The Newark Arts Council is pleased to announce the opening of Red Badge of Courage ReVisited on Sunday, October 26th when it will present new work created specifically for this exhibit by 31 artists from New Jersey and New York in a 14,000 square foot space in downtown Newark .

Curated by Omar Lopez-Chahoud, the exhibition is based on the life and work of 19th century writer/poet/journalist Stephen Crane, a native of Newark .

Participating Artists

• Agitators Collective
• Remy Amezcua
• Kathleen Anderson
• Ina Archer
• Jane Benson
• James A. Brown
• William Coronado
• Lowell E. Craig
• Evonne Davis
• Andrew Demirjian
• Stephanie Diamond
• Brendan Fernandes
• Matt Gosser
• Adler Guerrier
• Jayson Keeling
• Shaun Kessler
• Nick Kline
• Francesco Longenecker
• Brian Lund
• Cameron Michel
• Ted O’Sullivan
• Rosemarie Padovano
• German Pitre
• Rebecca Potts
• Ryan Roa
• Andrew Robinson
• Jose Ruiz
• Nyugen Smith
• David Smith
• Anna Stein
• Juana Valdes

Although he died young - at age 28 - Crane’s work and life have inspired many artists throughout the years: His portrait was used by the Beatles on the cover of their album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. The 2001 film The Dark Riders was based on a Crane poem. And there have been a number of film versions of “The Red Badge of Courage,” the most famous of which was directed by John Huston and released in 1951. “The Red Badge of Courage” tells the story of a young man’s life as a soldier during the American Civil War.

More than one hundred years after Crane’s death, the artists in the show “Red Badge of Courage ReVisited” will use historical references as a tool to interpret and represent their concerns with contemporary society. Newark is a city rich in history, from the 19th century manufacturing boom through the depression years and past that to the infamous 1960’s riots. But today’s Newark is also going through many changes as it is on its way towards becoming a major economic and cultural center again.