Open Memorial Day!

Hello (Art, Bronx, Museum, day-off, Elizabeth Catlett...) Lovers

Heads up, the Bronx Museum is open today through Memorial Day. That's right, all "staycation" aficionados looking for a new part of the city to conquer should travel uptown to view the Stargazers: Elizabeth Catlett in Conversation With 21 Contemporary Artists exhibition. Imagine the work of Ms. Catlett, plus 21 contemporary artists paying tribute all in the same exhibition.

...Ms. Catlett, now 96, is known for her work’s deep engagement with social issues and the politics of gender, race and deprivation. She started down this road during the Depression, when she participated in the Federal Art Project, and followed it consistently into the era of the activist Black Arts movement in the ’60s and beyond... read more

Organized by guest-curator Isolde Brielmaier, this  exhibition features sculptures, prints, and drawings by Elizabeth Catlett and works by twenty one contemporary artists including Sanford Biggers, iona rozeal brown, Patty Chang, Patricia Coffie, Renee Cox, Sam Durant, Lalla Essaydi, Ellen Gallagher and Edgar Cleijne, Kalup Linzy, Kerry James Marshall, Wardell Milan, Wangechi Mutu, Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, Robert Pruitt, Xaviera Simmons, Shinique Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, Roberto Visani, and Carrie Mae Weems.

At Last, Kudos for Elizabeth Catlett
As a black woman making art about people of color, the famed sculptor has lived with controversy. That didn't stop her. And she's still at it... read more

Also on view

Urban Archives: Happy Together

The second exhibition related to the Urban Archives Project features artworks by Asian and Asian-American artists from the Bronx Museum Permanent Collection as well as material from the Fales Library at NYU selected by guest-curator Alexandra Chang. On view are archives related to artists Martin Wong and Tseng Kwong Chi, the collective Godzilla, and architect and former Bronx resident Nancy Sun. 

 

Orange Tree 

Orange Tree is a 20-foot steel sculpture created by Cuban born artist Alexandre Arrechea, with multi-limbed basketball hoop "branches" surrounded by scattered basketballs to mimic fallen fruit. Orange Tree shifts familiar structures to engage viewers' perceptions of form and function, while raising questions about the role of street sports in urban culture. 

 .....

 

Visiting the Bronx Museum is so(oo) easy
Hop on the D train. Depending on where you start from you can be at BxMA in less than 20 minutes, 5 train stops! The 4 train works too but the walk is a little longer once you get off at 161/Yankee Stadium.

From Train Stations

59th St/Columbus Circle, NYC: 20 minutes, 5 stops

W 4 St. NYC:  37 minutes, 10 stops

Pacific Ave, Bklyn: 50 minutes, 13 stops 

 

Go to http://bronxmuseum.org for complete exhibition details. And before you start your trip it's always a good idea to visit Google Maps, Hopstop, and especially the NYC Transit website to check for service changes. 

 

The Bronx Museum of the Arts

1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St

Bronx NY 10463

www.bronxmuseum.org

  

Spring Gala & Art Auction

 

Last Chance to Purchase Tickets!
Click here to purchase tickets online

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The Bronx Museum of the Arts
Spring Gala & Art Auction

Honoring
Visual Artists
Tania Bruguera
Tony Feher
Jazz and Classical Composer and Pianist
Dr. Valerie Capers
and President of the
Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation
Michael Ward Stout
...

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
6:00 - 9:30PM

espace
635 West 42nd St
between 11th & 12th Avenues
New York City
Dinner, Silent and Live Art Auction
and Special Performance by Dr. Valerie Capers

6:30-7:30PM
Cocktails and Silent Auction

7:30-9:30PM
Dinner, Live and Silent Auction, and Performance
 
...

Click here to purchase tickets online
or print and download the invite


Please return the form via fax to 212-868-8455, email to Liz@Livetreichard.com or
mail to
Bronx Museum Spring Gala
c/o Livet Reichard Co.
306 West 38th Street
7th Floor, NYC 10018

For further information, please contact Liz Gilchrist at Livet Reichard Company at 212.868.8450 x 210 or Liz@livetreichard.com.

Hip-Hop Block Party, Bronx Stories, & Elizabeth Catlett

 

Sunday, May 15, 1:00 - 4:00pm
The First Annual Bronx Hip-Hop Block Party
Celebrating the Birthplace of Hip-Hop

This event is filled with interactive activities aimed to inspire creativity in the youth culture through the power of music. This is set to bring the community together and will honor the birth place of hip-hop through the means of art, dance, rap, dj mixing, and fashion.

Celebrity Appearances From: Prodigy (Mobb Deep/G-Unit), Wu Tang, Lord Finesse, Large Professor, Neek The Exotic, Cuban Link, Grand Daddy IU, Grafh, Ma Barker, GrandWizard Thodore, Pebblee Poo, Zulu Nation, Reggae Star Rayvon, Wordsmith, Chip Fu aka Jungle Rock Jr D Chamberz and More! House Disc Jockey: DJ K Swift and Dj Boof

Special Presentation for DJ Mister Magic: Proclamation will be issued to Dj Mister Magic from The Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz JR, accepted by Tyrone "Fly Ty" Willialms and the Juice Crew. Showcase Categories: DJ Scratch Demonstration, Maya The B (Thisis50.com) Live Inerview, Little Club Heads, Dance, Rap, Fashion, Art.

