February 13, 7 p.m.
Three World-Renowned Contemporary Black Artists
Mercer County Library System - Virtual Event
(609) 882-9246 | mcl.org
Get to know three contemporary artists who are making waves in the art community, a photographer, a sculptor, and a painter. Samuel Fosso is a Cameroonian-born Nigerian photographer who has worked for most of his career in the Central African Republic. Nick Cave is a Black American artist best known for his wearable mixed-media constructions known as Soundsuits. Kehinda Wiley is an American portrait painter based in NYC, known for his highly naturalistic paintings of Black people which frequently reference the work of old master paintings. Presented by Jeanne Johnson, docent at the Princeton University Art Museum as well as Morven Museum and Gardens.
*Registration is required, call to register
February 23, 5 - 7 p.m.
ART OF Herbs for Winter Wellness
Arts Council of Princeton, Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon St, Princeton
(609) 924-8777 | info@artscouncilofprinceton.org | artcouncilofprinceton.org
In this edition of the Art Council of Princeton's 'ART OF series,' learn ways to strengthen your immune system and keep your mood buoyant during the coolest and darkest months of the year. Join herbalist Dawn Petter from Petalune Herbals to nurture your inner sparkle and boost your immune system with foods and herbal remedies for your daily routine. Recipes, tastings and a take home remedy made in class will be included.
*TICKET COST: $75
February 28 - March 6
15th Annual TrashedArt Contest
Mercer County Library System
(609) 883-8291 | mcl.org/events/trashedart/
The Mercer County Library System has announced the dates for its 15th Annual TrashedArt Contest. The contest celebrates Earth Day by encouraging patrons to turn ordinary trash into extraordinary art. The library will accept artwork starting Wednesday, February 28, 2024 through Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Accepted artwork will be on display at Mercer County Library System branches throughout the month of March and April. Adults and teens (ages 14 and up) who live, work or go to school in Mercer County are eligible to participate.
Entries must be original artwork, no larger than 2.5' by 2.5' by 2.5' and no heavier than 10 lbs. Any art medium is acceptable, as long as a minimum of 75% recycled content is used. Some examples of recycled content include metals, paper, rubber, glass (but no sharp shards), plastic and cloth. The contest is limited to one entry per artist. The Mercer County Library System will not be held responsible for any damage, theft or loss to art entries.
February 7, 14, 21, & 28, 10 a.m.
Black History Month Movie Mornings
Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy St, Trenton
(609) 392-7188 | trentonlib.org
Join the Trenton Free Public Library for a special Black History Month series every Wednesday in February.
-
February 7 - Judas and the Black Messiah (R)
-
February 14 - Love & Basketball (PG-13)
-
February 21 - Tuskegee Airmen (PG-13)
-
February 28 - Fruitvale Station (R)
February 15, 6:30 p.m.
African American Genealogy - Discovering Your Family History
Mercer County Library System - Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8292 | lawprogs@mcl.org | mcl.org
To celebrate Black History Month, Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano, President and Vice President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, New Jersey Chapter, will share personal case studies to demonstrate how anyone can successfully research their ancestors. Participants will learn the basics of starting their genealogy journey. This session will highlight the resources that are available, proper forms to use, online resources that aid in properly documenting your research, and how to use DNA to make family connections. Patrons will also learn the importance of starting with what you do and don't know regarding your ancestors, how to use historical record sets, verify oral history, correct false information, and preserve your family history.
*Advanced registration is appreciated
February 22, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Celebrate Culture: Game Night & Manifesting Beloved Community Art Exhibition
West Windsor Arts Council, Art Against Racism, and the African American Parent Support Group of West Windsor-Plainsboro | 952 Alexander Rd, Princeton Junction
(609) 716.1931 | info@westwindsorarts.org | westwindsorarts.org
Join us for an unforgettable evening of joy, connection, and creativity as we celebrate Black History Month at West Windsor Arts. Embrace the spirit of unity and community through an engaging Game Night and immerse yourself in the powerful art exhibition, “Manifesting Beloved Community.”
*Free Event. Registration Required
February 24, 2:30 p.m.
