A ‘Weird Remix’ Project for Empty Space’s 2024 Fall Ball
Photography by Carlos Hernandez
In a vibrant homage to Newark’s rich cultural legacy, Project for Empty Space (PES) hosted its second annual Fall Ball on October 24. The event themed “Weird Remix,” designed to connect and celebrate the contributions of creatives from various backgrounds – from soulful musicians, visual artists to world-class DJs and dancers – took place at PES’s Ironside Newark space, just a short walk from its main headquarters.
The Ironside venue boasts a newly expanded 2,500-square-foot gallery that embodies the organization’s mission of fostering an inclusive and radical arts ecosystem. Under the leadership of Co-Directors Jasmine Wahi and Rebecca Pauline Jampol, PES is a feminist-driven, BIPOC-led organization dedicated to providing a platform for socially-engaged artists, by creating safe spaces for dialogue and innovation focusing on issues such as marginalization and systemic inequity through programs like artist residencies, public art initiatives, and gallery exhibitions.
This year’s Fall Ball was inspired by PES’s Artist in Residence, Azikiwe Mohammed, whose solo exhibition, Trains, Buses, and The Four Cs, serves as a centerpiece for the event. His immersive installation, which marks the gallery’s inaugural show, captures the essence of community spirit and is currently on display through January 25th. Attendees also had the chance to participate in a silent auction featuring a new limited edition print by the artist, showcasing unique experiences in Newark and creative opportunities facilitated by PES.
The evening kicked off with a champagne hour courtesy of The Yard Newark and All Points West Distillery, where guests mingled over an array of small plates and inventive cocktails curated by Chef Kai Campbell and Gil Spaier respectively – before the dance party took center stage with attendees showcasing their most adventurous outfits while reveling to energetic beats spun by DJs jun mabuchi and Black Helmet.
Photography by Carlos Hernandez
In line with their commitment to enhancing Newark’s arts scene, Wahi and Pauline unveiled the 2025 cohort of Artists in Residence, spotlighting four exceptional talents who include:
Heather Hart, an interdisciplinary artist focused on exploring and challenging dominant narratives. Her work activates collaboration with performers and the public. Hart has exhibited in numerous prestigious venues such as the Queens Museum, The Kohler Art Center, to name a few, and is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Mason Gross School for Art and Design.
Lina Puerta, a Colombian-American artist whose mixed media works interrogate the intersection of nature and human-made environments, addressing themes such as food justice and xenophobia. Puerta’s installations engage diverse materials like handmade-paper paintings, all which have garnered her several accolades, including the NYFA Fellowship in Crafts/Sculpture.
Jake Troyli, an emerging curator with an MFA from University of South Florida, whose work has been featured in various prominent exhibitions including at the SFMoMA. Troyli’s upcoming solo showcase opens on November 9 at Monique Meloche Gallery in Chicago.
Noelle Lorraine Williams, a multi-hyphenate public humanities specialist, historian, and artist whose projects examines African American cultural expressions as tools for liberation. Williams has created notable public installations including a mural celebrating Black women suffragists, earning her multiple awards and recognition across various media platforms. Her latest exhibition, Stay: The Black Women of 19th-century Newark, is currently on view at The Newark Museum of Arts’ Ballantine House.
As the evening culminated with a performance by Newark’s own queen of dance music, Jaquita May, the Fall Ball served as a vibrant reminder of the invaluable contributions of cultural practitioners and supporters to the PES family and the power of community engagement in nurturing creative careers and celebrating the arts.