Contact: Email russprez@hotmail.com

a Bronx Week Event

Admission: FREE

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Friday, May 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Bronx Talks: Bronx Stories
 

MC Bobby Gonzalez
Storytellers: Larkin Grimm, DJ Hazard, Urayoan Noel, Jim O'Grady, and Susan Thomasson

Storytellers will share insightful tales and performances that include spoken word, interpretive dance, and homespun songs. The storytellers will supplement their personal narratives with interpretations of selected works of art from the exhibitions "Stargazers: Elizabeth Catlett in Conversation with 21 Contemporary Artists" and "Urban Archives: Happy Together". After the professionals, audience members will be invited to participate in our open mic session and tell their personal tales.

Admission: FREE

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The last day to view this exhibition is Monday, May 30, 2011 (Memorial Day)

Stargazers: Elizabeth Catlett in Conversation With 21 Contemporary Artists

Organized by guest-curator Isolde Brielmaier, this exhibition will feature sculptures, prints and drawings by Elizabeth Catlett and works by twenty one contemporary artists including Sanford Biggers, iona rozeal brown, Patty Chang, Patricia Coffie, Renee Cox, Sam Durant, Lalla Essaydi, Ellen Gallagher and Edgar Cleijne, Kalup Linzy, Kerry James Marshall, Wardell Milan, Wangechi Mutu, Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, Robert Pruitt, Xaviera Simmons, Shinique Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, Roberto Visani, and Carrie Mae Weems.
 

At Last, Kudos for Elizabeth Catlett
As a black woman making art about people of color, the famed sculptor has lived with controversy. That didn't stop her. And she's still at it... read more

...Ms. Catlett, now 96, is known for her work’s deep engagement with social issues and the politics of gender, race and deprivation. She started down this road during the Depression, when she participated in the Federal Art Project, and followed it consistently into the era of the activist Black Arts movement in the ’60s and beyond... read more

 

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Wednesday, June 1 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm
Zoya Kocur book signing
Author/Educator Zoya Kocur celebrates her new book Global Visual Cultures An Anthology

Admission: FREE
a Bronx Culture Trolley event

Download flyer
 

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Last Chance to Purchase Tickets to the Spring Gala & Art Auction!Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @espace, NYC. Click here for Details

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A Short Ride to the Bronx Museum

photo credit: Hannie Chia

Last Friday you may have read my "groundbreaking" simultaneous tweetcast from my Droid phone (my thumbs have new muscles) during the Elizabeth Catlett panel at the Bronx Museum. The program space was filled to capacity with the expectation that Ms. Catlett would make a rare NYC appearance. As it turned out the artist was ill and did not participate on the panel. Those who attended conveyed to me the honor they still felt to see the exhibition and have the panelist; exhibition's curator Isolde Brielmaier, artists Sanford Biggers, Renee Cox and Xaviera Simmons;  speak with such adoration of the nonagenarian painter/sculptor/woodworker.

After, when everyone stormed the galleries to view the work of Ms. Catlett and 21 other artist, I had a chance to chat with attendees and colleagues. People were shocked by two things: one, that I worked at the Bronx Museum (my public life); and two, how quickly you can get to the Museum from Manhattan and Brooklyn by train. I, who seem to know only people who live in BK, know this.

You'll need the D train. Hop on, crack open that book you've been saving for a quiet moment --all things are relative-- and in less than 20 minutes, 5 train stops you're at the Museum! The 4 train works too but the walk is a little longer once you get off at 161/Yankee Stadium.

Train Stations

59th St/Columbus Circle, NYC: 20 minutes, 5 stops

W 4 St. NYC: 37 minutes:  37 minutes, 10 stops

Pacific Ave, Bklyn: 50 minutes, 13 stops


Go to http://bronxmuseum.org for complete exhibition details. And before you start your trip it's always a good idea to visit Google Maps, Hopstop, and especially the NYC Mass Transit website to check for service changes.

Bon Voyage!

Be A Bronx Super Hero!

My eyesight being what it was (four-eyes since the first grade) as a kid I thought I could be the super hero Daredevil. Never mind I saw no practicality in handstands and somersaults, but he was blind, my eyesight was poor and we both liked red.

Forty years later, I can really connect to my favorite super hero at the 3rd Annual Bronx Heroes comic book convention, next Saturday, May 7, 2011, at the Bronx Museum. It's an exciting day of comics and workshops for all ages bringing together artists and fans alike. 

This event is a great opportunity to meet Bronx and New York comic artists and a great place to buy Indy comics, and will feature free workshops, panels, and portfolio reviews, and more - including a cos-play contest! Admission is free of charge.

Produced by Cup O Java Studio, Creative One Comics, and the Bronx Council on the Arts, Bronx Museum and BronxNet. Hosted by founders and co-organizers Ray Felix, Gary Camp, and Ed Mouzon.

@ The Bronx Museum

Now 12:00 - 5:00pm
Saturday, May 7, 2011

RSVP on Facebook