That is why on Sunday, March 15th, Tanya Fields, affectionately known as Mama Tanya, along with her organization, ‘The BLK Projek” will be hosting a ‘Brunch With Mama Tanya’ (I got my ticket, do you?!)
Fields tells us:
“Sunday, March 15th from 12 – 4pm join the BLK Projek for an afternoon of southern inspired culinary delights, performances, remembrance and unlimited mimosas at Brunch With Mama Tanya. Executive Director, Tanya Fields will guest chef a southern themed, buffet style Brunch to raise funds for The BLK Projek’s Libertad Urban Farm. The BLK Projek addresses food justice for marginalized women and youth by utilizing the “Good Food Movement” to create economic development opportunities for marginalized women and youth of color. Our programs include the South Bronx Mobile Market and Libertad Urban Farm. Next Sunday’s brunch will raise funds for our urban farm which has it’s first Spring workday Saturday, March 28th. So grab a ticket and nosh on bananas foster french toast, chicken & waffles, curry carrot salad and sweet cornbread with a spring compote and basil whipped cream. Eat great food for a great cause. http://www.theblkprojek.org/purchase-your-brunch-with-mama-tanya-tickets“
According to the event description, the event will be a locally sourced (where available), down home, southern style Sunday brunch guest chef’ed by Executive Director, Tanya Fields and hosted by BLK Projek member Imani Vidal. Join us, Sunday, March 15th from 12-4pm for a brunch prepared lovingly by “Mama Tanya” as if you were in her own little Bronx kitchen. If you are following her on Instagram then you have most likely drooled over her culinary delights and now she’ll share them with you. An afternoon of southern style culinary treats, performances, presentations and celebration, we will inform you of our progress thus far with the Libertad Urban Farm and share our vision for the future.
Tickets to Brunch with Mama Tanya start at $50 per person. While this is a fundraiser we would like to see a significant number of community residents in attendance so we are offering a limited number of “Pay as You Can” tickets to community members and we have special rates for group tickets. Please contact info (at) theblkprojek (dot) org or 718.635.0951 for more details.
Proceeds for this fundraiser will benefit our Libertad Urban Farm project. Our first Spring workday is March 28th. Can’t make the fundraiser? Consider donating to our crowdfunding campaign on Fundrazr.
Casita Maria is located at 928 Simpson St, Bx, NY 10459.
What a great way to start the day to find out that BronxMama and Welcome2TheBronx made BrickUnderground’s Best NYC Neighborhood Blogs for 2015! Here’s what they had to say about our respective blogs and don’t forget to check out the other 22 that made the cut!
Welcome2TheBronx
Sitting under a banner that reads, “You think you know the Bronx—but you don’t!”, Welcome2TheBronx serves up a never-ending feed of both aggregated and original news on local arts, news, food, and more. Keep scrolling until you know everything about the borough better known as the Boogie Down (and while you’re at it, check out their sister site, Welcome2Melrose).
For a specifically family-friendly take on all things uptown, BronxMama is a lifesaver, offering up links to local parenting resources, and plenty of event suggestions for anyone waking up on a Saturday morning with rambunctious kids and no set plans. They’ve even been known to throw events of their own, like a recent “paint and sip” workshop at a local beer garden.
Cynthia Lopez, NYC’s Film Commissioner, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. stand by as Baz Luhrmann addresses the attendees of the press conference.
Australian film director Baz Luhrmann came to The Bronx yesterday for a press conference at The Ghetto Film School in Port Morris along with Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr and New York City Film Commissioner Cynthia Lopez to discuss his latest project, ‘The Get Down’ heading to Netflix.
The focus of the press conference was to talk more about the television series, which has captured the attention of Bronxites all over the world who lived during the era of the 1970s which the series is set in. Baz Luhrmann said of ‘The Get Down’, “It is about a group of teenagers and it’s specifically about a very intense friendship with two guys and there’s a girl involved.”
He also added, “But at a certain point we cut between now (the present moment) and back in the day and their trajectory through life…they go on different roads. I think their aspiration, their creativity, their gesture to say is look, we’re in a very difficult time and a lot of people are using the word no hope but all they see is hope, all they see is possibility and their creativity goes on to change the world.”
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr (left) and Baz Luhrmann are interviewed by various media outlets including Welcome2TheBronx
Luhrmann discussed how series will be filmed on location here in The Bronx and throughout New York City as the story will follow a group of young adults from The South Bronx during the tumultuous ’70s.
He also talked about all the research he has done on The Bronx itself including its geography and went on to say that at one time when he found himself on The Grand Concourse, he was wondering why he felt like he was on the Champs-Élysées and then learned that our famed boulevard was designed AFTER that world-renowned Parisian boulevard.
As you may remember, many residents are optimistically cautious about the series with the hopes that our story is accurately as told as possible. Baz Luhrmann said that a number of the show’s writers are from The Bronx and lived here during the 1970s which gives us hope that the story will be true that era while showcasing the rich culture which blossomed despite the chaos that was going on around us.
