Art Happenings in the Bronx and Beyond ...
AAAU — 5.8.25
Hey Everyone,
I came across some beautiful stuff as I went on a walk the other day along the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, a NYC public park, from Kingsbridge Road down to E. 186th St. in the northwest Bronx. This beautiful tree, known as a Red-Horse Chestnut or Aesculus x Carnea, grabbed my attention …
And on the way back home, walking north on Grand Avenue, I saw this beautiful work, by Tats Cru, a phenomenal group of well-known muralists, at the corner of Kingsbridge Road …
OK, here’s what’s going on …
OUTDOOR EVENTS
This Saturday, May 10, at Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood, Bronx Council on the Arts and Processa present “The Spring Awakening Festival,” from 2 to 6 PM. It includes Sounds by Total XTC and Dada Cozmic, and performances by Savannah Hannah, Baby Osama and Maluca. There’s also a T-shirt workshop with Public Housing Skate Team. FREE! All the info here.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bronx Documentary Center (BDC) hosts the show “1000 Dreams,” a photo exhibit from Witness Change, a nonprofit that shares the stories of marginalized groups. It is on through Sun., May 11 and BDC is open on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. All the info here. FREE!
En Foco and Kreate Hub Bronx present the photo exhibit Shifting In Place beginning on May 9 and ending on Sept. 1 at Kreate Hub. The exhibition features a curated selection of photographs by artists previously featured with Nueva Luz or the En Foco Archives and Study Center. And there’s an opening on Fri., May 9 from 6 to 8 PM. FREE!
THEATRE
Check out this Pregones/PRTT happening at their mid-town theatre (they also have an active one in the South Bronx): “‘Parrots at the Pagoda,’ inspired by the life of iconic vocalist and prolific trio musician Johnny Rodríguez, takes audiences into the world and music of this legendary Puerto Rican composer, drag artist, and impresario.’” It’ll be on through May 25. All the info here.
Upcoming theater at Riverdale Y includes “Seussical,” May 25 to 29 and “The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition” until May 11. All the info here.
All the info on Riverdale Children’s Theatre summer session for third to tenth graders right here.
MUSIC
Lots going on this month at the relatively new — and beautiful — Bronx Music Hall, including the FREE Friday Night Happy Hour this week on Fri., May 9 with Uptown Vinyl Supreme, a popular Bronx-based DJ collective. All the info here.
Here’s what’s going on at St. Philip Neri Church in Bedford Park tonight (Thurs.) night, May 8 featuring the Bronx Arts Ensemble & Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow.
There’s a lot going on concert-wise at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in Bedford Park this May. All the info here.
Every month you can see the monthly Bronx Music Podcast interview of Bronx musicians, hosted by Gary Axelbank, live at The Artist on City Island. You can also check out the interviews/performances on YouTube, Spotify or Apple.
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.
DANCE & MORE …
There are five remaining dance performances this month at the Boogie Down Dance Festival at BAAD! (Bronx Academy for Arts & Dance) in its beautiful old church venue in Westchester Square. Check it all out here.
This Saturday, May 10, 2 PM at Hostos Community College in South Bronx: Juan Usera y La Tribu del Juey Sambuco for Caribeando, “an all-ages show celebrating Caribbean culture through music, dance and storytelling. Experience traditional and modern rhythms like bomba, plena, and bomba-reggaeton. Enjoy vibrant performances showcasing the rich artistic heritage of the Caribbean!” Info on tickets, etc. is here.
OPEN STUDIOS, OPPORTUNITIES, OPENINGS, etc.
Riverdale Art Association hosts member exhibits, and on its website it shares members’ artwork. It also gathers artists to share and discuss their work in person. Check out all it makes happen right here.
The exhibit “Beyond the Feminist Mystique,” at Blue Door Art Center in downtown Yonkers has its opening on Sun., May 10. All the info here.
Through November, Bronx County Historical Society presents the exhibit “Uptown Rumble: Heavy Music in the Bronx,” Here’s what the show is all about: “While The Bronx is universally recognized as an epicenter for hip hop, salsa, doo-wop, jazz, reggaeton, and many other popular music genres, our borough is ignored in popular narratives about hard rock, heavy metal, and punk rock.” The show, at the Bronx History Museum in Norwood, features photos, flyerz, fanzines, clippings, memorabilia, oral history and more. FREE!
ART EXHIBITS
At the Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale, the exhibit “Nature’s Persistence: Recent Work by Shelley Haven,” is running through June 29. All the info and photos here. And here is a photo of one of the artworks …
The new exhibit at Bronx Museum on the Grand Concourse (part of which is currently being renovated and enlarged) is “Working Knowledge: Shared Imaginings, New Futures.” It’s on through July 6. All visits to Bronx Museum are FREE!
Here are all the upcoming exhibits at Wave Hill in Riverdale.
And there are so many engaging exhibits at Hudson River Museum in Yonkers. Check them all out here.
“Form and Abstraction: A Retrospective” is the current exhibit at the Riverfront Art Gallery, a beautiful space at Yonkers Public Library in downtown Yonkers. It is on through May 23. All the info here. FREE!
At Inspiration Point in Hunts Point, WALLWORKS NY has the exhibit “Repainting Subway Art by TRIPL a.k.a FURIOUS,” (which is also the name of TRIPL’s book) through May 7. FREE!
BronxArtSpace features the group exhibit, ¡Te Amo Porque S.O.S. Pueblo!, through May 25. All the info here.
At the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, there are several exhibits to go see, including “It Takes Two: Unexpected Pairings,” through June 1, 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, on through Aug. 16. More details here. FREE!
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.
One Of My Recent Works …
If you want to contact me directly, you can email me, Jordan Moss, at AAAUBRONX@GMAIL.COM.
Much of my art and photography work is on IG @jordanmossbx.
Enjoy the week, and weekend, everyone.
Peace, Salaam, Shalom, Paz, etc.,
Jordan