In the Bronx and a Bit Beyond: Exhibits, Concerts, Film, Art Programs and More ...
AAAU — 1.23.25
Hey Everyone,
It’s a difficult time. Many of us are stressing about how to address the country’s new, and frightening, regime. While probably few of us yet has a clear path to deal with this, one thing we can all do now is gather more, share more, engage more, learn more. Art exhibits, performances, discussions, classes and more provide that. So, here’s a big handful of those. I hope you get to experience one of them. Consider it a first step on your path forward :-).
Art Exhibits
At Wave Hill’s Winter Workspace 2025, through March 2, several New York area artists research and develop work informed by the site, ecology and history of Wave Hill, including the work of Melinda Kiefer Santiago. “The work [in photo below] is relevant to Santiago’s overall work at Wave Hill, which will be incorporating locally sourced natural materials from the gardens into the work she is doing throughout the residency.” (All the details here.)
Through Feb. 15, the Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) presents “Between Inspiration and Collecting: The Artist’s Cabinet.” “This exhibition turns our attention to artists not only as creators but as collectors, revealing how their gathering of objects shapes their creative vision and practice.” More about the exhibit here. FREE!
BronxArtSpace presents “Drawn to Life,” an exhibit featuring artists Debbie Ali, Sakura Abdel-Rahman, Edwin "Enoch" Sanchez, and Ivan Velez Jr. It is curated by Ruddy Mejia and the exhibit continues through Feb. 8. “‘Drawn to Life’ brings together the works of four contemporary illustrators whose work is inspired by themes of tradition, fantasy, and physical relationships to one's body.” More info here. FREE!
At the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers there are several exhibits to explore, including “No Bodies: Clothing as Disruptor,” which is on through Jan. 26. Info here on all of the museum’s current exhibits.
The Derfner Judaica Museum, at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, features “Artfully Arranged: Floral Works from the Collection” through Feb. 2, 2025. FREE!
Through March 28, the Riverfront Art Gallery (part of Yonkers Public Library) in downtown Yonkers presents the exhibit “EMPOWERED,” a group exhibit. “Art guides us to imagine new realities. It gives voice to the disappeared, the marginalized, and the unseen. EMPOWERED features artwork that guides us to imagine new realities and that allows us to be transported to worlds unknown and known. 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.
“FUTURA 2000: BREAKING OUT” at the Bronx Museum is “a retrospective of this singular artist’s evolution from early graffiti art styles to his current practice of contemporary abstraction. The exhibition is the most comprehensive examination of FUTURA 2000’s five-decade career ever presented in his hometown of New York City.” It runs through March 20, 2025. FREE! (Photo below.)
Through Jan. 26 in Norwood, the Museum of Bronx History presents the group exhibition of Seis del Sur: “HISTORIAS: The Stories Behind the Images.” The museum is open on Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. Private tours via appointment are available throughout the week. All FREE!
The Casita Maria Gallery, of the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education in Hunts Point, presents the exhibit “Animal Studies,” by Maria P. Vila, through March 6. The work of Vila, a teaching artist at Casita Maria, “features a series of watercolor, soft pastel and oil paintings combining animal imagery with poetry and collage as a form of healing.” FREE!
Photography
Early next month, Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose presents the exhibit, “School Shooting in America.” Featuring the moving works of Zackary Canepari (photo above), Tamir Kalifa, and Callaghan O’Hare, the show “is meant to highlight the facts around America’s firearms and profile some of the thousands of young people and families who have been affected by school shootings since the Columbine massacre in 1999.” The opening reception of the exhibition, curated by Michael Kamber and Cynthia Rivera, is Fri., Feb. 7 from 6 to 9 PM and the exhibit is on through March 16. FREE! (BDC’s website will be down for the next few weeks as a new one is being created.) Their address is 614 Courtlandt Ave. (More photos and my thoughts in previous edition).
