(TRENTON, NJ) -- Artworks Trenton is celebrating the beginning of their 35th season with the opening of two groundbreaking new exhibitions featuring the of Phillip McConnell and Dionne Jackson. The exhibitions presented in 2023 will capture the organization’s commitment to creativity, community, and connection. From January 24th - February 25th McConnell’s show, Context is King, will be presented in the Main Gallery alongside Jackson’s show, Just As I Am, in the Community Gallery with a 2023 Season Opening Reception on February 3rd from 6:00 to 8:00pm.
"I am Phillip McConnell, and I am a Glitch Artist with a focus on abstract, surrealist digital art. Glitch art is the aestheticization of digital or analog errors, such as artifacts and other 'bugs', by either corrupting digital code/data or by physically manipulating electronic devices," said McConnell on the Artworks website.
"What does 'CONTEXT IS KING' mean? Context is used to give meaning to content we ingest so that we can better understand it. Language equals meaning and meaning equals experience."
"With this exhibition, I seek to explore the relationship between language and meaning, and between context and content. The work in this exhibition will be an amalgamation of two different art forms, poetry, and visual art. Each piece of artwork will be accompanied by a poem, this exhibition will explore the relationship between art and poetry," explained McConnell.
"As a wood carver and environmental artist, I collect wood and tools from my environment to create artwork that represents my culture and my own experiences," explained Dionne Jackson. "Each piece of wood has its own story to tell. My goal is to reveal and enhance the marks that are already there. As I see the beauty in these distinctive, raw, unique wood pieces, I am reminded of the beauty within myself and my heritage. What encompasses my work are the “4 R’s;” relate, rescue, reveal, and release. I relate to the wood as if they are my family and my ancestors. I notice all the imperfections and marks in the wood, and let the wood tell me what it wants to reveal. The message the wood reveals to me, offers insight into my ancestors and my culture. I aim for these pieces to move those who see them to think, feel and act."
Artworks is located at 19 Everett Alley on Stockton Street between Front and Market Streets in the Mill Hill Historic District of Trenton, New Jersey. Artworks promotes artistic diversity by fostering creativity, learning, and appreciation of the arts. Our classes, exhibitions, and events make art an accessible experience for all. With this mission, the Board’s goal is to provide opportunities for building and developing community through the arts. Our programs, events and partnerships seek to build community among and between art students of all ages, professional and amateur artists, inner city and suburban residents, diehard art fans and first time art appreciators.
Founded in 1964 to offer professional support for artists, our predecessor organization, the Princeton Art Association, was located in Princeton until 1988 when it moved to Trenton and became known as Artworks. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Artworks produced exhibitions of regional artists in the main gallery; the program “Learning through Art,” developed by the Guggenheim Museum was offered to Trenton Public Schools; portfolio preparation for Trenton Central High School art students; as well as a range of adult, children, and family visual arts programs.
