The Gateway Project

As my sister is an artist, and one of the featured artists in this particular exhibit, I have had the privilege of attending many openings, galleries and art exhibits, but none of them hit home as much as this one.
This project was done in coordination with the Newark Police and DEA (being Newark has an overwhelming amount of heroin dealers, users and therefore, resulting in high crime and addiction related deaths.)
This exhibit deals with various phases of addiction. Anybody who has ever overcome an addiction, lost someone due to addiction or has family members who struggle with this or have friends with this problem will relate to this exhibit.
The artists, some who are currently in recovery, some who overcame, parents with sons and daughters who are addicts, some young as young as 12 with knowledge of addiction but all with a common theme. The artwork submitted spoke volumes.
The powerful images and what each artist had to say about their personal experience with addiction and the havoc it reeks on your mind, body and family could easily bring you to tears if you have experienced the destruction and pain firsthand.
Parts of the exhibit were being filmed for a movie on topic called Epidemic H, and epidemic it is. It has hit a all new peak. I would urge everyone to see this show and support the artists and families and police that worked so hard to make this happen.

I’m not sure how many times I’ve walked by The Gateway Project over the past few months. Like many worker bees, I cut through Gateway Center during my commute. I never get the chance to pop in because of its hours (M-​F, 11am-​6pm). So instead, I’ve just peered through the glass partition and looked from outside while I rush past. Fortunately though, today I had the opportunity to check it out. I honestly think it’s a wonderful addition to Gateway and Downtown Newark.
During the gallery’s open hours, the entrance door is propped open, welcoming visitors to drop in. I went earlier in the day with a friend of mine and it looked like there were artists or gallery-​affiliated people working and collaborating on stuff. After speaking with an artist sitting at the table by the door (she had said hello to us when we walked in), I found out that The Gateway Project actually also rents out studio space to creatives — artists, dancers, musicians, etc. The organization has three floors in Gateway II.
The gallery is a pretty deep space. From the concourse, you see the front half, but there’s a whole exhibition area in the back, as well as a cordoned off office space area (I think some of these are rented out and some are for the people who curate/​manage/​are-​just-​part-​of the-​operation-​of The Gateway Project. Don’t quote me on this. That’s just what I gathered). The gallery has high ceilings and really presents art well — from projected images, installations, and various other media. It looks really good and I enjoyed walking through and taking in everything.
Also, I checked out their website a little bit. The Gateway Project collaborates with various local artists and organizations (like Rutgers-​Newark and Endless Edition from across the Hudson in Manhattan), but also has this competitive residency program bringing in artists from outside of the area. It has such potential to really broker genuine exchanges/​interactions between people of different walks of life and, as the website says, potential to «cultivate social engagement, awareness, and change via contemporary art practices.»
Along with the gallery, there is the concourse exhibition. I’ve seen artists working on installation pieces throughout the Gateway complex. I’ve seen some artists have conversations with onlookers passing through Gateway Center, who ask them about their works. And I think that’s a cool thing — public art sparks discussion and inspires.
So, as much as I liked how the space used to be the location of Panasonic’s seasonal pop-​up store, the opening of The Gateway Project has really uplifted the experience of being in Gateway Center. There are all these new development projects taking place in Newark right now. The city is changing and commerce is a huge driver of this transformation; there’s no denying that. However, I believe there’s also room for cultural and social influences to contribute to the evolution of the city and surrounding areas. That’s why I think The Gateway Project and the adjacent Agnes Varis NJTV studio are much needed in the area and inside Gateway Center.
If you can, visit the gallery or take a few minutes out of your day to check out the Concourse Exhibition pieces while heading off to work. I highly recommend it and support.