NYSCA Recovery Grant - Work Samples by ArtsWestchester

ARTSWESTCHESTER

Public Programs

artsw.org | @ArtsWestchester 31 Mamaroneck Avenue Fl 3 | White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220 | www.artswestchester.org

Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic: ArtsWestchester is a critical art service organization that keeps the arts alive and available. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ArtsWestchester continued to serve its constituency, even while facing financial challenges of its own. To off-set the impact of its cancelled concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and peer-to-peer fundraising events, ArtsWestchester furloughed employees directly connected to our public programs, implemented an across the board salary reduction of 15%, and paused matching 401k contributions. The organization further implemented cost-saving initiatives, reducing contracts with outside vendors. The staff fully committed to finding new ways to serve arts organizations and county residents. As the country’s primary funder of artists and cultural organizations, ArtsWestchester distributed $1.3 million to some 150 orgs for remote and online programs, keeping artists working and organizations functioning. With help from county government, we expanded our Challenge Grant program by $250,000 fuding 89 orgs with additional unrestricted grants. In May 2020, ArtsWestchester launched The Artist Relief Fund in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its negative effects on artists. This grant provides one-time $500 grants to Westchester-based artists who have demonstrated a realized loss of income due to Covid-19. ArtsWestchester raised over $25,000 in private donations and has awarded 31 rescue grants to date, with applications still being reviewed on a rolling basis. While our gallery/performance space was closed we presented virtual exhibitions, concerts, and more than 100 original artist-led video workshops. We also streamed programs by our 130 affiliates. Thousands of people, including teens and seniors, tuned in to youtube, facebook, and other platforms for their fix of the arts in Westchester through our programs and support efforts. As we look forward to the final quarter of 2021 and towards 2022, ArtsWestchester remains committed to supporting the work of artists through a return to live performances, education residencies, and exhibition opportunities.

Contents Westchester Roots................................. 4 JazzFest.................................................... 10 Teen Tuesday and Thursday................. 16 ArtsMobile................................................ 19 Juneteenth............................................... 20 Queer Arts Series.................................... 21 The Arts of Ballroom............................... 24 Fabulous February.................................. 25 Dataism Exhibition.................................. 27 Modern Families...................................... 34 Día De La Independencia Paraguaya....... 36 Lunar New Year Festival........................ 44 Bravo Paraguay....................................... 52 Performing Families................................ 60 Brick by Brick Exhibition........................ 70

ArtsWestchester Invites You to a New Series of Live Music Events

Westchester Roots

presented by:

White Plains: NIGHT IN THE PARK

Court Street (between Main St. and Martine Ave.) White Plains, NY

ITAL RAIN REGGAE BAND Thur., July 15 | 7pm A high-energy reggae band that plays everything from Bob Marley, Vybz Kartel, Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs, UB-40, Marcia Griffiths, original songs, and many others.

MCLEAN AVENUE BAND Thur., July 29| 7pm Taking the Irish American music scene by storm, McLean Avenue Band masterfully combines traditional Irish tunes and ballads with elements of rock, pop and R&B.

BASE CAMP R&B Thur., August 12 | 7pm This R&B band performs soul-filled classics, from Luther Vandross and Sade to Mary J. Blige and The Isley Brothers, plus more! These events are co-presented by The City of White Plains and ArtsWestchester.

Mount

Vernon: WESTCHESTER ROOTS

NATYA ANUBHAVA AND THE NEW YORK KOREAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Tues., July 27 | 6:30pm Experience the power and beauty of South Indian and Korean dance by some of New York’s finest tradition bearers.

JOMION & THE UKLOS Tues., August 17 | 6:30pm Jomion & the Uklos, a family band from Benin, West Africa, combines traditional rhythms and songs from Vodoun culture with reggae, salsa and jazz to create vibrant and joyful music that will get you on your feet. Co-presented by ArtsWestchester and the City of Mount Vernon in conjunction with the “Mt. Vernon Summer Breeze Series”

City Hall Plaza, 1 Roosevelt Square North Mount Vernon, NY

THE PTAH-SHABAZZ WISDRUM ORCHESTRA Tues., August 10 | 6:30pm This illustrious family ensemble presents an evening of traditional West African dance and drumming.

THE JALIYA KAFO ENSEMBLE W/ SALIEU SUSO & EBRIMA JASSEY Tues., August 24 | 6:30pm Jaliya Kafo performs traditional Gambian kora (harp) and balafon music from West Africa. The family ensemble is led by Salieu Suso, a master musician born into a family of farmers, griots, traditional musicians and historians in Gambia, West Africa.

These events are co-presented by ArtsWestchester and the City of Mount Vernon.

Sleepy Hollow DIA DE LA CULTURA ECUATORIANA / DAY OF ECUADORIAN CULTURE Sat., August 14 | 3–8pm Barnhart Park, Sleepy Hollow, NY

Performing Families: THE MAYOR FOUR AND THE PTAH-SHABAZZ WISDRUM ORCHESTRA Thur., August 19 | 6–7:30pm Horan’s Landing, Sleepy Hollow, NY

Join us for an afternoon of Ecuadorian music, dance, food and craft, along with family-friendly presentations on traditional Ecuadorian costumes and the indigenous Kitchwa language.

Celebrate the bonds of music and dance with two family ensembles as they explore the connections between kinship, tradition and the arts. This program brings together Columbian jazz pianist Pablo Mayor and his family band, as well as the Ptah-Shabazz Wisdrum Orchestra, a West African dance and drumming ensemble of extended-family.

These events are co-presented by ArtsWestchester and Village of Sleepy Hollow.

Ossining

Bethany Arts Community, 40 Somerstown Rd, Ossining, NY 10562

Performing Families: INTI ANDINO AND MARIACHI SOL MIXTECO Sat., August 21 | 6:30-8pm Celebrate the bonds of music and dance with two family ensembles as they explore the connections between kinship, tradition and the arts. This program brings together the Ecuadorian family band Inti Andino and the Mexican family band Mariachi Sol Mixteco. Co-presented by ArtsWestchester and Bethany Arts Community.

