The Place for Jersey City News
Log In / Register
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Jersey City Times
  • News
  • Diversions
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Other Fun Stuff
  • In Our Midst
  • Food And Drink
  • Education
  • Neighborhoods
    • Downtown
      • News
      • Guide
    • Heights
      • News
      • Guide
    • Journal Square
      • News
      • Guide
    • Bergen Lafayette
      • News
      • Guide
    • Greenville
      • News
      • Guide
    • Westside
      • News
      • Guide
  • Opinion
  • Columns
    • Eye Level
    • Mamarama
  • Event Calendar
  • Support our Mission
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Posts

Prime Gallery Mounts Exhibition Drawing Attention to Local Gun Violence

February 28, 2020/in header, Heights, Latest News, Visual Arts /by Jayne Freeman

Photo by Jayne Freeman

Lest you think that the Jersey City art scene is lacking in homegrown gallerists, meet Maria Kosdan of Prime Gallery. Kosdan was born and bred in Jersey City — well, technically born in NYC but raised in Jersey City, where she attended both public and parochial school. By the time Kosdan was just 17 (in 2005), she had helped Jelynne Gardiniano Morse curate one of the first art shows at L.I.T.M., a former gallery and bar on Newark Avenue. Educated at Monmouth University and later at FIT, Kosdan excelled at curating and critiquing, so moving into the art world was a natural decision.

“I loved the idea of getting artists and buyers together, showing and selling. That was more interesting to me than anything else,” Kosdan said.

One of Kosdan’s first jobs after graduate school was at a gallery specializing in Russian art where she managed several projects and art fairs internationally. “I had amazing mentors, and I literally learned every facet of the business side of art from curating to dealing with sales,” she explained. “I was like a ‘Jackie of all trades,’ which included helping artists who weren’t familiar with managing and bringing them success.”

Later Kosdan would leave the art world for real estate only to return to her first calling through serendipity. “I started doing real estate staging and decided it would be more appealing for the buyer to have an opportunity to purchase the artwork shown on the walls of the sample home,” she recounted. Though this concept wasn’t new, Kosdan was the first to do it within the real estate circles she was traversing, and it perfectly paired two of her great loves. For help nurturing and implementing the concept, she credits her business partner, Jesse Halliburton, of PRIME Real Estate Group.

By Derek Tunia

This Friday Prime Gallery brings us “HANDS UP: A Campaign for Peace,” a group exhibition showcasing artists from North Jersey and honoring Jersey City’s residents directly affected by the Dec. 2019 shooting that took place at a Jersey City kosher market. One focus of the exhibit will be the work Jahahd Payne, himself a victim of gun violence (and a Jersey City resident). Some of the proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to two charities: Coalition for Peace Action and the Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition Movement.

Describing her passion for the exhibition, Kosdan said: “I felt it was important to highlight this tragic event and loss of lives. This is my home, and it really affected me. I have this space. Why not utilize it to make a statement, and let artists make a statement, too, by evoking peace and love.”

Curated by gallery director Maria Kosdan — and in collaboration with Chaz Howard — Hands UP: A Campaign for Peace will feature artwork by Maria de Los Angeles, Ryan Bonilla, The Real Love Child, Clarencerich, Leandro Comrie, 4sakn_CBS, D.Tunia, Distort, Jahahd Payne, Rebecca Johnson, Walter John Rodriguez, RU8ICON1 and TF Dutchman.

The opening reception will be on Friday February 28, from 6–9 p.m. The gallery is located at 351 Palisade Ave. in Jersey City.

Header: Prime Gallery’s Maria Kosdan, photo by Robert Ventura.

News Briefs

Hudson County Community College has been named the recipient of a one-year, $850,000 investment from the JPMorgan Chase. The investment will be utilized for a program the College developed to address the challenges of the economic crisis in Hudson County that were brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is designed to provide lasting improvement in the County’s workforce ecosystem.

Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) have launched the latest round of emergency funding to provide over $2.5 million in direct aid and support to Jersey City’s neediest residents, regardless of immigration status. The city will partner with  York Street, Women Rising, United Way, and Puertorriqueños Asociados for Community Organization (PACO). 

Darius Evans, age 45, of Jersey City was arrested  on Monday by The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the stabbing death of 39-year-old Tyrone Haskins early New Year’s morning. The charges include Murder and two counts of Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes.

Mayor Steven Fulop is joining forces with Uber to announce a new agreement that will expand residents’ access to COVID-19 vaccinations with free Uber rides to and from Jersey City vaccination sites. Phase 1B includes essential frontline workers and seniors 75 years old and over.

According to a report in the Jersey Journal, Jersey City received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines Monday and plans to begin vaccinating eligible residents later this week at the Mary McLeod Bethune Center.

The federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offers businesses loans that can be forgivable, reopened on January 11th. The revised program focuses first on underserved borrowers – minority- and women-owned businesses.

Jersey Art Exchange (JAX) has merged with Art House Productions effective January 2021 to help improve and expand arts education and opportunities for the Jersey City community. JAX Founder Jacqueline Arias will remain Director of the program at Art House.

Christmas trees will be collected citywide every Wednesday night throughout the month of January. Pickup resumes this Wednesday January 13th.

Keep abreast of Jersey City Covid-19 statistics here.

Governor Murphy has launched a “Covid Transparency Website” where New Jerseyans can track state expenditures related to Covid.  Go here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Wed 20

Curators Choice 2020 Virtual Exhibition

October 1, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Wed 20

The Very Affordable Art Show

December 4, 2020 @ 12:00 pm - February 1, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
Jersey City NJ
United States
Wed 20

January LSP History Programs: The Historic Trilogy

January 20 @ 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Jersey City NJ
United States
Tue 26

January LSP History Programs: History of the CRRNJ Terminal

January 26 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Jersey City NJ
United States
Wed 27

Jersey City Municipal Council Meeting

January 27 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Jersey City NJ
United States

View More…

CONTACT US

    ADS/INFO

    For information on advertising opportunities, please contact - ads@jcitytimes.com

    For information on writing opportunities, please contact - info@jcitytimes.com

    Download our media kit here

    ABOUT US

    About Jersey City Times

    Contact Jersey City Times

    Social

    Archive

    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    Copyright © 2020 JCityTimes.com. All Rights Reserved - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
    Scroll to top
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    Support Jersey City Times WITH A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION

    for the price of a tall coffee at Starbucks!