Black History Month Documentary Screening - Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten (2021, NR)
Mercer County Library System - Ewing Branch 61 Scotch Rd, Ewing
(609) 882-3148 | ewprogs@mcl.org | mcl.org
One hundred years after the destruction of the Black-owned Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history, residents and descendants examine the 1921 tragedy and its aftermath. Through the historical lens of white violence and Black resistance, the film explores vital issues of atonement, reconciliation and reparation. Runtime: 75 min.
*Registration required
February 3
Discovering Grant Castner: The Lost Archive of a New Jersey Photographer - Grand Opening
New Jersey State Museum, 205 W State St, Trenton
(609) 292-6464 | nj.gov/state/museum/explore-exhibits
Experience New Jersey history through a recently discovered archive of photographic negatives from a prolific, but long-forgotten, local photographer. The exhibition features 200 images from the 1890s through the 1910s, curated from photographer Grant Castner’s large archive of original glass plate negatives.
Castner's work is complemented by rarely seen objects from the Museum’s Cultural History collection, providing a 3D historical experience. The exhibition is on view from February 3 through September 15.
February 7, 11:45 a.m.
"Currents" - Artist Douglas Witmer Distinguished Lecture & Open Art Exhibit
Mercer County Community College - Room CM108, 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor Township
(609) 570-3324 | mccc.edu/gallery | mccc.edu/lecture
Acclaimed abstract artist Douglas Witmer will offer his insight into the creative process and how art responds to the dynamic conditions of the 21st century as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) followed by the opening reception of his exhibit “Currents” at the Gallery at Mercer.
Witmer’s talk, “Painting Do-er: A Reductive Abstract Artist In Response to Conditions of Our World,” begins at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, February 7 in the Communications Building, Room CM108 on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus. Witmer will share insights into his creative philosophy and how art responds to the dynamic conditions of the 21st century.
Rooted in "painted presence," Witmer's recent works activate the composition with sensuous color and improvised actions, operating within a formalist abstraction framework. The talk will provide a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of his artistic focus, creative process, and extensive exhibition history.
The public is also invited to the opening reception of Witmer’s exhibit “Currents” from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. February 7 at The Gallery at Mercer, also on the MCCC campus. Witmer's work explores the materiality of the painted object through refined processes within the framework of reductive abstract painting. The subject of his work is presence, creating a visual place that invites a personal experience of seeing and feeling. This is evident in his largest work exhibited at MCCC, “Forty, For You.”
February 7, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Exhibition of Works by Joy Kreves and Photographers of Gallery 14: Opening Reception
Hopewell Valley Arts Council, Galleries at the Global Science Institute, 10 Route 31, North Pennington
(610) 291-9101 | hvartscounil.org
Join us for the opening reception of this exciting new exhibition on view at the GNI Galleries featuring the works of local artist Joy Kreves and the photographers of Gallery 14 on view February 7 to April 30, 2024 at the galleries at the Global Neurosciences Institute.
Kreves’ works, called FIERCE CARYATIDS, are a series of photographic banners of women holding her Distressed Forest sculptures. The series is Kreves’ reaction to the current state of the environment and the effects of our addiction to plastics on the earth. These photographic works celebrate the resilience of humans and our earth while drawing attention to the damage we are doing.
February 8, 6 p.m.
Finding Peter Hill: The Life and Times of a New Jersey Clockmaker
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St, Princeton
(609) 924.8144 | info@morven.org | morven.org/upcoming/findingpeterhill
Join Morven’s Interim Director and Curator Beth Allan for Finding Peter Hill: The Life and Times of a New Jersey Clockmaker, a special evening exploring the life and work of America’s earliest documented Black clockmaker. While developing the exhibit Striking Beauty, Curators Beth Allan and Jesse Gordon Simons uncovered new information about Hill’s life and work. It is believed that he made over one hundred tall case clocks during his lifetime, learning the craft while enslaved and then purchasing his own freedom.
This event is hybrid - held both live and online. A Q&A for both live and virtual attendees will follow the talk. A Zoom webinar link will be shared with virtual ticket holders following registration and a recording of the event will be provided following the program.