All performances will take place in accordance with New York State and local health department guidelines. Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners:

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Partners:

ArtsWestchester Invites You to a New Series of Live Music Events

Westchester Roots:

PERFORMING FAMILIES presented by:

Sleepy Hollow

Horan’s Landing 57 River St, Sleepy Hollow, NY

THE MAYOR FOUR AND THE PTAH-SHABAZZ WISDRUM ORCHESTRA Thurs., August 19 | 6-7:30pm Celebrate the bonds of music and dance with two family ensembles as they explore the connections between kinship, tradition and the arts. This program brings together Columbian jazz pianist Pablo Mayor and his family band, as well as the Ptah-Shabazz Wisdrum Orchestra, a West African dance and drumming ensemble of extended-family. Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket! Partners: This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

ArtsWestchester Invites You to a New Series of Live Music Events

Westchester Roots:

PERFORMING FAMILIES presented by:

Ossining

Bethany Arts Community 40 Somerstown Rd, Ossining, NY

INTI ANDINO AND MARIACHI SOL MIXTECO Sat., August 21 | 6:30-8pm Celebrate the bonds of music and dance with two family ensembles as they explore the connections between kinship, tradition and the arts. This program brings together the Ecuadorian family band Inti Andino and the Mexican family band Mariachi Sol Mixteco. Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket! This program is FREE but seating is limited. All attendees must register in advance at

bit.ly/PerformingFamiliesOssining Partners: This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

ARTSWESTCHESTER AND THE VILLAGE OF SLEEPY HOLLOW PRESENT:

Westchester Roots

DIA DE LA CULTURA ECUATORIANA

Sat., August 14 | 3–8pm (RAIN DATE: Sun., August 15 | 3-8pm) Barnhart Park, 25 Andrews Ln, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

Ayazamana Dance Group

Cristobal Ortega

Join us for an afternoon of Ecuadorian music, dance, food and craft, along with family-friendly presentations about traditional Ecuadorian costumes and the indigenous Kichwa language. Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket for this outdoor event! 3pm | Ecuadorian Dance Workshop with Ayazamana (all ages welcome) 4pm | Presentation on Ecuadorian Costumes by Dra. Pacha Muenala 4:30pm | Finger Painting Demo by renowned Ecuadorian artist Cristóbal Ortega 5-8pm | Traditional ceremony, ritual demonstration, and live music and dancing featuring music ensemble Inti Andino, the Ayazamana Dance Group, cultural troupe Sumak Taki Llakta, Grupo Samay de la Escuela Caminemos Juntos, Fabian Muenala, and Atik Katary Paguay Sponsors:

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Partners:

Inti Andino

ARTSWESTCHESTER Y EL PUEBLO DE SLEEPY HOLLOW PRESENTAN

Ra ces de Westchester

DIA DE LA CULTURA ECUATORIANA

Sábado, 14 de agosto | 3–8pm (FECHA DE LLUVIA: Domingo, 15 de agosto | 3–8pm) Barnhart Park, 25 Andrews Ln, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

Cristobal Ortega

Ayazamana Dance Group

Únase a nosotros con toda su familia, para una tarde de música, danza, comida y artesanía ecuatoriana, presentaciones con los trajes tradicionales ecuatorianos y su idioma indígena. ¡Traiga su silla, manta de picnic! 3pm | Taller y Danza Ecuatoriana con grupo Ayazamana, evento para todo público 4pm | Presentación de trajes típicos ecuatorianos por la Dra. Pacha Muenala 4:30pm | Demostración del arte de pintar con los dedos con el artista ecuatoriano Cristóbal Ortega 5-8pm | Ceremonia tradicional, demostración ritual, música y baile en vivo con el conjunto de música Inti Andino, Ayazamana, el grupo cultural Sumak Taki Llakta, el Grupo Samay de la Escuela Caminemos Juntos, Fabian Muenala, y Atik Katary Paguay Patrocinadores:

Este programa es posible, en parte, gracias al Consejo de las Artes del Estado de Nueva York con el apoyo del Gobernador Andrew M. Cuomo y la Legislatura del Estado de Nueva York.

Socios:

Inti Andino

JAZZFEST WHITE PLAINS

Ravi Coltrane (photo credit: Deborah Feingold)

ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID

SEPT 9-12, 2021

Presenting Sponsor:

with corporate support from Ginsburg Development Company

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 Preview Event

12-1:30pm | Shah/Gomes/Belo Brazilian Jazz Trio (FREE) White Plains Farmer’s Market, 59 Court St. (between Main St. and Martine Ave.)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9

12-1pm | Gabrielle Garo Quartet (FREE)* Grace Church, 33 Church Street

Gabrielle Garo is a multi-instrumentalist who plays flute, piccolo, alto, tenor, soprano saxophone and bass clarinet. *This concert is presented by Downtown Music at Grace. Proof of vaccination and masks are required for entry. The events will take place in accordance with New York State and local health department guidelines.

SPECIAL EVENING: THURSDAY, SEPT. 9

6-9pm | Jazz’n ARTSBASH ft. Ravi Coltrane Quartet, a benefit concert for ArtsWestchester City Square Park, 50 Main Street, White Plains

ArtsWestchester and Ginsburg Development Companies present the first annual Jazz’n ArtsBash Benefit Concert with live music by the Ravi Coltrane Quartet. Join us under the stars for cocktails, music, and hors d’oeuvres. The outdoor concert event will include two sets at 7pm and at 8:15pm. Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, bandleader and composer. For ticketholders, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for entry. Given the outdoor setting and vaccination requirement, masks will be optional.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 10

12pm | Jazz at Noon: Anaïs Reno with the Pete Malinverni Trio (FREE) White Plains Public Library Plaza, 100 Martine Ave.

7:30pm | Emmet Cohen Trio ($25 for 7:30pm | $40 for both 7:30 & 9pm)* Emmet Cohen (photo credit Gabriela Gabrielaa)

Grace Church, 33 Church Street

Returning for his third appearance at JazzFest! Recognized as a prodigy who began playing at age three, multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is in the vanguard of his generation’s advancement of jazz. Cohen is the winner of the 2019 American Pianists Awards and the Cole Porter Fellow of the American Pianists Association.

9pm | Emmet Cohen Trio ($25 for 9:00pm | $40 for both 7:30 & 9pm)* Grace Church, 33 Church Street *For ticketholders, proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks are required for entry.

For tickets and info: artsw.org/jazzfest

Flip for more →

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11

12-2pm | Music in Motion: Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings (FREE) Starting at White Plains Plaza, 1 North Broadway

Catch Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings live in downtown White Plains as they serenade you in the City’s outdoor cafés!

4:30pm | Dinner and a Show: Carole Alexis Company / Ballet des Amériques and Via Garibaldi (Dinner price $58pp | Children 5-12 $29pp) White Plains Plaza, 1 North Broadway

A family experience for all ages, Ballet des Amériques’ “Dancing Caravan” will bring dance to downtown White Plains. Enjoy “Peter and The Wolf” and “Dance Jazz Mosaic,” both choreographed by Carole Alexis, accompanied by a three course menu by Via Garibaldi, an authentic Italian restaurant serving a traditional “family style” experience. This performance will take place outdoors with advanced dining reservations required for prime seating. Patrons can also view the performance on the plaza, but must bring their own chair.

