Bronx Summer Art Happenings, and Free Classes of All Kinds
Before I get to what’s going on, I just wanted to let you know that I will be away on vacation for the next two weeks. While I won’t post much about what’s going on in the Bronx this summer until the week of July 15, I might share one or two brief art-related things I discover that might interest you. And there are ample links to happenings below and in previous posts, that can lead you to the kind of art you’re interested in seeing.
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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a bit about unexpectedly coming across an exhibit at the Guggenheim in Manhattan that showed the work of young public school students in every borough through Learning Through Art, the museum’s artist-in-residence program.
So much of the artwork was, well, rather stunning. Several pieces like the one above were created by third grade students at PS 48 on Staten Island. (In May I posted about a Bronx school’s work in the project). Here’s what the teaching artist Diane Matyas, from the Guggenheim program, wrote regarding her working with these students:
Teaching art to a class of kids is a celebration of sharing and making connections. I strive to show teachers and kids how to see and relish the world around them by making art concepts and techniques accessible. When students turn new skills into eager expressions of their own, I have succeeded. Art training gives kids the power to make new things happen, and it gives teaching artists the proof that the power of art is connection.
I look forward to learning, and reporting more in the future about kids engaging in artwork and how important it is for the city and state to sufficiently fund art classes (music, dance, artwork, singing, writing and beyond) in all public schools.
At this time, even nonprofit art groups that work with adults and young people are in danger of getting less city funding that they need to be able to keep doing what they do.
Speaking of which, in a recent Bronxnet edition of BronxTalk, Gary Axelbank discusses this and more with Bronx Council on the Art’s executive director, Viviani Bianchi and Bronx Arts Ensemble’s executive director, Judith Insell.
Theatre & Dance
Shakespeare in the Park may be on hold in the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park this year, thanks to renovations, yet the FREE plays and other events are happening in parks in all five boroughs. Last night, we saw “Comedy of Errors” in St. Mary’s Park in Mott Haven. Even though it was cut short for the last five minutes or so — thanks to the approaching thunder storm — the excellent performance got people laughing throughout.
Through Saturday, June 29, Pregones Theatre in the South Bronx (on Walton Ave. just south of East 150th Street) presents a limited workshop production of a drag origins story, “Parrots of the Pagoda,” inspired by the life and works of Johnny Rodríguez, standout musician, pioneering drag artist and empresario, owner of legendary El Cotorrito club in Puerto Rico, and brother to Tito “El Inolvidable” Rodríguez. The play is written and directed by Jorge B. Merced. Tickets are $25 and $10 for seniors.
Art Exhibits/Happenings
The Moth’s Open Mic Story Slam takes place at the Bronx Museum on Wednesday, July 17 at 7:30 P.M. For more info and tickets, click here.
On Thursday, July 11, from 7 to 9 PM there will be an opening exhibition for the work of the passionate painter Librado Romero (a phenomenal former long-time photographer at The New York Times) at Gallery 505 in Riverdale (505 W. 236th St.).
Black Shedding(s) at Longwood Art Gallery, run by the Bronx Council on the Arts, is “a group exhibition where each artist's work comes together to tell a collective story. …. Through visual art, sound production, literary reflections, and educational resources, the viewer is invited into their own contemplation and conversation about diverse quests for liberatory transformation.” The exhibit goes on through July 10. More info here. And in a recent edition, you can see a photo of excellent sculpture in the exhibit.
There are several art workshops and conversations happening this month at the Bronx Museum. Check ‘em out.
At Wave Hill in Riverdale, “Perfect Trouble: Queeering Natuure Culture,” is on through Aug. 11, and click here for info on that and upcoming exhibits.
Photo Exhibits
The exhibit of long-time Bronx photographer and filmmaker Edwin Pagán, “Los Inocentes (The Innocents),” appears on a fence in Van Cortlandt Park through the summer, including his photo, “Threee Kings Day,” above. The exhibit “is a documentary photo essay 35-years in-the-making that focuses on the resiliency of children who live in urban communities in less-than-ideal circumstances, but who prevail and thrive beyond their environments in the South Bronx, Spanish Harlem (El Barrio), and the Lower East Side (Loisaida).” You can see many more photos from from the exhibit here. Van Cortlandt Park is huge (the city’s third largest!) but you can find your way to the event site by just plugging 5920 Broadway, Bronx into your phone. The exhibit is presented by Photoville and The Bronx Historical Society. More info at: bronxdna.nyc.
There are artist and book talks at the Bronx Documentary Center in the coming days and weeks.
Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale has an excellent photo exhibit through July 31: “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.” You can see several of the photos here by Nones, who is a resident of RiverSpring Living.
Dance
This coming Tuesday, July 2 from 4 to 5:30 PM, Bronx Council on the Arts hosts a FREE hip-hop dance class for those aged 12 to 18 at Longwood Art Gallery which is at Hostos Community College on the Grand Concourse just south of 149th Street. It’s led by teaching artist Janice Tomlinson. “Participants will break a sweat while learning grooves, freestyle elements, choreography, and the history and cultural impact of Hip-Hop. RSVP here. MetroCards are available based on need and upon request. To solicit a MetroCard, please email longwood@bronxarts.org.”
Music
On Sunday, July 7 at 1 PM, Gary Axelbank of The Bronx Music Podcast will interview renowned music producer Amadeus, who has produced Jennifer Jopez, French Montana, Chris Brown, 50-cent, Justin Bieber, and Busta Rhymes. In addition to listenging to it on Podcast, all are welcome to the interview live at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY.
For live music and open mics, check out An Beal Bocht in Riverdale and The Starving Artist on City Island. There’s also live music and an open mic at the Riverdale Steak House (happenings out of date here but stuff is still happening) and at Rambling House in Woodlawn (@the_rambling_house on IG). There’s probably much more of such that I don’t already know about, so if you know of, and like, anything else, please let me know!
A Bit Beyond the Bronx
At the Blue Door Art Center in downtown Yonkers is “Trio,” a wonderful group exhibit (above) of just three artists: Pradeep Gupta, Susan MacMurdy and Amanda Lynne. As part of the Blue Door Art Center Artists-in-Residence program, the three were chosen to do their artwork at the The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown, NY for two months, including the works above. Gupta’s piece (first) is called “BORO 4,” acrylics on canvas, 30x40 in. on canvas. MacMurdy’s work is called “Picnic,” 24x36 in., collage on wood panel. And Lynne’s piece is “Sitting On a Park Bench, The South of England,” 2024, 32 in. circle, acrylic on upcycled wood. The exhibit continues through July 13.
Programs/Events/Opportunities for Kids, Teens & Adults
There are many FREE summer art programs at Poe Park (at corner of Kingsbridge Road and Gran Concourse) including dance, painting and photography. To get the flier with all the info sent to you, you can email shelton.davis@parks.nyc.gov or Omar.Jaramillo@parks.nyc.gov. Or call 718-365-5516.
Led by Bronx Museum educators, Teen Summer is a four-week arts-intensive program where teens get paid to explore and contribute to the creative culture of The Bronx and all of NYC. Deadline to apply is July 1.
See Dance section above for FREE hip-hop lesson for kids and teens 12 to 18 next week.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
I’ll end with this, a photo of mine at the Bronx River in Bronxville the other day.
As I mentioned above, I’ll post the next newsletter the third week of July. Feel free to email me with info about events, etc. in the meantime (jordanmossbx@gmail.com).
I hope you all are beginning to have a wonderful summer.
Just really appreciate your commitment to championing local art! Have a great vacation!