Here are some of the ideas we came up with and scroll down more for some of the pictures! You can see more when you follow @valleywedesign on instagram!

PUBLIC ART

• Train Station Underpasses can feature seasonal public art from local artists, or competitions for all over
• Valley Maps or Directories can be designed by artists, and a great way to attract
• Garbage Cans can be a way to engage the high school artists communities

SAFETY

• Fences around the train station rails, this can also beautify the blocks, and Scotland Road
• The sidewalks are horrible, and uneven. We should definitely get them fixed
• More signs

DIRECTIONS TO THE VALLEY

• In addition to the maps, we can have just arrows pointing the district from Scotland Road.

There were so many more ideas shared, you can come to the follow up meeting, Tuesday, September 24th. More details to follow. Visit http://www.handsinc.org for more information.

#ValleyWeDesign Project: Walk Around & Picnic Works

Residents, business owners, community organization representatives, and elected officials are invited to tour the Valley, photograph and identify opportunities to enhance existing and design new public open spaces to enrich community life.

Small teams will begin walk around workshop at 9:30am. Suggested RSVP to Jessica at 973-678-3110 x8 or jessica@handsinc.org

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

It’s that time of year again, HANDS’ fourth annual Leadership Awards: Innovation Celebration. Please contact Jessica with nominations for this year’s community awards. Last year, Mike Mal was honored at the event. I can think of a number of artist’s here that volunteer at ORNG Ink that would be perfect for that.

http://www.handsinc.org

Here are some pictures from last year’s event at the Firehouse Gallery and an amazing Den Fenelon art show, November 2013. Molly wore a custom made Robyn Modest dress! 

This Fall, Pat n Kat are looking to link up with the next dope boutiques, and fashion designers for 2 amazing opportunities for exposure!

1. Pat n Kat’s first Pop-Up Shop event during the Valley Arts District’s annual VAMP Festival. Sell your pieces in a pop-up shop designed by ORNG Ink Artist Collective, featuring a fashion presentation styled by Pat n Kat! There is a small vending charge but the main goal is to gain exposure, collaborate and of course sell! 

2. The Robyn Chronicles, the New York City Web Series starts filming in the Fall! We want to feature your line, in the same way new designers got discovered on shows like Sex and the City, and Girls on HBO. There will also be a fabulous launch party in New York that is sure to be a glam event!

There will also be a lookbook shoot published in masConsumption zine that will be available online and a good way to showcase your clothes on the web and social media.

Want more information? Please contact and send a link to your work to, patnkatstyle@gmail.com. Serious inquires only! Also visit the Pat n Kat Pop Up Shop page! 

The other day, Kat, Marie and I went to boutiques to do some more picking for the show and we were talking about how much has happened in the year so far. In just 8 months, Kat and I started Pat n Kat Style, Marie successfully launched her site, LadiSav, I released 2 zines and working on the third, and now we are about to put on the biggest runway show to hit the Valley. Wow. So yeah, I think we are ready to take August by storm and the rest of 2013.

Witness our dream, next Saturday at ORNG Ink Studio. The Portrait of a Lady Runway Show will be one to remember!

“Honestly, I believe we are the generation of creators and doers. You do not have to go to an expensive school or pay companies a lot of money to do a lot of things that there are probably an app for. Computer programs are easier to use, people are learning how to use them at an earlier age. For example, think about how easy it is to create a blog. We are just doing what we want to do. Want to start your own business, or organization. Easy. Here in the Valley, there is a group of young emerging artists that are doers. Passionate, innovative, talented, and uber creative. Eager to learn more, take more risks artistically, really seeing how far they can go, while at the same time wanting to use their skill and experience to give back to their community. We outreach to the next generation.

masConsumption is the voice of this generation, this new era. Big things are happening. It’s similar to the “calm before the storm”. Ideas are brewing, I can tell. It is in the air. Be a part of the movement. I am lucky enough to have a front row seat, but I want to invite all of you to get in the mix. Become a printing sponsor, and be a part of something extraordinary. This zine, (a noncommercial, homemade publication) is created in New Jersey’s Valley Arts District, but is for all audiences. Be inspired.” -P.R.

Saturday, August 10, 9:00am to 3:30pm
Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange, New Jersey 07050

This one-day intensive workshop conducted by the Arts Business Institute is designed to help you launch and/or grow your art business into a sustainable career by selling your work wholesale throughout the United States to galleries, shops, museum stores, and more.