7:30pm | Theo Croker Quartet ($25 for 7:30pm set | $40 for both 7:30 & 9pm set)* The Playgroup Theatre, 1 North Broadway, #111

9pm | Theo Croker Quartet ($25 for 9:00pm set | $40 for both 7:30 & 9pm set)* The Playgroup Theatre, 1 North Broadway, #111

*For ticketholders, proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks are required for entry.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 12

1-6:30pm | White Plains JazzFest Culminating Event ($25/$15) Court St. (between Main St. and Martine Ave.) Tickets required for Admission**

Erena Terakubo

**The Sunday event will take place outdoors, at reduced capacity with advanced ticket purchase required. For the safety of all attendees and employees, tickets are sold in group seatings. Each group will have their designated table for the duration of the event and re-enter the event at their leisure. Tickets are non-refundable.

For tickets and info: artsw.org/jazzfest Sponsors:

JazzFest is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

For program details: artsw.org/jazzfest

#WPJazzFest

Theo Croker

Theo Croker is a storyteller who speaks through his trumpet. The GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist, composer, producer, thought leader and influencer projects his voice through the music.

JAZZFEST

ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID

VIRTUAL EVENTS

SEPT. 8-11, 2020

presented by

Enjoy Four Days of Free Virtual Jazz Happenings! Matthew Whitaker

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

(Via Zoom and Facebook Live) PRESENTING JAZZ IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 | 6pm A discussion between some of Westchester’s top jazz presenters/producers. FEATURING: Mark Morganelli | John Brathwaite | Elizabeth Sander | Wayne Bass

WESTCHESTER JAZZ: THEN AND NOW | 8pm

A discussion with, and performances by, jazz artists with deep ties to Westchester County. Moderated by Tom van Buren (New York Folklore). FEATURING: Art Bennett | Kathryn Farmer | Kenny Lee | Rocky Middleton

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

(Via Zoom and Facebook Live) ISABELLA MENDES & FLAVIO LIRA DUO | 12pm A special virtual performance of all original songs. JAZZ EDUCATION IN WESTCHESTER | 6pm A conversation between Westchester’s top jazz instructors, with short performances by each artist. Moderated by Tom van Buren. FEATURING: Tim Veeder | Ray Blue | Hiroshi Yamazaki

Veronica Swift (photo credit: Bill Westmoreland)

JAZZ, FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT | 8pm A discussion between master jazz artists and their mentees, along with live performances by each pair. Moderated by Pete Malinverni (Purchase College). FEATURING: Alexis Cole & Lucy Wijnands | Bobby Sanabria & Gabrielle Garo | Ulysses Owens Jr. & Aaron Jennings

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

(Via Zoom and Facebook Live)

JAZZ AT THE INTERSECTIONS | 8pm Live performances by each artist, as well as a moderated discussion about the world of jazz fusion. FEATURING: Amir ElSaffar | Jomion & the Uklos | Pablo Mayor

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

(Via Zoom and Facebook Live)

JAZZ’S RISING STARS | 8pm Live performances by each featured artist, plus a discussion about what it’s like to be a young rising star in jazz today. Moderated by Keanna Faircloth (WBGO). FEATURING: Connie Han | Matthew Whitaker | Veronica Swift | Alicia Olatuja

For program details & registration:

artsw.org/jazzfest

#WPJazzFest

Bobby Sanabria Presenting Sponsor:

Sponsors:

JazzFest White Plains is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

JAZZFEST ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID

LIVE EVENTS

SEPT. 12-13, 2020

presented by

Please note that these are seated-only performances, with a $10 per person dining minimum. No standing room allowed. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call each restaurant in advance to secure your reservations. Face masks are required when not seated. Sarah Jane Cion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 SARAH JANE CION TRIO | 12–1:30pm

Hudson Grille, 165 Mamaroneck Ave., 914-997-2000

Naxos Recording Artist, Winner of the 1999 Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Author of Modern Jazz Piano and The Pianist’s Jammin’ Handbook. Featured in Downbeat, Jazz Times, heard on ABC’S All My Children.

BRIAN CARTER QUARTET | 2–3:30pm Brazen Fox, 175 Mamaroneck Ave., 914-358-5911 Brian Carter

Jazz drummer Brian Carter has affiliation with many musicians including Bob Baldwin, Gil Parris, Bernie Williams, Eddie Henderson, Wali Ali, Nico Morelli and the late Didier Lockwood. Also he serves as the Director of the New Rochelle Jazz Festival and Westchester Rocks Music.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 SAMARA MCLENDON | 2–3:30pm

Via Garibaldi, 1 No. Broadway, 914-468-1888

Samara Mclendon

Winner of the 8th Annual Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition, McLendon’s voice has been compared to the rich texture of velvet. A rising star in our midst, she has managed to perform in many great jazz rooms in NYC such as Mezzrow, Smalls Jazz Club, the Django, the Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, with seasoned professionals such as Pasquale Grasso, Jon Faddis, and NEA Jazz Master Barry Harris. Presenting Sponsor:

Sponsors:

PJS Jazz Society

artsw.org/jazzfest

#WPJazzFest

JazzFest White Plains is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Camille Thurman September 15

Joel Ross September 13

ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID

WHITE PLAINS

SEPT. 11-15, 2019 Presented by

Presented by:

Enjoy a five-day celebration of free & affordable jazz in White Plains! FEATURED ARTISTS INCLUDE: Joel Ross • Melissa Aldana Emmet Cohen • George Coleman Jimmy Cobb • Mwenso & The Shakes Camille Thurman & more!

#WPJazzFest

artsw.org/jazzfest See full concert schedule on back. Sponsors:

Emmet Cohen September 14

Melissa Aldana September 13

ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID

Presented by:

WHITE PLAINS

SEPT. 11-15, 2019 Presented by

George Coleman

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

• Nanny Assis Trio* – Downtown Music at Grace Church | 12pm • Kristina Koller* – Court Street Farmer’s Market | 12:30pm DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS JAZZ STROLL: • Albert Rivera Quartet* – Mediterraneo, White Plains | 5:30pm • Pablo Mayor’s Folklore Urbano NYC Trio* – Morton’s The Steakhouse | 6:30pm • Brian Carter Quartet* – The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester | 7:30pm • Gilberto Colon Jr. & Ensalada De Pulpo* – Sunset Restaurant Bar | 8:30pm

Mwenso & The Shakes

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

• • • •

Jazz at Noon: Eunha So Quartet*– White Plains Public Library Plaza | 12pm Keyon Harrold* – Outdoor Plaza at 5 City Place | 6:30pm Pete Malinverni’s Jazz-Chester, feat. Wayne Tucker (trumpet), Ralph Lalama (tenor sax), Mikey Migliore (bass), Aaron Seeber (drums) – ArtsWestchester | 8pm | $25 Jazz Jam – ArtsWestchester | 10pm | $10

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Keyon Harrold

• • • •

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

• • •

Jazz at the Galleria Youth Showcase* – Galleria White Plains | 2pm Hands-On Jazz for Families* – White Plains Public Library Plaza | 2pm Emmet Cohen Quartet feat. George Coleman & Jimmy Cobb White Plains Performing Arts Center | 8pm | $29-$44

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 | FREE ENTRY Alphonso Horne

WHITE PLAINS JAZZ & FOOD FESTIVAL** | Noon – 5:30pm Mamaroneck Avenue at Main Street, White Plains, NY • Lagond Music All-Stars | 12pm • Art Bennett & The Organic Ensemble | 1:05pm • Mwenso & The Shakes | 2:10pm • Camille Thurman with The Darrell Green Trio | 3:20pm • Alphonso Horne & The Gotham Kings | 4:30pm *Free entry. **Rain or shine.

