Book Signing At ArtFusion 19464 – Downtown Pottstown

 

In partnership with MOSAIC Community Land Trust, ArtFusion 19464 will be hosting a book signing by Ralph E. Godbolt, a Professor in the Graduate School of Public Administration at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and an expert on the “Sociology of the HIP HOP Generation.”  The book signing will take place at ArtFusion’s High St. location on Saturday, October 20 from 7-9pm.  This event is taking place in conjunction with Threads of Story: Continued, ArtFusion’s latest exhibit, which features portraits of famous and non-famous people who were arrested during the bonus boycotts and Freedom Rider protests.

Godbolt will discuss the realities of urban violence, the high school dropout crisis, misogyny, the war on drugs, sexual orientation, hopelessness and the Hip Hop Generation in the aftermath of the American Civil Rights Movement.  His first book, Kickin the Ballistics: Reflections on the Hip Hop Generation, Poverty and Power, takes aim at generations of harsh public policies, unequal access to opportunity and discriminatory practices that has led to a generational cycle of poverty, violence, addiction, under education and unemployment in America’s urban centers by using Hip Hop culture and rap music as a means to communicate the deep despair, but enduring faith of young urban Americans.

Professor Godbolt’s presentation will go beyond traditional book signings in which an author sits behind a table to autograph books to an inspirational, educational and energetic event featuring a combination of poetry, Hip Hop music, lecture, excerpts from the book and audience interaction.  The event is not only a great opportunity to reach and teach adults, but a great opportunity to reach youth who may be struggling with academic and/or behavioral issues along with youth who are on the path to success, as Professor Godbolt uses Hip Hop as a method to communicate, teach and inspire youth.  According to a youth from Newark, NJ, “He is cool. I learned more from him in an hour than I learned all year in school.  It was cool seeing someone who can relate to me and my issues. He is all that.”

The event is also a unique opportunity for individuals interested in urban affairs, sociology, poverty, social justice and culture to engage in a meaningful discussion on public policy, sexual orientation, gun violence, education and hopelessness.

The Gallery School of Pottstown officially became ArtFusion 19464 on September 1, 2012.  The new name reflects a passion for creating community bonds through the arts as well as the coming together of the organization’s old identities as The Gallery School of Pottstown and Gallery on High.  A new website and facility improvements are part of the rebranding process.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art school and gallery.  The School offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages.  The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence.  ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists.  The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm.  The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

National Art Tour Comes to Pottstown

Pottstown, PA – The Gallery School of Pottstown and Gallery on High will be kicking-off a rebranding campaign this fall with an amazing art exhibit.  This show has been traveling throughout the south and was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2011.  Threads of a Story: Continued will open September 7, 2012 at the Gallery.  Threads features the work of artist Charlotta Janssen, who was inspired by mug shots of famous–and non famous–people arrested during the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s.

Threads evolved as a way to visually thank participants of the civil rights movement for their work and dedication that made the moment possible.  Janssen specifically honors Bus Boycotters from 1956 and Freedom Riders from 1961.  The artist’s goals are to transport the viewer back to this moment in time, to create a living history and bring awareness to a collective consciousness where segregation seemed normal and fighting it was a daunting task.  To realize these goals, Janssen re-imagines the mug shots of her subjects using oil, acrylic, rust and collage.  Mug shots are normally portraits of shame, but in those belonging to the Bus Boycotters and Freedom Riders, she sees their heroism, determination and courage.

The exhibit at the Gallery will feature eight brand new portraits in this incredible series, including new portraits of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks.  Also on display will be giclee prints of 15 of her portraits from the original series.  The show will open with a private reception on September 7.  The show will be open to the public from September 8 through October 20, 2012 during normal Gallery hours.  Educational field trips for local school and groups can also be arranged.  Pieces from the original series can also seen beginning July 6 at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this show.  Interested businesses should email info@galleryonhigh.com or call 610-326-2506 for more information.

Charlotta Janssen was born in Maine to German parents living in America under the Marshall plan.  In 1973, her family moved to Iran, which they fled during the revolution in 1979.  Janssen studied painting at the University of Arts in Berlin from 1986-1989, dropping out to travel the world as a street musician and performance artist.  To make sense of all of these experiences, she returned to painting in 1991 with a clear voice that was no longer searching but finding.  She
currently lives and paints augmented portraiture in Brooklyn, NY.

The Gallery School of Pottstown is a 501c3 non-profit community art school and gallery.  The School offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages.  The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence.  The Gallery on High hosts rotating shows featuring local artists.  The Gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The Gallery on High is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-4:30pm and
Saturday 10am-3pm.  The Gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.