemporary Dance Mixed Bill
April 25-26 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
Program A - April 25:
Us, American by Madelyn Sher
Burrow, tousle by Amanda Maraist + Kara Brody + Chrissy Martin
We Are Particles (work in progress) by Katelyn Halpern & Dancers
Program B - April 26:
CensorSh** by MURDERDANCE
a tender provocation by jhon r. stronks
We Are Particles (work in progress) by Katelyn Halpern & Dancers
Please note: Program B contains nudity and may not be appropriate for all audiences.
In The In Between: Contemporary Queer Portraiture
March 29 - April 21, 2019
Queerness exists in the gray areas. Living on the cusp, in the “in between,” provides us, and those like us, a unique perspective. From this vantage, we see the boundaries of “normal” - boundaries that we aim to reshape to include all of us.
Drawings, paintings, and photography by John Brooks, Adam Chuck, Mati Gelman, John MacConnell, Melody Melamed, and Joey Sbarro, curated by Joey Sbarro.
On view during gallery hours Sat & Sun 12-4p, in conjunction with gallery events, and by appointment.
Please note: ‘In The In Between’ contains nudity and mature themes, and may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Find Your Funny: Improv Comedy Workshop
April 20 | 4-6p
$35 | Tickets *Registration deadline Wednesday, 4/17*
Find your funny! This workshop is designed for both beginning and experienced improvisors who want to learn how improv can benefit their personal, professional and creative lives. The two-hour crash courses is supportive, fun, and engaging, and taught by Brittany Brave (UCB, The Second City, iO).
Sound + Motion Improvisation
April 18 | 7-9p
$10 door
Alex Pergament and Katelyn Halpern lead two hours of music- and movement-based improvisation.
An Evening In The In Between
April 13 | 6-10p
Join us for an evening of discussion, performance, and camaraderie!
6:00-7:00p Artist Discussion Panel
7:30-9:00p Music & Performances
9:00-10:00p Mix & Mingle Reception
About the Panel:
Hudson Pride Center’s Community Coordinator Josh Bell hosts a conversation about life on the cusp among ‘In The In Between’ artists and HPC Client Services Counselor Max Laffend. Free.
About the Performances:
Variety show mixing live music, modern dance, and poetry by queer-identifying artists. Featuring MAPS OF (music), Madison Negron (poetry), Dot Armstrong, and more. $10 at the door.
About the Reception:
Hang out with the artists, speakers, and community <3 Snacks and drinks on offer; cash contributions appreciated.
Please note: ‘In The In Between’ contains nudity and mature themes, and may not be appropriate for all audiences.
SMUSH Moves, Vol. 6
April 6 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
Up-close and personal dance & performance; reception to follow <3
Performances by:
spacejunk dance
Holly Ledbetter
MotionVivid by Dat Nguyen
occo | Kelsey Greenway
Morgaine A. De Leonardis & Elisa Hernandez
Katie Hardin
Mignolo Dance
In The In Between: Contemporary Queer Portraiture - Opening Reception
March 30 | 6-9p
Queerness exists in the gray areas. Living on the cusp, in the “in between,” provides us, and those like us, a unique perspective. From this vantage, we see the boundaries of “normal” - boundaries that we aim to reshape to include all of us.
Drawings, paintings, and photography by John Brooks, Adam Chuck, Mati Gelman, John MacConnell, Melody Melamed, and Joey Sbarro, curated by Joey Sbarro.
On view March 29 - April 21 at gallery hours Sat & Sun 12-4p, in conjunction with gallery events, and by appointment.
Please note: ‘In The In Between’ contains nudity and mature themes, and may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Color of the Snow
March 29 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
It begins with snow, a girl, and a little black cat...
Cherry Chen presents Color of the Snow, a premiere of mixed media performance about dreams, growth, and love. Chen's original compositions weave Taiwanese, Mandarin, and English into an evening of performance by Cherry Chen (vibraphone/voice) and Geo Progulakis (piano), with visual art by Wei-en Yang.
SMUSH Gallery’s Frothy, Cake-Smushing First Birthday Party!
February 28 | 6:30p
We are throwing a big ol’ party February 28th. Tickets
Early bird tickets (starting at $20!) available through Jan 31!