*TICKET COST: In-person $15 General Admission, $10 for Members and Students; Virtual tickets are $10 General Admission, $5 for Members and Students. In-person tickets include access to visit the Morven exhibit Striking Beauty from 5 - 6 p.m. where one of Hill’s clocks is on display.
February 7, 7 p.m.
Deep Focus on Screen: The Triplets of Belleville
Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St, Princeton
(609) 279-1999 | princetongardentheatre.org
This animated French film tells the story of an elderly woman named Madame Souza who takes care of her orphaned grandson Champion, a professional cyclist, who’s unexpectedly kidnapped while competing in the Tour de France. With the help of The Triplets of Belleville, an elderly trio of singers, and her faithful dog, Souza ventures out to find him. The distinctive animation style and catchy tunes add to the film’s enchanting atmosphere.
*TICKET COST: General Admission, $13.50; Members, $7.75; Students, $10; Seniors, Military, and Princeton University Staff/Faculty, $11.
February 21, 7 p.m.
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St, Princeton
(609) 279-1999 | princetongardentheatre.org
An uproarious comedy from Preston Sturges about a small town girl who finds herself “in a family way” after attending a party for the boys going off to WWII. She thinks she got married,but that evening’s events are all a little hazy. Sharp dialogue, amusing characters and deft slapstick make this a great American comedy.
The College of New Jersey’s Alan Amtzis will introduce this screening and lead a Q&A after the film.
*TICKET COST: General Admission, $13.50; Members, $7.75; Students, $10; Seniors, Military, and Princeton University Staff/Faculty, $11.
February 25, 12 p.m.
MALCOLM X
Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St, Princeton
(609) 279-1999 | princetongardentheatre.org
This screening MALCOLM X is co-sponsored by the YWCA Princeton. Zakiya Adair from the College of New Jersey will introduce and lead a short discussion after the film. Spike Lee's sweeping biopic about the legendary life of civil rights activist Malcolm X pays tribute to the leader of the struggle for black liberation. This film tracks his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam, and his eventual assassination. Anchored by a powerful performance from Denzel Washington, MALCOLM X is a timely portrait of a man who left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
*TICKET COST: General Admission, $5; Members, FREE.
February 17
Red, White, & Brew Fest
CURE Insurance Arena, 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton
(609) 656-3200 | ticketmaster.com
In the late 1750s, George Washington inscribed a recipe “to make small beer” in the notebook he carried as colonel of the Virginia Militia during the French and Indian war. That’s right - our founding father made a pretty revolutionary pint! Because of that moment in American history, CURE celebrates our founding fathers’ presidents’ weekend 2024 with a patriotic sampling event featuring over 50 styles from featured craft breweries, wineries, and spirits at the inaugural Red, White & Brew Fest! You can party with good old George Washington himself and quench your thirst for freedom with unlimited samples, live music from Nine Deeez Nite, interactive games, contests, and more!
*TICKET COST: $55 General Admission; $80 VIP
February 21, 7 p.m.
Finding Benjamin James and the History of the Mount Ely Hancock House
Mercer County Library System - Virtual Event
(609) 882-9246 | mcl.org
Pat Donahue, the current owner of the Mount Ely Hancock House in East Windsor, New Jersey, discusses the history of the house and the genealogy of Benjamin James, an enslaved man who once lived and worked at the house. During her talk, Pat will place the life of Benjamin James and the history of the house into the larger context of slavery in the State of New Jersey.
*Registration is required, call to register
February 24, 2 p.m.
Slavery and the Underground Railroad in New Jersey
Mercer County Library System - Robbinsville Branch, 42 Robbinsville-Allentown Rd, Robbinsville
(609) 259-2150 | mcl.org
Join Richard Moody, historian and author, to discuss the routes in New Jersey which escaping slaves took to get to New York State and on into Canada. See fascinating photos of the thirty-one genuine Safe Houses in New Jersey, as well as a map of the routes they took.
*Registration is required, call to register
February 4, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Guided House Tour of the Benjamin Temple House
Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society, 27 Federal City Rd, Ewing
(609) 883-2455 | ethps.org
The Temple House was built circa 1750 by Benjamin Temple, a prosperous farmer and son of one of the early settlers of the Ewing area. He was a friend and brother-in-law of John Hart, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Temple was an ardent supporter of the Revolutionary cause. Two of his nephews, John and Nathaniel, fought in the War of Independence.
