Hudson County Community College Welcomes the New Season with Art, Poetry, Timely Discussions, Music, Yoga, and More

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021, Jersey City, NJ – Beginning this month, the Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) will host a fresh season of extraordinary, online events from the College’s Benjamin J. Dineen III and Dennis C. Hull Gallery.

Here is just a sampling of the events and exhibits available in February:

Laurie Riccadonna: Eternal Bloom celebrates HCCC Professor Riccadonna’s years of dedication to her artistic practice and teaching career. The exhibit of paintings was curated by Michelle Vitale, Director of the HCCC Department of Cultural Affairs. The recipient of the 2020 Association of Community College Trustees Northeast Region Faculty Award, Professor Riccadonna has overseen the HCCC Art Department as professor and department coordinator for the past 18 years. A graduate from Yale University School of Art, she continues to amaze with her masterful work. This virtual exhibition may be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dineenhullgallery, and will travel to the State University of New York - Old Westbury.

Azikiwe Mohammed: Tales from Fold Out Chairs and Rashad Wright: in heaven’s wakanda is presented in partnership with the Monira Foundation and may be viewed from February 4 through April 2, 2021. The exhibition was curated by Ysabel Pinyol Blasi. Mr. Mohammed is a New York-based artist who simply identifies as a “dude who makes stuff.” His art has been displayed in galleries worldwide. Rashad Wright is the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Jersey City (2019-2020) whose works and performance art have been heard on local and national stages. Information may be obtained by emailing galleryFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Wellness Wednesdays with Mindful Play Yoga – During the first session on February 17 at 10 a.m., participants will explore the theme “Let it Grow,” inspired by Laurie Riccadonna’s exhibition. The event will be online at https://www.facebook.com/mindfulplayyoga/.

Tune In Piano Series, curated by Angelica Sanchez, kicks off on Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30 p.m. with guest, Jacob Sacks, an esteemed educator who synthesized his experiences as a musician and artist with his experiences as a student of Sophia Rosoff, Garry Dial, and Mark Kieswetter. Mr. Sacks has led master classes domestically and internationally. He teaches at the New School (New York) and has a private practice in Brooklyn, NY. Information is available by emailing galleryFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

HCCC ‘Speaker Series’ Presents Breonna Taylor’s Mother, Tamika Palmer on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 12 noon. The live Zoom event will open with a performance by Jersey City Poet Laureate Rashad Wright. The event will conclude with a virtual tour of the exhibition, “Azikiwe Mohammed: ‘Tales from Fold Out Chairs,’ and Rashad Wright: ‘in heaven’s Wakanda’.” HCCC Professor Dorothy Anderson and HCCC Director of Cultural Affairs Michelle Vitale will co-moderate the discussion with Ms. Palmer. Those who wish to access the “Speaker Series” event featuring Ms. Palmer on February 18, 2021 may do so by registering at https://tinyurl.com/HCCCTamikaPalmer.

The Young Masters Art Class with Kristin DeAngelis on Friday, February 19 at 10 a.m. at https://www.facebook.com/youngmastersartclass will take youngsters through “A Closer Look: Monira Foundation Presents Azikiwe Mohammed.”

Hudson Presents: Conversations with Contemporary Artists series opens by presenting an in-depth dialogue between HCCC Professors Laurie Riccadonna and Michael Lee on Friday, February 19, at 6:30 p.m. on ZOOM and Facebook Live. The series will explore the work of New York and New Jersey artists in this and each upcoming episode. ZOOM information is available by emailing galleryFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Saturday Drawing Series with Katie Niewodowski gets started on Saturday, February 20 at 2:30 p.m. on ZOOM and Facebook. Though designed for beginners, the workshops will inspire a love of drawing for all levels of experience. Ms. Niewodowski is a Jersey City based artist who teaches drawing at HCCC and Montclair State University. ZOOM information is available by emailing galleryFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Information on all of the upcoming HCCC Department of Cultural Affairs exhibitions and educational programs may be obtained by visiting Cultural Affairs.