APRIL ART BLOSSOMS IN 70+ POP-UP GALLERIES IN MONTCLAIR CENTER

On Thursday, April 11th, Art Walk returns to Montclair Center from 4-9 pm, rain or shine! Over 70 local businesses will open their doors to host artists for an evening of art, talks, performances, classes, live mural paintings, and more. There is something for everyone, and best of all, all activities are free! To help you plan your evening and navigate the district, we’ve created a digital map you can access from any device.  Follow the map to find all the galleries and read artist biographies. You can also see where and when scheduled events are taking place!

Speaking of events, we have an exciting “Spark Talks” lineup scheduled throughout the evening. These talks will feature local artists and entrepreneurs sharing their craft with insights and inspirations about their creative process and how it intersects with the community.

• 4 pm – “The Art of Queer Poetry,” Four queer poets will perform their beautiful, powerful work and discuss their writing. Claudia Cortese, Montclair State faculty member, and award-winning poet will read her work and facilitate the discussion about the creative process and the art and craft of poetry. The reading will also feature Mariah Ayscue, beloved local poet-activist and published writer, Montclair State student-poets Spencer Crines and Isabella Pozo. Join us for this 45-minute event featuring the art of the spoken word!  Location: Minia’s Breakfast & Lunch at 22 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
• 5 pm – Hippolito Pollantis, conversations with a local fashion designer about the creative process of design and fashion and sharing tips about discovering your style. Location is at Art is Bond at 8 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
• 6 pm – Juan Quintero, the Director of the short film “Beck Up,” will have a Q&A with attendees after a film screening. Location is at Montclair Film’s Cinema505, 505 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
• 7 pm – “The Art of Improv” by Jazz House Kids. Step into the world of improvisation and collage-making, where every artistic choice and jazz rhythm intertwine to form a mesmerizing tapestry of expression. Embark on a journey where visual art meets color and rhythm, exploring the seamless connection between music and collage. Led by a master visual artist and accompanied by the soulful melodies of a JAZZ HOUSE Emerging Artist Trio, guests will uncover the fundamentals of jazz – blues, improv, and rhythm, while crafting their mixed-media masterpieces. Join us for an evening of exploration and inspiration, where the open canvas of improvisation awaits. Location is at Jazz House Kids, 347 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair (entrance from the parking lot off Willow Street)
• 8 pm –Melanie Tomaszewski, owner of Montclair Mud, touches upon her passion for clay with a satisfying pottery wheel demo and conversation about her journey. She will dive into the profound connection between culture and community, emphasizing how creating pottery fosters relationships, encourages vulnerability, and sparks individual creativity.  Through her demonstration, she will highlight the significance of embracing failure as a natural part of the creative process and learning from it.  Melanie’s talk inspires the audience to recognize the transformative power of making art together, forging deeper connections, and celebrating the beauty of successes and setbacks.  Location is at Montclair Mud, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair

From 4-7 pm, the “Family Art-in-the-Park” event will be held, offering diverse activities designed to keep the entire family feeling creative and engaged! Peg Kenselaar from Montclair Art Museum will lead a family art-making project on “Family, Community, and Belonging.” In addition, several local businesses, including Art with All, Spidey’s House, Vanguard Theater, Retro Fitness, Montclair Township’s Office of Sustainability, and others, will provide unique activities you will want to attend! Location: Crane Park, Lackawanna Plaza and Glenridge Avenue, Montclair

You won’t want to miss the featured muralists: Chris “Cent” Reyes, CHRISTIAN, and HiCoup! These talented artists will be creating stunning murals in different locations downtown, and you’ll have the opportunity to watch them work and interact with them. But that’s not all! Once the murals are completed, they’ll be auctioned off, with 50% of the sale proceeds donated to a charity of the artists’ choice. Supporting local art has never been so rewarding! So, join us at the Art Walk and show your support for these amazing artists and the causes they care about.  Locations of live art muralists:

• HiCoup will be located outside of Kreme & Krumb at 147 Bloomfield Avenue
• Chris “Cent” Reyes will be located at Church Street Plaza at Bloomfield and Church Streets
• CHRISTIAN will be located outside of the Montclair Art Museum in the lower parking lot (Bloomfield and St. Lukes Place)

Plan your evening, invite your friends, and experience an art-filled event celebrating creativity and community. Visit the digital map to learn more, and join us for a memorable night in Montclair Center!

More information can also be found on Instagram or Facebook!

For any press questions or further details about the event, please get in touch with Christian Powell, Event Manager, at christian@montclaircenter.com