Walk this guided tour with the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.
*Free Event
Kelsey Theatre:
February 2 & 3, 8 p.m. | February 4, 2 p.m.
All My Sons
Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor Township | Shakespeare ‘70
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
The Keller family lives in a middle class, God-fearing neighborhood, where residents start and end their lives on the same block; where grape juice and gossip are never more than a few steps away, where power is gained through business and poker games, and where secrets divulged are over freshly baked apple pie. Joe Keller is a successful, self-made man, who has spent his entire life in the single-minded pursuit of wealth for the sake of his family, and who loses sight of his morality and pays the price. Rated R
*TICKET COST: $22/$20
February 9, 8 p.m. | February 10 & 11, 2 p.m.
Love Songs for Miss Lydia
Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor Township | Theater to Go and The Don Evans Players
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
Theater to Go and Kelsey Theatre are proud to be working in conjunction with the creator's son, Todd Evans, founder of the Don Evans Players, on this heart-warming play. Lydia Frazier, a widow in her seventies is living out her life with quiet dignity in her modest Philadelphia home, until she decides to take in a boarder. Her roomer turns out to be the charming and apparently unscrupulous Mahlon, who loses no time in working his wiles on his trusting, vulnerable landlady, despite the cautious warnings of her well-meaning friends.
*TICKET COST: $22/$20
February 17 & 18, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
The Further Adventures of Nick Tickle, Fairy Tale Detective
Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor Township | MPOnStage
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
Old Granny Possum is entertaining us with her slightly irregular version of "Snow White and Just the Two Very Tall Dwarves" when she is kidnapped by Bluebeard and his band of scurvy pirates! Thank goodness, Nick Tickle has been hired to get her back. Can our dauntless hero outsmart the kidnappers and save her, or is she gone for good?
*TICKET COST: $16/$14
February 23 & 24, 8 p.m. | February 25, 2 p.m.
The Ladies of Rock - Special Event
Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor Township |The Reock & Roll Revue
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu
Back to their previous format of presenting Classic Rock Albums, this year Reock & Roll features albums from two of Rock’s elite women. Bonnie’s Raitt’s 1991 LUCK OF THE DRAW and Sheryl Crow’s 1993 debut album “ TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB.” The Revue will feature three incredible Lead Ladies. Lisa Bouchelle, Lindsay Jordan and Sandy Zio who will share the vocal duties for this show. The Reock & Roll Revue has been performing these Classic Album shows at The Kelsey Theatre to sold-out audiences since 2011, so come out and support the LADIES OF ROCK!
*TICKET COST: $30
McCarter Theatre Center
February 2, 4 p.m.
CelloGayageum: Lunar New Year Celebration
The McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton | Berlind Theater Venue
(609) 258-2787 | McCarter.org
Formed in 2016, Austrian cellist Sol Daniel Kim and Korean gayageum player Dayoung Yoon created a musical phenomenon bridging cultural divides through the universal language of music. Their unique fusion of instruments and musical styles creates a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. By showcasing the beauty and richness of South Korean music to audiences around the world, they are redefining what it means to be a global musical act.
*TICKET COST: $25-$45
February 8, 7:30 p.m.
Ayodele Casel: Chasing Magic
The McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton | Matthews Theater Venue
(609) 258-2787 | McCarter.org
One of the world’s great tap talents, Ayodele Casel is beloved for her musicality, strength, fluid, and generous style. “Chasing Magic,” Best Dance Performances of 2022 from the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Award winner, was developed and first performed in isolation during the pandemic, a celebratory display of artistic encounters and how, after a lost year, they remain right where you left them. Directed by her long-time collaborator Torya Beard, the show features performances by the pianists Arturo O'Farrill and Anibal César Cruz, vocalist Crystal Monee Hall, percussionist Keisel Jimenez, and tap artists Jared Alexander, Amanda Castro, Naomi Funaki, Quynn Johnson, Sean Kaminski, and Dre Torres.
*TICKET COST: $25-$65
February 9, 8 p.m.