Sound + Motion Improvisation
February 21 | 7-9p
$10 drop in
Alex Pergament and Katelyn Halpern lead two hours of music- and movement-based improvisation.
Home Space
On View February 1 - 24
Opening Reception February 1 | 7-10p
Home Space is a group show exploring the worlds we build for ourselves. Through the use of color, material, and different representations of space, Home Space delves into our personal comforts, intimacies and vulnerabilities. Featuring work by Danni Bellando, Emily Glascott, Tiffany Fang and Rebecca Spodick. Curated by Danni Bellando. On view through February 24.
Opening reception features live music by Julep Maisey, Ghost Grace, and Talulah Paisley.
FAKE SUMMER
a concert to benefit the Subsidized Summer Arts Residency Program <3
January 30 | 8p
$10 at the door
Music, comedy, dance, and hot dogs in a can't-believe-it's-not-summer setting.
All proceeds support our Subsidized Summer Arts Residency fundraiser, aiming to give artists free space to make work! Performances by Madison Negron, Molly McGrath, Brittany Brave, Corinne Shearer, Chill Brown, Alex Pergament & Ariel Guidry, and more. Co-hosted by Stacy Collado and Molly McGrath.
Sound + Motion Improvisation
January 29 | 7-9p
$10 drop in
Alex Pergament and Katelyn Halpern lead two hours of music- and movement-based improvisation.
Soft News
immediate, everyday artwork for the human in you <3
On View November 30 - January 27
Featuring work by Emma Bjornsen, Yogee Chandrasekaran, Fred Fleisher, Hailey Dugan, John Erbach, Kerry Kolenut, Brittany Maldonado, Charlotte Marino, Deirdre Newman, Sanika Phawde, Joy Alicia Raines, Joe Remmert, Brad Terhune, Emily Walek, and Randi Wolfman, curated by Katelyn Halpern.
Opening Reception December 7, 6-9p
Family Focused Open Studio Days December 8th & 15th, January 19th & 26th
Closing Reception January 25, 6-9p
Gallery Hours Sat & Sun 12-4p (closed for holidays, dates TBD)
Join us for family-focused Open Studio days!
Saturday December 8th & 15th, and January 19th & 26th
12-3p
Families with kids of all ages are invited to drop in, get creative, and make their own art inspired by the current exhibition! Materials and guidance are provided. $5 per participant. Children may not be left unattended during Open Studio.
Soft News - Closing Reception
January 25 | 6-9p
Join the artists and curator for one last evening with Soft News! Artist Christo Pratt offers $10 newsprint portrait quick-sketches sessions throughout the evening, and we’ll have ‘classified’ snacks and drinks on hand; cash contributions appreciated <3
SMUSH Moves, Vol. 5
Up-close and personal dance & performance <3
January 19 | 8p
$10-15 | Tickets
Performances by:
Oluwadamilare Ayorinde // the lab / Tessa Brinza // Ross Daniel // GolDaCo // gual + moves // Jess Grippo / You Can Dance Again // Caroline Labreche // Rachel Winchester & Dakota Bouher
Sound + Motion Improvisation
December 12 | 10:30a-12:30p
$10 drop in
Alex Pergament and Katelyn Halpern lead two hours of music- and movement-based improvisation.
Opening Reception - Soft News
December 7 | 6-9p [also JC Fridays!)
Soft News is a group show of immediate, everyday artwork for the human in you <3
Join us for the opening reception Friday, December 7th from 6-9p. While you're here, get your News From Beyond from tarot reader Joe Monteleone and enjoy classified snacks & drinks; cash contributions appreciated.
Featuring work by Emma Bjornsen, Yogee Chandrasekaran, Fred Fleisher, Hailey Dugan, John Erbach, Kerry Kolenut, Brittany Maldonado, Charlotte Marino, Deirdre Newman, Sanika Phawde, Joy Alicia Raines, Joe Remmert, Brad Terhune, Emily Walek, and Randi Wolfman.
