Art All Around Us — 3.19.25
Creative Happenings in the Bronx & a Bit Beyond ...
I’ll start with this: Water in ponds, rivers, lakes, and the reflections they provide, are a gift for humanity, especially at a time like this, when many of us are overwhelmed by the political uncertainty and insanity surrounding us. Focusing on unexpected images in nature are a form of meditation for me. It allows a focus on change — good, radical change — and gives us many moments to absorb the free energy for what’s next. … I took this photo yesterday, standing by the stunning “pool'“ at the New York Botanical Garden reflecting the endless ingredients of the native plant garden surrounding it.
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITS
“Art We All One,” an exhibit of Azekiwe Providence’s photography is at Studio 13 Gallery, part of BxArts Factory, through April 4. All info here. FREE!
Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose presents Jamel Shabazz’s exhibit: “Seconds of My Life; Photographs from 1975-2025” through April 20. BDC says: “It highlights Shabazz’s talent for capturing powerful stories of identity, resilience, and community from the streets of New York and beyond.” The exhibit is at the beautiful BDC annex, 364 E. 151st St., right across from the back of the main BDC building. It’s FREE and more info here. (See one of the photos in exhibit below).
ART SHOWS OF ALL KINDS
“The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism,” will be open at The New York Botanical Garden’s Haupt Conservatory through April 27. All the info here.
At the Bronx River Art Center in West Farms is “Resilient Roots: Ecofeminism in Video Performance.” It “explores the profound intersection of ecofeminism and contemporary art through the lens of six prominent Latin American artists. It closes on April 18 with an Artist Talk from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. FREE! All the info here.
At the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, there are several exhibits to go see, including “Alvin C. Hollingsworth: And All That Jazz,” through April 27; “It Takes Two: Unexpected Pairings,” through June 1 (photo below); and “Collection Spotlight: Cityscapes,” which is ongoing. All current exhibits listed here.
Casita Maria Gallery in Hunts Point presents “You CAN Sit Here,” a multimedia solo exhibition by Bronx native Tiffany ‘Tiff McFierce’ McPherson with an opening celebration on Thurs., March 20 from 5:30 to 8 PM. FREE! More details here.
The exhibit, “The Art of the Wrapping,” at Lehman College Art Gallery is on through May 3. All the info here. FREE!
Hostos Center for Arts & Culture presents the exhibit “Roots and Rebirth: Dominican Women in Art,” through April 16. It “showcases 22 contemporary Dominican women artists deeply connected to their history and traditions, yet forging a fresh vision of their culture through new ideas, influences, and expressions.” All the info here. FREE!
Through March 28, the Riverfront Art Gallery (part of Yonkers Public Library) in downtown Yonkers presents the exhibit “EMPOWERED,” a group exhibit. (I saw it and loved it.) “This exhibition calls out the many instances of injustice and leads the way to a more just and empowering future — one where we find community and see each other reflected in our world.” Curated by Haifa Bint-Kadi.” All the info here Exhibit is FREE!
Also in downtown Yonkers is a Juried Members Competition & Exhibition at Blue Door Art Center. (Two of my photographs are in that show.) It’s on through April 19.
I recently went to see the opening of this really excellent group exhibit, “Soundscapes,” at Upstream Gallery in Hastings-on-Hudson (just a tad north of Yonkers). The exhibit is open through March 23. FREE! (Photo below of “Birth & Music,” one of the pieces in the exhibit by Paul Greco.)
Through April 6 Seis del Sur presents the excellent, moving group exhibition: “HISTORIAS: The Stories Behind the Images,” at the Museum of Bronx History in Norwood. The museum is open on Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. Private tours via appointment are available throughout the week. All FREE!
Through April 8, En Foco and Kreate Hub present the curated group photo exhibit “Entre el Silencio: Meditations on Silence” at WallWorks. “The exhibition is part of En Foco’s mission to uplift, validate, and preserve the culture and legacy of diasporic lens-based artists.” Click here for more information. FREE!
