Catalina Aranguren, founder of Walk-Bye by Argia Photography, will present an outdoor art exhibition in collaboration with the Jersey City Parks Coalition in ten Jersey City parks throughout the city’s six wards. The show will take place as part of the 30th anniversary of the Jersey City Arts and Studio Tour (JCAST) that runs Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 4.
A follow-up to Aranguren’s June 2020 show, Walk-Bye includes several events. The first – Nature Walk and OcTREEber – takes place from Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 4. The exhibitions will feature 100 original works by international artists and 39 by Jersey City children, focused on a celebration of nature in and around urban areas.
“Poetry at the Gazebo: A Walk-Bye Event” for ages 10 to 15 will then take place on Saturday, October 3rd at Hamilton Park Poetry at the Gazebo for adults will be held on Sunday, October 4th at Canco Park. OpenRoad Poetry will host both spoken events. All events will be held outdoors in Jersey City parks, respecting social distance requirements.
Motivated by the current pandemic lockdown, Aranguren sought a way to bring art to her friends and neighbors while also providing an outlet for artists to create during this time of isolation. The open call for Nature Walk and OcTREEber yielded over 300 submissions from 34 countries, 14 states, and 23 New Jersey cities, taking the form of fashion, collage, photography, painting, and sculpture.
“As an artist, this unprecedented moment of extreme isolation has been frustrating, limiting my options to create and see art,” said Aranguren. “I was sure that others felt the same, so I was inspired to build a sense of connectivity between artists and community members while also providing a break from the virtual world of video work calls and on-line learning.”
Lorenzo Pickett, a local artist who participated in the June 2020 Walk-Bye event said, “Jersey City is definitely a city that is culturally diverse, and we have a lot of beauty in it. We are philosophers and creators. We have the potential to change, rethink, reshape the way we think, act, and respond to things. Walk-Bye is a new way to be creative and to see art outside the traditional spaces that might not feel comfortable during the pandemic.”
Babacar Traore, a photographer from Senegal who submitted for this year’s Walk-Bye event, added: “I love the way the artwork will be distributed across the streets: a real disorder within the order. This will allow everyone to have access. For me, art should not be locked up in galleries or museums, reserved only for a part of the people. ”
For more information on locations, selected artists and Open Road Poetry events, please follow @Walk_Bye on Instagram.
About Walk-Bye:
WALK-BYE, founded in 2020 by Catalina Aranguren, is a collective outdoor art exhibition of original work, visible to the public from a distance. The installation strives to bring artists and community members together to create a sense of connectivity during the current pandemic.
About Jersey City Parks Coalition:
Founded in 2005, the Jersey City Parks Coalition is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that assists in the development and maintenance of Jersey City’s parks and public spaces.
WHAT: Walk-Bye outdoor art installation (Follow Walk_Bye on Instagram for more information)
WHERE: Jersey City parks throughout the city
Ward A Audubon Park – 1 Park Dr Jersey City, NJ 07305
Ward B Boyd McGuiness Park – 2555 JFK Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07304
Ward C Canco Park – 47 Dey St, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Ward C Pershing Field – 201 Central Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Ward D Riverview Park – 498 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Ward D Washington Park – 399 Webster Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Ward E Hamilton Park – 25 W Hamilton Pl, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Ward E Van Vorst Park – 257-287 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Ward E Village Park – 2384-388 1st St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Ward F Oak Street Park at – 2775 Ocean Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304
Christ the King Church
WHO: Catalina Aranguren, Walk-Bye; Jersey City Parks Coalition; OpenRoad Poetry; Multo; Trio W
FULL AGENDA:
SAT 10/3 12:00 – 2:00: “Poetry at the Gazebo: A Walk-Bye Event” – A spoken poetry event for ages 10 to 15 in Hamilton Park
SAT 10/3 6:30 – 9:00: “Projection at the Park: A Walk-Bye Event” – Video Art Projection at Lincoln Park
SUN 10/4 2:00 – 4:00: “Poetry at the Gazebo for Adults” – Spoken poetry at Canco Park
SUN 10/4 5:45 – 7:15: “Stroll-Bye Concert” – Trio W plays music at Hamilton Park
