Bronx Film, Photography, Art, Dance, Concerts ...
so much happening all around us and a bit beyond ...
Hey, Everyone. Lots to see this week in the Boogie Down Bronx — as usual. I’ll start with this …
Intense, beautiful photo, right? It’s at the Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose. I look forward to seeing this pic up close, and many others, by photographer Juanita Escobar. “Orinoco - Frontera de agua - (Water Border) is a visual and literary essay featuring various stories and voices from those who have forged a life in this stateless area near the Orinoco River border between Colombia and Venezuela.” The exhibit is on through June 9. More info here.
There’s more photography happenings listed below but we’ll start with …
Dance
BAAD! presents two dance performances this week which are theatrical as well. “Me and Jesus and Prince and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a One Bedroom Apartment in The Bronx,” on Fri., May 17 at 8 PM, is a solo performance of dancer and choreographer Shavon Norris. It “explores the the sounds, words, languages … and objects that flooded her developing mind.” Tix are $20 and you get them here.
And also at BAAD! “between wave and water,” by Alethea Pace, “a multimedia performance-walk rooted in reclaiming the history of an African Burial Ground in Hunts Point,” is this Saturday, May 18 at 3 PM. Tickets are from $10 to $20 and more info here.
The PRTT in the name of the theatre group Pregones/PRTT (which has truly excellent performances in its South Bronx theatre) stands for The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, which is the name of the organization’s performance space on West 47th Street in Manhattan. Now through May 26, the performance there will be “The Desire of the Astronaut,” “which explores the enduring myth and popular iconography of the astronaut through the fictional story of Esteban Only, the last Boricua in space.”
This Saturday, May 18 at 2 PM, the Bronx Arts Ensemble presents a FREE performance of Mfouambila Kongo Dance (photo below), featuring Congolese drumming and dance at the Mall of Bay Plaza. More info here.
And believe it or not there is another Congo performance later the same day (!), May 18 at 7 PM, at the new Bronx Music Hall. For more information, go to IG or Facebook @bxmusic, or if you happen to still use “X” it’s @bx_music. (By the way, I just learned on Wikipedia that the “K” in Kongo, as spelled for performance listed above, is used for reference to the much larger Kingdom of Kongo, which existed from 1390 to 1914.)
Photography & Film
Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale has an excellent photo exhibit coming up next week: “Leonard Nones: Essential Workers,” features Nones’s portraits of staff on RiverSpring Living’s Riverdale campus (also known as The Hebrew Home). “The series of 18 archival inkjet prints are tributes to the strength, resilience, and compassion of all the people who work with the Hebrew Home’s residents.” Here is one of the photos from the exhibit and you can see several more here. And when you leave the building, or before you head inside, make sure you check out the building’s large sculpture garden with a wonderful view of the Hudson River.
This Thursday, May 16, at 6:30 PM, Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose presents a discussion with Finnish photographer and New York Times photo editor Mikko Takkunen about his debut photobook, “Hong Kong.” RSVP and check out one of his beautiful photos here.
Also at BDC next Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 P.M. is a showing of the 18-minute documentary, Black Girls Play, with a Q&A with one of the directors, Michele Stephenson. The film focuses on “the joyful tradition of hand games, traces the playground pastime from generation to generation, and explores its impact on music, dance, and popular culture today. The film, directed by Michéle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, is a celebration of roots, community, and the evolution of culture, from jazz to TikTok.”
Art Exhibits
At Longwood Arts Gallery (on the first floor of Hostos Community College) the exhibit “Black Shedding(s)” begins with an opening on June 5, 6 to 8 PM. You can learn more and RSVP here. FREE.
New York Botanical Garden’s new art/nature show is “Wonderland: Curious Nature,” that begins on May 18 and ends Oct. 27. (There’s a members-only preview this Friday, the 17th all day.) I just went to a press conference there at the Enid Haupt Conservatory, and there are stunning layouts of colorful plants, and beyond in the Garden’s 250 acres, with “sights, settings, and scents of the classic story of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Alice joined us at the press conference and Conservatory tour. Here’s a pic I took of her:
The rained out Riverdale Art Fest last week has been relaunched for this coming Saturday, May 19 from 1 to 7 PM at the Riverdale Block Party, near 5900 Riverdale Ave. There will be art demos and other presentations. FREE.
The Bronx Museum’s Part II of its biennial is on through June 16. It’s always FREE.
