To highlight its current Main Gallery exhibit “The Avenue: A History of Washington Street” and to bring attention to the prestigious circus school that operated there in the late 1970’s, the Hoboken Historical Museum installed a visual spectacle in our Upper Gallery: “CIRCUS LIVES: Hovering Above, Balancing Below” by painter Karen E. Gersch.  Learn more here.

The multi-media exhibit by celebrated circus artist Gersch opens Sunday, Jan. 9 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. In addition to being a painter and illustrator, Gersch is also an accomplished circus acrobat and teacher. On the opening day of the exhibit, Sunday, Jan. 9 at 3:30, she will give a slideshow/talk about the Circus Arts Center that existed at 412 Washington.  Gersch trained there as an acrobatic base or “understander” before spending 30 years “running around rings and stages with a woman on her head.” She will be joined by many of her colleagues from those days and images of their acts will be shown.

The School, established and run by Nina Krasavina and Gregory Fedin, provided most of the acts that composed the first few years of the Big Apple Circus and oversaw the training of two dozen students who went on to professional careers. Gersch  has captured portraits of her Russian teachers, as well as scenics from her decades touring with shows.

Hurry, hurry, hurry – step right up!  Come bask and delight in a panorama of daring, grace and physical artistry – that which the world of circus exemplifies.  Artist and acrobat Gersch’s presentation is an exceptional opportunity to learn more about this unique, world-class circus arts school that is part of Hoboken’s fascinating history, and is well-represented in our Main Gallery’s current exhibit, “The Avenue: A History of Washington Street.”

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Past episodes may be replayed any time on YouTube.