JCTC Breaks Down Walls With Borderless Series
With increased communication, technology, travel and trade, planet earth seems smaller every day. But why is nationalism rising globally at the same time our everyday lives have become more international? What are the public and personal consequences of 21st century globalization?
Borderless, the new series by Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) at Merseles Studios , which opened February 3rd and runs through March 24th, explores the social, political and personal dimensions of this very topical issue. Like previous JCTC series – Justice, Happiness, Origins, Identity and Vanity – Borderless utilizes multiple art forms to examine a topic global in scope but relevant to the lives of everyone in our community.
Borderless brings a diverse array of new and emerging voices to JCTC audiences with a comprehensive range of art, theater, readings and performances. In addition, with a new administration in the White House intent on changing national policies on immigration, nationality and globalization, Borderless is a theme whose current relevance is nothing less than inescapable.
“Twenty five years ago we were tearing down walls, filling the people everywhere with hope,” said Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC. “What has happened in our world today that so many virtual and real walls are being built to divide us.”
Using multiple art forms that tackle issues of our times is an essential component of the JCTC’s mission. It is no accident that during the contentious 2016 presidential election, JCTC developed a thematic series about the impact of globalization. What may be surprising is that as a new administration takes power in the U.S., issues of immigration, border security and identity have only become more dominant in the news.
“We have to remember that our country was built by immigrants and our diversity is our strength,” said Levina. “With Borderless, we’ve have artists, writers and actors from many different cultures. Fear of the other drives us to accept divisions in society – of class, race and who we chose to love – and this series shows us the need to overcome borders that are not just geographical, but personal and psychological. JCTC encourages a dialog with our audiences and community and this conversation is urgently needed.”
Curated by Lucy Rovetto, Visual Arts Coordinator, JCTC, Borderless features 14 artists, many of whom will be exhibiting for the first time at Merseles Studios. Not only do these artists come from a range of cultural backgrounds – and ages – the mediums used are both diverse and innovative, including: collage, painting, print-making, multi-medium assemblage, and a screen-printed wall, a unique form of installation art known as “Printstallation.”
“Artists in this show are thinking very deeply about what globalization is doing on both a social and individual level,” said Rovetto. “Many believe in an optimistic future with a continued breakdown of racial, political and sexual boundaries, but walls seem to be coming down just as fast as they seem to be going up. It’s remarkable to see how these artists have internalized their reaction to cultural changes. Artists realize that art must have no borders.”
Borderless Artists: Luis Alves, Jerome China, Stuart Bruce-Noble, Paul Di Zefalo, Eileen Ferara, Dustin Grammanta, Jang soon Im, Frank Ippolito, Qori Moorehaul, Hirah Park, Copie Rodriguez, Gregg Rosen, Rod Sanchez, Steve Singer, Nerissa Tutiven, Anthony Wills, Jr, Muhammad Zaman.
The Borderless Art Show begins a series of two months of events, which includes the debut of the first annual Jersey City New Play Festival, presented in Partnership with The Writers Theatre of NJ, a series of New Play readings as well one-person shows, multimedia musicals, and No Peeking Theater, a Jersey City based Theatre Company known its immersive theater experience that uses multi-sensory story telling. Borderless concludes with The BOX, a showcase of music, spoken-word, poetry and performances on the Borderless theme. Borderless includes free and paid events.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit: jctcenter.org
Funding for Borderless was made possible by generous support from the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Borderless was also made possible through the generosity of Ben LoPiccolo Development Group, JCTC’s Board of Directors, private donors and local Jersey City businesses.
Jersey City Theater Center, Inc. (JCTC) manages programming at Merseles Studios and the adjacent White Eagle Hall, currently under construction. JCTC is a nonprofit, 501c3 arts organization committed to presenting innovative and progressive performing & visual arts as well as educational arts programs that embrace the multicultural identity and preserve the rich history of Jersey City, bringing its community closer together and enhancing its quality of life.
