Contents for April 20, 2020 (Scroll down for more information):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc. receives Jerome Foundation Arts Organization Grant
2. Joyce Kozloff, FF Alumn, now online at BuffaloSpree.com
3. Paul Henry Ramirez, FF Alumn, at Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, thru Aug 16
4. Naoto Nakagawa, FF Alumn, now online
5. Alexander Komlosi, FF Alumn, now online at www.huckyhonolulu.com and more
6. Anton Van Dalen, FF Alumn, now online at instagram.com/tv/B-w8VD9j47I/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
7. Paul Zaloom, FF Alumn, now online at https://www.facebook.com/paul.zaloom
8. Annie Lanzillotto, FF Alumn, now online at youtube.com/watch?v=N8f65eelPqs&app=desktop
9. Paul Zelevansky, FF Alumn, now online at http://vimeo.com/61220688 and more
10. Susan Bee, FF Alumn, now online at airgallery.org
11. Allan Schwartzman, FF Alumn, now online at artagencypartners.com
12. Guadalupe Maravilla, FF Alumn, at P. P. O. W., Manhattan
13. Joe Brainard, Tehching Hsieh, Ray Johnson, FF Alumns, now online in the New York Times
14. David Hammons, FF Alumn, now online in the New York Times
15. Jonathan Berger, Renee Cox, Nicole Eisenman, Su Friedrich, RoseLee Goldberg, David Hammons, Pati Hertling, Eileen Myles, Lorraine O’Grady, Howardena Pindell, Elizabeth Streb, Julie Tolentino, FF Alumns, now online in T Magazine
16. Lawrence Graham-Brown, FF Alumn, now online at youtube.com
17. Joseph Nechvatal, FF Alumn, now online at Hyperallergic.com
18. Marni Kotak, FF Alumn, online at http://www.microscopegallery.com/ tonight
19. Alvin Eng, FF Alumn, now online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HoXQIwOV0M
20. Rachel Mason, FF Member, on Netflix starting April 22
21. New York Foundation for the Arts offers classified ads and relief funding , New York Foundation for the Arts offers classified ads and relief funding
22. Nicolás Dumit Estévez, FF Alumn, online, April 22
23. Franc Palaia, FF Alumn, now online at CalvertVaux.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weekly Spotlight: Anita Chao, FF Alumn, Broken Head Island, now online at
https://franklinfurnace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17325coll1/id/0/rec/24
FF Alumn Anita Chao’s 1995 “Broken Head Island” focuses on the artist’s mother to explore the fusion and confusion of memory as well as family history and myth. After eating rotten fruit as a child, her mother becomes ill, never to be the same mentally or emotionally. Anita Chao performed Broken Head Island at Franklin Furnace as a work-in-progress entitled She Used to Write Beautifully. The finished performance piece was performed with Sativa Peterson as part of Franklin Furnace in Exile at P.S. 122, under the new title. please visit this link:
https://franklinfurnace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17325coll1/id/0/rec/24
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc. receives Jerome Foundation Arts Organization Grant
Arts Organization Grants Program
62 Grants Totaling $4,150,334 to Arts Organizations
The Jerome Foundation is honored to announce the 62 recipients of grants totaling $4,150,334 through its Arts Organization Grants program. These grants support ongoing services, programs and activities in Minnesota and New York City for early career artists who create new works. Funded programs serve artists in dance, film/new media, literature, music, theater and/or visual arts.
Through an open call, the Foundation received more than 300 preliminary inquiries and invited 174 Letter of Intent proposals. Of these, 101 organizations were invited to submit full applications. Separate discipline-specific peer panels composed of leaders in each artistic field reviewed the applications and recommended a roster of grantees to the Jerome Board.