Filming is scheduled to begin May 21, 2015 and continue through November 16, 2015 with a tentative date of August 2016 for the series to air on Netflix.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Planning have a rough road ahead with Bronx residents.
Last night, hundreds of residents from within the Jerome Avenue Study Area (estimates had the crowd at at least 400 attending despite the weather), gathered to join in solidarity against a rezoning that the community feels is not about them or with them. Residents and community groups are so concerned yet so organized they have even formed a group and an umbrella alliance of all stakeholders calling themselves ‘Bronx Coalition for a Community Vision’.
Watch the videos of the meeting below
Click to enlarge
The community became incensed when they first heard about the potential rezoning of their area which grew from a large, 57 block area to a massive 73 block study area straddling multiple neighborhoods. Many were furious at what seemed to be a re-branding of these neighborhoods under the ‘Cromwell-Jerome’ name and saw it as the creation of a new neighborhood.
Susanna Blankley, Director of Housing Organizing for New Settlement Apartments Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA), said, “City planning said the neighborhood is not complete and we can clearly see that is not the case”
The event was hosted and organized by a diverse group of organizations such as CASA, Latino Pastoral Action Center (who provided the space to meet), Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Mothers on The Move, The Urban Justice Center, Pratt Center for Community Development, VOCAL-NY, United Auto Merchants Association, and Faith in New York.
It also received the endorsements of Council Member Vanessa Gibson, State Assemblywoman Latoya Joiner (both in attendance), and also in attendance were Congressman Jose E. Serrano, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, and State Assemblyman Victor Pichardo.
A clear signal to all: The Bronx belongs to its people.
Throughout the meeting, the various speakers educated residents on the proposed study and how rezonings and upzonings can displace residents. The many speakers talked about how the community has the power, as the true stakeholders of the community as residents, to make sure that whatever zoning happens in the area, comes from the people.
Speakers like Denise Felipe, a member of New York Community For Change, spoke about the major city-wide housing crisis we have. She spoke about how she was pushed out from her home in the Lower East Side where she was born and eventually moved to Brooklyn where she is fighting the same battle again as gentrification continues pushing residents out.
“Nothing can take without community participation,” said Felipe. “We need all of you guys to stick together and come out…we want to make sure that our city planning, community board members, and elected officials not only do new rezonings but they keep us included…we need REAL affordable housing…we need local hires…” she continued to add.
Members from CASA performed a skit which lightheartedly talked about how rezoning works, developers attempting to influence City Planning and what residents can do to empower themselves.
Many residents carried posters with strong messages.
Children even got up on stage and spoke about what they love about their neighborhood and what they envision their neighborhood to be.
After witnessing the amount of people in the crowd, the diversity, the energy, it is clear that anything that happens within the Jerome Study Area will be community led and driven and the community will not allow itself to be steamrolled as previous administrations have done throughout the city.
This community gathering was very reminiscent of We Stay/Nos Quedamos, which was founded in 1992 when residents of the Melrose neighborhood section of The Bronx caught wind of an urban renewal plan and rezonings that were to take place which would have displaced thousands of residents, demolished what buildings were left and create a housing that no one in the neighborhood could afford — all without community input.
Thanks to the late Yolanda Garcia and founder of Nos Quedamos, the residents of Melrose were able to take control of their destiny and neighborhood and make sure that their visions of what the neighborhood could look like—should look like—did.
City planning, Community Boards 4 and 5 will have their first official community meeting Saturday March 14th at The Bronx Museum of the Arts in the Lower Gallery from 10AM – 1PM, followed by another one on Thursday, March 19th at the Davidson Community Center located at 2038 Davidson Avenue from 7PM – 9PM, and a Spanish language meeting on March 26th also at the Davidson Community Center from 7PM – 9PM.
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson Speaks with Congressman Jose E Serrano as State Assemblyman Pichardo and New York City Public Advocate Letitia James look on.Union workers rally around Public Advocate Letitia JamesThe chant and mantra for the eveningUnion workers fighting for fair development.Demands for real community engagement was the central theme of the event last night.Hundreds packed the room showing a clear interest of the residents to shape their own community.
Tomorrow, Friday, March 6 from 5:30PM – 9:30PM, you’ll get TWO art openings under one roof as the BxArts Factory launches their first exhibition called ‘Innuendos: The Voices of 10 Bronxite Women‘, and the Andrew Freedman Home Artists in Residence II Annual Art Exhibition featuring 15 artists and their works.
