“The Future belongs to young people with an education
​and the imagination to create.”
- President Barack Obama
​
Margaret Slade Kelley
Artist -in-Residence/Director/Teacher/Mentor 
Gallery East Orange  - in three words

  "Artists as Entrepreneurs"
Summer Work Experience Program

​Mayors' Office Division of Employment and Training City of East Orange, New Jersey
Director, MJ Peterson

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A Summer of Love
Gallery East Orange 2017
Summer Work Experience Program
“A Summer of Love, “Gallery East Orange is a visual art centric business that grooms young and talented artists into aspiring entrepreneurs. Gallery East Orange's primary goal is to work with these artists who are educated and trained in a creative and academic school environment and introduce them to a world of work and business opportunities. We aim to produce independent artists, so that they may continue to create and contribute to the community, and develop income earning strategies. Continuing on last year's theme of Urban Excellence is self-awareness, this year's theme stresses that the center of life is man’s humanity to man. As we build, nurture, and grow our businesses, we must carry along with us an awareness that fosters love, respect, and kindness for one another. We must now be aware to teach and practice the art of love. Benedict Gyambrah
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"Urban Excellence"


Urban Excellence prioritizes community wellness and uses learning as a means towards healing. It promotes youth and encourages community development to participate in strong approaches in environmental education. It distinguishes that the quality of life is a key part of making the urban experience excellent. It aims to enhance the demographic well-being through thoughtful action. Urban Excellence is a collaborative effort of social, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions of unity and innovative thinking.
Gallery East Orange 2016
Summer Work Experience Program
​Artists as Entrepreneurs
Excellence is striving for quality or merit in all that we do. A focus on excellence means we take time, work hard and think carefully about our circumstances.
Excellence lets us take pride in our accomplishments and give us the tools to correct our mistakes. We are guided by an idea of change, and we do our best to make it a reality. Urban Excellence is a process, and it takes time to achieve it completely.   
​JaLeel Kerr & Ty-Lera Lewis © 2016
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Gallery East Orange 2015

"My City My Home"

​"A train stops here in East Orange, New Jersey. It goes from Summit, New Jersey to New York City. If you get off in my city, you will find many different ethnicities that bring many different cultures: Hispanic, Jamaican, African American, Caucasian, Asian, Indian, and Guatemalan. We ​are nestling near the cities of Orange, West Orange, and South Orange. Together we have some outstanding restaurants where you can experience food from all of the different cultures. Our architecture is amazing; we have huge buildings everywhere, large schools, and even large churches. We have beautiful buildings, and we have a converted warehouse for artist's studios. Some students attend the legendary, Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts. Some attend the famous Whitney Houston School of the Arts.

                                               
In fact, some of the most famous people in the world were born and raised here, and we are mentored by talented legends of the past and present. We have many artists and musicians living here. My city holds the talents of the future, as well as the past. We have festivals in the streets and parks, and they are open to everyone in the community.
If I could make it better, I would teach the people to stop throwing trash on the streets; I would also teach them to recycle and provide more community service. The main thing I would do is encourage more students to attend and graduate from school. "My City My Home," although it is far from perfect, there is no place like this one."
(Group Writing)
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It takes a village
 Thank You
 Mayor of the City of East Orange, New Jersey Lester E. Taylor III
East Orange, City Council 
Department of Policy Planning and Development Valerie Jackson, Director
Mayor's Office of Employment and Training Summer Work Experience Program (S.W.E.P.)  
​LaDonna Johns, Esq. Manager
 Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts 
Principal Anita Champagne
            ____________________________
 
 Gallery East Orange 2012
"Heroes"
​Artists as Entrepreneurs
Summer Work Experience Program
 You are Invited to Attend Our On-Line Event!
August 10, 2012
12:00 pm - until
​Margaret Slade Kelley
Artist-in-Residence / Director​/Teacher/Mentor

Denzel Henderson
Exhibit Curator / Videographer/Centenary College, Junior 
Tiarah Crawford
Artist, Supervisor /Centenary College, Junior 
Mathew Williams
Artist Supervisor Public Relations /Rider University, Junior  
Artists
Dante More – Smith, Cicely Tyson High School, Rising Junior
Haven Walker, Jersey City University, Rising Freshman
Josue Moraud, Essex County College, Rising Freshman
Kenneth Jones, Clark Atlanta University, Rising Freshman
Nyles Rainey, Fairley Dickinson University, Rising Freshman
Ravonne Wade, Cicely Tyson High School, Rising Junior
Savon Anthony, Union County College, Rising Freshman
Tyzion Jackson, Cicely Tyson High School, Rising Junior

All rights reserved © 2012 

Disclaimer:
The music played in this video is the property of others.
 We loved the music and sincerely hope that you like the way in which we use it.

Mayor's Office of Employment and Training
Director, MJ Peterson
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Gallery East Orange 2011
"We Survived"
One master artist and nine extraordinary aspiring artists scored the perfect combination and created an outstanding project. The youth of the 2011 summer work experience program chose the theme
​” We Survived." The entrepreneur program continues to be held at the state of the arts, Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts and is sponsored by the Division of Employment Training for the city of East Orange, New Jersey. The program is supported by the Mayor’s office and the city council as well as the school’s administration.
Margaret Slade Kelley motivates the aspiring artists to believe in their talents, intelligence, and their intellect to develop the concept and deliver outstanding results.  College student, Denzel Henderson was employed as the exhibit’s curator, assisting artists Tarah Crawford and Mathew Williams. 
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"We began our creative process by first examining global issues and international occurrences. Unanimously we agreed that the tragedy in Japan was more than worthy of our attention and thus became the inspiration and focal point of our entire exhibit. The need to focus on hope rather than destruction changed our perspective and gave birth to the expression “We Survived." We then reflected this concept in our personal lives, and were instructed to compose abstract self-portraits incorporating the personal obstacles and tribulations we overcame.
The central sculpture composed of donated wood is and abstract depiction of a tsunami. The red sphere cradled by the tsunami wood structure incorporated red strips the run and trickle through the massive wave structure symbolizes a part of the nation being washed and stripped away. Behind the tide resides that which has already been faced with destruction, as portrayed by the damaged red boxes. Just ahead of the cataclysm exists that which has yet to be destroyed, simulated by the white intact structures. Along a portion of the white box, structures are black strips intended to add a sense of randomness and discord to the scene untouched structures, and convey the unforeseeable, and abrupt nature of this occurrence.
 
The decision to include seating was the final and perhaps most interactive element of the exhibit. We thought it necessary to invite the audience to sit in and be a part of the exhibition as they reflect on their adversity as well as their triumphs expressed by the red chairs and white benches respectively.
To illustrate hope and peace, we thought it fitting to allude to the Bible story of Noah and the flood. The dove returning with an olive branch was a sign that there was land, and the time to look forward and rebuild was among them. Indeed, moving onward is vital and crucial if not more so than endurance itself."
Denzel Henderson,  Exhibition Curator
"I have instructed and mentored most of these students for four or more summers.  I do not take all the credit for their brilliance and accomplishments. These students are fortunate. They are self-motivated, they hail from families who love and support them, attend a school that nurtures their creativity, and they live in an elected community that supports the arts.  My contribution plays only a small part." Margaret Slade Kelley
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