Jeff Clapp, Emily Asher-Neiman, Donna Clapp
Where Peace Lives is excited to share that Emily Asher, owner of the Asher-Neiman Gallery contacted us to see about doing a collaboration for the holidays. Asher-Neiman has set up a temporary art gallery exhibition in Red Bank, NJ from December 15 – January 1, 2010. The opening which occurred on December 17th was set up to provide Where Peace Lives with 10% of all sales from the evening. This is the first time Where Peace Lives has collaborated on a project like this.
Two smaller reproductions of murals that were created by students at West Orange High School in New Jersey and youth from a church group in Uganda, Africa were on display. Both were sold that evening and proceeds will go to start a project in the Newark community.
“It was such a cool thing. We had no idea that people might be interested in purchasing reproductions of these murals but they are truly beautiful pieces of art and what better way to bring funding back into the oroganization than to have these available for sale”, says Jeff Clapp, Program Director. “A whole new revenue opportunity for us has begun to surface out of this show and we look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.”
In this down economy so many towns are dealing with vacant spaces that effect the community and shop keepers, and not for the better. The new trend that has sprung up in NYC is making its way out here to the suburbs as retailers and smart entreprenuers are negotiating deals to open temporary shop to reach their customers. What is exciting about the Asher-Neiman show is it brings color and life into a town that is struggling this holiday season.
“It is very exciting to be a part of this new trend in marketing, where people use vacant space to set up shop. I love Red Bank as it has always been a home to the arts and is a large reason why I continue to choose to live here for the last 12 years. I am especially excited about this particular pairing as Emily is a great promoter of the arts, has many incredible artists she represents, and it gives us an opportunity to share the kind of work we do with the public that in its own way is focused on art, specifically to forward the conversations for peace.” says Clapp.
“I love the idea of showcasing our story and even some of our murals themselves in this kind of venue,” says Donna Clapp, Executive Director. “It affords us a great way to create funding for our programs and to let people really experience the impact these beautiful murals have once you see them.”
Where Peace Lives will look to use this kind of a partnership moving forward to help support it’s continued growth. Below are some pictures from the opening night. Please check out the show which runs through January 1, 2010. For more info visit Emily’s site at Asher-Neiman Gallery online.