SMUSH Moves, Vol. 4
Up-close and personal dance from Jersey City & beyond
November 30 | 8p
$10-15 | TICKETS
Featuring Performances by:
SAXYN/DanceWorks
Loretta D Fois
Dakota Bouher / BODY PARTY
Maribel Plasencia
Micayla Wynn & Adriana Santoro
N-root Danceart
TheLAB by SGalberth
Heartstrung, an immersive installation by Talita Cabral & Katelyn Halpern
October 5 - November 18
Opening Reception: October 5, 6-10p
JCAST Hours: October 6-7, 12-8p
Closing Reception: November 10, 6-9p
Gallery Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4p
Join us for family-focused Open Studio days!
Saturday October 6th & 20th, November 10th
12-3p
Families with kids of all ages are invited to drop in, get creative, and make their own art inspired by the current exhibition! Materials and guidance are provided. $10 per participant. Children may not be left unattended during Open Studio.
Midterms are Coming: Vote For Freedom!
Tuesday, Oct. 30 - Tuesday, Nov. 6
In the week prior to midterm elections, SMUSH Gallery invites our community to share their hopes, demands, and dreams in partnership with the For Freedoms Lawn Sign project. Completed lawn signs will be displayed in our street facing window as encouragement for all our neighbors to engage with our elections and get out the vote.
Read more about For Freedoms | Visit the FB event page | See photos on IG
Natural Dye Workshops with Talita Cabral
Friday, October 19, 6-9p
Sunday, October 21, 3-6p
Discover the shades of cochineal with a handmade natural dye workshop with local artist Talita Cabral. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to experience cochineal hands-on in an open artisanal environment, experiment with basic methods, and create works of their own. The project for October 19 is a scarf, and for October 21, a tote bag.
Open to adults and teens 15+. No experience necessary. All materials included. Workshops are offered on a sliding scale from $35-65; please select the price that best suits your budget.
RSVP by Tuesday, October 16; email hello@smushgallery.com to reserve your spot!
In This House: Gestures of Unrest by Rina Espiritu
August 30 - September 28, 2018
Opening Reception: September 7 (JC Fridays!), 6-9p
Closing Reception: September 28, 6-9p
Gallery Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4p
SMUSH Moves, Vol 3
August 30 | 8p
$15 general | $10 artist/student
Tickets
Join us for up-close-and-personal dance and performance from Jersey City and beyond. Reception to follow <3
Performances by Copy That Dance // tedted Performance Group // Bianca Falco // Gabrielle Johnson // Grant Jacoby Dance // Rebecca Fitton // Stacy Collado // Alex Lance
Rat Ball
August 25 | 7-10p
Masters of ceremony Sam Pullin and Noah Tavlin cordially invite you to attend Rat Ball 2018, an evening of rat jazz, rat revelry, ratfle prizes, and a rattiest rat award. Slip into your comfort zone amongst installation, artwork, and design curated just for rats. Also presenting: The Vermin Jazz Trio featuring king rat David Zaks.
Attire: Rat Formal
Info | RSVP
The Summer 2018 Subsidized Residency Program offers curated artists of all disciplines space for studio work, rehearsal, and performance. In residence this summer:
Grant Jacoby (Week of July 30)
Curet Performance Project (Week of August 6)
Valleto Dance (Week of August 13)
Sam Pullin + Noah Tavlin (Week of August 20)
Be Southern by Breathing Art Company
Workshops, Photography, and Dance from Southern Italy
July 27-29 | Free & Ticketed Events
July 27
Opening reception 6-9p; Performance at 7:30p (FREE)
July 28
Workshop: William’s Women: Exploring Violence With Shakespeare’s Fairer Sex, 11a-1p (TICKETS)
Gallery Hours: 6-9p (FREE)
July 29
Workshop: SUD: Southern Identity Across the Globe, 11a-1p (TICKETS)
Gallery Hours: 6-9p (FREE)
Glacier (Nest)
by Katelyn Halpern
July 11 - 29, 2018
On view 24/7 in our storefront window.
The "Art" of Translation Workshop, Part 2
with Charly Santagado of mignolo dance
July 17 | 6:30-8:30p
$20 general, $10 student | TICKETS
Translating across languages and boundaries is more important than ever, but how can we (and why should we) translate across artistic mediums? Join us as we explore how the arts relate and collaborate to make "artistic translations." All mediums welcome!
