So Much Good, Creative Stuff to See and Do Bronxwide This Month!
Exhibits, Concerts, Dance Performances, Free Art-Making and Much More ...
Last Friday night felt a tad like old times when, on a monthly basis, Bronx Culture Trolley (no longer in operation unfortunately) took people from the Bronx and beyond to the South Bronx to see art at studios, galleries and The Bronx Museum. I was thinking of that because I went to two exhibits — well, actually three exhibits (two were openings) — in the South Bronx last Friday. First stop was at the Bronx Documentary Center’s main gallery on Courtlandt Ave. and E. 150th St. The exhibit there already had an opening the prior week for “Expose for the Shadows: The B&W Silver Gelatin Printing Workshop Exhibition,” which was curated by students of master printer and photographer Brian Young. I saw such engaging pieces of all kinds, including this one by Coco McPherson.
Across the street, in the large, excellent space BDC rents at the Immaculate Conception Church, was the packed-house opening of “Through Our Eyes: Youth Photography at the Bronx Documentary Center, 2013 - 23,” which is on until March 3. Here’s one of the photos …
A few of the former student photographers, including one woman now working at BDC, spoke at the opening about what BDC and its programming meant for them, including learning more about their neighborhoods. One woman, Adanna Taylor, who grew up close by and now attends Princeton University, said BDC taught her to “be creative, make mistakes and try again.” She also was grateful for learning how to speak in front of an audience, which she was doing so well at that very moment. For one more photo from the exhibit, see my last newsletter. And speaking of that photo, here is the photographer Aminata Kamara with the photo and the friends she took the photo of.
Next stop after leaving the BDC shows was the opening for “Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial (Part One)” at the Bronx Museum with at least a few hundred attendees. That was great but it made it a little hard to see the art and its descriptions up close. (I’ll check it out again soon and report more.) But here is a pic of many of the happy artists who took part.
Exhibits, Dance, Film and More …
Speaking of the Bronx Museum, they have a lot of free happenings for families and kids, including art-making and exploring the biennial exhibit on Sat., Feb. 10.
In addition to the great exhibits at the Bronx Documentary Center, there are another two cool free events coming up: on Wed., Feb. 7, at 6:30 PM there will be a screening and Q&A for ‘Marty,’ a documentary by Giacomo Francia and Cynthia Rivera about “a devoted South Bronx resident who advocates for social justice and community improvement … [and] is an inspiration and a guiding force, motivating others to take action.” And on Mon., Feb. 12, at 6:30 PM there will be a Book Talk at BDC featuring Jacqueline Silberbush, a photographer, presenting her new book”What Shod I be!!!!?”, which “addresses many universal female experiences by weaving together images of different children, girls, and young women to create a semi-fictional composite character.”
On Tues., Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 PM, the Bronx Council on the Arts will feature a free panel discussion, “Imperfect Record,” at the Longwood Art Gallery (based at Hostos Community College) “on the formation of memory through the process of creating art and how it can be integrated into our lived experiences.” The discussion is related to the Gallery’s current group exhibit, “Against the Grain: The Stories We Tell Ourselves.”
Many more events related to Bronx Council and the Arts and beyond are here, including the next monthly meeting of the Riverdale Art Association and an Afro-Colombian dance and percussion workshop at Bronx Music Heritage Center on Feb. 10 from 4 to 8:30 PM, where you will learn “some Afro-Colombian rhythms and join in.”
As I mentioned in the last edition, this Sunday, Feb. 4, there’s a performance of 10 short plays at Pregones Theatre, called: “48 Hours in … El Bronx,” featuring 30 artists, 6 new 10-minute plays, all in one. (My wife and I are going. Can’t wait!)
In Riverdale, Gallery 505 (part of Kingsbridge/Riverdale/Van Cortlandt Development Corporation, known as KRVC) is showing “Daylighting Tibbets en Plein Air,” by artist Noel Afele through March 29. Gallery hours are Fridays from 2 to 4 P.M. (For more info on the actual approved plan to daylight Tibbets Brook heading through Van Cortlandt Park, which is currently covered by dirt and asphalt, here’s an article in The City.) More info on Afele’s Tibbets Brook artwork on his website.
I haven’t been to the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance in too long! I remember really enjoying every minute of it with friends I brought along for a birthday gathering. And after that show they cleared the audience chairs and made it a dance floor for all of us to celebrate on. Well, I’m definitely going to one of what’s coming up in February. “A film and performance series celebrating queer power, diversity, visibility and defiance and Queer Movie Movers, a dance concert set to queer movie music.” The Theatre is in Westchester Square. Check it out!
Exhibits at Gallery 18, at the Riverdale Y, are curated by artist and former New York Times photographer George Gutierrez. The latest, through Feb. 25 is “Now Then: Celebrating Black History Month.” More info on Instagram: @gallery18riverdaley
Mind Builders Creative Art Center in Wakefield is hosting a free jazz concert called “Love Special: A Funky Good Time” on Feb. 16 at 6:30 PM with the nonprofit’s Mind Builders Stage Band (young people) and Music Department Faculty.
Speaking of Live Music, Try …
An Beal Bocht in Riverdale, a great artsy pub, with all kinds of live music, including Tuesday open mic nights.
Starving Arts on City Island, also features live music with open mic nights.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, in Bedford Park, has concerts of all kinds, as does the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture, in the South Bronx.
I’m sure there are many more places in the Bronx featuring live music of all kinds. I’ll work at gathering more, but if you know anything beyond the above, please let me know!
As for my own work, you can see my photos and abstract/mixed media work on IG @jordanmossbx and the same address for Threads. Greeting cards with my photo prints are available on Etsy.
Have a great weekend, everyone!