After the workshop, private critique/consultations are available by pre-scheduled appointment. If you elect to add a private critique to your day, please bring samples or photos of your work and receive feedback on your collection, price points, target audience, and strategies that will improve and build your business. Extremely limited time slots are available from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and will be assigned in order received.

Workshop: $95
Workshop & Private Critique: $125

çlick here for more information.

Threadbone Deluxe Cover: Purchase the limited edition cover here.

Hat City Streets Festival:
The festival was a huge success! People of all ages, and all over North Jersey came to the Valley to celebrate. There was live music performances all day at the family stage, including ORNG Ink’s Soundbox Banditz, and then into the night at the Main Stage including 100 Voices of Hillside. Kids were able to make buttons at the ORNG Ink booth, and other art activities like hat making, glass blowing, and rock drawing. Local artists sold art in vending booths, I discovered new artists, and merchandise. All though the festival was from 11am-9pm, there was something for everyone all day, including amazing food! Hat City Kitchen, Southern Comfort & more neighborhood spots sold good food.

Tatamae Alive: Khari’s much anticipated art show finally opened at ORNG Ink, in the IronWorks Gallery. It was really cool to see the curated show. He has worked so hard, for months. People dropped in and out all day and he even made a sale! You can come see the show Monday-Friday from 3-6:00pm for the next two weeks.

ORNG Ink took our 5th class picture featuring everyone who has ever been apart of the studio. The picture is coming soon!

This summer is going to be CRAZY!

If you thought you knew all that Orange had to offer, think again! HANDS, Inc. invites you to tour the strikingly rich multicultural community nested in the Valley of West Orange and Orange.

Tour dates for the summer season are:
• Tuesday, April 23rd, 6:00 pm
• Tuesday, May 21st, 6:00 pm
• Saturday, June 15th, 12:00 pm
• Tuesday, July 23rd, 6:00 pm
• Tuesday, August 20th, 6:00 pm
• Tuesday, September 17th, 6:00 pm

The free, narrated one hour walk welcomes newcomers and current residents to tour former industrial and commercial buildings rehabilitated by HANDS now occupied by local artists, innovators, entrepreneurs and arts-based non-profit organizations. In addition to learning about the work of HANDS, you’ll discover why it is known as “Hat City,” see some hidden gems and get a peek at the growing artist community.

Note-worthy cultural anchors include Luna Stage Theatre Company, featuring critically-acclaimed, thought provoking productions, the new ValleyArts Firehouse Gallery and the three-star Creole style restaurant/live music venue, Hat City Kitchen. Stops include a community earth oven, hydroponic greenhouse, a youth arts studio, No Name Hat Factory formerly owned by the Stetson brothers, and much more.

RSVP: contact Jessica Mathelier jessica@handsinc.org

-HANDS, Inc.

The latest public art installation by Larry Dell, Jamy Lasell and many mad hatters debuted in the Valley Arts District Monday night.

Stop by Hat City Kitchen to see the cool structure built for Hat City Streets Festival

This upcoming festival has already generated tons of buzz, for a variety of reasons, and I think we are all just ready for it. The festival and ValleyArts, Inc.’s executive director, Richard Bryant were featured in the New York Times.

Here is a little from the article:

THE ORGANIZERS OF THE INAUGURAL Hat City Streets Festival, to be held June 15 in Orange, hope no one shows up to the free daylong event bareheaded.

Joy Yagid
The artist and performer Stephen McKenzie will present printmaking activities at the festival.

“We’re inviting everybody to wear a hat that expresses something about themselves,” Richard T. Bryant said. “But if you don’t wear a hat, we’ll channel you over to one of our hatmaking workshops, where you can make one for free.”

Since last June, Mr. Bryant has been executive director of ValleyArts, a group formed five years ago to attract and serve local artists and engage the community in a 15-block neighborhood known as the Valley Arts District, which extends into West Orange.

Mr. Bryant is also co-chairman of Creative Orange, a program begun last year to help advance Orange through the arts, in addition to running his own arts consultancy. ValleyArts is producing the festival, and volunteers from Creative Orange will host it; both are nonprofit groups.

The wearing of hats at the festival — a nod to the heritage of Orange, a hat manufacturing center in the early 20th century — is “just something we’re having a little fun with,” Mr. Bryant, 60, of Madison, said in a recent phone interview.

Read the rest of the story here.

Next Saturday the Valley will be filled with live music performances, arts workshops, vendors and more from 11:00am-9:00pm.

Visit http://www.valleyartsnj.com for more information on how to volunteer, and participate in the festival.