A Day with eSKay Art Collective
July 14 | Tickets
12:00pm Technique Class
1:30pm Improv with Music Workshop
5:30pm Performance
eSKay Arts Collective-established in 2016 by Shannon Reynolds and Kelly Flansburg, eSKay Arts Collective has grown into a collaboration of artists who are able to grow their ideas through sharing resources and engaging the talents and support of fellow artists in the collective.
TRANSLOCATE
by DanielRose Projects
July 9-10
Free & Ticketed Events | Tickets
'TRANSLOCATE' is a two day performance installation by collaborative artists Ross Daniel and Sarah Rose (DanielRose Projects) showcasing immersive visual art and dance material developed at different sites around the greater NYC area. The gallery will be open to the public across two days as the artists shape their material to the space. The artists will give a formal presentation of material the evening of July 10.
July 9: open to the public 11a-8p (FREE)
July 10: open to the public 11a-4p (FREE)
July 10: performance 8p (Ticketed)
Modern Life: paintings by Tom Wolf
June 15 - July 6, 2018
Opening reception: Fri. June 15, 6-9p
Closing reception: Fri. July 6, 6-9p
The opening reception features a performance by Jersey City's premiere a capella do wop group, The Prom Dates! The closing reception features Prince covers by The Beautiful Ones. Performances at 7:30p.
SMUSH Gallery is open by appointment and in conjunction with other gallery events. Please see our upcoming events or email hello@smushgallery.com to make an appointment.
Zero to 60 // fast art // sixty dollars max
May 25 - June 9
Opening: Friday 5.25, 6-10p
JC Fridays Party: Friday 6.1, 6-10p
Closing: Saturday 6.9, 6-10p
Experience SMUSH Gallery’s high energy group show featuring more than a dozen visual and text based artists from Jersey City, New York, and beyond. All work priced at sixty dollars max.
Artists: Natalie Braginsky // Willa Brown // Kyle Canyon // Arianna Dunmire // Marcus Everson // Muriel Favaro // Luz Guzman // Olivia Junell // Danielle Koblinski // Kerry Kolenut // Johnnie Ray Kornegay III // Ryan McGhee // William Patterson // Myssi Robinson // Aliah Rosenthal // Vince Ruvolo // Haiku Tsunami
Blanc & Bonk
by stb x at
Fri 6.8 | 8p
$15 | $10 artist/student | Tickets
'Blanc & Bonk' is a suite of catchy tunes and memorable dances performed by stb x at. Featuring socially and historically important compositions and choreography, the curated medley chronicles dance-and-music collaborations through the ages... shown slightly off-kilter. Extracting moments from classical ballets to modern-day music videos, stb x at has reduced entire orchestrations to a solo vibraphone and transposed prima ballerina gestures onto a dragged-up try-hard.
stb x at is Sean Thomas Boyt and Dr. Andy Thierauf.
Castle
by award-winning international choreographer Rachel Erdos
performed by Yoav Grinberg and Yahli Elimelech
Wed 5.23 | 8p
$15 | $10 artist/student | Tickets
Created in response to current global living conditions and political situations, 'Castle' is an intimate duet in which the dancers are trapped in an 8 foot x 8 foot square. Neon-colored lights demarcate the territory they inhabit.
Performance duration: 30 mins followed by Q&A reception with choreographer Rachel Erdos and the performers.
This program was partially supported by the Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artist Program and the Israeli Embassy.
I Ran in Jersey City - A Celebration of the Democratic Process
hosted by The New JSQ Community Association
Tues 5.22 | 7-9:30p
Free!
Hear a discussion about running for office in Jersey City from the candidates themselves. Our panel will be made up of a group of candidates who ran in 2017 but lost. The conversation will be candid, non-partisan, and focused on the day-to-day realities of being a candidate. The event will also be an opportunity to say "Thanks" to those who threw their hat into the ring and an opportunity to educate the next generation of voters, volunteers, and candidates. This is a free educational event for anyone interested in running for office and for those who want to learn more about our democratic process. Light refreshments will be served.
