Morristown music video from ARTS! By The People; see some of them at ‘MG Wordplay,’ May 17 at EcoCenter

Spontaneous combustion.

That is what we’re expecting at MG Wordplay: Fun With Words on Tuesday, May 17, at the Morristown EcoCenter.

A talent explosion, that is, of local poets, storytellers, improv artists and… ARTS! By The People, a collection of performers who span all those categories and more.

The hip hop video salute to Morristown (posted above) is from a Morristown High School contingent of ARTS! By The People: Darren Rabinowitz, Joey Gatto, Shannon Kikuchi, Ean Ryan and Jerome Haith.

They were supervised by Gustav Gauntlett, a New York hip hop artist who is a key player in ARTS! By The People.

The group was hatched about two years ago by Paul Rabinowitz, Darren’s dad.

“We feel arts should be available to all people,” said Paul, who raised private donations and mini-grants from the Arts Council of the Morris Area to create nonprofit programs geared for youths and seniors.

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ARTS! By The People hires artists to teach classes that are free to participants.

Courses include 10 weeks of instruction to middle schoolers in the STARZ after-school program run by the Morristown Neighborhood House.

Kids can choose from hip hop dance classes taught by Shira Jackson of New York and hip hop songwriting by Gus Gauntlett, with beat-boxing help from Joey Gatto and Darren Rabinowitz.

New York comedienne Kelley Brower has been teaching improv comedy to kids in the Tomfoolery troupe at Morristown High.

Ellen Papazian of Morristown teaches memoir writing for senior citizens and middle schoolers in Madison and Boonton. Willie Baez of Hoboken gives classes on fine art for seniors at the Morris View nursing home in Morris Plains.

Morristown resident Carolyn Hunt is teaching play writing to seniors, for an improv performance at the Lester seniors complex in Whippany. At Morristown High School, Brad Smith, a graphic designer and graffiti artist from New York,  is running workshops on street art–including graffiti, wheat paste art and collaborative murals.

Isabelle Garbani from New York is leading sessions on art using alternative materials. Knitting with plastic bags, for instance.

“They are an incredibly talented group, dedicated to helping children and seniors. They use art as their medium,” said Paul, who plays guitar, writes poetry and runs poetry workshops for seniors.  Paul, his mom, Lorraine, Darren Rabinowitz and Gus Gauntlett are among the scheduled performers at Tuesday’s MG Wordplay event. Morristown teen hip hop artists J-Rock and J-Rage also will show what they can do.

Paul said ARTS! By The People emphasizes the process over the final product. It’s all about bringing out creative yearnings and abilities.

“Artists must be mentors, and make the kids feel comfortable…and create a positive environment for senior citizens,” explained Paul, who established ARTS! By the People to help senior citizens in his family.

Paul’s father suffers from dementia. When both parents moved to an assisted living facility, Paul felt residents there could benefit from more stimulating programs.

He did not have to look far for artistic inspiration. His oldest son, Oren, dabbles in filmmaking and he launched Morristown High’s popular Coffeehouse music series during his days there.

Darren, an MHS senior, is a ballroom dancer and actor who has appeared in many school productions. Jordan, a freshman, does school theater and improv and plays the ukulele.

Some classes are held in studio space donated by Omex, Paul’s office maintenance business in East Hanover.

Paul has taught history in Jerusalem and served as past president of the Morristown Grapplers Club. The club provides scholarships for high school wrestlers to visit campuses of Kutztown and Lehigh universities, to experience the college wrestling environment.

Right now, however, ARTS! By The People has center stage.

“It’s all about the process, to bring out the creative vibe that’s in there somewhere and let people run with it.”

Follow your creative vibe to the EcoCenter at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, and see where ARTS! By The People takes you.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSED MORRISTOWN ECOCENTER