For tickets & information, visit:

Pete Malinverni

artsw.org/jazzfest

2019

Sessions are FREE for students ages 12-16 yrs. and are held from 4:30–6pm at ArtsWestchester 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains NY

Participate in an art activity, view our current exhibition and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

TUES

Oct 1 TUES

Oct 8 TUES

Oct 15 THURS

Oct 17

DRAWING SEATED FIGURES

As you enjoy our current exhibition, ‘The Chair Show’, explore this figure drawing class and learn to render a variety of seated postures with a clothed model.

CARTOONING Work with an artist from Blue Sky Studios to create a storyboard prompted by one of the chairs included in our latest exhibition. Walk around the ‘The Chair Show’ exhibition, and find inspiration from the artwork around you as a starting point for an illustration. Blue Sky Studio produced 12 feature films including Ice Age and Rio. Their recent hit was 2017’s Academy Award(r) nominated Ferdinand, and their upcoming film Spies in Disguise, starring Will Smith and Tom Holland, is coming to theaters this December.

BUCKET DRUMMING WORKSHOP

Achieve unique sounds by drumming on non-traditional percussion instruments such as buckets and containers. A professional drummer will lead you through the workshop. No drumming experience necessary.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS DANCE WORKSHOP Learn about the upcoming Indian holiday, Diwali, the Festival of Lights, by joining a dance workshop with a focus on the ‘Bharatanatyam’ technique. Bharatanatyam is a form of Indian classical dance that combines footwork and gesture. Workshop conducted by Sahana Madabhushi and Deeya Patel of SnD Productions.

TUES

COLLABORATIVE MURAL

THURS

INTRODUCTION TO VIDEOGRAPHY

Nov 12 Nov 21

Create a collaborative drawing by working individually on small scale work which will come together into a larger piece.

Work with your peers and a professional videographer to learn interviewing techniques, green screen and filming.

artsw.org/teentuesday

TUES

Nov 26 TUES

Dec 3 TUES

Dec 10 TUES

Dec 17

COLLAGE CREATIONS

Receive a docent tour of the latest exhibition, Dataism. As you walk the exhibition, collect colored paper which represent works of art you enjoy. Use these pieces to weave, paint and create a collage.

DIGITAL ANIMATION

Rye Art Center brings their fabulous coding skills to ArtsWestchester in this STEAM workshop. Join artist Nicole Zahour to learn the basics of animation and video game design. Using the building blocks of Scratch programming students will learn how to animate “sprites” and make a short musical story or game.

MANDALAS

Work together and use colored sand to create large scale circular mandalas with intricate patterns and design.

HOLIDAY CLAY CREATIONS Work in clay to create small scale decorative ornaments to make for yourself or give as a gift during the upcoming holiday season.

Register today! Enrollment is limited and is on a first come, first serve basis. Sign up contacting Jessica, jcioffoletti@artswestchester.org, by phone at 914-428-4220 x314 or online

artsw.org/teentuesday /ArtsWestchester | @ArtsWestchester info@artswestchester.org | 914.428.4220

Major Support From:

Robert R. Wiener Philanthropy

Sponsors:

Now on Zoom!

FREE Abstract Drawing Workshop for youth ages 12-17 years old

Thurs., Apr. 1, 4:30–5:30pm Join ArtsWestchester artist Barry Mason on Thursday, April 1 from 4:30-5:30pm for an abstract drawing workshop. Barry will teach you how to create colorful, abstract drawings inspired by everyday items. Supplies needed: Supplies needed: paper, pencils, markers, eraser and a ruler. Made Possible by:

To register, email Jessica Cioffoletti at jcioffoletti@artswestchester.org. Zoom log-in info will be sent to you upon registration. Reserve early, space in limited.

Now on Zoom!

Drawing Doodles

for youth ages 7-12 years old

FREE | Wed., Dec. 9, 4–4:45pm ArtsMobile is on ZOOM! Join ArtsWestchester artist Donna Mikkelsen on Wednesday, December 9 from 4-4:45pm for an Ambi Art workshop. Donna will teach you how to focus and use both of your hands to draw simultaneously and symmetrically. Test your dexterity and creativity with this one of a kind workshop for youth 7-12 years old. No drawing experience is necessary to participate.

Generously sponsored by:

In partnership with:

Community support by:

To register, email Jessica Cioffoletti at jcioffoletti@artswestchester.org Zoom log-in info will be sent to you upon registration.

Juneteenth

Countywide Kickoff

FREE VIRTUAL EVENT | June 1, 7–9pm Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Jun Jun, and Liberation Day, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. In 2021 it will be recognized as an official New York State holiday. Join us as we come together to celebrate this historic and momentous occasion and kick off a month-long series of Juneteenth activities around Westchester and Rockland Counties! FEATURING: • A Keynote Lecture by Civil Rights Scholar & Public Historian, Dr. Larry H. Spruill • Music and dance performances by Ray Blue, Samara Joy, Rocky Middleton, Mount Olivet Praise Singers, Prestige Step, and the Ptah-Shabazz Wisdrum Orchestra • Presentations about upcoming local Juneteenth celebrations

Watch the live-stream, June 1 on ArtsWestchester’s Facebook page: facebook.com/ArtsWestchester/ Dr. Larry H. Spruill

Attendees can also register and watch on ZOOM at zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PzEdFbeWRCqAoKu1Ydzngw Organized and Presented by:

This program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

ArtsWestchester and The LOFT: LGBTQ+ Center Present

The 2021 Westchester Pride

QUEER ART SERIES This free program will be livestreamed on ArtsWestchester’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ArtsWestchester/live

Virtual Event | WED., JUN. 23, 8–9:30pm

BALLROOM:

Underground or Mainstream

This panel discussion will focus on the origins of the house and ballroom community, taking us on a journey from its underground roots to its mainstream emergence. We will hear from Ballroom stars, statements and legends (all cast members on HBO Max’s Legendary season 2) as they discuss the pros and cons of this evolution. Moderated by choreographer for FX’s Pose, LGBTQ+ youth advocate and ballroom Legend Twiggy Pucci Garçon.

