March of Crows 2017
In 2016 musician, Shayfer James, came up with the idea for an arts collaboration project. James took to Facebook and asked fellow artists to loan him one of their pieces of art so that he could write a song based on each of them. He then invited local poets to create written works based on the songs he wrote from spending time with the art. This unique collaborative event he called March of Crows, and it would bring together all the artistic energies of musicians, artists, poets, dancers and photographers for one night at Jersey City's Grace Church Van Vorst. The Church was crowded that night with people who were able to walk through the installation viewing the artwork, reading the posted poems and even listening with their personal mobile devices/headphones to James' songs as they stood in front of the art that inspired the music. There were also dance performances, poetry readings and the highlight was Shayfer playing the collaborative songs live with his friends. Photographer, Tracey Noelle Luz, took video and photographs of the 2016 event and will be showing that documentary at this year's show.
For 2017 James has focused the project towards local murals and other forms of street art in an effort to better connect with the city that he lives in, Jersey City, New Jersey. This year there will be jewelry, textiles and dance based on the songs and murals.
I was invited by Shayfer to take photos of the murals/street art to be displayed during the event. I spent most of a Sunday in February going around town and photographing the street art by Blair Urban, Joe Waks, Distoart, Mr. Mustart and Norm Kirby. The images, printed on vinyl, will be part of the installations at the 2017 March of Crows event on Friday, March 10th starting at 8pm.
Once again Shayfer James and friends will perform the original songs based on the murals and special guests Bryan Elkins, Ceallaigh Fogonogelo Pender along with Debra Devi will perform their own versions of James' songs he wrote based on their art back in 2016. Here is a list of the other participating artists/performers so far: Meagan Woods, Joe Velez, Brandyn Heppard, Jacie D'Agostino, Liz Rovetta, Ron J Upperman, Lance A Michel, Andres Lo, Gabriel Perry, Ariel Guidry, Athena Toledo & Brittany Graziosi.
There is a suggested donation of $10 which will go towards supporting the Church's music series called Cathedral Arts Live.
March of Crows, Friday, March 10, 2017 at 8pm.
Grace Church Van Vorst, 39 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