While grants were originally designed to support one or two years of support specifically for programs and services benefitting early career artists, the Foundation at its Board meeting on March 29 decided to give all grantees the option of using the first year of funding for general operating support, if necessary. President Ben Cameron stated, “With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many arts organizations are facing very real questions about their longer term viability and survival. The Jerome Board of Directors recognizes the long-term impact of these programs, the critical role these organizations play in their communities and their deep dedication to artists. They and staff agree that extending flexibility in a spirit of ‘radical trust’ to organizations will ultimately prove the best way to ensure that both programs and organizations will survive these challenging times.”
Program Director Eleanor Savage stated, “We are deeply grateful to the artists and arts leaders that served on the selection panels for sharing their experience and strategies for supporting early career artists. Their thorough and well considered conversations and respectful deliberations guided our support of these vibrant arts organizations and their dynamic work with early career artists.
DANCE
Abrons Arts Center / Henry Street Settlement
Brooklyn Arts Exchange
Danspace Project
Gina Gibney Dance, Inc.
Harlem Stage (aka Aaron Davis Hall, Inc.)
Momentum: New Dance Works (fiscal sponsor The Cowles Center)
Movement Research
PEPATIAN / Bronx Academy of Art and Dance (BAAD)!
LITERATURE
Asian American Writers’ Workshop
Cave Canem Foundation, Inc.
Coffee House Press
Kundiman
Loft, Inc. (The Loft Literary Center)
Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop
Poets House
The Feminist Press
The Poetry Project, LTD
MEDIA, including FILM/VIDEO
Bronx Documentary Center
Eyebeam
Firelight Media, Inc.
Rhizome Communications, Inc.
St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN)
MUSIC
American Composers Forum
Arts for Art, Inc.
Cedar Cultural Center
International Contemporary Ensemble
Jazz Gallery
Roulette Intermedium
Zeitgeist
THEATER, PERFORMANCE & SPOKEN WORD
Dixon Place
HERE
Lark Theatre Company, Inc.
Monkeybear’s Harmolodic Workshop
Musical Theatre Factory
National Black Theatre
New Dramatists, Inc.
Pangea World Theater
Pillsbury House Theatre
Playwrights’ Center
The Public Theater
Puppet Lab (fiscal sponsor Open Eye Figure Theatre)
Soho Repertory Theatre, Inc.
Theater Mu
VISUAL ARTS
All My Relations Gallery / Native American Community Development Institute
Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Inc.
Baxter St at The Camera Club of New York
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
En Foco, Inc.
Forecast Public Art
Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc.
Highpoint Center for Printmaking
Lanesboro Arts
The Laundromat Project
Lower East Side Printshop
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
PARTICIPANT INC
Public Functionary (fiscal sponsor Springboard for the Arts)
Queens Museum
Smack Mellon Studios, Inc.
Studio Museum in Harlem
Textile Center of Minnesota
UPCOMING DEADLINE
The application for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship is open through Wednesday, May 6. Learn more about the program and determine your eligibility at on our website.
Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships support Minnesota or New York City-based artists, early in their careers, who generate and create bold, innovative and risk-taking new work that explores and/or challenges conventional artistic forms. Fellows receive $50,000 over two consecutive years ($25,000 each year) to support self-determined activities for the creation of new work, artistic development and/or professional artistic career development.
SUPPORTING EARLY CAREER ARTISTS IN MN & NYC
© 2020 Jerome Foundation
Jerome Foundation
550 Vandalia Street, Suite 109
St. Paul, MN 55114
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Joyce Kozloff, FF Alumn, now online at BuffaloSpree.com
Buffalo Spree
Long Story Short:
In memory of Nina Freudenheim
4/13/20
BY BRUCE ADAMS
A legacy of excellence
An era in Buffalo’s fine art community ended on Saturday, April 10, with the death of gallerist Nina Freudenheim. Since establishing her namesake gallery in 1975, she set the standard by which all other Western New York commercial spaces are measured. That she was able to successfully operate a New York style gallery in Buffalo for forty-five years is an accomplishment in itself, but she notably brought significant artists to Buffalo from around the world, while also promoting local art.