Register on Zoom at: https://bit.ly/34cflFb Left to Right: Tati Miyake Mugler, Twiggy Pucci Garçon, Milan Garçon, ChaCha Balenciaga, Jacen Prodigy

Virtual Event | WED., JUN. 30, 8–9pm

The Art of Lip Sync

Lip sync is a queer folk art and the ultimate form of drag expression. Join us for a lively discussion with the legendary John Epperson (aka Lypsinka), moderated by Drag King Maxxx Pleasure. The conversation will focus on tricks of the trade and do and don’ts, as well as personal stories and reflections. Register on Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3fDFPVC Left to Right: Lypsinka (photo credit: Josef Astor), Maxxx Pleasure (photo credit: Francine Daveta)

Sponsored by:

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

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ArtsWestchester and The LOFT: LGBTQ+ Center Present

The Art of Lip Sync

Virtual Event | WED., JUN. 30, 8–9pm This free program will be livestreamed on ArtsWestchester’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ArtsWestchester/live. Lip sync is a queer folk art and the ultimate form of drag expression. Join us for a lively discussion with the legendary John Epperson (aka Lypsinka), moderated by Drag King Maxxx Pleasure. The conversation will focus on tricks of the trade and do and don’ts, as well as personal stories and reflections.

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

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BALLROOM:

Underground or Mainstream

Virtual Event | WED., JUN. 23

8–9:30pm

This free program will be livestreamed on ArtsWestchester’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ArtsWestchester/live. This panel discussion will focus on the origins of the house and ballroom community, taking us on a journey from its underground roots to its mainstream emergence. We will hear from Ballroom stars, statements and legends (all cast members on HBO Max’s Legendary season 2) as they discuss the pros and cons of this evolution. Moderated by choreographer for FX’s Pose, LGBTQ+ youth advocate and ballroom Legend Twiggy Pucci Garçon.

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

#AWpride

ARTSWESTCHESTER PRESENTS

THE ARTS OF BALLROOM:

Celebrating Westchester Pride with NY’s Legendary House of Comme des Garçons This program series is free and will be live-streamed on ArtsWestchester’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ArtsWestchester/live on June 22-24 from 6PM-7:15PM. If you are interested in “meeting” and interacting with the artists during the LIVE ZOOM session, please email apaige@artswestchester.org for the ZOOM registration link.

MON. The Art of JUN. 22 Walking Runway 6pm - 7:15pm

Pose. Pivot. Personality. Join us for a virtual workshop in the art of runway walking, featuring Mermaid Garçon & Milan Garçon ‘MnM’ of the Legendary House of Comme des Garçons. A Q&A with ‘MnM’ will follow the workshop. The program will be moderated by Troizel Carr, performance artist and Ph.D. Candidate in Performance Studies at NYU.

TUES. The Art of Ballroom JUN. 23 Effects Design 6pm - 7:15pm

Ballroom’s top designers, Eric Jernigan (PrinceEric), and artist Egypt Garçon discuss the process by which awardwinning looks are created and fashioned. A Q&A with the artists will follow the presentation. The program will be moderated by Troizel Carr, performance artist and Ph.D. Candidate in Performance Studies at NYU.

WEDS. The Art of JUN. 24 Walking Face 6pm - 7:15pm

Join us for a workshop on the elements of face and learn what it takes to be legendary. DC House Mother Angel Rose Garçon and Legendary Emery Garçon will discuss how they started walking face and their experience walking balls across the country. A Q&A with the artists will follow the program. The program will be moderated by Troizel Carr, performance artist and Ph.D. Candidate in Performance Studies at NYU. This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.

ARTSWESTCHESTER’S

FABULOUS FEBRUARY

SALSA DANCE PARTY

SALSA LESSON BY:

NILSA DE LA LUZ & GEORGE ACEVEDO

SAT. FEB. 22

LIVE PERFORMANCE BY:

CARLOS JIMENEZ MAMBO ORCHESTRA

PUT YOUR DANCE SHOES ON....

and test your moves on ArtsWestchester’s dance floor for a night of all things Salsa! $35 | Couples Package:

Includes 2 tickets to the dance lesson, dance party & 2 FREE beverages

Dance Lesson: 7pm Dance Party: 8pm $25 | General Admission:

Includes 1 ticket to the dance lesson, dance party & 1 FREE beverage

For Tickets: artsw.org/salsaparty

CONCERT VENUE: ArtsWestchester | artsw.org

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601

ARTSWESTCHESTER’S

FABULOUS FEBRUARY UPCOMING EVENTS Molly Adele Brown

COUNTRY LOVE SONG JUKEBOX | 8pm with Molly Adele Brown. Keep the Valentine’s Day vibe going with a night of country love song classics, performed live and chosen by you.

SAT. FEB. 15 Carlos Jimenez Mambo Orchestra

$35 | Pair of Tickets (Includes two free glasses of wine, beer or soft drink.) $20 | General Admission (Includes one free glass of wine, beer or soft drink.) $10 | Student

SALSA DANCE PARTY AT ARTSWESTCHESTER Dance Lesson: 7pm. Dance Party: 8pm. Dance the night away with the Carlos Jimenez Mambo Orchestra. Put your dance shoes on....and test your moves on ArtsWestchester’s dance floor for a night of all things Salsa!

SAT. FEB. 22 Prestige Step Team

$35 | Couples Package (Includes 2 tickets to the dance lesson, dance party & 2 free beverages.) $25 | General Admission (Includes 1 ticket to the dance lesson, dance party & 1 free beverage.)

PERFORMING FAMILIES | 7pm An Evening of Music, Dance & Conversation. In celebration of Black History Month, join us for an unforgettable evening of music and dance with four family ensembles as they perform and discuss the meaning of kinship, tradition and the arts.

SAT. FEB. 29 Visit

$10 | General Admission

Performing Families is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

artsw.org/fabfeb for tickets and event details.

AN EXHIBITION AT ARTSWESTCHESTER

FROM THE

CEO

TABLE OF CONTENTS From the CEO: Artists Bring Data to Life

ARTISTS BRING DATA TO LIFE Artists and scientists have much in common. Both are engaged in modes of inquiry, in which the process matters as much as the product. Both are searching for patterns and telling stories. Dataism, ArtsWestchester’s newest exhibition, features the work of 13 New York area artists who use data as points of entry into areas as humdrum as daily activities and social interactions, or as global as climate change, financial markets, privacy and surveillance, and political and social power.

From the Director of Programs and Gallery Curator: Dataism: The Artist as Researcher 5 From Guest Curator Lise Prown: Locating Meaning in the Age of Big Data 6 Artists’ Statements

In the age of the algorithm, every facet of our lives, from whom we date to the news we read, is shaped by a formula that is driven by data – data we knowingly or remotely provide. From an ATM transaction to signing an online petition, from an Instagram post to a Google search, our daily interactions and behavioral choices are transformed into data points that are collected and stored remotely.

