'Gone Too Soon': Life, Legacy And Loss Of Newark’s Cultural Icons

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of a Patch Newark community member. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

On Saturday, Dec. 11, Rutgers University–Newark, Office of University Community Partnerships in collaboration with Woman In Media Newark and Celeste Bateman & Associates, LLC will host community screenings of the new documentary, "Gone Too Soon: The Life, Legacy and Loss of Newark’s Cultural Icons."

Screenings will take place at Express Newark, 54 Halsey Street Room #213 in downtown Newark at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required. A post-show discussion with producer/director Celeste A. Bateman and members of the film crew will immediately follow both showings.

Produced and directed by Celeste A. Bateman, Gone Too Soon chronicles the lives of 11 creative giants and their gifts that helped land the city on the National Center for Arts Research Top 10 list of Most Vibrant Arts Communities in America (2017). The film combines life stories with oral testimonies, historic footage, photographs, music, narration and color portraits to paint a picture of extraordinary human beings who paved the way for today’s artists, in particular, and the community at large.

Gone Too Soon unveils portraits of:

Cephas Bowles former WBGO Jazz-88 President/CEO, Poet, Playwright, Activist Amiri Baraka, Poets Breya “Blkbrry Molassez” Knight and Halim Suliman; Actor/Director/Arts Administrator Rodney Gilbert, Historians Dr. Clement Alexander Price, Charles Cummings and Dr. Robert Curvin, Artists Russell A. Murray and Jerry Gant and Theater Producer Kabu Okai-Davies

"We are humbled and honored to host "Gone Too Soon" here at Express Newark at Rutgers University, Newark,” said Salamishah Tillet, Director of Express Newark and New Arts Justice. “Not only does the film actively remember our city's most visionary leaders, but it is also a moving monument and loving memorial to their lives and their ongoing legacy."

“Our mission in creating this documentary is to memorialize the lives and contributions of these individuals who factored significantly in the artistic and cultural landscape of Newark but died before they were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor,” Bateman said. “We also wanted to create awareness among emerging artists of those who came before them, providing a strong foundation for their own creative contributions.” She added, “Finally, we want those who are new to the city – residents, workers, students, teachers, developers – to understand and appreciate the rich tapestry of Newark’s culture and those who in recent decades helped to weave it.”

Guests attending the events must wear masks at all times and register at bit.ly/gtsexpress11 for the 11 a.m. screening or bit.ly/gtsexpress130 for the 1:30 p.m. No food or beverages will be allowed in the venue.

Funding for the documentary has been provided by the M&T Weiner Foundation; Newark Arts (ArtStart Grant); the City of Newark Creative Catalyst Fund in Partnership with Newark Arts, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and generous contributions from individual donors.

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