In partnership with Pregones, En Foco presents the exhibition “In The Spirit Y En El Espíritu: Works by Mariana Yampolsky” at the Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (575 Walton Ave., Bronx). It runs through March 31 and features portraits by Mexican photographer Yampolski (1925–2002), and is curated by Xavier Robles Armas. FREE!
The Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale features the photo exhibit: “Leonard Nones: Portraits of Resilience” through March 30. “A professional fashion and advertising photographer for 50 years, Nones has created a series of portraits of his neighbors at RiverWalk, an independent living residence at RiverSpring Living on the campus of the Hebrew Home. Nones displays a lifetime of experience as a professional photographer in drawing out the vibrant expressions and animated spirit of his subjects.” (All the info here and photo from exhibit can be seen in recent edition.)
ART EXHIBIT OPENINGS
An opening for the new exhibit, “Ancestral Wisdom,” at the Longwood Art Gallery, which is now at the headquarters of the Bronx Council on the Arts in Westchester Square, will be on Wed., March 26, from 6 to 8 PM. The exhibit “brings together the voices of four artists whose work bridges heritage, nature, and community to challenge contemporary social and cultural constructs.” More info here.
DANCE & FILM
This month, BAAD! (Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance) has a ton going on, with dance performances and classes, film and more. Check it all out here.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents Rhythm India on Sunday March 23 at 4 PM. It takes you on the journey of dance and celebration through Bollywood & Beyond. More info and video here.
Rhythm India, which will perform at Lehman this Sunday. See above for info. On Sat. March 22 at 7:30 PM, at Hostos Center for Arts & Culture, Bronx-based Dominican dance artist Stephanie Peña premieres her new work, Pajón con agua. “Known for her unapologetic explorations of sensuality, Blackness within Dominican culture, and ancestral connections through movement, Peña now dives into the profound relationship between Afro hair and water.” More info here.
MUSIC
Bronx Music Hall presents emerging Voices in Latin Jazz on Thurs., March 20 at 7 PM, featuring Berta Moreno & La Troup Tumaini. All the info here.
The latest Bronx Music Podcast, hosted by Gary Axelbank, which focuses on Bronx musicians of a wide variety, is online featuring The Dowe Twins, who “are two 16-year-olds who were upset at the hatred and violence they saw after COVID and decided to use the music and lyrics of Hip Hop to uplift, empower, and encourage others.” Here’s the link on YouTube and you can also find it on Spotify and Apple.
There’s still time to see a few of these! Pregones/PRTT, has been presenting a South Bronx concert series called “March is Music 2025!” “Our popular March Is Music concert series is back featuring 10 live concerts by world-class Latin, jazz, fusion, and classical artists.” Concert tickets are $35 but you can buy 4 for $100. All the info here.
And linked to the above is Mind-Builders Jazz Nights — a student-driven series — who will perform at Pregones/PRTT on Sat., March 22. It’s a “student driven series that celebrates the versatility of Jazz as performed and interpreted by Mind-Builders’ award-winning intergenerational Stage Band.” Get more info and tickets here.
At Mount Saint Vincent University in Riverdale, Bronx Arts Ensemble String Quartet presents “New Norm,” a celebration of women composers with a premier by Elizabeth Gartman, on Sunday, March 30 at 2 PM. FREE! More info here.
As usual, there is a lot of great live music, as well as art and theatre, to check out at An Beal Bocht Café in Riverdale. Open mics are always on Tuesday at 8:30 PM. Much more info on upcoming happenings here.
What I See …
WORKSHOPS/CLASSES/GRANTS
Blue Door Art Center in downtown Yonkers offers FREE classes/programs for kids on Saturday mornings.
BxArtsFactory in Melrose provides a useful series of video lessons on their website for families doing art at home.
There are various kids’ art workshops at Bronx Children’s Museum. Info here (scroll down page for listing). And here’s a link to all the “active” exhibit space and happenings.
Bronx Council on the Arts has a great listing of organizations that provide various opportunities, grants and projects for artists of all kinds.
OK, everyone, have some fun out there. And let me now if you have any questions, or would like to alert me to something art-related happening in your community. You can email me at aaaubronx@gmail.com.
Peace, Paz, Salaam, Shalom, etc.,
Jordan