Public Art for an Historic Bronx Subway Station ...
... and even more creativity Inside and outside, including the nature all around us ...
This photo is from last summer at the stunning, rehabbed Starlight Park (it has a century-plus history) which surrounds the Bronx River. But it’s a decent view of what we can look forward to for this spring and summer. It also highlights what Bronx River Alliance, which is based at Starlight Park, and its community collaborators made happen over many, many years, to bring the river back and beyond rom a couple of decades of pollution including old cars and furniture. I’m grateful for its existence and every single person and organization that devoted their time to bringing it back to Bronxites with its programs, expansion and increasing accessibility.
And speaking of Starlight Park, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, a nonprofit community organization in Soundview, is celebrating its “Artist and Community Brain Trust Showcase,” this Saturday, April 13 from 1 to 3 PM at the Bronx River Alliance’s headquarters, which is in Starlight. There, Bronx artists and community members “will review and celebrate … their collective planning for a public art installation outside of the vacant, historic Cass Gilbert Station at Westchester Avenue. (Here’s a Times article about its history and efforts to revive it.) You can RSVP at YMPJ’s IG page: @offficial.ympj.
Poetry
Bronx Poet Laureate Kay Bell hosts a poetry jam at Dreamyard Art Center, 1085 Washington Ave., on Friday, April 19 from 1 to 3:30 PM. RSVP here. Bell will also be at at the monthly open mic poetry gathering, Art in the Basin, at Mon Amour in Kingsbridge, on Tuesday, April 16 @ 7 PM.
OK, this is in Manhattan, not the Bronx, but I’m pretty certain Bronx poets and poetry-lovers would want to know about it if they don’t already. The New York Public Library highlights National Poetry Month with a few events and workshops. “Written Work: Poetry, Labor and the Global City,” on Monday, April 15 at 6:30 PM is at Stauras Niarchos Foundation Library, at 455 Fifth Ave., featuring three poets; and a Poetry Workshop with Caridad De La Luz on Tuesday, April 16 at noon. All FREE, and more info here.
Music
As I reported in last edition. there’s a performance at the brand new Bronx Music Center Saturday, April 13, with Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band. It starts at 4 PM with a panel discussion and the band performs from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. For tickets, go here. And for more info on events coing up, BMHC’s IG is: @bxmusic.
And Speaking of Bobby Sanabria, Gary Axelbank interviewed Sanabria at Starving Artists on City Island recently. Axelbank’s “Bronx Music Podcast” is also on Spotify.
There are three FREE concerts, put on by the Bronx Arts Ensemble, coming up all around the Bronx this month, including ones at The University of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale (“Art & Sound,” ) with BAE’s string quartet and students as well) on Sunday, April 14 from 2 to 3 PM, and BAE’s orchestra and Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow performing Mozart’s Coronation Mass on Friday at April 19 at 7 PM at Church of St. Benedict in Throggs Neck. There’s a second performance of that group performing at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (in Belmont near the Bronx Zoo) on April 20 from 8 to 9 PM.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts has several concerts coming up.
As always, An Beal Bocht in Riverdale has a lot of good stuff going on, music, theatre and more.
At Lehman Center for the Performing in Bedford Park next Saturday, April 20 at 8 PM, McDonald’s Gospelfest presents Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples and Byron Cage. The performance will also include tri-state area gospel talent such as choirs, dancers, and soloists. Tickets here.
And go here to learn about other concerts and Starving Artist’s weekly open mic on City Island.
Dance
The brand new Bronx Music Hall (reported on in last issue), presents the dance performance “Bronx Rising!” on Friday, April 26 at 1 PM exploring Tango from Argentina. Here’s where to sign up. It’s $10 for adults and $7 seniors. There’s more info @bxmusic on Instagram.
And Bronx Council of the Arts launches its BX Expressions Performance Series with MAZarte Dance Company performing at Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood this Saturday, April 13 at 1 PM. And next Friday night, April 19 at 6 PM, BX Creatives Connect performs at Bronx Brewery, 856 E. 136th St. More info for both here.
Theatre
Barebones Production from People’s Theatre Project presents “Missing Socks and Line of Coke (or The Baby Theatre Play,” at Pregones/PRTT with four shows from April 12 to April 14. You can get tickets here.
