What's New
Country Fresh, City Grown
When it comes to locally grown produce, you can't get more local than your own backyard.
In June, Garden State Urban Farms worked with volunteers from Valley National Bank and kids from the Valley Settlement House Afterschool and Summer programs to plant an organic garden for Daily Soup in the Tompkins Street lot next to the Iron Works Design Center.
Look for home-grown oregano, dill, rosemary, chives, tomatoes, squash, collards,carrots, hot and sweet peppers, broccoli, and spring onions in Chef Anthony White's mouth watering multicultural cuisine. Plans are underway to open a year-round greenhouse in 2010 that will supply veggies and herbs to local restaurants and VAD neighbors.
Iron Works Design Center Opens Its Doors
Home to ORNG Ink, an innovative graphic design and marketing enterprise staffed by Orange teenagers, this gorgeous facility also houses several small studio spaces and three adjacent artists live/work townhouses. The renovation of this historic building was designed by architect John Alford.
New production of the ORNG Ink feature the design for a logo to help the Haiti.
Latest release from our steinerstudio in residence , featuring the soundbox banditz with watson guillaume.
[murmur] Tours Begin!
The greater Orange community is the second urban area in the United States to launch a [murmur] tour (http://murmurorange.com) of its historic neighborhoods. [murmur] tours document stories and memories told by different individuals about specific geographic locations to create an accessible, informative oral history of a community. Passers-by on the sidewalk or in cars enter a number posted on the building into their cell phones to hear an audio recording of people connected to that building talking about their experiences. For more information, contact Molly Rose Kaufmann at 973-678-3110 x 24 or molly@handsinc.org.
ROAD TATTOO
Date:Sat, 05/22/2010 - 04:00
Photos by Terry Boddie
On Saturday, May 22nd a group of Artists and Community Residents particpated in a public art project for the Valley Art District, called the Road Tattoo by Steed Taylor.It is the largest public artwork ever produced for the Valley Arts District. Mayor Eldridge Hawkins celebrated with Valley Arts during a public dedication ceremony.
Blessing For Dedication:
Community Knot for Orange New JerseyBlessing for DedicationFor this community in transition we ask for grace and ease. As it moves into a brighter future, let us remember its noble past and recognize the honored place it holds in the history of our great country, the prosperity of this region and the development of NewJersey.As the most valued element of a community is always its members, let the hardworking citizens who came before us share our praise. With great effort, they labored in the factories and businesses still evident around us, allowing this community to flourish. With great affection, they labored to make this community a home. May our thanksgiving and gratitude reach into the past and embrace them.As this community heads into the future, let it move forward with dignity. May all of its members be included in the prosperity to come. May neighbors and coworkers, parents and grandparents, police and children, teachers and officials, artists and laborers, politicians and those in greatest need, all find inclusion in the good fortune ahead. With this work of art, we honor the past, the present and future of Orange, New Jersey. Amen.- Steed Taylorhttp://www.youtube.com/steinerstudioorange#p/u/5/ Rt4RNojp5W4 The Art Loop
Date:Fri, 02/05/2010 - 05:00
From Left: HANDS Executive Director Patrick Morrissy; Mayor Eldridge Hawkins; ValleyArts Coordinator Lorena LaGrasa
On Friday, February 5th, Mayor Eldridge Hawkins officially designated the Valley Arts District at Hat City Kitchen's ribbon cutting. 200+ community leaders, residents and political leaders came out to support this monumental event.
Hat City Kitchen restaurant was started by HANDS, Inc.as part of the effort to revitalize the Valley neighborhood. Profits from Hat City Kitchen goes back into revitalization projects that are bringing the Valley neighborhood of Orange back to life. Located at 459 Valley Street, formerly the home of Ricci's in the Valley, Hat City Kitchen is the gateway to the Valley Arts District and a landmark addition to our eclectic range of eateries.
This designation of the neighborhood's status as a center for artistic excellence will herald the Valley Arts District as a dynamic sustainable entertainment destination. The Valley Arts District hosts a series of monthly events called the Arts Loop. For more information about Hat City Kitchen or the Valley Arts District please visit: www.hatcitykitchen.com and www.valleyartsdistrict.orgA Garden Grows in Orange
Date:Fri, 04/09/2010 - 04:00
Garden State Urban Farms teamed up with Prodigal Sons and Daughters organization and HANDS to build a Greenhouse at the IronWorks Studio in the Valley neighborhood of Orange.
The Greenhouse will provide fresh produce for general sale and to be used at Hat City Kitchen restaurant and Daily Soup Cafe.
For more information, visit;
IronWorks Studio Ribbon Cutting
Date:Thu, 04/08/2010 - 04:00
From left: Jermaine Sutherland, ORNG, Ink; Vaughn McKoy of PSE&G; Patrick Morrissy of HANDS, Inc.; State Assemblywoman Mila Jasey; Peter Crosta, Orange School District; Valerie Jackson, City of Orange; Zaki Michael, ORNG, Ink; John Amato of Valley National Bank; Shannon Sorhaindo, Houston Clerizier and Kori Davis, ORNG, Ink.
On March 26th, the Valley Arts District celebrated the Grand Opening of IronWorks Studios.
HANDS has brought the 3,000 square foot Modern Ironworks back to life that once produced everything imaginable in iron and steel. It is reborn as a home for arts non-profits in a modernized facility.
The building facility house ValleyArts, Inc a non-profit coordinating the Valley Arts District; ORNG Ink., the teen arts program named by Orange High Schools students. These students are taught graphic design and sell their products out of the ORNG, Ink store. Part of the building is being used by an artist-in-residence program, Steiner Studios, to created video/media projects with high school students.
Road Tattoo on Freeman Street
Date:Wed, 06/16/2010 - 04:00A new video release of the Road Tattoo community project
VAMP 9 a Succes
Date:Sat, 06/12/2010 - 04:00
A great day was had by all in the ValleyArts District at the Valley Arts Music and Poetry Festival 9 on Saturday June 12th. 200+ residents and community leaders were treated to day of live music, artist demonstrations, creating artwork, free food and more.
