Art All Around Us — 10.2.24
Music, Dance, Art, Writing, Photography, Theatre and More in the Bronx and a Bit Beyond ....
Art
Through Jan. 26, 2025 in Norwood, the Museum of Bronx History presents the group exhibition of Seis del Sur: “HISTORIAS: The Stories Behind the Images.” “This interactive multimedia exhibition will go below the surface of the collective’s documentary photographs of The Bronx — many never exhibited before — and illuminate the borough’s historical narrative through contextual timelines, meta and personal anecdotes.” The museum adds that the pop-up showcase “will cover a broad range of issues … that have impacted the people of the Bronx over the last four decades.” The museum is open on Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. Private tours via appointment are available throughout the week. All FREE!
The Casita Maria Gallery, of the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education in Hunts Point, presents the exhibit “Animal Studies,” by Maria P. Vila, through March 6, 2025. The work of Vila, a teaching artist at Casita Maria, “features a series of watercolor, soft pastel and oil paintings combining animal imagery with poetry and collage as a form of healing.”
On Wed., Oct. 16, the Bronx River Art Center presents Artistry in Service: A Celebration of Legacy and Dedication, Honoring Executive Director Emeritus Gail Nathan. The celebration includes a group exhibition, gala and silent auction. For tickets and more info, click here.
At Lehman College Art Gallery, through Jan. 18, 2025 (and at two other CUNY colleges) is “Incandescence: The Chandelier in Contemporary Art Works” by 45 artists exploring “the motif and meaning of the chandelier through sculptural forms, photography, painting, drawing, installation and video.” All the details here and here.
I went to a great exhibit opening for a few artists at Wave Hill the other night. Here is one of many works of Judy Pfaff, “Glazed and confused: Rockin’ Lobster Majolica.” This piece and another one “refer to a type of tin-glazed earthenware pottery decorated with scenes in vibrant colors. Their compositions are also reminiscent of layers of geological strata, or they could be views of a garden or landscape.” (Details in caption below.) More info on all Wave Hill exhibits here. Admission is FREE on Thursdays.
The current art exhibit (outdoors and indoors) at the New York Botanical Garden is “Wonderland: Curious Nature” through Oct. 27.
Through Oct. 12, BronxArtSpace presents “The Intersectionality of The Taino: Embracing a Cultural Exploration.” FREE.
The Derfner Judaica Museum, at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, features “Artfully Arranged: Floral Works from the Collection” through Feb. 2, 2025. It’s a “thematic exhibition [that] features 24 prints, paintings, drawings, and mixed media works spanning the mid-20th century to the aughts by 20 artists who use flowers and floral forms to explore the intersection of the natural and urban worlds; formalism; decorative design motifs; symbolism, and mortality.” FREE. You can also see on Derfner’s website many of the paintings and more info on the exhibit.
I went to see this exhibit at Bronx Museum “FUTURA 2000: BREAKING OUT,” which is “a retrospective of this singular artist’s evolution from early graffiti art styles to his current practice of contemporary abstraction. The exhibition is the most comprehensive examination of FUTURA 2000’s five-decade career ever presented in his hometown of New York City.” There is a lot to see, and I’ve included just a couple of shots I enjoyed above and below It runs through March 20, 2025. Always FREE at Bronx Museum.
In Mott Haven, WallWorks New York features never-before seen original artworks in the exhibit, “The Found Art of Thom Corn,” curated by filmmaker Nancy August. Recently found by the late artist’s landlord, the works showcase classic elements of Corn’s artwork. The exhibit is on through Oct. 18 in Mott Haven.
Writing Workshop
The Bronx Council on the Arts is hosting, via its Bronx Memoir Project, a FREE online four-class workshop series called “Inherited Memorie: A Generative Memoir Writing Workshop,” from Oct. 7 through Nov. 4. For all the info go here.
Photography
A couple of weeks ago I was at the Bronx Documentary Center opening for “El Salvador: Legacy of Violence,” by photographers Robert Nickelsberg and Fred Ramos on Friday. I would say it’s a must-see if you’re interested in seeing excellent photography expressing a variety of devastating reality in a way that words cannot. “The two projects define El Salvador’s troubled Cold War history, document today’s political evolution and focus on US complicity and negligence in the small Central American country’s troubled past and present.” The exhibit is open through Oct. 27. FREE.
