Conzo Photos Look "Back at the Bronx"; Boryga to Talk About His First Novel ...
... art classes for youth and adults, and a good bit more!
First, I want to thank paid subscribers for their support. I couldn’t devote the significant time I spend on this without the growing — slowly but surely — financial support from readers. It’s key to what makes Art All Around Us possible. So, I am truly grateful!
This newsletter is open to all. It is, after all, the whole point of it to get Bronxites of all ages and background, and those a bit beyond the borough, to be more aware of great art, concerts, readings, exhibits, workshops, and classes, that are happening all around us. For unpaid subscribers, who are enjoying reading this, I want to thank you as well. More readers provides more wind at my back and more interest in all aspects of the Bronx art scene. But if you are able to become a paid subscriber, you can do that here.
If you’re not able that is, of course, totally cool. The one thing you can do, though, to help me keep this going, is to share this newsletter with one or two friends.
Thanks again! OK, here’s just some of what our beautiful Bronx offers us all …
The Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose will have its opening for “Conzo: A Look Back at the Bronx, 1977 to 1984,” on March 22. (See photo above and more photos in my last newsletter.) It’s the work of accomplished documentary photographer Joe Conzo, Jr., who grew up in the South Bronx. Some of his photography in the South Bronx is on his website.’
I’m looking forward to the next exhibit, “Leftovers,” by Alexis Marie Montoya at the Casita Maria Gallery in Hunts Point. There is a free opening celebration, with DJ music and refreshments, on Thursday, March 21, from 5:30 to 8 PM.
The Bronx Museum, on the Grand Concourse. presents the group show, “Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial (Part I)” through March 31.
Derfner Judaica Museum, also in Riverdale, presents “Aspects of Appearance: Portraits from the Collection in Context,” through June 30.
Talking About Art
I was invited to talk about how my brain cancer surgery in 2012 lead me to a life in the arts. It’s on March 28 at 7 PM in Riverdale at 505BX (505 W. 236th St.). Info on flier above. I’ll bring a bit of my art as it is relevant to what I’ll be talking about. If you can make it, I look forward to seeing you!
Speaking of talks, Andrew Boryga, the young Bronx-born writer, who grew up in Bedford Park and worked with me as an intern at the Norwood News, will be reading from his first novel (published by Doubleday!) at The Lit. Bar bookstore in Mott Haven, on Tuesday, March 19 at 7 PM. By the way, The New York Times just gave it a phenomenal review! (The charge for attendance includes the purchase of the book.)
Free Workshops
Bronx Council on the Arts offers three free, virtual workshops in March for performing, visual, and media artists, called “The Art of Presentation: A Practical Guide to Building, Crafting, and Perfecting Your Portfolios.” (I signed up for the visual arts workshop.) And related to the workshops, BCA also recommends reading online, “How to Write an Art Proposal in Six Easy Steps.”
The last Bronx Memoir Project Workshop Series of the season, Beyond the Bios, takes place on March 16 from 1 to 3 PM via Zoom and in-person at Wakefield Library (4100 Lowerre Pl., Bronx).
A Bit Beyond the Bronx
Neuberger Museum at Purchase College (in Purchase, NY, (not far from White Plains) presents “From Your Collection: Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Voices,” featuring a “selection of paintings, works on paper, photographs, and sculptures that have been donated to, or purchased by, the Neuberger Museum of Art over the last decade.” Many of these works reference “specific realities through a variety of voices in order to better understand the global nature of the world we live in, and explore the multiple voices at the base of fruitful contemporary debates that challenge it.” The photo above may look a bit planned thanks to the uniform, but that just brings us closer to the photo and how Noe Reyes is indeed a superhero. It’s more than a photo of him. It’s his story. He was a delivery boy in Brooklyn who sent $500 a week (!) to his family.
I hope to soon see this Hudson River Museum exhibit, “Meet Me at the River,” which starts on March 22.
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Workshops/Programs for Kids & Teens
Well, first, speaking of kids, I really encourage you to read this article in The Riverdale Press about Judith Insell, the executive director of The Bronx Arts Ensemble. As part of a report for the Center for an Urban Future seeking 50 ideas for a stronger and more equitable Bronx, Insell said making sure there are art classes in all of NYC’s public schools is critical to students’ overall success in life. “If government officials are not sure that it’s going to make a difference,” Insell said, “then take the entire Bronx public school system and pilot the idea here.” Read more.
OK, here are 4 art/photography workshops for kids and teens …
On Saturday, March 23, the Bronx Arts Factory, hosts a FREE Family Weaving Workshop! Check it out.
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.”
Bronx River Art Center, on East Tremont Avenue, provides FREE children’s and teen art classes beginning April 8.
Blue Door Arts Center in downtown Yonkers features many FREE kids’ and teens’ art workshops.
Live Music
The whole month of March at Pregones/PRTT in the South Bronx features all kinds of cool concerts. Check it out.
On March 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, Mind Builders in Wakefield hosts Rock Night, a FREE rock music concert, performed by members of the Mind-Builders Stage Band and Music Department faculty. Spots are limited so RSVP here.
More ongoing live music at An Beal Bocht in Riverdale; and there’s also live music this weekend at Starving Artist on City Island.
Ongoing concerts at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, and at Hostos Center For Arts & Culture.
A Good Point from: Austin Kleon
In the past few years, I’ve read a lot of books regarding creativity and underlined many of the authors’ good suggestions. I find many useful and thought you might too. I find this point from Austin Kleon in his book “Show Your Work,” helpful. It’s about sharing your work-work, the stuff in process, with others and how that lets people know a bit how you do what you do. When he mentions “share” or “report” he’s talking about any kind social media you like.
Once a day after you’ve done your day’s work, go back to your documentation and find one little piece of your process that you can share. Where you are in your process will determine what that piece is. If you’re in the very early stages, share your influences and what’s inspriring you. If you’ve just completed a project, show the final product, share scraps from the cutting-room floor, or write about what you learned. If you have lots of projects out into the world, you can report on how they’re doing — you can tell stories about how people are interacting with your work. A daily dispatch is even better than a resume or a portfolio because it shows what we’re working on right now.
OK, everyone, thanks for reading and subscribing. I hope you’re able to go check out something mentioned above!
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Thanks a lot for the mention, Jordan! Looking forward to seeing you on the 19th.