Information on Innuendos is as follows:
An Art Exhibition: Innuendos
Definition:
in•nu•en•do noun \ˌin-yə-ˈwen-(ˌ)dō, -yü-ˈen-\
a statement which indirectly suggests that someone has done something immoral, improper, etc.
an oblique allusion : hint, insinuation; especially: a veiled or equivocal reflection on character or reputation
This collection of works by ten women artists from The Bronx seeks to connect you to the female form. We wish to celebrate women, body and spirit, through metaphors intended to destroy the stigmatism of women’s bodies and to reflect the elegance of the female form through its closeness to the universe.
Innuendos, is a forum for artists and members of the community to discuss the problems women face in this new age, including how our accomplishments continue to be ignored by many members of our society. The works explore and bring light to how the bodies and spirits of women have been affected or negatively influenced by constant sexualization, commercialization and enslavement. The presentation of these conceptual works is also meant to illustrate the different societal elements that have shaped ideas of the female form in an attempt to incarcerate women’s freedoms and power in a patriarchal society.
The art exhibition will take place just in time for Women’s History Month and is defined by a multimedia collection of works that reflect a variety of styles and representations of women. The show is co-curated by Yelaine Rodriguez and Yolanda L. Rodriguez and produced in part by BxArts Factory
Invited artists: Laura Alvarez , Laura N James, Ijeoma D. Iheanacho, Elena Bouza, Sharon Lee De La Cruz, Yelaine Rodriguez, Melan Dolly, Melissa Calderón, Abigail DeVille and Yarisa Colon Espacio Asiray)
Amazing Music by DJ: Cat Fasanella
The show will include Additional Programming:
March 18th: La Pluma y La Tinta: La Pluma: New Voices in the Boroughs: The Bronx, 7:00 – 9:00pm Get Tickets Here: http://nvbronx.eventbrite.com/
March 20th: Video/Photo Presentation and Panel: reImagine project by Ijeoma D. Iheanacho, 6:30 – 9:00pm
April 1st: Closing Reception with Artists Talk and Performances 6:30
The City testified saying that it couldn’t withstand more storms and was a public hazard and YET 2 brutal winters have passed SINCE the June 2013 hearings at Community Board 1, PS 31 is STILL standing and is in the same condition.
Engineers hired by SoBro performed an inspection of the property and issued a report stating that the building, although badly damaged, it is salvageable and so much so that even Goldman Sachs was interested in investing in the revitalization of this property.
On December 17, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted NO to the Department of Building’s request to strip the structure’s landmark status and had harsh words for the city. We were present at that meeting and this is what we wrote on that day:
“Both New York City Department of Buildings and HUD could not provide enough evidence as to why Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) should strip PS 31’s landmark status even in the edifice’s deteriorating condition.
The city agencies tried hard to convince the Commission to approve the application to strip the beloved Castle on the Concourse landmark status so that they could demolish it but instead were met with resistance.
LPC instead, lambasted all city agencies responsible for letting such a beloved structure that means so much to the community to decay. Despicable, shameful, and appalling were just some of the words used by the members of the Commission as they took turns to comment and voice their agreement or disagreement with the application to de-landmark the vacant school.
Only one Commission member voted to approve the application citing the safety concerns however most other members reiterated that anything that can be done to shore up the building should be done.”
Having been in the residential real estate appraisal industry for 15 years, I have performed countless exterior inspections of properties in New York City. PS 31, as of today, is in the EXACT same exterior condition as it was a year ago when we wrote an update on how it survived the harshest winter in 20 years. Although I am not a qualified engineer, we are trained to observe differences in properties when performing exterior inspections including to report whether a property’s condition has improved, remained the same or worsened.
Department of Building claims that the building is falling apart but photographic evidence here clearly shows that 11 months and 2 brutal winters later, the building is in the exact same condition. We must ask ourselves, what exactly is going on here?
On one hand we have DOB claiming doom and gloom and the building can’t be saved and on the other hand we have photographic evidence that the structure is still intact with no further deterioration as DOB has claimed and on the other hand we have an engineering report from SoBro stating that although structurally unsound, the building is salvageable.
New York City Department of Buildings claimed in June 2013 at a Community Board 1 meeting as well as a hearing before Landmarks Preservation Commission on December 17th, 2013, that PS 31 posed an immediate public safety and would, in most likelihood, not be able to withstand severe storms and weather. Here are two photographs taken of the building after 2 of the most brutal winters in 20 years and the property is IDENTICAL in condition as it was 2 years ago.
As a community, we cannot let our history so callously be erased. This would never happen in Manhattan or Brooklyn or elsewhere in the City of New York so why should we allow this to happen in The Bronx?
It has been reported that the city would want to develop the land for affordable housing. This is NOT the way to develop affordable housing by destroying our landmarks and history.
Lauren Bacall on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar — the photograph (by Louise Dahl-Wolfe) which launched the legendary icon’s career.
The Bronx born and raised beauty, known to the world as Lauren Bacall but to her family and childhood friends by her birth name of Betty Joan Perske, passed away last August at the age of 89. She was the last surviving icon named in Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ list of Hollywood legends — all of whom are gone now.
