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IN THIS MOMENT |
Jay Seldin, a professional photographer and digital media artist, has exhibited his artwork in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad. Seldin is the founder of Digital Egde Photography Studios in Montclair, NJ and also owns and operates CPE Workshops LLC, an international photography workshop company. He has over thirty years experience as a professional exhibiting photographer/digital media artist and teacher of photography/digital media in high school and colleges in the NYC area, including Parsons, the New School for Design, NYC, and Bergen Community College. Currently, he is an “artist-in-residence” working at the Newark Museum and with the Newark Public School system.
Awards and honors include Arist-in-Residence at the Newark Art Museum, Newark, NJ 2006-2008, Fellowship award from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, 2000-2006, Adobe PhotoShop Photo Competition, Winner 2007, Summer Artist Residence Fellowship Grant , Provincetown Fine Arts Center- 2001. Distingushed Educators Award from Rochester Institute of Technology
Artist Statement: The photographs I create bridge the practice of “pictorial” photography and the tradition of documentary photography. My approach to picture making is derived from my strong sense of “series and sequence.” My work is always evolving with a variety of styles. I believe in a sociological and formalist approach to my photography. The photographic prints that I create have a warm visual impact that reinforces the sensitivity of the beautifully hand-crafted Black and White toned pigment prints.
Mansa K. Mussa is a visual and performing artist, arts educators and arts consultant. A native of Newark, New Jersey, he has used the camera to document the unfolding of human events for the past thirty-two years. Mussa has traveled extensively in the United States, Cuba, the Caribbean, West Africa, South Africa, and Paris, France. He earned a BA in Media Arts/Television Production from New Jersey City Unviersity and studied visual art with Ben Jones, traditional West African dance with Rhonda C. Morman, and photography with the late Tom Reiss. His art, collage, and photographs have been presented in nineteen solo exhibits, three retrospectives, and numeorus national and international group exhibits. They have also been published in several books, inclulding the landmark Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photogrpahers 1840 to the Present. He currently teaches photography for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, Arts Horizons, the Newark Museum, and the Artist Collective for Social Change.
Artist Statement: I've traveled to Cuba six times in the past twenty-two years. After every trip I've presented my work in solo and group exhibits, newspaper articles, slide presentations and lectures. I believe that photographers are historians by default, and that our work is a commentary on our personal observations of past, present and future events in our lives, our communties and, by natural extension, the world. If art has the power to entertain, then is also has the duty to enlighten and inform the viewing public. In This Moment is a documentary of the people, places and events of the 10th Havana Art Biennial (Integration and Resistance in the Global Era). I hope the work in this exhibit will spread the word about life in Cuba for those who have never been there, and to encourage those who have been there to speak frankly about Cuba's promise, and problems, and to use art as a tactic in the strategy to end the archaic embargo.
Herman Velez was born in downtown Jersey City to a Puerto Rican family living on York Street. The youngest of five siblings, Herman began taking pictures at the age of 14 with a 35mm Pentax K1000 he bought from a friend for fifteen dollars.
Velez studied fine art and commercial photography at New Jersey City University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After assisting New York based celebrity-photographer Ken Nahoum for many years, Velez left still photography to work in commercial film as an Assistant Cameraman and Director of Photography. Following nine fulfilling years in the commercial film industry Velez decided to return his focus to fine art photography.
Herman has exhibited work in Manhattan, Jersey City, and Newark. He is a former New Jersey Diamond Gloves Champ in the 147Lb Open Class Division. He lives in Jersey City with his wife and their dog.
Artist Statement: Gordon Parks gave me advice that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, he said, ‘Always take your camera with you because life is filled with moments you’ll regret not capturing.’ I’ve always dreamed of traveling to Cuba and it was important for me to see it now, before it changes. This show is about the people and life in Cuba right now- In This Moment ; it’s about their resiliency and perseverance- it’s about Cuba’s survival and her evolution.