Native Bronxite David Gonzalez, the long-time New York Times reporter, columnist and photographer has a solo exhibit coming up at Fordham University’s Manhattan campus: “Urban Devotions: Images of Faith in the City.” It runs through Feb. 17 at Fordham’s Lipani Gallery (113 W. 60th St.). All the info here, including tonight’s (Thurs.) opening. And check out some of his excellent Times photos here.
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.
Speaking of WallWorks, through Feb. 15 it celebrates its 10 years in existence with a gallery retrospective at their new location (!) at Inspiration Point Gallery in Hunts Point. More info here. 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!
Valentine’s Day Prep
Van Cortlandt House Museum at Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale hosts “Heartfelt History, Valentine Card-Making Workshop on Sat., Feb. 8 from 10 to 11:30 A.M. All ages from 5-up are welcome. “You'll learn how to make your own historic-style cards using classic techniques such as paper folding, cutouts, and paper “scrap” decoration. Discover the history of Valentine's Day through the ages and how this beloved tradition has evolved.” It’s $10 a person and tickets and more info here.
And the Hearts BxArts Valentine’s Day Market 2025 is on Feb. 1, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Lots going on at it. All the info here.
Music
The Bronx Arts Ensemble’s Woodwind Quintet presents “Bug Sounds” at the University of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale on Sunday, Jan. 26 fro 2 to 3 PM. BAE describes it as “an afternoon of nature-inspired music, featuring works that evoke the beauty of the natural world, from playful frogs to enchanting insects.” It’s FREE and all the details here.
An Beal Bocht Café in Riverdale features all kinds of performances throughout the week, including open mics on Tuesdays at 8:30 P.M. All the upcoming info right here.
Film
A NYC premiere of the film, “Studio 17, The Lost Reggae Tapes,” appears at the new Bronx Music Hall on Sat., Feb. 1. “A newly discovered treasure trove of tapes from Studio 17, or Randy’s Records located in downtown Kingston Jamaica, is the starting point for this remarkable story about a Chinese Jamaican family who helped create the music we now know as reggae.” There will be a reception with DJ Madout, Jamaican food, the screening, followed by a panel discussion. It all begins at 6 PM. All the details, and tickets ($15) here.
Theatre (and Auditions, too!)
I don’t want to miss this as I saw it last year and really loved it: “48 Hours in El Bronx,” presented by Pregones/PRTT Theatre in the South Bronx along with Harlem 9 on Feb. 23, features a “phenomenal roster of Latinx theater artists gather[ing] for an intensive theater-making marathon, creating six new short plays. This year’s plays will celebrate Bronx Healing through the poetry of NuYorican Poet’s Café executive director, Caridad De la Luz a.k.a. ‘La Bruja’.” There are 2 performances the same day, one at 6 PM and the other at 8:30 PM. All the info here.
Click here for the upcoming auditions for upcoming plays and musicals — “The Diary of Ann Frank,” and “Seussical” — at The Riverdale Y. Deadline: Sun., Jan. 26. All ages for these. The Y also has Riverdale Rising Stars for teens and Junior Rising Stars for kids. All the info here.
OK, THIS PHOTO isn’t relevant to the current outdoors in the Bronx, but I yearn to to experience it again in the spring, summer, and fall and see so clearly how they interact above ground, as their roots do the same underground, supporting each other. I think we can learn from them, at a time when we need it the most. I took this photo back in October in Van Cortlandt Park.
Events/Workshops/Classes for Kids & Adults
Two events celebrating Lunar New Year are coming up at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture: one ideal one, which is FREE, for schools and daytime groups on Tues., Feb. 11 at 11 AM; and another for families and all, is on Sun., Feb. 16 at 3 PM. Tickets here for the latter.
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, which opened a year ago. Info here (scroll down page for listing). And here’s a link to all the “active” exhibit space and happenings.
Blue Door Art Center in downtown Yonkers offers FREE classes/programs for kids on Saturday mornings.
Artist Opportunities
Bronx Council on the Arts has a great listing of organizations that provide various opportunities, grants and projects for artists of all kinds.
Have a great week and weekend everyone!
Peace,
Jordan