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An interactive, augmented reality conversation about the impact of violence in our city.

Gallery Exhibit

The Potential Project: 21 Stories of Trenton

June 14 - July 16, 2022
Opening night: Saturday, June 18, 2022


Artworks Trenton
19 Everett Alley

The multimedia experience about each person can be viewed by scanning their square with the Artivive app. The exhibit includes stories of people lost, and of people who could have been lost but are still with us. After the gallery exhibit, we will install the yellow squares at locations connected to their stories. Each person's potential is part of the fabric of our city. 

Artworks Ex

The Potential Project starts a new conversation.

 

Designed by Trenton-based multimedia artist and activist Bentrice Jusu, the project uses storytelling, visual art, photography and digital media to acknowledge the stories and lives of those we have lost to violence, and to imagine our community healing. The yellow square illustrates potential -- the potential of those lost, and the potential we all have to make a better city.

The project is grounded in Bentrice's own experiences with violence, including the loss of people she loved, and the lack of resources available to residents to process and prevent the cycle of trauma. 

 

Our contributing artists have been working with community members who choose to share their stories, assembling multimedia artifacts about their lost loved ones, and creating new, interactive digital media reflecting on their lives. We will be adding stories to this website, along with resources for trauma and healing.

 

Bentrice will also be installing physical signs of the yellow square around the city at locations tied to these stories, to illustrate the relationship between trauma and place.

 

The full multimedia experience -- an augmented reality collage -- is viewable by scanning a sign with the free Artivive app (demo here). Join us at the exhibit at Artworks (June 14 - July 16, 2022) to see it in action.

Artists

Artists
Bentrice Jusu

Lead Artist

Painting and digital illustration; documentary video; multimedia experience design

I’m using this project to really show how much potential our city has lost to violence - but I also want to show that each of us also has the potential to create a better city, where we can all heal together.

Bentrice closeup_edited.png

Photo: S. Bola Okoya

Umar Alim (Big Ooh)

Hip Hop

Umar Alim (Big Ooh)

Jennet Jusu

Dance / Writing

Jennet Jusu

Raven George

Illustration; Project Coordination

Raven George

Hana Sabree

Poetry / Multimedia

Hana Sabree

Aslin Laureano

Illustration; Project Coordination

Aslin Laureano

Terra Applegate

Poetry

Terra Applegate

Dean "RAS" Innocenzi

Painting

Dean "RAS" Innocenzi

Demos + Conversations

Demos

The Potential Project @ Art All Night

Contributing artists Big Ooh, Hana, Terra, and Jennet discussed their work on The Potential Project with Bentrice during a virtual panel for Art All Night Trenton 2021.

Sunday, June 20, 2021
11:30 am - 12 pm

Art All Night Livestream.

#AAN Trenton 2021 Panel Discussion
Play Video
AAN

Demo @ Juneteenth

The augmented reality experience.

Saturday, June 19, 2021
12 pm - 4 pm

Potential Project AR Demo
Play Video
Demo

Press

Shen Shellenberger, Discover Jersey Arts, July 13, 2022

Jess Downey, Real Woman Magazine, March 30, 2022

Kevin Shea and Michael Mancuso, The Trenton Times, Aug 22, 2021

Drew Mumich, Trenton Daily, July 4, 2022

NJ Spotlight News, September 2021

The Trenton Downtowner / Community News, July 2021

Dan Aubrey, Trenton Downtowner and US1, June 27 & July 6, 2022

P. Kenneth Burns, WHYY, September 19, 2021

Press

Special thanks to

Kimme Carlos

Training and professional expertise in healing and resilience

Wills Kinsley / Zienowicz Sign Co

Sign fabrication and installation

Artworks Trenton

Studio and exhibit space; technical assistance; professional development

  • Addison Vincent  - Curation

  • Jonathan Connor (Lank) - Artist TA

Michele Madiou / Mercer County Division on Mental Health

Bits + Pieces

  • Iana Dikidjieva

  • Aslin Laureano

  • Raven George

The Potential Project is made possible by the generous support of The Kresge Foundation.

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