“She was an extraordinary woman,” says Peter Stephens, a Buffalo artist with close ties to Freudenheim, “She was my friend, mentor, colleague, and some days, even mom. Her taste, passion, and integrity in everything she did is a model I follow.”
When I interviewed Freudenheim for a 2012 article in Spree, she recalled that she had no idea what she was doing when she started. She learned by making frequent trips to New York, where gallery owners in those days would often invite her into their back offices and share the secrets of the trade. It was the right time for a new career. “My youngest child was seven years old and he was going to be in school all day,” she remembered.
Family and career. “All of us have learned from Nina’s professionalism,” says Sandra Olsen, former director of the University at Buffalo Art Galleries, who became friends with Freudenheim almost from the time Olsen moved to Buffalo in 1978. “But most important for me, and for many others I am sure, was that she was a role model, a woman who successfully balanced her professional career and family life. She loved art and artists, but even more, with a generous and caring spirit, her friends and family.”
“Not only will there be a void in the art community,” says Freudenheim’s niece, Monica Burgio Daigler, “but there will be a huge void in our family.” She was a loving wife to her husband Bob, a mother of three, and grandmother of four. She leaves behind a brother and sister-in-law, and was an aunt to a “family who adored her, her strength, her talent, her giving spirit, and her loving heart.”
Influence and professionalism. The Jewish/Italian girl from Buffalo’s West Side and graduate of Grover Cleveland High School was also an urbane sophisticate. Freudenheim had natural grace and refinement which could be a little unnerving to some people. “When I was working at Castellani Art Museum,” recalls Olsen, “my relationship with her was intellectually challenging and rather intimidating. She was so knowledgeable and such a smart businesswoman, and I was making inquiries for another smart and intimidating person, Armand Castellani.”
“She has brought artists from near and far to Western New York’s notice, and, importantly, has also put that work before the eyes of local museum directors and curators” wrote Spree editor Elizabeth Licata on the occasion of last year’s tribute exhibition, For the Love of Art: A Tribute to Gallerist Nina Freudenheim, at the Castellani Gallery. “Many works in the collections of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Burchfield Penney Art Center, and Castellani Art Museum are there thanks to the networking of Nina Freudenheim.”
“One of her most important and long lasting contributions to Buffalo was her role as Director of the 1979 public art program for the Art of the Subway project,” recalls Olsen, “The Beverly Pepper at the foot of UB’s South Campus, the Sam Gilliam on a wall overlooking Main Street at the Canisius College station, the Robert Lobe sculpture at Amherst Street, or the Joyce Kozlof mosaic mural at Humboldt Street station have become so much a part of our landscape that it is easy to forget how hard Nina fought to bring these major artists to Western New York.”
Kind but candid. Approaching Freudenheim as an artist could be daunting, but once you mustered the courage, she was known for her generosity and warmth. “I look at anyone’s work who comes to me,” she said during our interview. “Absolutely anyone. I love looking at new work, and I show regional art a lot.” Freudenheim had very particular tastes as a curator. She turned down many artists, including me, but she had a very gentle way of doing it. “Your work is excellent,” she would say, “but I can’t do anything with it,” making it her inability, not yours, that prevented her from exhibiting the work.
Artist Kyle Butler was twenty-six the year Freudenheim started representing him. “When I was a good deal more inexperienced and irresponsible,” he remembers. “Her patience and support played a big role in my development as an artist, as it did with many others.” Butler fondly remembers Freudenheim for her frankness “in a way that always seemed refreshingly without the counterproductive diplomacy you often get elsewhere.”
A legacy. Like many people I talked to, Butler enjoyed the insightful conversations about art he regularly had with Freudenheim. “I’ll miss these meetings, her knowledge and experience, and the calm voice she delivered it all with,” he says. But he also has fond memories of the person behind the image. “She had an unpretentious appreciation for oddball restaurants—good food, weird interiors—and once,” remembers Butler, “while at dinner with a few artists and collectors after an exhibition, she mentioned that she watched Perry Mason almost every night before falling asleep.”