Dance
Well, last Saturday was the last day of the Bronx Music Heritage Center’s theatre on Louis Nine Boulevard! But that’s actually great news, because now the Bronx Music Hall on East 162nd Streets is its large and gorgeous replacement! (More info and photos in next week’s edition!) So, it was my first — and last — day in that space, for a moving performance of the “flamenco powerhouse” Xianix Barrera “known for redefining femininity through bold and unapologetic choreography,” along with a phenomenal band, featuring Trevor Turla on trombone, Ricardo Sánchez on guitar, and singer Alfonso Cid. Check out the brief video I took below.
This Friday and Saturday — Oct. 4 and 5 —BAAD! (Bronx Academy for Arts & Dance) in Westchester Square (BX), presents innovative works of the Dancing While Black 2024 Fellows, followed by a Q&A with the artists. You can get tickets, which are “pay what you can,” right here.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 5 to 6:30 PM, the band Caribeando, performs Caribbean folk, music and dance on the lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum in Van Cortlandt Park. “Participants will learn stories, songs, dance steps, rhythmic movements, improvisations, and drawn rhythm patterns.” More info here. FREE. (Event is great for kids!)
Live Music
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts features the Grammy-award-winning film “ENCANTO,” on Sat., Oct. 5 at 8 PM, while audience members of all ages can sing along with its chart-topping hits, performed by the live band, "Banda de la Casita." Tickets begin at $34.
Saturday, Oct. 12 at 8 PM, the salsa band Puerto Rican Power will be coming to Lehman Center for a special 45th anniversary celebration! Tickets here.
On Oct. 9 at 7 PM at Hostos Center for Arts & Culture, Sofía Rei, a Grammy-nominated Latin vocalist, with a diverse group of female artists from across Latin America, blend folk traditions with jazz, pop, and more. It’s FREE and you can learn more and sign up right here.
Connaughton’s Riverdale Steak House has live music including open mics every other Wednesday eve. You can get more up-to-date details on host and performer Mark Weitzman’s (also known as Mark the Harper) Facebook page.
The Artist (also known as Starving Artist) on City Island hosts lots of live music and a weekly open mic and a monthly interview with musicians, hosted by Gary Axelbank. More info here.
An Beal Bocht, an artsy Irish pub in Riverdale: has live music and other artsy events throughout the week, including Cover Collective on Monday with several participants who have collaborated on performing cover songs with a particular theme. It’s monthly and this time it features “songs of musicians we lost in 2024 and songs including the word ‘remember.’”
Cartoon Events/Workshops!
I’m pretty sure before last week I had yet to list cartoon workshops/events. But here are two happening very soon!
Bronx Council on the Arts, the city’s Parks Department, and Bronx Planet Productions are putting together “Comic Culture Powers,” in Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood, now through Oct. 19. Details here. FREE.
And Yonkers Comic Con at the Yonkers Public Library (1 Larkin Center) is on Sat., Oct. 5 from 11 AM to 5 PM. “Highlights include … panel discussions with industry experts, a … gaming tournament, Lego building activities, a variety of vendors, and a cosplay fashion show.” More info here. FREE.
Families/Kids
BxArtsFactory in Melrose provides a useful series of video lessons on their website for families doing art at home. You can learn a lot more about the organization here.
There are various kids’ art workshops at Bronx Children’s Museum, which opened just a little less than a year ago. Info here (scroll down page for listing).
Blue Door Art Center in downtown Yonkers offers FREE classes/programs for kids on Saturday mornings.
Bronx Artist Registry
If you’re a Bronx artist of any kind, you can become part of the artist registry that Bronx Council on the Arts has set up on its website.
Happenings a Bit Beyond the Bronx
Blue Door Art Center presents “Selfie: Self Portraiture,” a group exhibit through Oct. 26. (I’m in that exhibit — see last edition photo). And at the opening a couple of weeks ago, I met Suyapa Quinn (in photo below) who lives in Riverdale. She did the engaging work below digitally.
Through Nov. 22, Within/Without is an exhibit at the Riverfront Art Gallery at the Yonkers Public Library in downtown Yonkers that explores visual storytelling and how what we create reflects deeper underlying personal narratives. FREE.
Have you ever been to the Hudson River Museum? It’s really worth checking out, as there are several exhibits to explore, and it’s just a bit beyond north Riverdale. “No Bodies: Clothing as Disruptor,” is one in particular I look forward to seeing.
Upstream Gallery in Hasting-on-Hudson, features two photographer/artists, Janine Menlove and TB Ward in the “Apertures of Light & Time” through Oct. 27. FREE.
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
—Jordan