(photo credit: Cathy Pinsky)

From Contributing Writer Mimi Onuoha: An Artist’s Perspective 26 From Our Partner: Gaps and Fills: Photographs by Liena Vayzman 28 Dataism Checklist

Like scientists, many contemporary artists also anchor their work in the collection and shaping of data: to engage with this ubiquitous artifact of daily life, probe present realities, and imagine the future. Some of the exhibiting artists in Dataism present data through handcrafted works and recognizably “artistic” procedures, such as drawing, collage and sculptural assemblage. Other artists present their work on a computer screen. They share a determination to reclaim the mining and interpretation of data as an illuminating and empowering cultural practice.

Janet T. Langsam CEO, ArtsWestchester

On View: November 5, 2019-January 25, 2010

Presented by ArtsWestchester in collaboration with: Westchester Community College Center for the Digital Arts This project is supported in part by:

ArtsWestchester’s Gallery 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains

Cover art: Laurie Frick, People Connections

Exhibition Hours: Tue-Fri 12-5pm | Sat 12-6pm

FROM THE

CEO

TABLE OF CONTENTS From the CEO: Artists Bring Data to Life

From the Director of Programs and Gallery Curator: Dataism: The Artist as Researcher 5 From Guest Curator Lise Prown: Locating Meaning in the Age of Big Data 6 Artists’ Statements

(photo credit: Cathy Pinsky)

From Contributing Writer Mimi Onuoha: An Artist’s Perspective 26 From Our Partner: Gaps and Fills: Photographs by Liena Vayzman 28 Dataism Checklist

Janet T. Langsam CEO, ArtsWestchester

On View: November 5, 2019-January 25, 2010

Presented by ArtsWestchester in collaboration with: Westchester Community College Center for the Digital Arts This project is supported in part by:

ArtsWestchester’s Gallery 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains

Cover art: Laurie Frick, People Connections

Exhibition Hours: Tue-Fri 12-5pm | Sat 12-6pm

DATAISM: (photo credit: Margaret Fox)

(photo credit: Eric Wolf)

THE ARTIST AS RESEARCHER

A spirit of inquiry and experimentation animates the Dataism exhibition, in which artists adopt a wide range of materials, formats and attitudes to explore life in the time of data. Drawing on quantitative or qualitative information – “data” – collected or created through various means, these artists make drawings, paintings, sculptures and digital works that address daily life and global issues in a data-driven world. Some works were inspired by a pressing question: What are people talking about in social media? How do new technologies impact the environment? Some take the shape of a “what would it look like” proposition: How might we quantify (or even predict) the effect that other people have on us? Can we tell the story of a family’s journey through illness as both medical condition and human experience? We are grateful to our colleagues and partners who contributed to the Dataism exhibition and catalogue. Guest Curator Lise Prown’s essay offers insights into the artists’ different views of our data-driven world, and illuminates their strategies for finding meaning in the data around us. Sherry Mayo, our presentation partner at Westchester Community College Center for the Digital Arts (WCC), shares a compelling exhibition of photographs with data “glitches” by Liena Vayzman, currently on view at the The Center for Digital Arts Gallery at Westchester Community College located at the Peekskill Extension. In the final essay, artist and journalist Mimi Onuoha reflects on artmaking as a cognitively rigorous process, and its value in the education of engineering students who are among our society’s future creators. This exhibition was conceived by ArtsWestchester’s Director of Public Programs, Kathleen Reckling, and organized by Guest Curator Lise Prown and Gallery Curator Amy Kurlander. Logan Hanley served as registrar and lead preparator, assisted by Asafo Adjei. Many thanks to ArtsWestchester’s editor, Mary Alice Franklin, graphic designer, Sydney Mitchell, and Debbie Scates, Communications Director, for their essential contributions to this catalogue. As always, it is a pleasure to express our gratitude to the artists, whose works in Dataism – complex, disturbing and beautiful – help us take human measure of lived experience “in the age of the algorithm.”

Kathleen Reckling,

Director of Public Programs

Amy Kurlander, Gallery Curator

Artwork on left: Mariam Ghani and Chitra Ganesh, Welcome to the Hotel Ariana, from Black Sites I: The Seen Unseen, 2015-16 (from Index of the Disappeared)

DATAISM: (photo credit: Margaret Fox)

(photo credit: Eric Wolf)

THE ARTIST AS RESEARCHER

Kathleen Reckling,

Director of Public Programs

Amy Kurlander, Gallery Curator

Artwork on left: Mariam Ghani and Chitra Ganesh, Welcome to the Hotel Ariana, from Black Sites I: The Seen Unseen, 2015-16 (from Index of the Disappeared)

RICHARD GARRISON

(photo courtesy of Richard Garrison)

Circular Color Schemes is an ongoing series derived from weekly advertisement flyers distributed by “big box” and chain stores. Each drawing is structured according to a systematic interpretation of a selected weekly ad design. Components such as text, graphics and imagery are measured and mathematically converted into proportionally represented drawn wedges within a circular grid. The relative length of each wedge is determined by the number of colors and values observed in each item. Colors of graphics and advertised items are carefully matched and hand-painted onto corresponding wedges using watercolor and gouache. Color wedges within the circular grid are then labeled with graphite to identify the product imagery, pricing and graphics from the weekly ad. The resultant display of impersonal content intimately deconstructs, transforms and emphasizes the often unobserved palette of American consumerism. Product Packaging uses the residue of personal consumption to generate colorful collages from cardboard packaging of purchased household items. Cardboard packaging is hand-cut into geometric shapes, then restructured through specific system-based arrangements that serve to organize elements by scale and color. Each work serves as an abstracted record of our household consumption.

Richard Garrison,“Save Big and Stock Your Pantry for the New Year” (Circular Color Scheme: Walmart, December 29, 2013-January 4, 2014, Pages 1-4), 2013-14

ARTISTS’ STATEMENTS

RICHARD GARRISON

(photo courtesy of Richard Garrison)

Richard Garrison,“Save Big and Stock Your Pantry for the New Year” (Circular Color Scheme: Walmart, December 29, 2013-January 4, 2014, Pages 1-4), 2013-14

ARTISTS’ STATEMENTS

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

P R E S E N T S

MODERN FAMILIES:

PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS A discussion, presentation, and workshop series that examines the social history of alternative and chosen families through analysis of film, photography, and performance

One Stride: Chosen Family

Friday, May 3 at 7:00pm | $10 | FREE to Students Join us for a program that explores the history of chosen family and its significance to LGBTQ communities. The evening will feature a talk about queer kinship by Sarah Lawrence Professor Dr. Mary A. Porter, a screening of award-winning Director/Producer Stephen Winter’s short documentary "One Stride: Chosen Family,” a talkback with Winter, and a special performance by The LOFT's Pride Chorus, an LGBTQ family of choice. Winter’s documentary follows the stories of three sets of LGBTQ chosen families, including that of civil rights activist and trailblazer Richard Leitsch, former president of the Mattachine Society. For tickets and info visit: artsw.org/onestride This program is made possible by Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Stephen Winter

