stARTup grants opportunity for early career artists by giving them a platform to hone their craft, gain exposure and a space to work, exhibit and perform. If you would like to be considered, email us at stARTup@artsbythepeople.org

stARTup 2021: Wake Up Genius Species

Wake Up Genius Species, a joint show featuring New Jersey artists Timothy Simmons and Maria Sinatra, asks viewers to analyze one simple question: what is important to them? Whether their answer is family, the environment, self-care, or social justice issues, Wake Up Genies Species encourages viewers to take a step back, think critically, and welcome the varying viewpoints of others. Wake Up Genius Species experiments with work in different mediums and scale in an effort to provide viewers with ever changing ways to look at these core issues affecting all of humanity.

Timothy Simmons is an African American Artist native to Newark, NJ. At an early age he was introduced to various artists and art styles namely Jose Manuel Cruz, Nette Forne Thomas, Willie Cole, Bradford Brown and Gladys Barker Grauer to name a few. It was at Arts High School where Timothy first gain exposure as an emerging artist showing his artwork at City Without Walls Gallery along with other prominent local artist. In 1998, Timothy earned a BS in Biology from Seton Hall, followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy in 2009. Timothy taught high school science in Paterson for several years before transitioning to Newark Public Schools where he served as a Physics and Biology teacher at University High School for 10 years. During his tenure as a teacher, Simmons continued to promote the Arts by engaging the students in extra credit activities completing murals at the infamous East Side High School in Paterson.Recently, the love and passion of painting was rekindled in Simmons while he painted with his ten year old daughter during the pandemic. Simmons’ art takes on social commentary, dismantling negative perceptions. “I believe my work has the power to inform the general public by creating an open dialogue on race built on the foundation of black excellence.” Simmons' works challenge the negative stereotypes of African Americans by providing the viewer with an unbiased “conventional” (i.e. normal) images of family life of African Americans.

ARTIST STATEMENT:
How we identify ourselves is an important attribute in the development of an individual’s self-worth and belonging to his/her family. At the core, the work I produced reflects a conscious effort to portray African-Americans apart of the family- removing negative stereotypes.

Maria Sinatra is a visual artist living and working in Jersey City, NJ. She uses acrylic paint and paint markers to create works featuring people, places, and household objects that are not traditionally highlighted in contemporary art. During Wake Up Genius Species, Maria explores new subject matter including creating handmade anaglyphs and depicting myopia to ensure viewers look at objects in ways they never have before. Maria’s art has recently been featured in several shows throughout the United States, including a solo exhibition at Outlander Gallery in Jersey City, NJ.

stARTup 2019: Housewarming

The 2nd Best Dance Company was commissioned to bring their unique on-site performance to a house turned theater in New Jersey. Housewarming is part funeral, part cleaning day, part candlelit dinner for one, and tests the bounds of what and whom we consider home.

2nd Best Dance Company
Will Noling
Courtney Barth
Taylor Boyland
Mitch Christie
Choreographers: Hannah Garner & Ryan Yamauchi

stARTup 2018: Synnamon Brown

ARTS By The People helped her realize a project she created titled, “Butterfly Effects: A Journey Through Convalescent Lines,” which involves creating portraits of various people following an in-depth interview between Synnamon and each participant.

From Synnamon about the project: “Emotional intelligence is achieved by recognizing that each individual has a unique way of processing emotions. The human experience is characterized by communication and relationships with others. That experience is amplified once one makes the conscious decision to explore the various dimensions of perception.”