BronxArtSpace presents “Hold me as I fly,” which “embraces the paradox in the necessary practices of deep, grounding care and experimental risk-taking on the path toward liberation.” The exhibit runs until May 18. FREE.
Gallery 505 in Riverdale is currently showing “Color of an Independence,” by Jose-Luis Tejeda. Exhibit is on until June 28.
Bronx River Art Center has an excellent FREE group exhibit, “NEVER WAIT!/¡NUNCA ESPERES!” through June 8.
The exhibit “Daniel Hauben: An Artist in The Bronx” opens with a reception this Friday, May 17, from 1 to 3 PM at Riverdale Senior Services, 2600 Netherland Ave. FREE.
Music
Latin jazz group BronX BandA performs at Inspiration Point, 710 Tiffany St., this Friday night from, May 17, 5:30 to 7 PM. The group will focus on compositions inspired by the stories of Bronx heroes. More info on IG: @inspirationpoint.arts.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents “Hip Hop Fever 2024,” this Saturday, May 18. More info here.
As usual, An Beal Bocht in Riverdale has a lot of good live music going on, including an open mic on Tuesday nights at 8 PM. It’s FREE to get in but all are urged to “Please! Be! Generous!” to gather well-deserved tips for the performers. An Beal Bocht was just featured on Bronx News 12. Check it out.
And go here to learn about open mic and concerts at Starving Artists on City Island.
On Friday, May 17, from 4 to 8 PM, the Bronx Music Heritage Center presents “Jalikunda: Traditional Music Symposium,” a gathering of jali (griot) from The Bronx, exploring the current state of the tradition in the West African community. More info on IG @bxmusic. FREE.
Workshops/Programs for Adults & Kids
This Saturday, May 18, from 2 to 3:30 PM, The Bronx Museum on the Grand Concourse, has a FREE art activity for all ages inspired by its current exhibit.
Every summer and fall/spring season, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in Wakefield (northeast Bronx near 2/5 trains) offers a number of FREE art programs for kids and teens in addition to public performances, workshops and presentations.
Every Saturday from 2 to 4 PM, BronxArtSpace, on 700 Manida St., provides FREE art classes for all ages, which include drawing, painting, collage and flip-book animation.
Also open to all ages, is “Sing With Us!,” weekly Monday night singing classes through June 17 for adults and school-age kids from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, (except Memorial Day) at Bronx Music Heritage Center. For more info go to @bxmusic on Facebook and Instagram or email lmolde@whedco.org.
Great interactive exhibits and programs at the relatively new Bronx Children’s Museum.
Bronx River Art Center, on East Tremont Avenue, provides children’s and teen art classes.
Blue Door Arts Center in downtown Yonkers has a FREE workshop that features many FREE kids’ and teens’ art workshops.
Through its Youth Photo League, Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose offers a “FREE after-school and summer documentary photography programs [that] teach[es] middle and high school Bronx students to use photography, writing, and research to explore social justice issues and prepare them for college and future careers.”
A Bit Beyond The Bronx
I’ve wanted to more frequently include what’s going on in neighborhoods just beyond the Bronx, like in Inwood and downtown Yonkers. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it! In the meantime, here are links to a few Yonkers happenings:
Some online, and in-person art workshops at the Riverfront Art Gallery in the downtown Yonkers Public Library.
This coming Saturday night, May 18, from 1 to 6 PM, Blue Door Art Center hosts an opening of “All Fired Up,” an exhibit of clay works.
And there are several exhibits at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers.
Artist Opportunities
Bronx Art Space has an open call for its upcoming exhibit “Giving Light Social Justice Series: Celebrating Fatherhood.” They are accepting submissions for installations, digital media, portraits, audio, photos, film and program proposal. The deadline is May 24. More info here.
The Bronx Council on the Arts regularly posts opportunities for artists of all kinds. And residencies and grants for artists listed here. And all kinds of grant opportunities provided by BCA here.
I would love to hear from readers who have picked something from Art All Around Us to go and see! You can comment here or email me at jordanmossbx@gmail.com.
Have a great week and weekend, everyone. There’s a lot of good stuff out there for us all to enjoy!
Jordan- Thanks for sharing these. It seems like it would be a wonderful time. Shame I'm not in the Bronx area. Have a great time this weekend with the Mfouambila Kongo Dance! :)