With continuing commitment and know-how, Freudenheim made a big impact on Western New York. “Her legacy lives on,” says Burgio Daigler, “in Buffalo and beyond and in our hearts.”
for the complete illustrated obituary please visit this link: http://www.buffalospree.com/Blogs/City-Buzz/Annual-2020/Long-Story-Short-In-memory-of-Nina-Freudenheim/?fbclid=IwAR1-QXcqHWm6FNh1qlWgiTWSxIfJ-tI8L7phVPIr-oViFYvzyxdPpYI7pfw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Paul Henry Ramirez, FF Alumn, at Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, thru Aug 16
“Shifting Gaze: A Reconstruction of the Black & Hispanic Body in Contemporary Art,” from the collection of Dr. Robert B. Feladman, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA (March 21 – August 16, 2020
Shifting Gaze: A Reconstruction of The Black & Hispanic Body in Contemporary Art presents a selection of works from Dr. Robert B.Feldman’s extensive collection of contemporary art. The 27 internationally regarded artists featured here create timely considerations into race and identity. The works are inspired by global art history, American history, and popular culture and present a broad range of concepts including vulnerability, beauty, and belonging. They challenge perceptions about the way society and each of us may or may not look at the “other.
Through various media, such as painting, sculpture, drawing, and collage, the Black, Hispanic and Latinx body is subtly implied in some instances, beautifully unfolds in others, and in a few, is direct, dramatic, and heartbreaking. The symbolic framework of the Shifting Gaze helps generate a larger dialogue between the works and our current diverse physical, social, and political landscape.
The power of this collection is the result of the extraordinary vision and passionate quest of the collector Dr. Feldman who shares with us an unparalleled visual intellect fueled by his knowledge, curiosity, humanity, and a keen eye.
Shifting Gaze: A Reconstruction of The Black & Hispanic Body in Contemporary Art features works from the following artists:
Nina Chanel, Abney, Farley, Aguilar, Radcliffe Bailey, Yoan Capote, Nathaniel Donnett, Mark Thomas Gibson, Luis Gispert, Clotilde Jiménez, Jennie C. Jones, Samuel Levi Jones, Nate LewisKyle Meyer, Lavar Munroe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Ebony G. Patterson, Lamar Peterson, Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, Paul Henry Ramirez, Jamel Shabazz, Vaughn Spann, Shawn Theodore, Mickalene Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas, Carlos Vega, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Nate Young
For more information about the exhibition please visit this link:
https://virginiamoca.org/shifting-gaze-reconstruction-black-hispanic-body-contemporary-art-collection-dr-robert-b-feldman
www.paulhenryramirez.art
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Naoto Nakagawa, FF Alumn, now online
Please visit this link and scroll down to an image and text about Naoto Nakagawa:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Grim-Harbingers.html?soid=1101992539878&aid=I1IL5k3Pn9o
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Alexander Komlosi, FF Alumn, now online at www.huckyhonolulu.com and more
Alexander Komlosi, FF Fund Recipient, presents The Hucky Honolulu Sessions. WebTV Series on YouTube.
The Hucky Honolulu Sessions is a parody of decadent internet videos. The series tells the story of Hucky Honolulu, a middle-aged man’s journey to find friends and acceptance by making videos on YouTube. During the series, we learn about Hucky’s difficult past, his struggles confronting poverty and mental illness through humor and honesty, as well as his dreams for a future of belonging and security.
The series explores themes of toxic masculinity, loneliness, marginalization, cultural shock, violence and creating community to overcome personal difficulty. It juxtaposes quirky silliness with profound introspection. It aims to create high-quality, yet popularly accessible art. It is a tragicomic adventure. The videos are in English.
Schedule: Every Tuesday and Thursday at 7PM Eastern European Time (providing Hucky does not get into trouble with the law). Premiere April 14th, 2020. Season 1 ends June 18th, 2020.