Performing Families II: The Art of Runway and Step

Saturday, May 4 at 7:30pm | $10 | FREE to Students Join us for an unforgettable evening of dance and conversation with two award-winning families of choice. The Legendary House of Comme des Garçons, one of New York’s top ballroom organizations, will demonstrate the art of runway walking and discuss the house system’s importance to Black and Latinx LGBT youth. Prestige, a competitive step team from New Rochelle will perform and discuss the bonds of step, a form of percussive dance that combines foot-stomps and handclaps with spoken word. The program will be moderated by Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls, professor of Black Literature & Culture at St. John’s University who has published extensively on hip-hop, Black performance, and queer & trans* aesthetics. The Legendary House of Comme des Garçons will be represented by NYC Mother Aaliyah Garçons, NYC Princess Egypt Garçons, and NYC Prince Leyria Garçons. For tickets and info visit: artsw.org/perffamilies2 Performing Families is made possible by Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Council on the Arts.

(More programs on reverse side)

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

P R E S E N T S

James Van Der Zee’s Family Portraits: A Dialogue with Dr. Drew Sawyer and Donna Mussenden Van Der Zee Thursday, May 9 at 7:00pm | FREE James Van Der Zee is one of the most iconic photographers of the 20th century. ArtsWestchester delves deeper into his photographic practice, its historical context and legacy in a lively discussion with Drew Sawyer, Brooklyn Museum’s Phillip Leonian and Edith Rosenbaum Leonian Curator of Photography and Donna Mussenden Van Der Zee, the widow of photographer James Van Der Zee. For tickets and info visit: artsw.org/vanderzee This program is made possible by Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. (photo credit: James Van Der Zee)

Westchester Pride Workshop The Art of Runway Walking With Twiggy Pucci Garçon Sunday, June 2 at 1:00pm | FREE

Reservations Encouraged at artsw.org/twiggy Pose. Turn. Strut. Stance. Attitude. Join us for a workshop in the art of runway walking and vogue, led by FX Pose choreographer, LGBTQ youth rights advocate and runway icon Twiggy Pucci Garçon, along with ballroom artists Milan Garçon and Mermaid Garçon. Dr.Tavia Nyong’o, Professor of American Studies at Yale University, will moderate the program. Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their newfound runway skills on the outdoor Pride Festival stage (@4PM) alongside the Legendary House of Comme des Garçons. This program is made possible by Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Council on the Arts. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program series does not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Twiggy Pucci Garçon

Community Partners:

All programs will be held at ArtsWestchester 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220 | artsw.org

(More programs on reverse side)

ArtsWestchester, The Consulate General of Paraguay NY, and the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol NY present

DÍA DE LA

Very Special Thanks to our Community Partners:

INDEPENDENCIA

PARAGUAYA

Sponsors and Supporters:

This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.

Get more arts in your inbox, sign up for our e-newletter at artsw.org

ARTSWESTCHESTER

FRIDAY, MAY 31 | 7–10PM 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY, 10601

artsw.org

DÍA DE LA

INDEPENDENCIA

PARAGUAYA PROGRAM

• Singing of Paraguayan and American National Anthems led by Valedictorian Mia Fleitas of the Paraguayan School of NY and Kiara Jocelyn Medina. • Introductory Remarks Consulate General of Paraguay, Ambassador Juan Alfredo Buffa Ramirez ArtsWestchester Director of Folk & Traditional Arts, Aaron Paige APF NY Representative, Miguel Zaracho

• Domingo Ramos (voice & guitar) • Blasido Estigarribia (voice & guitar) • Ballet Arami Hovy (dance) • Manuel Medina (harp) • Nicolas Carter (harp) • Gaspar Escobar (voice) • Grupo Folklorico del Centro Paraguayos NY • Silvio Solís with Kiara Jocelyn Melina (harp & voice) • Silvio Solís, Nicolas Carter and Manuel Medina (harp trio) • Mario Iglesias (voice & guitar) • Edgar Riquelme Trio • José Sebastián Benítez Mellid (voice) • Jazmín del Paraguay (voice)

PARAGUAY, which means ‘the place of the great river,’ is a small

subtropical, landlocked country located in central South America. The Rió Paraguay, the third largest river in the western hemisphere, divides the nation into two regions: the fertile fields and lush forests of the east, and the dry scrub forest and swamps of the plains of the Chaco. Paraguay is the site of the world’s second largest hydroelectric dam, one of three such dams along the Paraná River, making Paraguay one of the leading exporters of electricity in the world. The original inhabitants of Paraguay were several indigenous groups of Indians, the largest of which was the semi-nomadic Guaraní. Colonies of Spaniards developed over the years and today the population is comprised mainly of mixed Spanish and Amerindian. The two official languages of the modern nation are Guaraní and Spanish. Guarani is understood by over 95% of the population in Paraguay, meaning that not only indigenous people in the country speak it, but also a majority of nonindigenous Paraguayans, a rarity for an indigenous language. Paraguayan culture is a blend of indigenous and Spanish elements, which is reflected in folklore, art and literature. Themes found in the performing and visual arts are often inspired by historical events and social issues, as well as by daily life and the local landscape. Paraguay is known for its harp tradition and its many polkas, different in rhythm and style from the European polka. Other time-honored crafts in Paraguay include aó po’í embroidery, ñandutí lace, leather- and silver-work, ceramics, knitted hamacas (hammocks), and iron and woodwork. Today, nearly a fourth of all Paraguayan’s live outside Paraguay. Westchester County is home to one of the largest Paraguayan communities in the United States—with the highest concentrations in White Plains, Harrison, and Mamaroneck. Other Paraguayan populations in the USA are concentrated in Queens, NY; Somerset County, NJ; Miami-Dade County, FL; and Montgomery County, MD. Although the first documented Paraguayans living in the US arrived in the mid-1800s, larger waves of immigrants began to arrive in the 1940s. Immigration to the US peaked in the late-1970s as economic opportunities in Paraguay shrank, causing a number of young Paraguayans to seek better education, job training and professional opportunities abroad. Many ParaguayanAmericans found employment in the service industry, particularly in home cleaning and hotel housekeeping, and agricultural employment, as well as in a variety of professional services.

DÍA DE LA

INDEPENDENCIA

PARAGUAYA PROGRAM

PARAGUAY, which means ‘the place of the great river,’ is a small

Kiara Medina

Kiara is 16 years old, was born in the USA and gladly describes herself as Paraguayan. Music and soccer are two of her favorite hobbies. At six years of age, she developed a love for music and started singing. Upon meeting harp master Silvio Solis, she decided to take up harp studies as well. Kiara sings Paraguayan music and loves going to different places to represent Paraguay and its culture. Singing Paraguayan music makes her feel both happy and proud. Her parents, Alcides Medina and Sonia Figueredo are both from Caaguazu, where they first met.