From 1968 to 1986, Bacall donated over 700 items to The Museum at FIT and now, some are on display in a new exhibition, ‘Lauren Bacall: The Look’ which runs until April 4th, 2015.
Calling her a legendary icon is an understatement as she graced the silver screen and was always dressed with a style of her own.
“Her mother taught her how to look her best on a limited budget, by emphasizing simple silhouettes and quality garment construction. As a young girl, Bacall admired designer fashions in the windows of the stores along Fifth Avenue; a few years later, she wore them as a model. She was introduced to Vreeland in 1942 and started appearing in Harper’s Bazaar. “I began to be aware of fashion,” Bacall remembered of her time at the magazine. “I noticed what she [Vreeland] wore, which were always the simplest things.”
By the early 1950s, Bacall was a major Hollywood star, and she had begun to develop relationships with leading fashion designers. She regularly attended presentations by couturiers in Paris, including Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy. Bacall later quipped, “From the day I could afford it, I shopped too much.”
Norman Norell, coat and two-piece dress designed for Sex and the Single Girl, wool, rhinestones, 1965, USA. Gift of Lauren Bacall. Photo: Eileen Costa/The Museum at FIT
“Lauren Bacall, like many Old Hollywood stars, was made, not born. Her trademark downcast look wasn’t a come-hither ploy but rather a result of nervousness in front of the camera. Her voice, while naturally low, was exaggerated — director Howard Hawks made her pull her car over on Mulholland Drive and shout into the canyons to make it huskier. And her regal bearing belied an ordinary, middle-class upbringing in the Bronx. But her love of fashion was one thing that wasn’t the creation of a studio — even as a young woman, she bought Norman Norell’s designs on steep discount in Brooklyn, and she would later go on to have a close relationship with the designer, who costumed her for 1964’s Sex and the Single Girl. Bacall was also friendly with Yves Saint Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro.“
Not bad for a girl from The Bronx, huh?
[slideshow_deploy id=’5813′]
Head on over to The Fashion Institute of Technology located at 227 W 27th street on 7th Avenue in Manhattan
One of New York City’s premier art shows, The New York Armory Show, will be having a Bronx Day in conjunction with The Bronx Arts Alliance at The Bronx Museum of the Arts. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4th from 4PM – 8PM you can view this 4 day exhibition covering a wide variety of mediums and disciplines as well as programming for all ages.
The Armory Show’s mission is as follows:
“MISSION OF ARMORY ARTS WEEK
In its seventeen years, The Armory Show, America’s leading fine art fair devoted to the most important art of the 20th and 21st centuries, has become an international institution, bringing artists, galleries, collectors, critics and curators from all over the world to New York every March. Armory Arts Week strives to take advantage of this yearly convergence of the world’s top collectors and art enthusiasts by proudly consolidating and promoting a diverse selection of our city’s own cultural offerings.
In celebration of New York’s unparalleled artistic communities, Armory Arts Week works to highlight the distinct non-profit cultural organizations of our city’s multiple neighborhoods and boroughs. Throughout the week of The Armory Show, we promote a different neighborhood each day with cultural events for all levels of visitors.
This concept of a week of non-profit arts-related events was born out of the festivities and widely-felt excitement generated by The Armory Show, and was formalized with the support of the city in 2009. Since then, Armory Arts Week has continued to expand its reach throughout all five boroughs of New York. From elaborate benefit parties to interactive public programming, The Armory Show hopes that Armory Arts Week will continue to enrich the public through the promotion of New York’s exceptional arts-related events.”
Information, including participating artists, times and programming is as follows (from The Bronx Museum of the Arts):
Bronx Speaks: Making Place presented by Bronx Arts Alliance, March 4-8, 2015
Opening: March 4 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Reception: March 6 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm Bronx Speaks: Making Place is the latest exhibition presented by the Bronx Arts Alliance (BxAA) in concert with New York Armory Arts Week. The show highlights the cultural diversity of artwork created and exhibited within the Bronx featuring US and International Artists from 20+ Bronx arts organizations as selected by a curatorial committee. A key focus of the exhibition is to document the uniqueness of this environment and to share creative visions that highlight these surroundings. Bronx Speaks will take place at The Bronx Museum of the Arts and will be installed by independent curator Sarah Corona.
Natalie Wood (leading Bronx Children’s Museum GreenArts After School Program)
In addition, as part of the Bronx Artist Documentary Project, the following photographs will also be featured:
Artist Jeanine Alfieri photographed by Lisa Kahane
Artist Evan Bishop photographed by Adam Reyes
Artist Anne Humanfeld photographed by Ron Terner
Artist Heidi Johnson photographed by Danny Perault
Artist Jay Moss photographed by Lauren Click
Artist Bernard Olshan photographed by Ira Merritt.