Where to watch YouTube -The Hucky Honlulu Sessions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZB2yX8x7dBD41Z_xOZszow
Also on: www.huckyhonolulu.com
FB: Hucky Honolulu
Instagram: @huckyhonolulu
Artistic team
The series is presented as Hucky Honolulu’s project. For that reason, the artistic team behind the project chooses to remain anonymous for the time-being.
Produced by: Kulttuuriyhdistys Culture Current ry, Helsinki, Finland
Contact: Alexander Komlosi, alex@alexanderkomlosi.name. Alexander is a professional actor based in Helsinki. He has performed internationally. He regularly teaches at the Theatre Academy in Helsinki, Finland. He has received grants from Arts Promotion Center Finland, Franklin Furnace Fund, Ministry of Culture – Czech Republic, Finnish Cultural Fund, Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, and numerous other foundations in Finland and internationally. www.alexanderkomlosi.name
This project is supported by funding from: Arts Promotion Centre in Finland, Culture Current and Helsinki City
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Anton Van Dalen, FF Alumn, now online at
instagram.com/tv/B-w8VD9j47I/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Dear family, friends and neighbors,
All past month of March I have worked to put my learning about Covid-19 on paper by pencil.
But how to, much went through my mind, as these times challenge all us all to the very extreme.
Then the Coronavirus / Covid-19 blewup and unleashed its poisonous cloud everywhere.
At once my hesitation vanished, the subject found me, our entire fragile world of today.
Please visit this link to a silent film of my drawings:
instagram.com/tv/B-w8VD9j47I/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Always worked from the perspective beginning with home, then street, neighborhood, city, world.
We came to learn that Covid-19 envelops every dimension of our personal and public life.
It rudely stirred up my still scarred emotional childhood memories, most of Holland WW2.
As military language has come to be used more and more to describe our naked vulnerabilities.
I wanted my visuals to center on the East Village, began my drawings at my Avenue A home.
But then my children and friends thought, because of my age at 81, I should get out of the city.
Came to understand that I should listen to them and retreat to the country side of Long Island.
Through their generosity I was able to turn my scribbles into accessible drawings, see below.
Yet, throughout I was worried about being appropriately thoughtful about this most serious matter.
I read daily widely about the virus and its fast implications, also learned from family and friends.
But then I also had to integrate into the drawings mine and everyone’s frightened inner self.
And, I was concerned not to be frivolous or satirical, sought to keep the subject big and myself small.
Having grown up with Dutch culture and its pictorial history gives me broad points of reference.
With its tradition of a human narrative, from observation, and in setting of our common daily life.
Ten days ago I returned to my NYC home, and NOT going out at all, safely home with family help.
And (it being Spring) pairing up 24 of my pigeons, as they are starting up their family life again!
Now my rooftop pigeon coop resounds like a joyous orchestra of the natural world, as life goes on, sad and beautiful.
Anton
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Paul Zaloom, FF Alumn, now online at https://www.facebook.com/paul.zaloom
Hiya. Paul Zaloom here.
Lynn Jeffries and I are creating a comedic puppet and found object web series that tells the story of “SANTA’S OFF-SEASON ADVENTURES.” It turns out Santa controls the world and everything in it! (“He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…”)
Today we released the 3 minute Episode 0: “Santa Stays Safe” on
-YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTEYDHW5uU0)
-Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/paul.zaloom)
More episodes to come! Check it out, like it, subscribe, repost if you will, blah blah.
I’d like to get a lot of views, as this is my new (non-paying) job, and I hope the laughs come in handy! Be well,
Paul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. Annie Lanzillotto, FF Alumn, now online at youtube.com/watch?v=N8f65eelPqs&app=desktop
please visit this link:
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. Paul Zelevansky, FF Alumn, now online at http://vimeo.com/61220688 and more
TO THE GREAT BLANKNESS
MAILING LIST:
HELLO AGAIN.
HOPING YOU ARE ALL SAFE AND WELL.