Marmalakes + Friends
Live Music Out of Austin, Texas
Sat 5.19 | 2-6p
$10 at the door
Celebrate SMUSH's first live music event! Sets by Marmalakes, Taft, Matt Puckett, Marcus Brown, and Ofer Shoval.
The "Art" of Translation Workshop
with Charly Santagado of mignolo dance
Sun 5.6 | 5:30-7p
$10 general, $5 student
Translating across languages and boundaries is more important than ever, but how can we (and why should we) translate across artistic mediums? Join us as we explore how the arts relate and collaborate to make "artistic translations." All mediums welcome!
The Flower Show
May 3 - 19
Opening Reception, Thursday 5.3, 6-10p
Artist Talk Saturday 5.12, 4-6p
Closing reception, Saturday 5.19, 7-10p
Gallery Hours:
Thursday 5.10, 6-9p
Saturday 5.12, 6-9p (following artist talk)
After the harsh winds, snows, and gray skies of the previous season, join us as we take in the color and form of luscious spring blooms. Come follow the Spring, beautifully presented by the diverse work of the artists showcased in this exhibit: Beth Lucas, Deirdre Kennedy, Shilpa Gowda, and Marlene Sandekamp, curated by Maria Ross.
Making Dances: a kamrDANCE Workshop Fusing Body Rhythms + Modern Movement
Sun 4.29 | 2-3:30p
$10 suggested, $5 student
RSVP to reserve your spot then pay at the door
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DRIGGProductions Community Dance Class
led by Co-Artistic Director Khadija Ahmaddiya
Sun 4.29 | 11:30a-1:00p
$7 at the door
Open to all levels (beginner to professional). Focus & Intention on body awareness, alignment, stretch & mindful physical practice. Fun phrase work and explorative approach!
Slyce of Lyfe III: Poetry Reading + Open Mic
Sat 4.27 | Doors + Sign Up 7p, Reading 7.30p
$5, online or at the door
Open mic slots are 3 minutes each, first come, first served. Presented with Marcus Emel Brand, LLC. Come through!
SMUSH Moves, Vol 2
Sat 4.14 | Doors 7.40p, Show 8p
$10 suggested
Join us for up-close-and-personal dance and performance from Jersey City and beyond, with work from Parijat Desai, kamrDANCE, Meagan Woods & Co., Myssi Robinson, mignolo, Sebastian Abarbanell, Olivia Greco, and Ross Daniel.
Slyce of Lyfe II: Poetry Reading + Open Mic
Tues 3.27 | Doors + Sign Up 7p, Reading 7.30p
Tix $5, online or at the door
Early Bird RSVP (FREE!) through 3.20
Featuring
Emily Chammah, writer and an assistant editor at American Short Fiction, and winner of the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers // Grisha Levine-Rozenvayn, Soviet-American poet and storyteller and managing editor of the New School's 12th Street journal
Open mic slots are 3 minutes each, first come, first served. Presented with Marcus Emel Brand, LLC. Come through!
Art + Community Mixer
Thur 3.22 | 6.30-9.00p
Tix $5-20
Sliding scale, available online and at the door
Meet your next collaborator, spread the word about your latest project, and find new ways to get involved in your community. Enjoy light refreshments, homegrown art, and jump into a collaborative art project. Don't forget - bring your friends!
Artists wishing to sell work or give a short performance - please email Katelyn at hello@smushgallery.com.
SMUSH Moves
Fri. 3/2/18
Doors 7.40p, Performance 8p
Free / Pay What You Wish
Join SMUSH Gallery for an up close and personal evening of dance and performance. Artists from Jersey City and beyond share their work at one of Jersey City’s newest art spaces. Seating is limited - arrive early!
Presented as part of Art House Productions' JC Fridays
Slyce of Lyfe: Poetry Reading + Open Mic
Tue. 2/27/18
Doors + Sign Up 7p, Reading 7.30p
$5 // Free w RSVP
Featuring Maria Bonacci, Paris Crayton III, Aliah Rosenthal, Sergio G. Satelite. Open mic slots are 3 minutes each, first come, first served. Presented with Marcus Emel Brand, LLC. Come through!