There will be a series of Special Events during the exhibit:
-Sneek Peek, Wednesday March 4th from 4-8pm. Bronx Cultural Trolley will be making stops and The Diego de la Vega Coffee Co-op will offer a cup of coffee in exchange for any alternative currency, barter, or time deposits.
-On the officially designated Bronx Day, a Reception will take place Friday, March 6th from 6-10pm.
-6:00 to 9:00pm: Official opening reception of Bronx Speaks: Making Place, presented by the Bronx Arts Alliance, in the Lower Gallery. Lower Gallery Bar opens at 6pm.
-6:00pm: Doors open in the 2nd floor North Wing for First Fridays. 2nd Floor Bar opens at 6pm; free tours of the galleries by Museum teaching artists; art-making
activity for children until 8pm.
-6:15pm to 7:30pm: Performances by Innove Gnawa Band, Lucy Blanco and James Lovell, Vithym in the Lower Gallery
-Alicia Grullon will perform live her video piece Morir Soñando and serve a home-made traditional drink
-7:30pm: Performance by La Santa Cecilia in the 2nd floor North Wing, as part of First Fridays! in Collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Neighborhood Concerts
Wine courtesy of Skyview Wines & Spirits. Cupcakes Courtesy of Eva Jay Sweets. Bronx-based Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights Food Truck will be selling Carribean cuisine from 6-10pm
-On Sunday March 8th, Bronx Children’s Museum will be hosting a free Art Workshop for Kids from 12-4p. All participants will be part of the Lower Gallery installation, Paper Paradise.
Hours:
Wednesday, March 4 4pm – 8pm Bronx Culture Trolley
Thursday, March 5 11am – 6pm
Friday, March 6 11am – 10pm Bronx Day and Reception from 6-10pm,
Saturday, March 7 11am – 6pm
Sunday, March 8 11am – 6pm Free Art Workshop for kids 12-4pm
This program has been made possible in part through the sponsorship of the Bronx Council on the Arts with funding provided by Bronx Arts Alliance members.
The Bronx Museum of the Arts is located at 1040 Grand Concourse and is easily accessible by multiple means of public transportation including Metro North and by car.
“Luhrmann said he was very enthusiastic about casting actors and actresses from the borough.
“Nothing would make all those involved in ‘The Get Down’ more thrilled than to find cast members from The Bronx itself,” Luhrmann said in an email. “So I can only encourage anyone who fits the criteria of the auditions to audition. You never know until you try.”
The casting page says of the series:
“1970s New York City – broken down, beaten up, violent, cash strapped, dying. Told through the lives and music of a ragtag crew of South Bronx teens – from Bronx tenements, to the SoHo art scene, CBGBs, Studio 54, and even the glass towers of the just-built World Trade Center – The Get Down is a sweeping saga of loyalty, love and betrayal, and the transformation of New York City.”
Is there a fee to submit to an online search role?
No, there is no credit card information taken and no fee to submit for this online search.
Can I submit if I am a different age than the age requirement for the character?
If the role description on the website says: ‘you must be at least x years old’, it means the studio has set an age minimum for legal reasons so you MUST be the minimum age at time of audition. If an age range only is provided, then this is a guideline for the age of the character. Ideally you should be within that range, but if you are not, you may still audition if you can believably play someone within that age range.
Do I need to memorize the lines in the audition scene?
You need to be exceptionally well prepared for an audition. You should find out what you can about the story if possible and learn about the character. You should try to have the lines memorized so you can deliver them naturally and present your best performance. However, it is OK to hold the audition scene and refer to it if necessary – what matters is your performance.
Do other people need to read the parts of the other character(s)?
You will need to have a “reader” if there is another character with dialog in the scene. Your reader reads the part or parts of the other character and should always be off camera.
If there are props mentioned in the sides do I need to include those props in my audition?
If you find that using a prop that is described in the scene is helpful to your performance, you can do so, but you should be careful not to do anything that is too distracting. Generally in auditions people will pantomime the props since your acting is what is being evaluated, not your ability to stage design.
What should I wear?
Unless the instructions specify some type of dress, you should choose something that looks good on you on video. Do not wear anything with visible logos or team names. Otherwise, it’s not particularly important.
Login to www.castittalent.com and go to “Packages” and “Submission history.” If your audition is there, it’s been received! If the casting office feels that you are a fit for the role, they will contact you directly.
What if I have already submitted and I need to change or resubmit my audition?
You should play your video on your computer and make sure it’s fine before uploading to the site. We do not recommend re-submitting. However, if after submitting through an online search you check your video on your Cast It Talent profile and find a significant technical problem, for example if the audio or video quality was degraded once the video converted to QuickTime on our servers and does not play well, then you should re-submit. To resubmit, you log in towww.castittalent.com, upload the new video, wait until it’s converted (this can take 15 minutes), test to make sure it plays back from your Cast It Talent profile, then resubmit following the instructions on the Roles page.