ANOTHER PAIR OF SHORT VIDEOS FROM
“MISTER ROGERS FOR ADULTS”
PZ, 4/15/20
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10. Susan Bee, FF Alumn, now online at airgallery.org
Anywhere Out of the World New Paintings
A.I.R. Gallery Brooklyn NY 2020
www.airgallery.org
© Susan Bee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11. Allan Schwartzman, FF Alumn, now online at artagencypartners.com
please visit this link:
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12. Guadalupe Maravilla, FF Alumn, at P. P. O. W., Manhattan
P·P·O·W gallery now represents Guadalupe Maravilla, FF Alumn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13. Joe Brainard, Tehching Hsieh, Ray Johnson, FF Alumns, now online in the New York Times
Please visit this link:
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14. David Hammons, FF Alumn, now online in the New York Times
Please visit this link:
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15. Jonathan Berger, Renee Cox, Nicole Eisenman, Su Friedrich, RoseLee Goldberg, David Hammons, Pati Hertling, Eileen Myles, Lorraine O’Grady, Howardena Pindell, Elizabeth Streb, Julie Tolentino, FF Alumns, now online in T Magazine
Please visit this link to T Magazine, April 19, 2020:
https://www.nytimes.com/section/t-magazine
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16. Lawrence Graham-Brown, FF Alumn, now online at youtube.com
please visit these links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DZ67TO6JjE&t=13s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkrQ5rgaklI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q2VNEZp5ds&t=391s
thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
17. Joseph Nechvatal, FF Alumn, now online at Hyperallergic.com
Hyperallergic has published a special Sunday edition with a commissioned piece by Joseph Nechvatal on the virus as a cultural trope titled From Viruses to Algorithms, We Are Always Under Threat. This short essay covers quite a bit of ground, from computer viruses to Matthias Grunewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece (circa 1516), to his own work with virus-modeled artificial life and is online here:
hyperallergic.com/553959/from-viruses-to-algorithms-we-are-always-under-threat/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
18. Marni Kotak, FF Alumn, online at http://www.microscopegallery.com/ tonight
Monday April 20, 7:30pm ET
Marni Kotak: “Love Masks”
Live Online Performance
Free Admission
Microscope is very pleased to present “Love Masks”, a live online performance by Marni Kotak. In the performance, which will be streamed from Kotak’s home, the artist is seated in her kitchen listening to the evening news, and sewing masks for her family and others to wear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My mother is a retired nurse who taught me how to sew, and recommended that I make a mask for the safety of myself and my family and some to donate to community members. I decided to make a personalized mask that I would like to wear and see others wearing, one that would spread a message of love, rather than add to the fear and hopeless many are feeling right now…” — MK
Each mask, which comes in three variations, features the word “Love” embedded in a lotus flower, which Kotak explains as a reference to the symbol of the lotus in Buddhism, symbolizing the beauty that emerges from the muck, or deepest challenges in life. Two of the images are prints of pastel drawings by the artist and the third is a digital image made by the artist’s 8-year-old son, Ajax.
While the performance was conceived of several weeks ago, coincidentally it is taking place following the recent requirement that every person wear a mask or other face covering in public, beginning on the evening of April 17th.
