Update on Ben Shahn's Locked-Up Bronx Mural
That and art happenings in the Bronx and a bit beyond ....
Hey Everyone,
I hope you all had a great summer. I’m getting back to my regular weekly newsletter posts (did a bit less than that over the summer).
OK, let’s get started …
Back in February, I mentioned the status of the old Bronx General Post Office, which the U.S. Postal Service sold to a developer a decade ago. It is now being sold again! Inside the giant structure is a famous mural (with 13 sections) of American workers created by the artist Ben Shahn in the 1930s. It is mostly blocked from the public, for whom it was created for! I recently wrote this article for the Forward about its history and current status.
Exhibits and Performances
This Sunday, Sept. 8, from noon to 3 PM, Bronx Museum has an opening for the exhibit “Futura 2000: Breaking Out.” Futura 2000 is nom de plume for Leonard Hilton McGurr. The exhibit “showcases his sculptures, drawings, prints, studies, collaborations, and archival paraphernalia dating from the 1970s to the present, as well as new site-specific temporary installations,” according to the museum. The opening is FREE.
Also this Sunday on Sept. 8, Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale will have a FREE opening reception for “Artfully Arranged: Floral Works from the Collection.”
On Friday Sept. 20, Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose will have an opening for “El Salvador: Legacy of Violence,” an exhibit by Robert Nickelsberg and Fred Ramos. More info here. FREE.
Coming up at BAAD! — Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance — on Sat., Sept. 21 at 8 PM, is “You Had Me at Atmósfera: A Serene Evening of Stand-Up & Stanzas,” featuring host and comedic raver of ceremonies Mateo Rodriguez-Hurtado “for a one night only affair lovingly uniting hard belly-laugh inciting comedians and soul reviving poetic performers.” It’s $10. More info and tickets here.
Blue Door Art Center in downtown Yonkers welcomes submissions for its next exhibit: “Selfie—Self Portraiture. Paintings. drawings, photographs, collage, sculpture, etc. are welcome. Deadline is this Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11:59 P.M. More details here.
At Lehman College Art Gallery (and at two other CUNY colleges) beginning with a FREE opening/reception on Wed., Sept. 18 from 5 to 8 P.M. is “Incandescence: The Chandelier in Contemporary Art Works” by 45 artists exploring “the motif and meaning of the chandelier through sculptural forms, photography, painting, drawing, installation and video.” All the details here and here.
Within/Without is an exhibit at the Riverfront Art Gallery at the Yonkers Public Library in downtown Yonkers that explores visual storytelling and how what we create reflects deeper underlying personal narratives. The FREE opening reception is this Saturday, from 2 to 5 PM. (Photo of one of the pieces below.)
“6” by Giovanna Hernandez-Salgado. There are five exhibits through the end of the year at Wave Hill in Riverdale. All the info here.
In Mott Haven, WallWorks New York features never-before seen original artworks in the exhibit, “The Found Art of Thom Corn,” curated by filmmaker Nancy August. Recently found by the late artist’s landlord, the works showcase classic elements of Corn’s artwork. The opening is next Saturday, Sept. 14, from 3 to 6 PM.
Looking for some live music? Check out these venues:
To see what’s going on at the relatively new (and beautiful!) Bronx Music Hall, go here.
An Beal Bocht in Riverdale: Great live music and other artsy events throughout the week.
Riverdale Steak House has live music (out-of-date on their site, but it’s still going on) including open mics every other Wednesday eve. (I’ll be there on Sept. 18 playing some blues with a friend.)
The Artist (also known as Starving Artist) on City Island hosts lots of live music. More info here. Also, Bronx talk-show host Gary Axelbank does monthly interviews with Bronx musicians called The Bronx Music Podcast. This Sunday, Sept. 8, it will be with Russ Velázquez.
And for a bigger show, “Rumba, Mambo & Salsa” is on at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts next Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 P.M. More info here.
Last weekend, my wife, Margaret, and I camped out at Rhythm & Roots music fest in Rhode Island. A camper had this above their tent.
Enjoy this weekend! Peace, Salaam, Shalom. —Jordan
Great article in The Forward. Thanks for the link.
Jordan- The Shahn mural’s color choices and detail is so striking and wonderfully cohesive—it’s very transportive. Thanks for sharing.