When and how will I find out if I got the part?
An open casting call is just one step in a complicated casting process – final casting decisions are rarely made based on one audition video. If the casting office thinks you are potentially a good fit for the part and likes your audition, you may be contacted – usually by email — either to submit a second audition online or come in for an in-person callback. If you are submitting for an open casting call, the studio will pay your transportation fees if you are out of the area unless otherwise noted in the audition information. Please note that your email and phone (or that of your parents if you are a minor) are available only to the casting office, no one else will see your contact information.
Will an inexperienced or non-professional actor have a chance?
Yes, the reason studios and casting offices conduct open casting calls through Cast It Talent is because they are interested in pursuing new talent for a film or television show. It is an outstanding way to be seen by legitimate casting offices and major studios. A casting office may “flag” someone viewed during an open casting call and consider them for a different role or for a future project as well. While non-professional, unrepresented actors are invited to participate in an open casting call, there is no guarantee someone from the online search will be selected ultimately for the role. Keep in mind that an online open casting call is not a contest with a “winner”, but part of a complex casting process that is normally open only to professional actors with agents. Many factors go into casting a role and there are many different parties involved in the final decision. Roles that have been made available for open casting calls are also being pursued by professional actors with agents, so you are usually being considered alongside experienced actors. Please be aware that there are always hundreds and sometimes thousands of submissions for open casting calls for studio productions. You should never contact the casting office or studio about your submission or email your audition to them (unless you are asked to). You will only hear from casting if you are selected for a callback or if they want more information from you. You will not hear back if you are not being considered further.
When we found out last June that an exhibition on Frida Kahlo was coming to The New York Botanical Garden, May 16th, 2015 couldn’t get here fast enough. Now, we’re just a little over 2 months away from opening weekend and thanks to NYBG, we’re happy to share more about this event.
After reading the calendar of events, Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life is massive with its programming surrounding the actual exhibition which includes over a dozen of her works, many of which are from private collections, live music and dancing giving us a colorful range of the performing arts, family events and so much more! We’ve put it all together here so that you can plan in advance for these events (especially for those who are traveling into NYC just to experience the exhibition and The Bronx!)
The timing of the exhibition could not have been better. The Bronx is now home to one of the largest Mexican populations in the New York City region — so large that we are the home to the first and only institute of Mexican Studies on the East Coast and this side of the Mississippi.
‘Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life’ is going to be a 6 month-long celebration not only of one of the most celebrated artists in the world but also of culture of her Mexican homeland, the people, and everything that has taken roots here in our borough and are city.
The following is reprinted with NYBG’s permission:
“This blockbuster exhibition will be the first to examine Frida Kahlo’s keen appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world, as evidenced by her home and garden as well as the complex use of plant imagery in her artwork. Featuring a rare display of more than a dozen original Kahlo paintings and works on paper, this limited six-month engagement will also reimagine the iconic artist’s famed garden and studio at the Casa Azul, her lifelong home in Mexico City.
Accompanying events invite visitors to learn about Kahlo’s life and enduring cultural influence through poetry, lectures, Frida al Fresco evenings, Mexican-inspired shopping and dining experiences, and hands-on art activities for kids.”
Casa Azul in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Photo: Casa Azul, Mexico City, 2014 / Via NYBG (Click to enlarge)
The Haupt Conservatory will come alive with the colors of Kahlo’s Mexico, greeting visitors with an evocation of the artist’s garden at the Casa Azul (Blue House), her lifelong home. Passing through blue courtyard walls, visitors will stroll along lava rock paths lined with flowers and showcasing a variety of important garden plants from Mexico. A scale version of the artist’s pyramid — created to display pre-Hispanic art collected by her husband, muralist Diego Rivera — will feature traditional terra-cotta pots containing desert plants found in her garden, as well as the organ pipe cactus fence located at Rivera’s studio in nearby San Ángel. Experience the Casa Azul as the ultimate expression of Kahlo’s connection to Mexico and the natural world.
Kahlo’s Woks in the Art Gallery
Photo: Casa Azul, Mexico City, 2014 / Via NYBG (Click to enlarge)
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library’s Art Gallery exhibition, curated by Adriana Zavala, PhD, will feature 14 of Kahlo’s paintings and works on paper — many borrowed from private collections — highlighting the artist’s use of botanical imagery in her work. Focusing on her lesser-known yet equally spectacular still lifes, as well as works that engage nature in unusually symbolic ways, this grouping will include Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940); Flower of Life (1944); Still Life with Parrot and Flag (1951); and Self-Portrait Inside a Sunflower (1954).
Exhibitions in the Mertz Library are made possible by the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
Additional support has been provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and by a Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Sponsored by Carolina Herrera New York.
