Voting, Art, San Juan, and ...
... Art All Around Us — 10.31.24
I think this photo (that I took a couple of weeks ago in San Juan, PR, visiting my daughter who is there for a semester) speaks for itself in terms of how I, and so many of us, feel about what was said by that racist so-called “comic” in Madison Square Garden the other night. In Santurce, we came across stunning art outside, on houses, in parks and on streets and inside at a couple of wonderful museums. I ran a few photos in the last edition. I look forward to seeing, and learning, more there. (I couldn’t find the name of this flag’s creator, unfortunately.)
What was said by that right-wing comic and many other racists at the Garden the other night, is one more big reason that it’s critical for us all to vote. If you need info on where you can vote, and early voting, in your community, go right here.
OK, on to the arts in the Bronx and a bit beyond …
Photography
En Foco, in partnership with Pregones and the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, launches 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, 2025 and features portraits by Mexican photographer Yampolski (1925–2002), and is curated by Xavier Robles Armas. The exhibition is an initiative of the Nueva Luz Study Center (NLSC) and part of En Foco’s mission to preserve the culture and legacy of diasporic lens-based artists. FREE!
Check out the pic and video on Bronx Documentary Center’s website regarding its current exhibit, “Ken Light | American Stories:1969-1995 [which] showcases three decades of work by photographer Light, highlighting significant moments in American history from 1969 to 1995.” Exhibit through Nov. 17.
Dance/Theatre
This Friday, Nov. 1 at 8 PM, BAAD! (Bronx Academy for Arts and Dance) in Westchester Square presents “Teatro En Vivo: A Staged Reading.” “On a trip to Puerto Rico, a man rediscovers his purpose after encountering an all-female theatre ensemble that brings to life Taino legends and the symphony of native tree frogs.” More info here and tickets here. It’s FREE or you can support BAAD!
On Sunday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 5 PM, at Bartow-Pell Mansion in Pelham Bay Park, Red Monkey Theater Group’s Managing Director Rachel Tamarin will work with students on exploring what makes a successful scene, including script interpretation, creating stage pictures, and providing design and acting directives. It’s FREE, but register here.
“I Like it Like That,” the musical in concert, is at the Lehman Center for the Performing Art on Sat., Nov. 2 at 8 PM. Get tickets here.
Art Exhibits/Happenings
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, 2025. 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!
At Lehman College Art Gallery, through Jan. 18, 2025 (and at two other CUNY colleges) 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. FREE!
The Derfner Judaica Museum, at the Hebrew Home in Riverdale, features “Artfully Arranged: Floral Works from the Collection” through Feb. 2, 2025. It’s a “thematic exhibition [that] features 24 prints, paintings, drawings, and mixed media works spanning the mid-20th century to the aughts by 20 artists who use flowers and floral forms to explore the intersection of the natural and urban worlds; formalism; decorative design motifs; symbolism, and mortality.” FREE! You can also see on Derfner’s website many of the paintings and more info on the exhibit.
Through Nov. 16, BronxArtSpace features “Intersecting Visions,” by artists Andre Trenier & Lady K Fever and curated by Christine DeFazio. There’s a closing celebration on Sat., Nov. 16 from 5 to 7 PM. FREE. More 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!
Through Jan. 26, 2025 in Norwood, the Museum of Bronx History in Norwood presents the group exhibition of Seis del Sur: “HISTORIAS: The Stories Behind the Images.” “This interactive multimedia exhibition will go below the surface of the collective’s documentary photographs of The Bronx — many never exhibited before — and illuminate the borough’s historical narrative through contextual timelines, meta and personal anecdotes.” The museum adds that the pop-up showcase “will cover a broad range of issues … that have impacted the people of the Bronx over the last four decades.” The museum is open on Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. Private tours via appointment are available throughout the week. All FREE!
The upcoming exhibit opening at WALLWORKS NEW YORK: “Yo Soy de Aquí / I am From Here,” on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 8 PM, features artists Lizzy Alejandro, Alexis Marie Montoya, Kamille Vargas-Estrella. And check out its mission here. I’ve yet to be there and know little about it. So I can’t wait for this opening or one in the near future. (Incidentally, one of the solo exhibits at Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education in Hunts Point this year was Montoya’s, one of the exhibitors at WALLWORKS. You can see some info and photos about her work in a previous AAAU newsletter.
