February Art-Show Begins Jersey City Theater Center's Search For Truth

Truth - the new thematic series that kicks off the 2018 season for Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) - opens with a wide-ranging art show featuring interactive installations, performance art, projections and a gallery exhibit showcasing more than a dozen cutting-edge visual artists.

JCTC programs theatre, dance, multimedia performances and other arts programming at Merseles Studios and the adjacent White Eagle Hall. Its thematic series present a topic global in scope but relevant to the community that is explored through the arts. This search for Truth begins with the Truth Art Show opening and reception on Feb. 2nd at Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Avenue. The Truth series runs through April 6.

In this high-tech era of fake news accusations, message manipulation and competing conspiracy theories, using the arts to explore what is - and is not - the truth seems even more topical in 2018 than when the series was first developed by JCTC more than a year ago. As Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC explains, "the idea of what is truth first began to resonate with us at JCTC when more and more politicians began accusing journalists of lying. I started to think about truth as a word, what it means on a bigger, more universal scale, and how easily what we think the truth is can be manipulated."

Lucy Rovetto, Visual Arts Coordinator for JCTC who curated the Truth Art Show feels the role truth plays in arts is to promote communication between the viewer and the artist. "Even though the viewer sees through their own lens of personal experience, art can be the one time we actually 'hear' one another. Non-verbal communication in the form of visual art is truth-telling. The viewer looks at art and thinks either: 'this is a truth happening in the world today' or 'this is the subjects/artist's truth.' The art informs our own personal truths, opens up a conversation and leads you to question if what you believe to be true is in fact, the truth."

In addition, to the Merseles Studios gallery showcasing the array of mediums - and a diverse range of artists - that explore the many facets of this provocative and relevant theme, the Truth opening also includes an artist reception and Talk-Back followed by an audience Q&A with the Truth artists.

Truth Art Show Installations include:

• Daily Reports by Eileen Boxer - a sculpture display that documents gun violence throughout the U.S.

• Oracle Actuality: Unveiling Truth by conceptual artist Nicky Watts - an installation of plastic, cloth and watercolor that also features performance art by Watts and collaborator and Sarah Ligon.

• Yours, The White by Myssi Robinson- a mixed-medium installation that is both interactive and immersive that urges viewers to reflect on - even declare - their personal truths.

Gallery artists include: Luis Alves Jr. Frank Ippolito; Alex Katsenelinboigen; Zoe Sua Kay, Jackie Lima, Beatrice M Mady, Fermin Mendoza, Stacey Fasel, Tyber Sky Lentuk Murphy, Alex Pergament, Poramit Thantapalit, and Beverly Tu.

The art show and community dialogue that begins JCTC's search for Truth is meant to encourage both individuals and the community to continue questioning contemporary society. "We can't define truth from just one perspective or only believe a truth that serves one person's agenda or the political views of the powerful," says Levina. "We're at our most human when we examine and ask questions because only then we have the opportunity to discover the truths that are relevant to our own lives."

Truth Series

• Truth Art Show - Gallery Opening & Artist Reception (2/2)

• Demerara Gold (2/16; 2/17) - a solo-show written by and featuring Ingrid Griffith - follows the story of a 7-year old girl left torn between Caribbean and American cultures, shedding a bright light on immigration and the personal price of assimilation.

• 2nd Annual Jersey City New Play Festival, presented in Partnership with The Writers Theatre of NJ - includes Stunning Displays of Prowess by Erin Mallon (2/28); The Gospel According to SB by Susan Barsky (3/1); Pushing the River by Rosemary McLaughlin (3/7), La Fonda by Suzanne Trauth (3/14), Wish Bone by Phoebe Farber (3/21). In celebration of March - Women's history month - the Jersey City New Play Festival features plays by women playwrights with a focus on women's issues and inclusivity.

• 2B or Not 2 - An Outside Look at the Upside Down World of a Life in Children's Theatre (3/23) - written and performed by Anne Pasquale, award winning actress and playwright. This solo-show mines the hearts, minds and lives of her young audiences and discovers a treasure - the unexpected truths that lie within.

• The BOX - TRUTH EDITION (4/6) a curated showcase featuring music, dance, poetry, spoken-word, and multimedia performances.

February 8-10/ White Eagle Hall - JCTC presents Hamlet by Bedlam. The ultimate truth seeker, Shakespeare's own Prince of Denmark - comes to Jersey City in an award-winning revival of a riveting stripped-down production by the acclaimed theatre company, Bedlam; directed by Eric Tucker.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit: www.JCTCenter.org.