Category Archives: Portrait Photography

Four Corners Public Arts Mural

I am ecstatic to announce the The Newark Artists Photo Documentary Project has been included in Phase II of the Four Corners Public Arts mural program. I have be working closely with curator Rebecca Jampol, on a 37′ long mural honoring the work and contributions of 6 artists from the project. The mural will be completed by the end of 2020.

“The Four Corners Public Arts partnership is thrilled to announce three new public art projects coming to Downtown Newark for Fall/Winter 2020/2021. In the upcoming weeks, FCPA phase II will commence with: The Newark Artists Photo Documentary Project by Colleen Gutwein O’Neal; Will You Be My Monument by Salamishah Tillet and Alliyah Allen of New Arts Justice at Rutgers University – Newark, designer Chantal Fischzang, photographer Scheherazade Tillet and Keary Rosen of the Form Design Studio at Express Newark; and We Are Home led by Yeimy Gamez Castillo in collaboration with the ImVisible project and artist Layqa Nuna Yawar.

This phase of the program sought proposals that directly address community building through public art. Each project includes thoughtful and intentional collaboration, engages various audiences, and brings to life narratives that are constructed through open community dialogue. “We are living in time that demands that public art represents the diversity and dynamism of the communities in which it is made,” says Salamishah Tillet, Director of New Arts Justice. “To meet this moment, Newark artists are collaborating on murals and monuments that reflect who we are and by doing so, are reimagining the vibrant possibilities of who we, as a city and nation, can be.” “

Read more about the project: fourcornerspublicarts.org/phase2

“The Camera I Always Wanted” release date: Oct. 11, 2019

The Plume House of Prayer Series, 2019, is Shine’s newly published edition of books referencing a historic site in Newark, NJ. Once a ”cozy farmhouse on the outskirts of a little town on the riverside,” and rectory to The House of Prayer church, is the Plume House. Built in approximately 1725, and the second oldest home in the city  of Newark, now has its foundation visibly shaken by the vehicles driving on I-280, constructed a few feet from the house.

On this site, in 1887, Reverend Hannibal Goodwin invented celluloid photographic film in the attic. This invention was motivated by the frequent breakage of his glass lantern slides, which Goodwin used to teach children bible stories. The book covers in this series are designed to invoke a House of Prayer sermon pamphlet from 1852, on the life of statesman and slaveholder Henry Clay, delivered to “The Young Men of Newark, N.J.” 

Five books feature the work by artists: Anthony Alvarez, Dominique Duroseau, Colleen Gutwein, Nick Kline and  Scheherazade Tillet. Designed by Chantal Fischzang. 

The books published in this series vibrate with the various histories and nature of this site, including the intersection of American independence, slavery, gender, church, state, Newark’s role in the history of photography, obsolescence, and hope.

October 11, 6-8pm Book Release Event and fundraiser at Shine.

On October 11, 6-8pm, 100% of sales, of Shine’s 5 book edition, will be donated to support a foundation in Bolivia, working on projects of reforestation, environmental education and rehabilitation of the flora and fauna lost during the Amazon fires. Please help this effort which is being organized by our designer and colleague, Rutgers Professor Chantal Fischzang, who is from Bolivia and knows this landscape and volunteer group intimately.

For more information visit SHINE: https://www.shineportrait.com/publishing

Install and book images courtesy of SHINE Portrait Studio.

#miniretro 5.18.19 – 7.12.19

#miniretro

5.18.19 – 7.12.19

20 years (1999 – 2019) of photographic works by Colleen Gutwein. At the age of 5, Colleen developed her first image in a basement darkroom at her Grandparents house in Metuchen NJ. Years later she earned a degree in photography at Montclair State University with her Grandfather’s old Canon FT-b camera. This #miniretro shows Gutwein’s early use of 4×5 film (polaroid type-55) from her first solo exhibition, and the evolution of her work through both digital and traditional photographic formats and printing techniques, up through 2019 with a digital portrait of the medium format Jem. Jr. film camera used for The Newark Artists Photo Documentary Project.

Art & Artifacts of Newark: 233 Washington St Newark, NJ

Opening Reception: Saturday May 18, 2019 6-9pm Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/511032232761568/

Art & Artifacts of Newark is a pop-up space created by M. Gosser as part of a curatorial residency at Index Art Center

Regular Gallery Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 1 – 6pm (and by appointment)

Also opening at Index Art Center on Saturday May 18 7-10pm: Making Time curated by Wavelength Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1132604890278449/

These events at Index Art Center are free and open to the public.

