The Jewish Museum of New Jersey: 2016

Multi-talented artist, Mansa Mussa greets participants shortly before the workshop begins.

Last Sunday, JMNJ held a jazz collage workshop, led by photographer, and artist extraordinaire Mansa K. Mussa. The workshop, co-sponsored by The Jewish Museum of New Jersey (JMNJ) and NJPAC, was the second such event held at the museum (the first was held last year during the Jazz, Jews, and African Americans exhibit. Mussa, a resident of South Orange, N.J., has a long and distinguished career in the arts; for nearly forty years he has traveled the world, documenting events around him with his camera, brush and pen. He has taught photography for more than a quarter Century, and has a long history of working with local youths; teaching them the value, truth, and power of developing an artistic voice. This year the event was held on the main exhibit floor, creating an intimate and vibrant environment, which was quite apropos for the workshop. While attendance was a little sparse when the workshop began, we very quickly had a full house, with children, teens and adults alike flowing in to test, or ply their creative skills.

It gave me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles as well; while I was not a participant of the workshop; I was there, camera in hand and that’s all it took. Well… that and I wanted to test out my new Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight, and I must say I liked the results. I will have to work with it a few more times before everything works seamlessly; but I was pleased with its performance, very pleased.

It was great watching all of these families, friends, and aspiring artists working together, having fun and creating art; it’s an aspect of the city that’s always there; but rarely gets noticed, that’s why I’m glad I was there; to highlight the lighter side of the city.