Photo Mithila art at Gallery 495 via jcfridays.com

JC Fridays Summer edition is here… and there are a lot of great events lined up! All events are free and open to the public. JC Fridays is a quarterly citywide celebration of the arts which is organized by Art House Productions. If you’re like me it’s both exciting and a bit overwhelming to have all these choices of venues and events to choose from! How am I possibly going to make it to everything I want to see in one night? Does anyone? Here’s my personal JC Fridays Pro Tip: Save your pamphlet! A lot of the events listed are ongoing so even if you don’t make it to everything you want to see tonight you can plan to go check those events out on another date while they are still up. The JC Fridays pamphlet also has the names of the artists, entertainers, and venues that you did get to see so you can look them up online afterward to get more information, follow them on social media, sign up for their newsletter, etc.

So, what to go see? Most of the events I’ve singled out below are “one time” events – meaning they are only happening tonight on JC Fridays. The list below is also broken down by “event type.” If you prefer music over art or are looking for something family friendly to do with children you can just look through that category. I hope you find this breakdown helpful. More importantly I hope you get a chance to go out tonight and enjoy the great local artistic talent we are lucky to have in Jersey City.

Oh, and if you’re posting on social media tag JCI and we might repost your #JCFridays photo to share with our followers. See you out there!

ON THE EARLY SIDE & FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

3-5 pm Tiny Artist: Accompanied children ages 3-5 are invited to come and create a summer collage at Hazel Baby & Kids. The works will then be hung in the store window that evening for all to see. Hazel Baby & Kids, 199 Montgomery St.

4-6 pm JCPS End of the Year Art Exhibition: This annual end of the year art exhibition presented at the Loew’s Jersey Theatre features the talented art students from the JCPS Jersey City Arts High School. Each year a hundred works of art created by the young, talented and diverse high school students of Jersey City are showcased. The Loew’s Jersey Theatre – 54 Journal Square.

4-7 pm DIY Flying Cars & Drone Racing with Safety Third: The impossible happens at Towhee Co. & JC Fab Lab as JC Fab Kids (or their creatively limited parent) work on your dream flying autonomous vehicle. Plus, the amazing spectacle of Drone Racing, with Safety Third Racing. JC Fab Lab, 195 New York Ave., 4th Fl.

ART

4-8 pm Mithila Art from India: Mithila art is a centuries old women’s art form in north India in the region bordering Nepal. Originally drawn on walls as a religious ritual art it is distinguished by fine line work and bright color that is accessible to the first-time viewer as to the longtime admirer. Gallery 495, 495 Monmouth St.

4-9 pm The Four Seasons: Seasons have been inspiring artists of all kinds for millennia – this group show of paintings, sculpture, and photography is divided into four sections: winter, spring, summer, and fall. ($1 donated to Art House for every guest book signature – $5 for those who sign at both Village West and Casa Colombo). Village West Gallery,  331 Newark Ave.

5-9 pm The Soul Travels: A group show documenting a significant time and place in Jersey City’s recent history, as it’s inhabitants are rapidly being replaced by a new generation of souls from across the water. Featuring photos and video by Stephen Olweck, Alex Bingham and Laura Israel. 313 Gallery, 313 Third St.

5-10 pm 130 Central Avenue Artists Open Studio: Have you always been curious about what goes on at the Musicians Building on Central Avenue? Individual artist studios as well as the 2nd floor Gallery Space will be open to the public. Musicians Building, 130 Central Ave.

5:30-10 pm Note from Abroad: Notes from Abroad is about actual, remembered and imagined travel. Artists Claudia Alvarez, Meridith McNeal and Quentin Williamston hope that it inspires all of our viewers to journey themselves—to read, imagine, remember and make art! 107 Bowers Gallery & Artspace, 107 Bowers St.

6-8 pm CPHarrik – New Works: Peruse new original artwork pieces by Jersey City artist CPHarrik. Prints available. 205 10th St.

