Converted Building Gives Newark Artists A Place To Live, Work

NEWARK, NJ — Newark owes a lot to its homegrown artists, including late local legends Rodney Gilbert and Jerry Gant. And last week, community leaders invoked their names – and spirits – at a ribbon cutting for a new, $9 million “artist housing development” at 505 Clinton Street.

Besides providing affordable living space for artists and their families, the Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective will include a café and performance center, and will be a place to display local artwork, giving the Clinton Hill District an economic boost in the process.

In all, it will have 27 affordable apartments and 10 on-site work studios, according to Newark officials and Invest Newark, the city's economic development corporation. A 1-bedroom apartment will rent for $903 a month, while a two-bedroom unit goes for $1,132 at the converted building, which was formerly an abandoned bank, NJ.com reported.

“The only thing that makes this moment and building even more beautiful is that it honors two of the most prolific artists not just of this community but of this generation,” a future resident of the building said.

“I was friends with both Rodney and Jerry, and didn’t get the time I wanted with either, so to have the opportunity to have my art on the walls alongside their art and also walk by it every day means the world to me,” the local artist said.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the city has a long and rich history as a center for the arts.

“This new facility provides a new generation of artists with housing, facilities in which to work, and a space for the city’s artists to connect, express themselves and showcase their talents,” Baraka said.

The mayor added that the building’s namesakes, Gilbert and Gant, “left indelible marks across the city.”

It was a sentiment that their family members agreed with.

“Thank you to everyone for their continued love and support of Jerry Gant,” said his daughter, Marissa Gant-Monroe. “It is such a blessing to see his work, spirit, and name continue to live on.”

“This is long overdue and the fact that my brother’s name is a part of this is a blessing not just for his memory and our family, but for the community,” said Sheila Cannon, Gant’s younger sister, speaking on behalf of her family.

The mayor’s office provided the following background information about Gilbert and Gant:

RODNEY GILBERT - “Rodney Gilbert, who passed away in 2017, was the founder and CEO of Yendor Productions, a Newark-based firm that consults, develops, and produces arts education programming and events for under-served artists and communities.” Read More: Newark Mourns Rodney Gilbert, Arts Community Giant

JERRY GANT - “Jerry Gant, who died in 2018, was a visual artist, poet, performance artist, and educator, and is known for creating most of Newark’s public sculptures.” Read More: Renowned Newark Poet, Artist Passes Away: Jerry Gant

Other support during last week’s ribbon cutting came from:

John Murray, operator of the performance space at the Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective – “At BlkBoxNwk, we will provide an affordable, accessible, and high-volume venue for artists to express themselves while showcasing, testing, and refining their respective crafts. It is our aim to provide an interactive system of support for our artist community that adapts with the outside factors that affect constructive output from the working artist.”

Rashena Burroughs, owner-operator of the cafe Rhythm N’ Food – “At our cafe, we are combining healthy food, entertainment, and art to the heart of Newark.”

Roy Southerland, interim president and CEO of Invest Newark – “The ribbon cutting at the Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective marks the opening of an incredible investment in the City of Newark. This unique project is one of many that are helping to revitalize the Clinton Hill District, bringing necessary affordable housing, and providing an accessible community space to center creative entrepreneurship, artistic and cultural collaboration, and year-round community engagement through art programming. The Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective will provide space and opportunity for our local artists to thrive within a community of their own.”

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