Newark has prided itself as an arts town. But in the last few years, the city has seen the devastating loss of many of its storied arts institutions that helped earn it that reputation – places like Aljira, Gallery Aferro, and Seed Gallery all closed their doors.
“We’ve lost a lot of gallery spaces in the last couple of years,” said Laura Bonas-Palmer, the owner of Akwaaba Gallery in Newark’s West Ward. “And with these galleries, some of them had studio spaces – and when they closed, the studio spaces closed as well.”
Akwaaba Gallery is one of the few art spaces left standing and Bonas-Palmer now has plans to expand her reach, after buying a new property at 166-170 Littleton Avenue.
The proposed project, which features an exhibition space and 10 new art studios, recently received unanimous approval from the Zoning Board. In addition to art shows, the new arts venue will also hold artist talks similar to the ones held at Akwaaba Gallery.
Buying the property served two ends – it will become the home of Studio Lofts, LLC, which will be similar to Akwaaba Gallery in that it will offer both exhibition space and studios. The venture will also rid the neighborhood of a rundown and problematic property that used to house a night club.
“That is a street I’ve driven down almost every single day – sometimes a couple times a day– and I was very familiar with the condition of the property,” said Bonas-Palmer, who lives a few blocks away.
One Littleton Avenue resident said the living near the property was a “living hell” and music was so loud that local residents couldn’t sleep “until 3 a.m.”
“Having an art gallery being proposed for that building was the best thing to happen to me last summer,” said Olusola Adebomi. “I don’t know why anyone would want to oppose such a beautiful thing.”
Bonas-Palmer intends to keep Akwaaba Gallery, along with the studios on the upper floors – she owns the building at 509 South Orange Avenue.
Akwaaba Gallery opened its doors in 2019 only to face the incredible financial challenges of the pandemic.
Cesar Vizcaino, executive director of the Partnership West, the West Ward’s business improvement district, said he remembers seeing Bonas-Palmer in tears during the toughest days of the pandemic. “I would always try to tell her there will be better days,” Vizcaino said. “We’re very fortunate that she did stay open.”
Since then, the gallery has had several notable successes. One of them was the Newark Museum of Art’s acquisition of a painting by Mashell Black, the first artist that Akwaaba Gallery represented.
“The whole vision when we were renovating the space – we really wanted a space that was welcoming to the community,” said Bonas-Palmer, explaining that Akwaaba means welcome in the Twi language spoken in Ghana. “My husband and I chose to live in Newark – we could have lived elsewhere – we chose here because we believe in the city.”
Akwaaba Gallery has become much more than just a place to promote the arts. It’s also become a safe haven for children from the neighborhood. “That makes my day – when the kids come in and ask questions,” she said.