Index at Index

INDEX is a group exhibition of works in all mediums by artists currently participating as both mentors and mentees in the New York Foundation of the Arts 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentor Program, Newark.

design by: Gisel Endara

5.4.19 – 5.9.19
Opening Reception: Saturday May 4th, 6-9pm

Exhibiting Artists:
Ole Lie Vandal
Ananda Lima
Anne Trauben
Jin Jung
Ceaphas Stubbs
Kimmah Dennis
Colleen Gutwein
Daniela Puliti
Agnieszka Wszolkowska
fayemi shakur
Olufunke Ogundimu
Jen Mazza
Mariejon de Jong-Buijs
Jo-El Lopez
Francisco Pena
Kati Vilim
Eka Pramuditha
Katrina Bello
Mic Boekelmann
Malik Whitaker
Kanako Tsutsumi
Matthew Gosser
Diana Candelejo
paulA neves
Gisel Endara
Sally Helmi
Sarah Walko
Adishetu Oyibo
Yvette Molina
Shiza Chaudhary

Index Art Center
1st Floor Gallery
233 Washington St
Newark, NJ 07102

* Index is free and open to the public.

Gallery Hours: Saturday 1 – 6pm
Sunday, Tuesday – Friday: by appointment
www.indexartcenter.org

A big thanks to: Index Art Center, NYFA, Ford Foundation, Project for Empty Space, Paul Robeson Galleries, New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Newark Arts.

We Are The Ghosts of Our Future: on view through dec. 22

Index Art Center
2nd floor main gallery
237 Washington St.
Newark, NJ, 07102

‘We Are the Ghosts of Our Future’ encapsulates the analog portion of The Newark Artists Photo Documentary Project. Utilizing vintage Jem Jr. box cameras manufactured in Newark in the 1940s, Colleen Gutwein O’Neal forgoes the slow and methodical techniques of portraiture in favor of a more urgent and instinctive approach. A process that archives artists’ personalities in fuzzy, mysterious images emerging against a backdrop of vanishing architecture, forgotten places and artists’ workspaces. Putting forth a diverse cross-section of participants, the ghostly prints provide a subtle yet provocative commentary on the place of the artist in today’s society and the importance of honoring and documenting their contributions.

“ The camera was manufactured in Newark on Jelliff Ave in the 1940’s by the J.E. Mergott Company, and helps me to stray from the perfection of a digital image, and document these artists through my own artistic process. The gritty, fuzzy Jem Jr. images allow for disruption, ambiguity, and self-reflection by viewers, and create a truly unique perspective on archiving working artists. “ -Colleen Gutwein O’Neal

The Jem Jr. images are created in conjunction with modern, digital portraits depicting the artists in their studios or homes. The growing digital archive, the first such directory of significant visual artists in Newark, provides a useful tool and networking resource for the community at large and beyond. This portion of the project can be viewed at: https://www.newarkartsphotodoc.com/

Photography on view at the new Marcus Samuelsson restaurant in Newark

It was a pleasure working with the curator from Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant in Newark,  Marcus B&P.  There was a strong intention to represent Newark artists inside the new restaurant, and they were happy to have The Newark Arts Photo Documentary Project website as a resource.  Meet me for a photoshoot at Shine, and a celebratory cocktail after…all in the same spot, hard to believe that I used to live right across the street.

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Portraits on the SHINE website

May 5th was an incredibly grand opening of Express Newark.  As a community partner at SHINE portrait studio, I offered black and white portraits to visitors, collaborators, and staff. Check out some of the featured images, and take some time to explore all that SHINE is involved in Here: https://www.shineportrait.com/opening

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Honored to be a community partner at SHINE Portrait Studio

Image credit: Kati Vilim

SHINE is a working portrait photography studio that facilitates and supports the expression and self-representation of the Newark, New Jersey community.

SHINE Community PartnersFrom its foundation, Shine has been built together with Community Partners who are artists, photographers, entrepreneurs and others whose work is committed to representing the City of Newark, NJ in a positive light. Community Partners have 24/7 access to the studio, equipment and staff support to pursue their independent practices. They have renewable one-year contracts and pursue projects and workshops that benefit the larger community. Community Partners are part of an Advisory Council that meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues of access, programming events and projects, and the studio’s overall needs.

Community Partners are invited to join Shine through long-term, ongoing conversations and relationship-building with the Director, Studio Supervisor, and current Community Partners.

https://www.shineportrait.com/residencies   

 

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Grand opening of SHINE Portrait Studio

Join the celebration this Friday, May 5, 2017 for the grand opening of Express Newark and Shine Portrait Studio in Newark, NJ.  I will be shooting complimentary black & white portraits in the Shine Studio from 5-8pm, as part of a happening.   See the Small Forest contact page for directions to the studio.  Click HERE for information about the Express Newark grand opening celebration.  (accessible by train, bus, and car: parking deck available under the Hahne building, closes at 10pm)

I am very excited to be working with Matthew Gosser.  He will be providing set pieces for the photoshoot from his current curatorial programming: “Art & Artifacts of Newark”.