6-9 pm Alley Cat Gallery Annual Open House:  This converted garage will be open for their bi-annual open studio featuring multi-media artist Miguel Cardenas, photographer Beth Achenbach, The Silver Sculptor – Joanne Simmons, My Insides poetry and Tinika Green of Glim and Glow. All ages welcome to come by and enjoy an evening of art and community. Alley Cat Gallery, Alleyway Off Of Coles St., between 4th and 5th St.

6-9 pm What Are You Looking At?: They say the eyes are the windows to your soul. Many consider the eye as a channel or passageway into another dimension. Come see how local artists have depicted this theme. The Raven Gallery & Boutique, 304 Newark Ave.

7-2:30 am {this untitled work is titled finite horizon}:  A homage. A vision. A memorial. A shrine. An installation. By Lex Leonard, Victor J. Chez and you. 186 Grove St.

8-11 pm Topeng: A Celebration of Theatrical Masks: Jersey City Artist John Ruddy presents an installation of work inspired by the theatrical masks of Java and Bali. Set in the eclectic experimental Art space Archetype 660, come immerse yourself in one of Bergen-Lafayette’s most avant-garde and vibrant artist community spaces. Archetype Gallery, 660 Grand St First Fl.

DANCE, THEATER and VARIETY SHOW

7-9 pm Stitches in Time: Join Speranza Theatre Company for a reading of a new play, Stitches in Time, and stay for a talkback with the playwright, Caren Skibell. Stitches in Time examines multiple generations of women struggling to assert themselves within the working world. The Culinary Conference Center at Hudson County Community College, 161 Newkirk St.

7:30-8:30 pm It’s Not That Deep: Come experience a dance explosion with Tracy Singer and Daraius Phillips as they share their love for movement with friends. It’s an Experience you don’t want to miss! St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 38 Duncan Ave.

8-10 pm In Lak’Ech: No Peeking Theatre presents In Lak’Ech (You Are the Other Me), a sensory, ‘Blind’, theatrical experience. In Lak’Ech discusses the complexities of the Latin American Experience in its myriad definitions. Grassroots Community Space, 54 Coles St.

9-11 pm G.O.A.T: Greatest of All Time: Art House Production’s new variety style show will happen four times a year on JC Fridays and will feature talent from their weekly open mics. Come see some of the finest comedians, musicians, spoken word artists and poets. The Beacon, 20 Beacon Way.

MUSIC

5- 10 pm Groove on Grove: JC Fridays Edition: HDSID and Rockit-It Docket presents the JC Fridays edition of Groove on Grove! Featuring: Wilma Ann Anderson – 5 pm, Jeff Taylor – 6 pm, San Simon – 7 pm, The Foxfires – 8 pm and RAHDA – 9 pm. Adult Libations and creative creations from the Artist Maker Market. Grove St. PATH Plaza.

6-8 pm Wild Jazz Adventure: The Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance presents world class jazz musicians jamming in Jersey City’s most unique urban environment, the Reservoir. Individual group performances – 6-6:45 pm, Giant jam at the Reservoir’s edge – 7:15-8:00 pm. Featuring: Peter Lin, Kahlil Kwame Bell, Jovan Alexandre, Ted Chubb, Adam Lomeo, Daseul Kim, Erena Terakubo and Craig Harris. The Reservoir, Pershing Plaza, between Central and Summit.

7:30-9:30 pm Andreas Arnold Spanish Guitarist/Quartet: German born classical guitarist Andreas Arnold plays The Statuary with his quartet on tour from Spain. Mostly in the traditional flamenco style, instruments represented will be guitar, flute, vocals and percussion. (Seating is limited and donations will be accepted to continue similar concerts.) The Statuary, 53 Congress St.

8-10 pm Iris Records Presents Sean Kiely & Friends: Iris fave Sean Kiely returns for another round of country-tinged musical magic, with his supporting cast yet to be revealed. It’s tuneful, sing-a-long fare by one of JC’s best. Stop by for some refreshments and communal merriment. There will be a warm-up act at 8 pm. Iris Records, 114 Brunswick St.

For more JC Fridays information and full listings, visit jcfridays.com.

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