The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to present artwork from three local artists, Mansa Mussa, Brian Branch Price and Lydia Watson, in celebration of Black History Month in an exhibit at the Commissioners Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza. Gallery hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm, weekdays. The exhibit will be displayed through February 28, 2025.
“This exhibit not only highlights the talent of our local artists but also provides a space for storytelling, history, and cultural expression,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “We invite residents to visit the Commissioners Gallery and experience these powerful pieces firsthand as we honor Black History Month through the arts.”
Mansa Mussa, a visual artist, arts educator and curator is a photographer who has used the camera to “document the unfolding of human events” in the United States, Caribbean, Africa, Central America and Europe. A Newark native and graduate of New Jersey City University, Mussa currently teaches drawing, printmaking, photography, collage, wearable art, book arts, mask making and iPadology for the Union County Teen Arts Festival, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, the Montclair Museum of Art, and the Newark Museum.
Brian Branch Price, a photographer and Plainfield native, is an American reportage and portrait photographer, whose career has ranged from photojournalism to commissioned fine art projects. A graduate of Howard University, Price’s photographs are in the permanent collections of the Plainfield Public Library, The Harn Museum at the University of Florida and the Major Taylor Museum.
Lydia Watson, the artist behind Watsart is a Plainfield resident whose creations are inspired by the elegance of nature and the delicate balance between precision and emotion. Her artwork blends the intricate details of stippling/pointillism with bold, abstract elements to celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Watson believes that art should be accessible for all and offers a variety of prints along with original artworks.
“Art has the power to preserve history, and we are honored to highlight these artists and their work in celebration of Black History Month,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, who serves on the Union County Cultural & Heritage Advisory Board.
The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinates the exhibits displayed at the Commissioners Gallery. For further information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, please contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone: 908-558-2550; NJ relay users dial 711; or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.