The three “Love Masks” will be available beginning at the time of the performance, as limited editions of 50. Half of all proceeds will be donated to City Harvest
Admission is free
A “WATCH NOW” link will become available on this page at 7:30pm ET on Monday April 20th: http://www.microscopegallery.com/
Marni Kotak is a multimedia and performance artist presenting everyday life being lived. She has received international attention for her durational performances and exhibitions, most notably “The Birth of Baby X” (2011) in which she gave birth to her son as a live performance and “Mad Meds” (2014) during which the artist slowly withdrew from psychiatric medications prescribed for postpartum depression. In “Treehouse” (2017), Kotak — who had just experienced a devastating fire in her home — created a refuge for herself and others to pause from the overwhelming aspects of life. For “Dancing in the Oval Office” (2019), the artist invited the public to join her in her version of the oval office to dance for a more open, inclusive, and peaceful society. Kotak’s works have also appeared at the Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art, Santiago, Chile, Artists Space, Exit Art, Momenta Art, English Kills Gallery, Grace Exhibition Space, among others. She has performed extensively in the US and abroad. Kotak’s work appears in “The Art of Feminisim: Images that shaped the Fight for Equality”, 1957-2017 by Helena Reckitt (Chronicle Books, 2018) and “Blackwells Companions to Contemporary Art: A Companion to Feminist Art “(2019) among other publications. Her exhibitions have been featured in ArtFCity, Artforum, Blouin Artinfo, Art Pulse, The Huffington Post, Hyperallergic, Los Angeles Times, Studio International, The Brooklyn Rail, The New York Times, The Village Voice, Time Magazine, Washington Post, among many others. She has also appeared on Good Morning America (ABC), CBC Radio, NPR, and other broadcasts. Grants include Franklin Furnace Fund Award and the Brooklyn Arts Council among others. Marni Kotak received a BA from Bard College and an MFA from Brooklyn College.
Microscope Gallery Event Series 2020 is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
19. Alvin Eng, FF Alumn, now online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HoXQIwOV0M
A quick update on the Dixon Place Workshop Residency of HERE COMES JOHNNY YEN AGAIN––an acoustic punk rock raconteur work written and performed by Alvin Eng and directed by Wendy Wasdahl.
Tonight (April 18) would have been the third and final performance. Of course, this has been cancelled (but rescheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2020!). To have the show go on tonight, and keep running in a different way, we are excited to share on YouTube, a two-camera video from the March 7th performance at Dixon Place. Please click here for HERE COMES JOHNNY YEN AGAIN…on Video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HoXQIwOV0M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20. Rachel Mason, FF Member, on Netflix starting April 22
Hi Friends!
It’s been a while, but I finally can share the biggest news of my life!
On April 22, CIRCUS OF BOOKS launches globally on NETFLIX.
I spent the better part of four years working on this film. It tells the story of how two regular, straight, middle class people, my parents, ended up at the center of the battle for gay rights and sexual liberation simply by running their business: a gay porn store.
As fate would have it, the film is premiering during this current time of uncertainty and sorrow. I hope it serves as a reminder of how much we have overcome, because we now live in a time where the largest streaming platform, NETFLIX, can embrace a film like this.
If you love the film please share it with your friends. It will lead to more platforms understanding how important our stories are.
I send you love,
Rachel
Watch CIRCUS OF BOOKS on Netflix April 22!!
A NEW DOC LOOKS AT THE SURPRISING STORY BEHIND L.A. PORN LANDMARK CIRCUS OF BOOKS
“I was born to be the gay porn heiress of Los Angeles.”
COMING APRIL 22! Official Music Video – GIVE YOU EVERYTHING
I wrote the end credits song of the film and you can play it now on SPOTIFY! Next week I’ll release the Official Music Video featuring Buck Angel and Peaches!
THE REVIEWS ARE IN!
“A NEARLY PERFECT DOCUMENTARY”
IndieWire
“OBSCENELY POIGNANT”
Hollywood Reporter
“CAPTIVATING AND HEARTWARMING”
NewNowNext
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
21. New York Foundation for the Arts offers classified ads and relief funding
Referred to as the ultimate career development tool, NYFA Classifieds is the largest national online opportunities board in the arts and culture industry. It’s the go-to site for artists, arts administrators, and museum professionals seeking jobs and internships, opportunities and services, and event listings and studio spaces.
The unfortunate continued spread of COVID-19 has impacted the artistic community greatly as many work several part-time jobs to enable their practice. It has put these artists out of work, and has also put many hiring industries on pause. In recognizing the hardships that artists face as a result of losing their jobs and the lack of hiring within the arts at this time, NYFA is opening up its Classifieds board to include any valuable opportunity from any industry that might be hiring right now, free of charge.