In Woodlawn this coming weekend and next (April 12 - 21), Riverdale Children’s Theatre puts on “Into the Woods, Jr,” at St. Barnabas Elementary School Auditorium. RCT performs incredible shows in Riverdale and Woodlawn. Yes, my daughter performed in like a dozen of its shows and got a lot out of it :-), but the shows are simply incredible. When I saw RCT’s performance “A Chorus Line,” several years ago, it blew my mind, as did “Oliver,” and so much more. Bottom line: If I had seen them perform on Broadway I wouldn’t have been disappointed. Tickets here.
Lehman College presents “Facing Our Truth: 10-Minute Short Plays on Trayvon, Race & Privilege,” on April 11 at 1:30 PM at the Lehman College Studio and Theatre Building, 250 Bedford Park Blvd., just east of Jerome Avenue. It is FREE.
Art Exhibits & Related Happenings …
At the Bronx Museum this Friday, this Friday, April 12 from 7 to 9 PM, is the opening of “Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial (Part Two). I went to the opening for Part One. It was jammed and celebratory. This big bash is FREE, but if you know you’re going to go, click here to RSVP. As the museum states on its website, “The exhibition features work by 27 artists who participated in the Museum’s flagship AIM Fellowship—an annual professional development program for artists based in NYC—in 2020, 2021, or 2023.”
Bronx Documentary Center’s current exhibit in Melrose, named for photographer Anja Niedringhaus, is a collection of Niedringhaus’ images from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The show continues through May 5. I haven’t seen it yet, but a few pals who did say it is not to miss!
At BDC, there’s also a phenomenal photo exhibit at “Conzo: A Look Back at the Bronx, 1977-84,” by Joe Conzo, Jr. The exhibit continues until April 21. Here’s one of the pix from it …
Lehman College Art Gallery, in Bedford Park, has an artist talk, “Latin American Printmaking in the Bronx” on Tuesday, April 16, from 6 to 7 PM. It’s FREE but you need to RSVP here. There’s more info about exhibit on that link as well.
There will be an opening reception for “Never Wait! / ¡Nunca Esperes!” this Saturday, April 13 at 5:30 PM at Bronx Rivera Art Center. The “exhibition showcases the Bronx’s visual arts community in a distinctive light that sets it apart from the rest of NYC,” BRAC says. RSVP for the opening here. It runs through June 8.
Gallery 505 in Riverdale is currently showing “Color of an Independence,” by Jose-Luis Tejeda. Exhibit is on until June 28.
In addition to the current exhibition at Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale, “Aspects of Appearance: Portraits from the Collection in Context,” (on through June 30), the museum has great online exhibits as well.
There are three new exhibits which begin on April 20 at Wave Hill in Riverdale. (Admission is FREE on Thursdays.)
The Orchid Show at New York Botanical Garden isn’t just orchids. It also features an event, Florals in Fashion, through April 21.
I recently went to a great exhibit opening of “I Stood My Ground,” a group exhibit at Longwood Art Gallery (led by Bronx Council on the Arts) at Hostos Community College on the Grand Concourse, just south of East 149th Street. More info on the exhibit here. It’s open until May 1.
My exhibit, “Aftereffects: Art & Photography,” at Poe Park Visitor’s Center
Last Saturday afternoon I had an opening for my exhibit, “Aftereffects: Art & Photography, “ at Poe Park Visitors Center (at the corner of Grand Concourse and Kingsbridge Road). Thanks a ton to all who were able to attend, and those who wanted to but weren’t able. I’ll probably be having a second public gathering, next Saturday, April 20, in the afternoon. I still need to confirm that with Parks Department. The exhibit literally closes on April 28. I’ll send you an update very soon to confirm.
Workshops/Programs for Kids & Teens
Bronx River Art Center, on East Tremont Avenue, provides children’s and teen art classes.
Blue Door Arts Center in downtown Yonkers 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.”
Happy Spring Everyone! A time when new shapes and colors are showing up all around. To me, this is also art all around us …
Oh, one last thing: I created an Art All Around Us page on Instagram. Address is @artallaroundusbx. I will post creative happenings I come across in between the this weekly newsletter publication.
Wow, amazing round-up of things to do and see and appreciate. Great newsletter.