JOIN US - This August and September, Basecamp Studio & Gallery is proud to present BetweenUS, a groundbreaking performance art exhibition spotlighting the evolution of New Jersey’s performance art movement. Featuring artists Nicole Strafaci, Spencer Soletto, Simon Keller, and Frank May, BetweenUS brings together a series of live performances, installations, interactive experiences, and a gallery exhibition that reflect the deep-rooted artistic legacy of New Jersey and New Brunswick.
Inspired by the spirit of Fluxus, “Happenings,” and contemporary performance art, BetweenUS honors the avant-garde traditions that took root at Rutgers University and throughout the region in the 1960s and ‘70s—where art was immersive, boundary-breaking, and often playfully profound.
Set in the heart of downtown Metuchen at 315 Main Street, Basecamp’s vibrant space becomes the stage for one of the season’s most engaging arts events.
EVENT SCHEDULE
• Opening Reception & Exhibition (FREE)
> Saturday, August 16, 6–9PM
Meet the artists and view mixed-media installations in the Basecamp gallery
• Gallery Talk (FREE)
> Saturday, August 23, 2PM
Join the artists in an open conversation about performance art and its evolving presence in New Jersey
• "Happenings" Live Performances 1 and 2 (Ticketed)
> Saturday, September 6 - 6PM and Saturday, September 27 - 6PM
Experience spontaneous, immersive works blending dance, movement, poetry, and audience interaction
Tickets available for Happenings Performances 1 and 2 at Eventbrite link here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/b...
Visit: www.thebasecamp.art
ABOUT FLUXUS & NEW JERSEY'S ART HISTORY
Fluxus emerged in the 1960s as a radical, interdisciplinary art movement rejecting traditional boundaries between art and life. Blending visual art, literature, performance, and sound, Fluxus embraced everyday actions and objects to challenge the art world's conventions. Rutgers University was a significant hub for Fluxus activities, and many key contributors lived and worked in and around New Brunswick—laying the groundwork for today’s experimental art practices.
FEATURED ARTISTS & PERFORMANCES
Simon Keller — Reflections on Clay Dance Movements
A contemplative solo performance that meditates on motion and stillness, using natural materials such as clay, sand, and sticks to paint invisible calligraphy through movement. An exploration of liminality, transformation, and the poetic body.
Nicole Strafaci — Healing Arts
Combining somatic practices and visual art, Strafaci uses daily mixed-media drawings and TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) to invite audiences into a safe, mindful, and participatory healing space. Audiences are welcomed to engage with her meditative art practice in real time.
Spencer Soletto — Butoh Dance & Poetry
Blending Japanese Butoh dance with poetic installation, Soletto loses himself to image and motion, inviting viewers to experience dormant emotions and rediscover personal meaning through embodied language.
Frank May — Paper Day
In this playful and interactive performance, participants don white gowns and become living canvases—sculpting and creating with charcoal and toilet paper in a collaborative, improvisational studio experience. Available both in-person and online.
ABOUT BASECAMP STUDIO & GALLERY
Basecamp is a community-focused, contemporary art space in Metuchen, NJ dedicated to experimental practices, emerging artists, and fostering inclusive dialogue through the arts. BetweenUS is part of Basecamp’s ongoing commitment to showcasing underrepresented art forms and creating platforms for creative exchange.