If you know of companies, organizations, or individuals who are seeking to hire, encourage them to list for free with NYFA Classifieds: https://www.nyfa.org/Classifieds
Right now we also have a roundup of emergency grants for artists available on our site:
NYFA Emergency Grants page: https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Emergency%20Grants
A roundup of resources for artists seeking financial relief, including assistance to those impacted by COVID-19.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22. Nicolás Dumit Estévez, FF Alumn, online, April 22
The Tree & I Audio CALL/WALK Virtual Launch Event
Join us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day…and CALL’s newest initiative!
Virtual Launch Event – The Tree & I Self-Guided Audio Tour
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
6:00 PM 7:00 PM
To register;
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?id=60&name=E342387
Starting this Earth Day with the release of the audio iteration of last’s years CALL/WALK at Van Cortlandt Park, The Tree & I, City as Living Laboratory is launching our new initiative to produce a series of self-guided CALL/WALKS. We hope this audio WALK will be the first of many, and the exciting beginning to making our signature public programs available to a wider audience.
At this virtual launch event for CALL’s first self-guided audio CALL/WALK, walk leaders John Butler and Nicolás Dumit Estévez will talk us through their process and experiences, providing an opportunity for questions and conversation over video conference. This event is free, but to attend you must register. Registrants will be sent the call-in link as well as the download link for the audio WALK prior to the event via email.
Since our earliest days, City as Living Laboratory has been hosting provocative, insightful, and engaging public walks collaboratively led by teams of artists and scientists. CALL/WALKS engage urban residents on the streets of their communities to explore the nature that is in action all around them. These walks brainstorm ways artists, scientists, and communities can work together to meet urgent environmental challenges impacting climate, health, and equity.
Up until now, CALL/WALKS have always been a one-time event, documented in video. Starting this Earth Day, with the release of the audio iteration of last’s years live program at Van Cortlandt Park The Tree & I , that changes. New Yorkers and visitors to the New York Area can now participate in this walk in their own time* – alone, or with others when social distancing guidelines are loosened. The production of this audio WALK will allow a wider audience to participate in CALL’s programming and facilitate a greater sense of environmental stewardship in the wider community.
As you listen to the Tree & I, you will be guided through a section of Van Cortlandt Park, entering at 246th street and passing along the parade grounds and Van Cortlandt house to the Wolf Tree. The walk then travels to the wet meadow and on to Van Cortlandt Lake, where Tibbetts Brook enters the Broadway Sewer. Artist Nicolás Dumit Estévez guides listeners through a series of meditations which facilitate developing a meaningful and personal relationship with the trees and water. Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Ecological Project Manager John Butler contextualizes listeners with insight into the natural life and history of the park.
At this virtual launch event, John and Nicolás will talk us through their process and experiences, providing an opportunity for questions and conversation over video conference. This event is free, but to attend you must register. Registrants will be sent the call-in link as well as the download link for the audio WALK prior to the event via email.
*please note that as a temporary COVID-19 Field Hospital currently occupies the Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground, the first stop on this walking tour, we do not recommend taking the self-guided tour in the park at this time. While the audio guide will be available to download and listen to, we would ask that members of CALL’s community wait until after the closure of the field hospital to visit this area of Van Cortlandt Park.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
23. Franc Palaia, FF Alumn, now online at CalvertVaux.org
Hello Friends, photographers and art collectors,
We hope you are all safe and sound.
Here is the final new ON LINE virtual gallery of the Calvert Vaux Historic Photography show on view at the Montgomery Row gallery in Rhinebeck. The actual gallery is still closed with the show extended to May 31.
In the meantime please take the virtual tour here. The works are well illustrated with hi res imagery and if you are interested in purchasing works contact Kitty@ calvertvaux.org
The direct link is https://www.calvertvaux.org/index.php/online-exhibit-tour/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goings On is compiled weekly by Harley Spiller