About the Guest Designer
Scott Pask is an award-winning scenic designer who received a Bachelor of Architecture degree and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. He designed NYBG’s Monet’s Garden in 2012 and The Orchid Show: On Broadway in 2011. He has won Tony awards for his work on The Book of Mormon, The Pillowman, and The Coast of Utopia. His recent Broadway productions include Finding Neverland, Something Rotten, The Visit, It’s Only a Play, I’ll Eat You Last with Bette Midler, and the hit revivals Pippin, Promises Promises, HAIR, and Nine. He designed Amaluna for Cirque du Soleil, which is currently touring the world.
About the Guest Curator
Adriana Zavala, PhD, is Associate Professor of modern and contemporary Latin American art history and Director of Latino Studies at Tufts University. Zavala has curated several exhibitions and published widely on Mexican art. Her Book, Becoming Modern, Becoming Tradition: Women, Gender, and Representation in Mexican Art (Penn State University Press, 2010), was awarded the Arvey Prize by the Association for Latin American Art in 2011.
Frida’s and Diego’s Mexico City in the Ross Gallery
This fascinating panel exhibition will present museums and other sites in Mexico City where Kahlo’s and Rivera’s artwork and personal collections can be viewed, conveying the scope of their artistic and intellectual contributions to the cultural life of Mexico
Exhibitions in the Ross Gallery are made possible by the Arthur and Janet Ross Fund.
Sponsored by México: Live It To Believe It
Symposium
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Mexican Art in the 20th Century Friday, May 15; 10:30AM – 12:30PM Moderated by guest curator Adriana Zavala, this symposium explores Mexican art history, design, and the evolution of Kahlo’s garden at the Casa Azul.
Speakers:
Adriana Zavala, Associate Professor of modern and contemporary Latin American art history, Tufts University
Mary Coffey, Associate Professor of North American and Latin American Art, Dartmouth College
James Oles, Senior Lecturer in Art and Adjunct Curator of Latin American Art at the Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College
Juan Rafael Coronel Rivera, author, curator, and grandson of Diego Rivera
Revel in the Mexican history and culture that inspired Frida Kahlo and her art during weekend-long celebration of Kahlo’s creative spirit. Live performances by musical artists in residence, The Villalobos Brothers and Humberto Flores, as well as Calpulli Mexican Dance Company set the stage for two days of non-stop performance art, film, and fun for fans of any age, including the opportunity to decorate and take home masks.
PROGRAMS
Live Music & Dance
Saturdays and Sundays, plus Monday Holidays
The Best of classic and contemporary Mexican music joins with the historic traditions of ballet folklórico for live performances held on weekends throughout the summer and fall. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Mexico Beyond Mariachi and Calpulli Mexican Dance Company during sets in the Leon Levy Visitor Center, Haupt Conservatory vicinity, and Ross Hall.
Mexico Past & Present Film Series
Saturdays and Sundays, plus Monday Holidays
The experience of FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life continues each weekend with a film series that includes the Academy Award-winning Frida, which immerses you in the life and times of Frida Kahlo every Saturday, and a revolving series of documentaries and shorts on Sundays, presented in partnership with Cinema Tropical.
Mobile Experience
Experience the singular beauty of the artistic haven Kahlo and Rivera created at the Casa Azul as you enjoy its evocation in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Dazzling archival photographs, contemporary views, audio narration by the guest curator, and videos bring this unique space to life. Then try your own hand at self-portraiture! Take a selfie and style it with flowers, fruits, and foliage line one of Kahlo’s paintings — and share it with your friends!
Mobile Media supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies
¡Viva la Frida!
Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12
Bring your fashion savvy for a weekend celebration of the life, style, and spirit of Frida Kahlo. Enjoy live mariachi performances by the women of Flor de Toloache, partake in a Frida Look-Alike Contest, and craft your own flower crown as you join in the fun with Frida impersonators.
Poetry for Every Season
Co-presented with the Poetry Society of America
Mexican Poetry Walk
Adjacent to the Haupt Conservatory, the works of influential 20th-century Mexican poet Octavio Paz, many referencing native plants and flowers, will be displayed amid the seasonal beauty of the Garden’s own collections.
Family Adventures Frida’s Flora and Fauna Weekdays; 1:30pm – 5:30PM Weekends plus Monday Holidays; 10AM – 5:30PM May 16-September 27
Visit the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden to experience the inspiration Frida Kahlo found in the natural world that can be seen and appreciated in her artwork. Throughout the Adventure Garden investigate plants and animals growing and living in New York City, using your senses as well as scientific tools to discover your own creative muse.
Sponsored by Univision Contigo
Cooking with Frida Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 2 & 4PM
Hands-on activities in the Edible Academy’s Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden bring together children and their families to experience the colors, textures, smells, and tastes of Frida Kahlo’s Mexican kitchen. Cooking demonstrations feature recipes inspired by those Frida served to family and friends, using nutritious, garden-based ingredients. Visitors can explore and tend to plant staples of Mexican cuisine growing throughout the Family Garden: beans, tomatoes, peppers, chiles, herbs, and more!
