Journeys to worlds known and unknown on this episode of STATE OF THE ARTS. Photographer Wendel A. White views locations from South Jersey’s Underground Railroad through his lens, the world class collection of Tibetan art at the Newark Museum gets new digs, and the cross-over appeal of the bluegrass group Red Molly.
On NJN1: Thursday, May 19, 2011
@ 8:00 pm On NJN2: Friday, May 20 - Thursday, May 26, 2011
@ 5:00 am • 11:00 am • 5:00 pm • 11:00 pm
100 years ago, the Newark Museum opened a blockbuster exhibit of its collection of Tibetan art - the largest and most important repository for Tibetan art in the Americas. To mark this milestone, the museum has embarked on a nine-month Tibet Collection Centennial celebration, honoring Tibetan art, culture and history, including events like the five-day creation of a sand mandala by monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery in India - blessed by the Dalai Lama during his fourth visit to the museum. State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa speaks with Curator of the Arts of Asia Katherine Anne Paul and Museum Director and museum director Mary Sue Sweeney Price about this world-renowned collection and its amazing history.
where to see
The Tibet Collection Centennial Celebration
Through December 31, 2011
The Newark Museum
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102
973.596.6550 www.newarkmuseum.org
Seven Steps to Freedom
Seven Steps to Freedom is a new Underground Railroad cell phone tour and website that focuses on stories related to the struggle for freedom in Salem County, New Jersey. Wendel A. White is the photographer for this history/arts/tourism collaboration between Salem County Cultural and Heritage Commission and NJN. His photographs create a sense of past and present colliding. STATE OF THE ARTS producer Susan Wallner goes on location with White as he photographs objects – such as a famous 19th century anti-slavery book – and to sites such as the spot on the Delaware River where the young Hetty Saunders crossed in her escape from slavery. Saunders went on to spend her life with a Quaker family and to become a poet – hers is one of the seven stories told through White’s images and through audio recordings that form a cell-phone tour of the sites. Also interviewed for the story is historian James Turk, who is with theSalem County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
Red Molly is a dynamic female trio that began as a happy accident around a campsite (at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival). Now, the cross-over bluegrass group is drawing invitations from renowned national events like Merlefest, and is winning over audiences around the country. State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz met the trio at their sold-out May 16, 2011 concert at Grounds for Sculpture, in Hamilton New Jersey. Schultz caught the three women on film as they arrived in their bright red “Molly Mobile,” chatted with them in the beautiful gardens of Grounds for Sculpture, and recorded two of their favorite songs.
Spurred onward by an ever-growing and devoted fanbase, and the desire to commit themselves to touring farther from home, Red Molly is at the start of a new and exciting musical chapter. After six years of touring, the band announced that guitarist/bassist Carolann Solebello will leave the group in August 2011 to spend more time with family and pursue solo opportunities. Remaining founding members Laurie MacAllister (bass, banjo) and Abbie Gardner (dobro, guitar) welcome the newest "Molly", Austin-based singer/songwriter Molly Venter, to fill out their lush, distinctive three-part harmonies. Over the last month of rehearsals and impromptu live performances in Hamilton Park, near their rehearsal space in Jersey City, the three women quickly nailed the essence of the Red Molly sound, while hinting at inspiring new musical possibilities in the months of touring that lie ahead. "We are busily reinventing fan favorites from our current recordings, while adding new material and collaborating on songwriting for the first time," says Gardner. "This is an exciting time for the band; we're so thrilled that Molly has joined us," adds MacAllister.
On NJN1: Thursday, May 19, 2011
@ 8:00 pm
Preview
