The Gantalist: The Life and Inspiration of Jerry Gant
Saturday, February 3 | 2PM | James Brown African American Room, Newark Public Library. 2nd Fl.
The Gantalist: The Life and Inspiration of Jerry Gant
Catered reception begins at 1PM. Food by The Weekend Spot.
Free parking: Essex County Parking Deck, entrance located at 20 Bridge St. Newark, NJ 07102
Join us for an engaging panel discussion as Newark artists delve into the life and inspiration of the renowned Jerry Gant. Linda Street, Noelle Lorraine Williams, Suliman Onque, and Pierre Coleman, who will also be screening “The Gantalist,” will share their insights into Jerry Gant’s impactful work. The conversation will extend beyond Gant’s art to explore the support and challenges faced by Newark artists. Jamara Wakefield will guide this enlightening discussion as the moderator.
Learn more about the panelists:
Linda Street – Instagram @pinkdragonmgt
Linda Street (she/her) has built her brand on bringing art to the people, combining skills from her decades-long career in corporate management with an artist’s imagination and love of cultural storytelling. Through her brainchild, Pink Dragon Artist Syndicate LLC, Street orchestrates mergers between art and community, artist and audience, and the public and private stakeholders so vital to ensuring that art has reach and permanence. A catalyst with a long history of sparking self-expression among individual artists and communities, Street’s work successfully bridges socioeconomic gaps and the divides of age and ethnicity. Read more
Noelle Lorraine Williams – Instagram @blackpower_19thcentury | Website: https://blackpower19thcentury.secureserversites.net/
Noelle Lorraine Williams is an artist whose life’s work exemplifies her continued interest in engaging people in conversations using art, history, and contemporary culture, as well as writing about spirituality in the United States. Read more
Suliman Onque – Instagram @slimsuliart_world
Created from genes of an artistic family, Suliman Onque began creating art in preschool and it was at this young age, that his ingenious talents were born. Some of Suliman’s works include Art exhibits with greats such as Willie Cole, Kortez Robinson, Jose Emanuel Cruz, Kween Moore and Jerry Gant. Being commissioned on various mural projects for the City of Newark. Read more
Jamara Wakefield – Instagram @jamaraproducer
Jamara Wakefield, is a writer and multi media & broadcast radio producer. Her film and podcast, Black House Black Joy about the New Jersey House Music Community is currently in post production. She is a graduate of The New School for Public Engagement and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. You can follow her on twitter @jamaraproducer.
Pierre Coleman – Instagram @pierremcoleman
A native of Newark, NJ, Pierre attended Howard University’s School of Communications, earning his degree in Film Production. He is the founder of Solid Brick Entertainment, a company that prides itself in producing compelling stories and creating innovative projects. Pierre worked on the critically acclaimed HBO series “The Wire” and his extensive production experience led him to work on films starring Queen Latifah, Will Smith, Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Aniston, Tina Fey, Steve Carrell and Taraji P.Henson. Read more
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This is the first of four programs produced by the James Brown African American Room for our 2024 Black History Celebration. This year’s theme, Create, Inspire, Elevate: African American Contributions to the Arts, reflects a rich and dynamic exploration of the profound impact the Black and African American communities have had on various forms of artistic expression. This theme not only pays homage to the historical significance of African American contributions but also highlights the ongoing and evolving influence within the arts and shines a special spotlight on Newark and New Jersey artists.