Frida al Fresco Evenings Select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Enjoy these festive nights out at the Garden by experiencing FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life after hours. Stroll through Kahlo’s beloved Casa Azul reimagined in the Conservatory, see rare works in the Art Gallery, and then transport yourself to Mexico without leaving New York via live music performances, Kahlo-inspired items from Shop in the Garden, an outdoor Tequila Bar, and delicious Mexican fare inspired by Kahlo’s own recipes, all enjoyed with a complimentary cerveza.
Generous support for the Summer Concert Series is provided by Vivian and Edward Merrin.
Non-Member $35/Member $25 (Adults 21 and over)
Advance tickets recommended; includes one complimentary beer
Start the night off with a champagne pre-party at Shop in The Garden on select nights from 5:30PM – 6:30PM. Learn more at nybg.org/priceless
Spotlight on Agave: A Tequila Story
The rich history and long-standing traditions of Mexican tequila will be told through a living presentation of the plant at the heart of it all — the agave — for an informative look into the botany and craftsmanship of one of the world’s favorite spirits.
Sponsored by Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia
Canciones de mi Padre (Songs of My Father) Concert Peformed by the Villalobos Brothers and Humberto Flores with special guests June 20, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Bring a picnic blanket and set up under the stars for a relaxed evening of food, music, and continued celebration of Mexican heritage at the heart of our summer exhibition, FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life. Dad won’t want to miss this throwback to the heyday of Linda Rondstadt with a performance of her landmark album of traditional Mexican folk songs — one of the top-selling non-English albums in American history—by the Villalobos Brothers and Humberto Flores, featuring a special appearance by Gizel Xanath, other guest artists, and a full mariachi band. Pick up dinner for the family from Stephen STARR Events or visit their Mexican BBQ food truck while you’re here, and enjoy a complimentary cerveza included with your ticket to this Father’s Day weekend concert.
Special Event ticket required; Non-Members $40/Member $30.
Shopping & Dining
Visit Shop in the Garden and delight in a fiesta of vibrant Mexican colors, with authentic Talavera pottery, tin retablos, Kahlo-inspired shirts, totes, sketchbooks, and more! Visit The Pine Tree Café for Mexican flatbreads, crisp and spicy salads, sweet aguas frescas, and other specialty snacks inspired by the artist’s own recipes.
Evening Lectures
Frida Kahlo: Art & Life Wednesday, May 20, 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Celebrated scholar and author Hayden Herrera interweaves Frida Kahlo’s work and life, highlighting her childhood, the accident that turned her to painting, her tempestuous marriage to muralist Diego Rivera, and her passionate love for her native Mexico.
Non-Member $25/Member $19
Frida Kahlo Today: Her Influence on Contemporary Art Wednesday, June 3; 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Art historian and NYU Professor Edward J. Sullivan examines notable artists across the Americas, revealing Kahlo’s impact on their highly personal explorations of art, national heritage, and identity.
Fret not folks, there’s much more to come as this is only the Spring/Summer Calendar of events surrounding Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life at The New York Botanical Gardens. Stay tuned with us as we bring you the details for their Fall programming!
Some of highlights for the fall include: Mexican Independence Day Celebration from September 19-20, Mexican Poetry Reading by Rachel Eliza Griffiths on September 19th, and Day of the Dead Weekend from October 31 – November 1.
Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life is made possible by the following sponsors:
One of the paintings on display by Nicer / Courtesy of Wallworks
Join Wallworks New York tomorrow, Saturday and February 28th from 5pm to 8pm for ‘Naughty but Nicer‘, a solo exhibition of graffiti legend and founding member of Tats Cru, Nicer.
The work in this exhibition is inspired by the famous pin-up girls who’s popularity picked up steam in the locker rooms of many soldiers during World War II — although their history reaches back as far as the late 1800s.
Mural for WallWorks NY on Alexander Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard by Tats Cru legends Bio and Nicer. The wall is scheduled to change several times a year.
And for those who have visited Wallworks, you have already seen a collaborative piece between another graffiti artist legend, Bio and Nicer, who’s mural graces the outside of the gallery depicting a pin-up girl draped in a Puerto Rican flag dress. (I unofficially dubbed her ‘Nuestra Señora De Pol Mori’, a play on the area’s name of Port Morris.)
One of the paintings on display by Nicer / Courtesy of Wallworks
Nicer, born Hector Nazario in the South Bronx, ran the streets as a teen and left his mark in the art world and eventually became a pioneer in showcasing graffiti as an art form to the rest of the world along with the other founding members of Tats Cru.
The exhibition runs from February 28th through March 25th, 2015 and gallery hours are Tuesdays through Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.
Wallworks is located at 39 Bruckner Boulevard at the corner of Alexander Avenue and they can be reached at 917.825.9342 or via email at wallworksny@gmail.com
