What 'Art All Around Us' Is All About ...

This mixed media piece of mine (using recycled cardboard from shoe inserts, acrylic and sand) is in ‘Paper and Glue: The Art of Collage’ at Blue Door Art Center in Yonkers until May 20.

Hello and Welcome!

Many of you have already gotten a few of my newsletters, which I began sending out in February via MailChimp. Now, I’ve moved my work over to Substack, which makes it easier to layout and build connections with readers and other writers.

For new readers of “Art All Around Us,” this is a newsletter about art in the Bronx, lower Westchester and occasionally elsewhere. I’ve lived in the Bronx since 1992 and was editor editor of the Norwood News, a Bronx nonprofit community newspaper from 1994 to 2011. After that I had brain cancer surgery and, believe it or not, that led me on a path to focus on my creative directions: photography, abstract art (see above:-), and creative writing. I know a decent amount about art in the Bronx and beyond, but certainly not everything. Doing this newsletter enables me to explore the creativity all around us, and I really hope reading it inspires you to do the same.

So, here’s what to expect from Art All Around Us:

• I will post the newsletter every other Wednesday evening, so the next one will be on May 17.

• Each will include an update on art going on throughout the Bronx and in lower Westchester, especially things I’ve seen and have thoughts about. I might occasionally post something I’m passionate about that’s going on elsewhere.

• Most newsletters will include at least one thing I’m currently up to regarding my photography, my abstract mixed-media art (like the piece I posted above), and even a poem or short essay.

• I’m going to share a few links to other artists’ work, and by that I mean all kinds of artists — writers, poets, painters, photographers, dancers, musicians and whatever and whomever else I discover and learn from.

• Subscription is free. I want anyone who wants access to Art All Around Us to easily receive it. But in the near future, when I see I’m consistently providing what I’ve promised, and build a bigger audience, I will ask you to support this newsletter if you are able. That will help me focus on the site, and build it to provide more info and connections between artists and art lovers all around our beloved borough and beyond.

• In the meantime, you can support me by just sharing this newsletter with friends, family, and colleagues you think would be interested.

OK, here we go! Here’s some of what’s happening all around us …

• I love the blues, and play blues harmonica, and that’s why I really loved recently discovering a couple of weeks ago an open mic and acoustic jam (all genres welcome) at the Bronx Burger House, 5816 Mosholu Ave., in Riverdale). It’s hosted by Mark The Harper, who is, well, a phenomenal harp (harmonica) player. Next open mics are Wednesdays, May 10 and 24, and June 7 and 21, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• I was out-of-town for the opening of ‘Paper and Glue: The Art of Collage’ at Blue Door Art Center in Yonkers, which includes a piece of mine (photo above). But I look forward to seeing everyone else’s work at the show soon. Blue Door is a welcoming place for all kinds of artists. If you get on their mailing list (lower right on their website), you’ll know about their next shows — and also how to apply!

• In Riverdale, The Forde Concert Series, presents its inaugural concert at Christ Church with cellist Wendy Sutter and pianist Blaire McMillen. More info and tickets here.

• At BAAD! (Bronx Academy for Art and Dance) in Westchester Square (east Bronx), there are several “Boogie Down Bronx” dance shows during the whole month of May. It’s a great space in a beautiful old church. I saw a really great show there once and look forward to going back there this month!

• Put this on your calendar: From June 2 to June 4 ,Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education puts on the South Bronx Cultural Festival, a weekend of free music performances and much more in celebration of women creators at Father Gigante Plaza in front of St. Athanasius Church, 878 Tiffany St. If it rains, it will be at Casita Maria Auditorium, 928 Simpson St. More info here. (Bummed that I’ll be out of town that weekend!)

• For six years a group called “Art in the Basin” has hosted an open mic focusing on poetry and music at the Mon Amour Cafe in Kingsbridge on East 238th Street and Broadway. I went for the first time the other night and found it really welcoming, enough so that I read a couple of my poems there. It’s on Tuesday evenings twice a month.

• Speaking of open mics, An Beal Bocht, an artsy Irish pub in Riverdale, is another welcoming place for such, every Tuesday night. And aside from the many other bands and musicians playing throughout the week, there’s also a Poor Mouth Writer’s Night on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. All that info and much more is here.

• At the Lehman College Art Gallery in Bedford Park, from May 18 to June 2, the school’s art department features the 2023 Annual Theses Exhibition for graduates. And there’s an opening on Wed., May 17 from 5 to 8 p.m.

• The “Every Day Bronx” exhibit at Bronx Documentary Center in Melrose —featuring Bronx photographers of so many different backgrounds, and from dozens of neighborhoods all over the borough who have hash-tagged their Instagram posts #everydaybronx over the last 8 years — closes on Sunday, May 14. At the opening last month I was really surprised to see a photo of mine they put up. Thanks @rhynnasantos and team for that, and all you did to make this incredible show happen! ). Gallery hours are: Thurs-Fri 3-7PM & Sat-Sun 1-5PM …

• … Speaking of Every Day Bronx, I went to the Bronx Community Charter School (BxC) this morning on Webster Avenue in Norwood featuring the work of 8th graders. The works include really moving personal statements about what drove each young artist to do what they did. It’s in the school’s front lobby, so stop by if you’re in the vicinity. Anyway, here are just a couple of photos of the artists’ beautiful work, which doesn’t do the entire exhibit justice.

‘My Comfort,’ by Daisy. “From me sitting there having conversations with my mom or grandma when cooking, to parties where I would have to help my mom, this spot is important to me because it’s where I grew up. For me this means comfort with all the memories connected to it.”

“The 1 Train,” by Fatoumatta. “I chose a train because I always walk past it when going home and it inspired me to to make it into art.”

• A couple more exhibits/shows happening: ‘Toward Love and Power’ at Bronx Art Space on now until May 20; and a Pregones Theatre/PRTT play, Quarter Rican by Jorge Merced (a former Norwood neighbor of ours!) in Manhattan this time. They also have a beautiful theatre in the South Bronx, near Hostos Community College.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment with any suggestions or questions!

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