Amy Gideon

What is it like to visit an art museum or gallery if you cannot see? A group of member artists from JSDD’s WAE (Wellness, Arts, Enrichment) Center are in the process of learning what that is like through a class that has been dubbed “Seeing Beyond Our Limitations.” On a recent visit to the Montclair Art Museum, four sighted members paired off into teams of two, and each took a turn being blindfolded as the other described the artwork in a way that would allow his or her partner to visualize it, using three criteria: What do you see? What do you feel? What is the story behind this piece of art? On Feb. 6, they will take that experience […]

JSDD’s WAE Center is pleased to introduce its new WAE Beyond workshops. This series of workshops, taught by local professional artists and teachers, comprises 8 exciting courses in Weaving, Middle Eastern dance, Creative Writing, Tai Chi Chih, and more. All people, ages 16 and over, have opportunities to gather on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and 2 Sundays a month to socialize, learn, and engage in creative and wellness pursuits. All the workshops are inclusive and we invite individuals with or without a described disability to give them a try. Beginning in the second week of January the workshops will run from 6 to 8 weeks. The classes will be kept small for maximum learning so register early! Click the link in the photo […]

More than 200 attended the opening reception, Nov. 11, for the JSDD WAE Center’s ”Out of the Box” Exhibit! On display is the work of over 50 individual artists, working out of the WAE Center Art Studio in West Orange NJ. The exhibit remains up through December 31, and all artwork is available for sale. Give the gift of art this season…stop by the Gaelen Gallery at 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ …and be inspired.  photo by John Skillin

WHAT:   Opening of Out of the Box, a JSDD WAE Center Art Exhibit, with featured speaker Andrew Edlin (Reservation required) WHERE:  Gaelen Gallery East at JCC Metrowest, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange WHEN:   4-7 p.m. Sunday, November 11, 2012 “Out of the Box,” an exhibit opening on Sunday Nov. 11 in the Gaelen Gallery at JCC Metrowest, highlights artwork created by more than 40 members of JSDD’s WAE (Wellness, Arts, Enrichment) Center. The guest speaker will be New York City art dealer Andrew Edlin, an enthusiastic champion of self-taught artists who operate beyond the discourse of mainstream contemporary art. Since its opening in 2001, the Andrew Edlin Gallery has developed his niche roster, which ranges from the unconventional animator Brent […]

Tonight is the night! WEST AFRICAN DRUM, DANCE and SONG with MARAFANYI JSDD’s Wellness, Arts, Enrichment (WAE) Center concludes the 7th season of its Global Beat Series with the energetic and engaging West African drumming, dancing and song of MARAFANYI. The production is presented FREE of charge, in cooperation with the Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, where the production will take place at 7 PM on Thursday, October 4. The group is comprised of international percussionists… and teaching artists Lara Gonzalez and Yael Schacham. Their infectious energy, genuine warmth, and rock solid musical talent will delight audience members of all ages. The JSDD WAE Center Global Beat Series is made possible in part by funds from the New […]