"I just kept talking. I just kept writing... And finally, I'm getting through."

This Week's Episode

This week on State of the Arts...

Artist, historian and bestselling author Nell Irvin Painter on her recent book: I Just Keep Talking, a collection of her essays interspersed with her art.

In 1974, high school friends Phil Buehler and Steve Siegel rowed out to explore the ruins of Ellis Island and make a film. With the film’s re-release in the NY Times OpDocs series, Phil and Steve revisit the island after 50 years.

And at Two River Theater in Red Bank, the world premiere of The Scarlet Letter, Kate Hamill's stage adaptation of Hawthorne's classic tale.

NJ PBS

Sat, 5/2 @ 7:30 pm

Sun, 5/3 @ 9:30 am

WNET Thirteen

Sun, 5/3 @ 11:30 am

ALL ARTS

Mon, 5/4 @ 10:30 am & 3:30 pm

Wed, 5/6 @ 10 am & 3 pm

Artwork by Nell Irvin Painter / Steve Siegel rowing boat to Ellis Island 1974, courtesy the artists / Image from video footage of The Scarlet Letter by Michael Boylan

Find out where (and how) to watch!

National Photography Month

This month, we're highlighting photography stories from the State of the Arts library.

Paterson II by photographer George Tice (1938-2025) was published in 2006, 30 years after his first book about the New Jersey city was published. In 1972, the Metropolitan Museum of Art gave Tice a solo show featuring Paterson, the first ever for a living photographer.

Then as now, his black and white photographs, made with an 8×10 view camera, provide a thought-provoking vision of the old industrial city and its dramatic falls. This story includes a clip from a 1972 film of Tice in Paterson, and a return to the city with him in 2007 to see what changed or remained the same. Watch here.

On the Blog

Every generation of writers reflects inevitably upon the past, influenced by the words of their elders. On this week's blog post, we’re heading to the State of the Arts archives for inspiration and words from four poets who are no longer with us: Maya Angelou, Gerald Stern, Allen Ginsberg, and Walt Whitman. Read here.

Happening Now

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is back at NJPAC with performances May 8-10! See here for tickets and more info.

Our related story: Alvin Ailey.

The Punch Bros, including banjo player Noam Pikelny, will play at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on May 14! Tickets and more info available here.

Our related story: Banjo Masters, including Noam Pikelny.

The Moving Architects are screening a film of their dance "Where She Once Stood," a project in partnership with Montclair History Center exploring the history of the Crane House & Historic YWCA. The event is Thurs, May 21 and will be both in-person and on Zoom. See here for more info! | Photo: Julie Lemberger

Our related story: The Moving Architects: Where She Once Stood.

The Mark Morris Dance Group is heading to the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton Sat, May 30! Tickets and more info available here. Pictured: Choreographer Mark Morris

Our related story: Mark Morris Dance Group.

Highlights

Frederick Law Olmsted’s parks transformed cities across America, including his last major design: Cadwalader Park in Trenton. State of the Arts explores the park’s history, and the efforts to restore it.

Our 2022 story: Olmsted's Last Great Park.

Broadway veteran Laiona Michelle wrote and starred in Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical, which had its world premiere at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

Our 2019 story: The Nina Simone Musical.