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originally published: 07/23/2022

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Pro Arts Jersey City has created an exhibition that celebrates the National Pastime of baseball and how it reflects on American Society. It's titled, "National Pastime," and was curated by Susan Evans Grove. The exhibit will be on display from August 5-28, 2022 at ART150 Gallery in Jersey City.

Participating artists include: Ann LePore, K Wiseman, Elise Dodeles, Jennifer Morris, Luis Alves, Frank Ippolito, John Botti, Tarik Mendes, Greg Jezewski, Sydnei Smith Jordan, Donald Rieck, Susan Evans Grove, Guillermo Bublik, Neal Korn, Akil Roper, Jim Fischer, Kevin McCaffrey, and Lucy White.

Susan Evans Grove said in a Curator’s Statement, "Baseball is often referred to as America’s Favorite Pastime. Since the first game was played in Hoboken on June 19, 1846, baseball has mirrored the American way of life. When war was upon us and men were sent to foreign soil to fight, women stepped in and played the game just as they stepped into factories to fill the void there. Racism was deeply embedded in the game with a separate Negro League until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As America became faster and bigger, so did baseball. Performance enhancing drugs crept into the dark sides of the game just like they did in everyday life. Artists were invited to submit work that uses baseball in a personal, political, historical, or societal message in order to express what baseball means to them personally and how they think baseball has tracked the progression of American Society over time."

Susan Evans Grove is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC with a BFA in Photography, Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. She has been published in numerous books, magazines, and newspapers and has pieces in public and private collections both in the United States and Europe. Her love of baseball goes back to her childhood when her grandfather would watch his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates on television with the sound off because he hated the commentary.

ART150 Gallery is located at 150 Bay Street in Jersey City, New Jersey.  There is an elevator entrance at the corner of Provost and First Streets. This location is wheelchair accessible. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1:0pm to 4:00pm.

Pro Arts Jersey City is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) professional visual arts membership organization dedicated to supporting and promoting artists and their work. ART150 Gallery is made possible by the generous donation of GFP Real Estate. Our programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of the State, a partner agency for the National Endowment for the Arts and by Funds from the National Endowment for the arts, administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, County Executive, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.  

IMAGES: (TOP) K Wiseman (MIDDLE) Frank Ipolito (BOTTOM) LePore Ann

 

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