American Patchwork Quartet
The McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton | Berlind Theater Venue
(609) 258-2787 | McCarter.org
Comprising four Americans from different cultural backgrounds, the American Patchwork Quartet are activists as well as artists, striving to counter pervasive prejudices around the issues of race and immigration, performing a repertoire of centuries-old American folk songs made new with creative arrangements, drawing connections between the nation’s contemporary culture and its immigrant roots. Led by Grammy-winning vocalist Falu, Grammy-winning guitarist/vocalist Clay Ross, 3x Grammy-winning drummer Clarence Penn, and highly acclaimed and sought-after bassist Yasushi Nakamura, APQ breathes new life into the folk canon, accepting accountability for the future of a country both hospitable and hostile towards those that believe most fervently in its dreams of equality.
*TICKET COST: $25-$55
February 11, 1 p.m.
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
The McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton | Matthews Theater Venue
(609) 258-2787 | McCarter.org
Founded in 1918 as Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is one of the country’s principal symphonies and the most-recorded orchestra in any former Soviet territory. Now, with their compatriots defending their homeland against a Russian invasion, the orchestra steps out of Russia’s shadow. For their return to McCarter Theatre the symphony brings some of Ukraine’s most talented and renowned musicians to showcase the country’s rich musical history.
*TICKET COST: $60-$90
February 15, 7:30 p.m.
iLe
The McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton | Berlind Theater Venue
(609) 258-2787 | McCarter.org
With a voice that carries the echoes of generations and a passion that ignites the spirit, Puerto Rican singer iLe’s performance is a celebratory fusion of Latin American musical traditions with modern electronic and pop sensibilities. Breaking out from her roots in the record-breaking hip-hop group Calle 13, iLe explores themes of love, identity, and cultural heritage, all set to the fiery beats of salsa and the soulful sounds of bolero.
*TICKET COST: $25-$55
February 16, 8 p.m.
The Legendary Ingramettes – The “First Family of Gospel”
The McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton | Berlind Theater Venue
(609) 258-2787 | McCarter.org
Six decades of music, sixty-five years of song, generations tied together through the force of will of a matriarchy of powerful women. This is the story of African-American gospel quintet The Legendary Ingramettes, founded in Richmond, Virginia, by Maggie Ingram (who passed away in 2015) as a way to keep her family together through hardship. Inspired by the Black gospel quartets of the 1940s and 50s, Ingram’s “First Family of Gospel” featured herself backed by her five children, with powerful vocals and roof-raising harmonies. Now led by her daughter Almeta Ingram-Miller, Maggie’s legacy lives on in their performance. Their latest work Take a Look in the Book—their first recording since the matriarch’s passing in 2015—draws songs from Appalachian sources like Ola Belle Reed and Bill Withers and reworking family favorites that date back to old spirituals.
*TICKET COST: $25-$45
February 9, 1 - 4 p.m.
Valentine's Day Card Decoration
Mercer County Library System - Hollowbrook Branch, 320 Hollowbrook Dr, Ewing
(609) 883-5914 | mcl.org
Want to create a personalized Valentine’s Day card for someone you love? Then now is your chance! Hollowbrook Library will provide card-making stations with materials to spark your creativity to create a personalized Valentine’s Day card for someone you love. For all ages.
February 12, 11 a.m.
Valentine's Day Tea Party
Mercer County Library System - Ewing Branch, 61 Scotch Rd, Ewing
609-882-3148 | ewprogs@mcl.org|mcl.org | mcl.org
Join us for a Valentine Tea Party. Games, crafts, cold tea and refreshments! Open to children of all ages. Sponsored by the Friends of the Ewing Library.
*Registration is required, call to register
February 13, 3 p.m.
Valentine's Day Bingo!
Mercer County Library System - Hollowbrook Branch, 320 Hollowbrook Dr, Ewing
(609) 883-5914 | mcl.org
Can you get a BINGO and win a prize? The only way to find out is to join us for Hollowbrook's Valentine's Day Bingo program! All are welcome, and bring a friend! Snacks and drinks will be provided. For all ages.
*Registration is required, call to register
|
