When it comes to radio stations in Hudson County's cities, there's nothing quite like digital www.Newark.fm. The shows on the station, which bills itself as "the people's radio station," are indeed hosted by people who reflect different voices among a population Joseph notes is predominantly African-American (over 50%) and Latino (about 30%).
Both notable artists themselves, Newarkers Sheena She and Daniel Joseph often put the spotlight on other local artists and innovators through Chainsaws and Jelly.
She, a film photographer, founded Chainsaws and Jelly in its original (and continuing) form at chainsawsandjelly.com as a venue to spotlight artists that puts a premium on underdogs. Newark is of course in Essex County, which when it comes to art worlds She says is a “perfect example of the underdog next to Hudson County.”
Last year Joseph, an emcee and hip hop artist, created the radio show iteration of Chainsaws and Jelly on Newark.fm.
“Chainsaws and Jelly started off as a visual dumping ground from when I would browse around the internet,” says She. “I love art, especially works that aren’t featured too often …. I am also connected within the music scene of New Jersey so I would also post shows and events happening in music as well as art. Chainsaws and Jelly has a ‘Polite Conversations’ category where I used to ‘interview’ people from N.J., as well as around the world, asking them small questions.
“Now we expanded and have a radio show … which is live every other Tuesdays,” says She. “We have the same format as the website, a polite conversation, we mention happenings around N.J., have special guest DJs and an ‘Ear Jelly’ (another category which is “Music of the Day”). It’s hosted by Daniel Joseph, and I produce it.”
When it comes to radio stations in Hudson County’s cities, there’s nothing quite like digital www.Newark.fm. The shows on the station, which bills itself as “the people’s radio station,” are indeed hosted by people who reflect different voices among a population Joseph notes is predominantly African-American (over 50%) and Latino (about 30%).
Through Chainsaws and Jelly, She tries to showcase people across the board. But “… I mostly love underdogs because as an underdog myself, I know how one can feel not being a part of something or someone who gets overlooked but has so much potential. I am not looking for the most popular artist who has the (most significant) resume, even though, I also include that….I always try to include all but will always root for the underdogs.”
In Newark, which Joseph says is in the “very early stages of gentrification,” longtime and native artists seem to be the underdogs in the public arts scene.
“… Art is being used to create vibrant scenery in locations that are going through development, IE Mcarter Highway mural, but not a lot of native Newarkers were approached to do the work,” says Joseph. “(However) in more traditional neighborhoods like Ironbound and the Northward many local graffiti artists are using creative place making methods to build up their neighborhoods, while making sure that it’s not used as a tool to gentrify a marginalized area.
Joseph says he and She see more local street artists (that they know) in Jersey City with works in gentrified areas — “Grove Street/Downtown as the best examples” — and that he would hope that a developer’s agenda wasn’t behind it. Since the artists they know are friends that love Jersey City, says Joseph, he’s sure any boon to developers is coincidental.
“Overall,” says Joseph, “I think the key players in Newark’s art scene are folks who have been stakeholders in the area for many years, including those who took chances when no one else wanted to be a part of Newark in any capacity.
“A lot of our galleries have been here for 10-plus years with the good intention of showcasing local artists,” says Joseph. “A great example would be Galley Aferro.”
For She, the appeal of Downtown Jersey City belies the appeal of a place like Newark that, like many areas of Jersey City, is seen as sort of being the opposite of Downtown’s “hustle and bustle and aesthetics.” “…Some are still scared of Newark and haven’t discovered or even had the experience and will automatically have that (fear) in their mind,” says She.
“We have such a prominent art world out here with gallery spaces, art studios and pop-ups. We have the same thing to offer as Hudson County’s art worlds, but what I think what makes us different is our raw and genuine auras. We have transplants and we have locals just as any area. All of the art world is a popularity contest and about who you know in both counties, but something about the vibe is different when you step into Newark…Newark has a more rootsy feel to it.”
For She, “rootsy” is something distinctly different from worlds that are driven by notions of “success.” As someone who’s tried to give a platform to artists with no regard to “success,” She laments that “when people get one ounce of buzz to their name, they only help themselves out or whoever they run with or are cool with and never seem to keep me in mind.
“I understand the rat race and how being ‘successful’ means you play dirty and selfish. I just always try to be the opposite of that.”
When an art gallery in Newark had an exhibition called “Who Is the Renaissance For?”, “a man came in because my piece had his building in it,” says She, “and he heard us talking about gentrification. He wanted to sound like he was with us and on our side, but I had to walk away from that conversation because a person who came into Newark because it was cheaper for him to live in but for me my rent goes up, I just can’t relate to him being on the same side!”
“In the end, when a community doesn’t stand up, or – for lack of better words – want to take care of their neighborhood, gentrification happens,” says She. “Someone else comes in to clean up the mess. We all play a part somehow. The non-gentrification parts of Newark and Jersey City are the same, definitely. Neighborhoods are forgotten but the gems are the people that try their hardest to keep it as best as they can.”
Chainsaws & Jelly finished their 14th episode with special guest Kala of Girls on Bikes. Listen at https://www.mixcloud.com/newarkdotfm/chainsaws-jelly-14_kala/ , and tune in for their next show on July 3.