The Daily Newarker

New York Times: History Lesson in Abstraction, Cutting Across the Americas

Art museums are in the business of sorting out history. And it often falls to our smaller institutions to tackle the initial, broad-stroke cuts. Over the years the Newark Museum has taken on this path-clearing role with relish, particularly when the histories are transcultural in scope. It does so again in “Constructive Spirit: Abstract Art in South and North America, 1920s-50s,” the capstone exhibition of the museum’s centennial.

In this case, a chunk of the history is in Newark’s collection. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the museum assiduously bought, sometimes straight from artists’ studios, a type of American painting and sculpture known as geometric abstraction. It’s attractive stuff: intimate in scale and coolly design-savvy, but shot through with political and personal content.

“Constructive Spirit: Abstract Art in South and North America, 1920s-50s” continues through May 23 at the Newark Museum (newarkmuseum.org)

NJ Today: Circus Science Returns To Newark Museum

Circus clowns, magicians, jugglers, acrobats, face painters and balloon artists will convert Newark Museum into a festive “big top” from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27 and 28.

For the seventh consecutive year, Newark Museum and its Science Department will collaborate with Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus® – The Greatest Show on Earth® in presenting Circus Science, a weekend jammed with activities such as circus performances where families learn the theories of balance, centrifugal force, motion and gravity – the physics behind the fun.

Looks like a lot of fun.

“Jazz in the garden returns to Newark”:http://www.nj.com/newark/index.ssf/2008/07/jazz_in_the_garden_returns.html

Got some time to get away during lunch? Check out the Newark Museum Jazz in the Garden summer concert today, featuring Houston Person. Admission: $3 at the door, starting at 12:15 PM. Grab a sandwich at Subway up on University Ave. and check it out.

Dubbed by blues maestro Bob Porter as “the natural heir to the Boss Tenor crown worn so long and so well be Gene Ammons,” Person built his reputation as a leader with a series of soulful recordings for Prestige in the 1960s. However, he was often upstaged by Etta Jones, with whom he held a legendary 30-year partnership that lasted until Jones’ death in 2001. After years as producer and house tenor for High Note Records, Person, is recognized today as a master of popular songs.