There are a few great exhibits at Wave Hill right now and there is more info on all of them right here. Admission is FREE on Thursdays. I wrote a bit about one of the exhibits, with photos, in a recent edition.
The opening for “Chaos Theory: The Spectrum of Black Abstraction,” a group exhibit at the Bronx River Art Center, is the eve of Halloween, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 PM. It features the work of by Abreale, Amani Heywood, Austin Sley Julian, Christl Stringer, Freddie L. Rankin II, Garry Grant and Shangari Mwashighadi. The exhibition is curated by Ciaran Short. The exhibit, which ends on Dec. 7, and opening are FREE. Click here to RSVP for the opening.
A Bit Beyond the Bronx
Just over the bridge from Bronx to Manhattan on Broadway are art happenings in Inwood organized by Inwood Art Works which supports ongoing creative happenings of all kinds. Check it all out here.
Through Nov. 22, Within/Without is an exhibit at the Riverfront Art Gallery in the downtown Yonkers Public Library that explores visual storytelling and how what we create reflects deeper underlying personal narratives. FREE!
In Pelham, very close to the Bronx border’s northeast section, there are many ongoing art exhibits and events at the Pelham Art Center. Check them all out here.
At the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers there are several exhibits to explore, and it’s just a bit beyond north Riverdale.
Poetry
On Tues, Nov. 5, Art in the Basin, at Mon Amour Coffee & Wine in Kingsbridge, welcomes back poet and writer Henry James Gonzalez. Plus the AITB hybrid open mic. Register on eventbrite.com at the Art In The Basin page. (Nov. 5 is Election Day of course, but if you’ve already voted, what’s better than checking this out, rather than biting your nails watching the election results on TV, which I’m sorry to say is not likely to result in anything until a few days later at least.) For more on Art in the Basin, it's on Instagram.
Music
I just came across this on Bronx Music Hall’s website: a history of music in the borough over the last 145 years!
On Sat., Nov. 2 at 8 PM, Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture presenst the Puerto Rican cuatro player Fabiola Méndez “Flora Campesena” celebrating the roots of folk music. It’s $35 and discounts are available for students, seniors and Hostos alumni.
Also at Hostos, the BAE (Bronx Arts Ensemble) Orchestra with the Mambo Legends perform at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Tickets here.
Connaughton’s Riverdale Steak House in Riverdale has live music including open mics every other Wednesday eve. You can get more up-to-date details on host and performer Mark Weitzman’s (also known as Mark the Harper) Facebook page.
An Beal Bocht, an artsy Irish pub in Riverdale has live music and other artsy events throughout the week.
Through Nov. 2, join The Bronx County Historical Society in the upper room of Edgar Allan Poe Cottage — in Poe Park at Grand Concourse and Kingsbridge Road — for an exhibit of the surrealist visual art of Margarita Deida Pietri, widow of leading Nuyorican poet Rev. Pedro Pietri (1944–2004). Margarita is exhibiting her visual art in conjunction with selections from Pedro’s poetry, paying homage to her and her late partner’s admiration for Edgar Allan Poe. It’s open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sundays, 1 PM to 5 PM.
Families/Kids
BxArtsFactory in Melrose provides a useful series of video lessons on their website for families doing art at home. You can learn a lot more about the organization here.
There are various kids’ art workshops at Bronx Children’s Museum, which opened just a little less than 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.
Great Outdoors
For me, the outdoors is filled with creativity — the art of nature — especially trees. I just came across all the great weekend things taking place the first two November weekends at the New York Botanical Garden, which, by the way, is largely free for Bronxites (though becoming a paid member if you can afford it is encouraged) meaning that the outdoors is all accessible (things like the Conservatory aren’t unless you’re a paid member). Anyway, check out all that’s going on Fall Forest Weekends in November.
One Last Thought …
For artists and those thinking about doing art, here’s a cool quote from Julia Cameron, author of the book, The Artist’s Way
When we stop waiting to find great swaths of time for our art, and start stealing 15 minutes here and there, we find we suddenly ‘have’ time for our creativity.
OK, have a great weekend everyone!
Peace,
Jordan