The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark and Yardbird Productions will be presenting the third annual Asian American Pacific Islander JazzFest at Express Newark on Saturday, May 18. Part of AAPI Heritage Month, it is the only festival of its kind on the East Coast.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and his sister, art historian Kellie Jones, shared stories of a childhood shaped by their father, legendary Newark writer and activist Amiri Baraka, and reflected on the legacy of his seminal 1963 book “Blues People” at Express Newark.
Legendary author and activist Amiri Baraka wrote more than 50 books before his death in 2014. His son, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, will be celebrating one of them, along with his sister, art historian Kellie Jones, at Express Newark on April 3.
Nearly 500 visitors came to the opening of Express Newark’s “Blues People” exhibition, which inspired artists to show work in dialogue with the milestone book by Newark author LeRoi Jones, later known as Amiri Baraka.
Express Newark celebrates ”Blues People” by Leroi Jones, later known as Amiri Baraka, with an exhibition featuring some of the nation’s leading artists, whose multimedia pieces echo and expand upon the book’s central themes.
Express Newark announces this year's annual theme as “Blues People,'' inspired by the groundbreaking book by Leroi Jones, later known as Amiri Baraka. Highlights include the February 20 opening of five newly commissioned art installations.