The Monmouth County Arts Council, Red Bank, will collaborate with the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, and The Black Box of Asbury Park to host a series of events focused on the work of internationally renowned and exhibited artist Willie Cole.
The project, “Willie Cole — The Great Asbury Park Book Rising,” is part of MCAC’s community outreach through the arts and is funded by a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. At 7 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 5, Cole will speak, show slides and video of his work, and discuss the large installation piece, “House of Books” that he is creating for the MCAC project.
The event will be held at SICA, 20 Third Ave., Long Branch. Tickets are $10 for MCAC and SICA members and students, and $15 for others. For reservations, contact the MCAC at (732) 212-1890 or e-mail [email protected].
The “House of Books” will be in residence at the Black Box of Asbury Park, 605 Mattison Ave., 3rd floor, for a series of events that are open to the public. Events and activities whose themes and inspiration arise directly out of the installation piece, and the many cultural, philosophical and artistic metaphors that its presence invokes, will take place throughout November and December.
Events include: Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., “Journey through Jazz” by the Palmer Jenkins Trio, $10; Nov. 13, 4 p.m., “Civilized? — Art & Society” panel discussion, $5; Nov. 14, 1-6 p.m., “Returning Home,” poetry inspired by “House of Books,” free; Nov. 18, 8 p.m., Music of Invention Series, “Subconscious atmospheres, subatomic landscapes and motionless travel” Charles Cohen plays the Buchla Music Easel, an extremely rare integrated analog performance instrument, also, Naval Cassidy, an instant cinema and sound performer, $10; Nov. 20, 11a.m.-1 p.m., “Hope for the Flowers, Storytelling for Parents, Children, Caterpillars and Butterflies!” words and pictures by Trina Paulus, $5 suggested donation; Nov. 20, 8 p.m., “The Story Tellers, Poems and Stories from a Classical African and African-American Tradition,” storytellers Lorraine Stone and Muriel Freeman performing works by James Weldon Johnson, Nikki diGiovanni, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Ntozake Shange, Jeannette Winter, $10; Dec. 11, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., “Icons: the Lesbian and Gay History of the World Vol. 1 & Vol. 2,” one-man musical comedy by Jade Esteban Estrada, $10; Dec. 12, 1 p.m., Groove Merchant Drum & Dance Ensemble, multicultural drumming and dancing group performs Celtic, Arabic, Caribbean & African dances, $10.
For information and tickets for events at the Black Box, call (732) 897-1472 or go to www.asburyparkblackbox.org