Trailblazing Black Women

This Week's Episode

Meet four remarkable Black women on this episode of State of the Arts. Artist Janet Taylor Pickett plays with Henri Matisse’s joyful use of color and pattern, as well as his African inspiration in The Matisse Series.

Rider University professor Sheena Howard is an expert in the field of Black comics, and the author of the Encyclopedia of Black Comics.

Laiona Michelle wrote and starred in Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical, which premiered at the George Street Playhouse.

And, we visit the New Brunswick studio of Grace Lynne Haynes, whose work has appeared on covers of the New Yorker.

NJ PBS

Sat, 8/1 @ 7:30 pm

Sun, 8/2 @ 9:30 am

WNET Thirteen

Sun, 8/2 @ 11:30 am

ALL ARTS

Mon, 8/3 @ 10:30 am & 3:30 pm

Wed, 8/5 @ 10 am & 3 pm

Images in gif: Matisse as Vessel Dress as Altar (detail) by Janet Taylor Pickett / Superb (detail) by Sheena Howard / Laiona Michelle as Nina Simone / Sunday Morning (detail) by Grace Lynne Haynes

Find out where (and how) to watch!

A Month of Music

This month, we're sharing live music previously featured on State of the Arts!

At Two River Theater’s outdoor stage, ALEA explores the musical heritage of Latin America, from cumbia, vallenato, ranchera, and jazz to pop. State of the Arts meets up with Alea and music partner Sinuhé Padilla-Isunza at their South Bronx studio to learn more. Watch here.

On the Blog

In a special 2019 episode of State of the Arts dedicated to Atlantic City, we met with Henrietta Shelton, President of the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation. She discussed the efforts being taken to preserve the art of jazz—and to explore the history of the city, all the way back to the 1920s. Read here.

Happening Now

Jeffrey Gaines and Jill Hennessy will perform at Brookdale Public Radio's annual free event Songwriters on the Beach series in Bradley Beach Aug 13 at 7 pm!

Our related story: Jeffrey Gaines.

The Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation's 2026 Jazz on The Beach Concert Series runs every Thursday from Aug 5 to Sep 3 in Atlantic City! See here for more info.

Our related story: The Sister Chapel.

It's almost time for the NJ Folk Festival, happening Aug 29 in South Brunswick! This year's lineup features several State of the Arts alums. See here for more info and schedules.

Highlights

Mary May brings to life the rich, 200-year history of basket making in South Jersey. Through her intricate weaving and hands-on teaching, she keeps the history of the craft alive, recreating baskets once used for fishing, charcoal making, and more.

Our 2024 story: Basket Maker Mary May.

Residents from sleepy New Jersey suburbs discover they’re living in homes built by a forgotten genius. Conflicted over what to do with this new information, they wonder: "Is it too late to save the legacy of Edward Bowser Jr., one of America’s first Black architects?"

Our 2024 story: Bowser House | Our blog post: "Geometry and Light".