Jazmín del Paraguay

Jazmín del Paraguay is known as “The Prodigy Child of Pedro Juan Caballero”. Her real name is Jazmín Luján Sanabria Ojeda and “Jazmín del Paraguay”. She was born in Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay, on May 24, 2005. Currently she is in the 9th grade at the Nihon Gakko School, where she is because of the distinction received in 2016 “The outstanding girl of the year,” awarded by the Association “Niños Mártires ONIMA” and the Culture Directorate of the National Congress. She studied at the National Conservatory of Music. She also studied theater and acting at the TIA (Integral Workshop of Acting) based at Columbia University - Paraguay.

Edgar Riquelme

Edgar Riquelme Yambay, quien nació en Asunción, Paraguay, proviene de una familia de músicos. Desde muy joven aprendió a ejecutar algunos instrumentos musicales como la guitarra, el contrabajo y el acordeón. Por un tiempo, Riquelme integró el conjunto musical Los Alfonsinos, luego emigró a los Estados Unidos donde formó parte del Coro De la Iglesia el cual dirige. Un autor de varios temas musicales, Riquelme es director de un programa radial por internet que por amor a la cultura y la música paraguaya difunde e interpreta este estilo musical para los oyentes del programa. Él hace presentaciones en eventos privados y públicos interpretando música paraguaya y otros estilos musicales juntamente con colegas músicos.

Silvio Solis

Silvio has been playing harp since he was 8 years old. He has performed in numerous festivals around the world, in places such as Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Abu Dhabi and San Diego among many other cities. Silvio performed for many years in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Hotel and played with the Giovani Marradi Orchestra. Currently Silvio resides in New York City where he actively performs, teaches and also custom-makes his own harps, as well as harps for sale. Silvio is available to perform in venues, events, parties and any other type of occasion upon request.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND GROUPS: Arami Hovy

Arami Hovy inicio el Grupo de Danza Tradicional Paraguaya en Nueva York hace dos años, cuyo objetivo principal es conservar lo “tradicional” de la danza Paraguaya. Es un gran esfuerzo tanto para los padres como las niñas que participan en este grupo. El grupo se encuentra bajo la dirección coreográfica de Vanessa Lezcano y está formado por Anna, Brissa, Melissa y Alexa quienes se encargan de mostrar la danza tradicional del país Guaraní en todo su esplendor.

Albino Arias

Albino Arias was born in San Antonio City – Paraguay. He began to work on channel 9 Sistem National TV in the 80s as a Camera Director. His work included live broadcasts of soccer, tennis, festivals, shows, comedies, etc. Currently he is the owner and director of Radio El Mirador Paraguayo with Angie Rios. He and Angie direct the show Nostalgias del Paraguay, which links several radio stations. They include National Radio Paraguay 95.1 FM and Radio Fabro of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Radio El Mirador covers general interest stories and runs shows like Así Canta mi patria, and Punto y aparte.

Angie Ríos

Angie Rios was born in the city of San Antonio-Paraguay. She began her education at the Maria Auxiliadora school. She completed her secondary studies at the National School of San Antonio, and studied national and international folk dance in the municipal school of San Antonio, under Professors Pedro Jose Dalesma and Lourdes Rios. Angie completed her studies in communications at the locution school in 1987 where she received a degree in public relations. She started her communications career at the age of 10 on channel 9 SNT with the children’s program MBAEICHAPA, directed by Rosali Ucedo Saucedo. Since then, Angie has lead children’s programs on Radio Caritas, and is currently host of Nostalgia of Paraguay with Albino Arias that is transmitted by Radio El Mirarador Paraguayo of New York. The program is broadcast Sundays from 21:00hs until 23:00hs. Angie has hosted programs such as Entre Nosotras, Asi Canta mi Patria and others. She is the representative for New York Evelina Travel, a company that has been serving people for over 50 years.

Kiara Medina

Jazmín del Paraguay

Edgar Riquelme

Silvio Solis

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND GROUPS: Arami Hovy

Albino Arias

Angie Ríos

Asociacion Paraguay de Futbol NY

The APFNY is an organization made up of members from the Paraguayan community. A registered 501c3, it has been serving the Paraguayan community of New York for the last 23 years. The organization shares a great passion for soccer, which unites them but also strives to spread the diversity of Paraguayan culture throughout Westchester County. By holding activities and fundraisers, the members continue to give back to the communities they serve.

José Sebastián Benítez Mellid

Un cantante paraguayo de solo 18 años, José Sebastián Benítez Mellid quedó en el segundo lugar del Festival Internacional de Lengua y Cultura Turca 2015. Ahora, Benítez Mellid se encuentra en Alemania representando a toda Latinoamérica entre competidores de decenas de países en todo el mundo. Empezó a cantar a los cuatro años y a los 7 años de edad formó su primer grupo musical llamado Kunai (un tipo de cuchillo ninja). Fue ganador en el Festival País del 2012, ejecutado en la ciudad de Ñemby, y en el 2013 del Festival del Takuare’e en Guarambaré, y también el mismo año ganó el Festival Juvenil de la ciudad de San Lorenzo.

El Centro Paraguayo and Escuela Paraguaya

The Paraguayan Center of New York, founded on the 17th of April 1966, is a civil entity of social, civic cultural, artistic, and recreational character with the aim of gathering persons of Paraguayan ethnicity, friends and sympathizers of Paraguay in New York. The Center objective is to propagate the culture, civic, traditions, customs, and values of Paraguay. The Paraguayan Centers is not affiliated with any political parties, religious creed, or philosophical currents, and rejects all types of racial, religious, social, and sexual discrimination of any kind. The Paraguayan Center of New York established the Paraguayan School of New York. It is the first and only school abroad that offers the community the opportunity to learn all about Paraguayan culture with a curriculum exclusively prepared by the Ministry of Education and Sciences of Paraguay.

Nicolas Carter

Nicolas Carter learned to play the harp in Paraguay, a country with a distinguished tradition of harp music. He became a professional musician while living in Minnesota, where he has performed as a solo artist, with Latin American, world music and classical ensembles. He has performed all over United States, Europe, South America and Israel. He travels often as a concert performer and master teacher at various harp festivals. Nicolas holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre directing from the University of Minnesota and was a Fulbright scholar in France and Uruguay. He currently resides with his wife Maria Elvira in White Plains, NY.

Gaspar Felipe Escobar

Escobar, quien nació en Paraguay, entro al mundo de la música con su guitarra a muy temprana edad. Emigró a Argentina, donde sobresalió con su gran participación en eventos folclóricos, tanto paraguayos como argentinos. Ha participado también en un sinnúmero de eventos, tantos culturales como de beneficencia, resaltando no solo por su música hispana, sino también por las invitaciones para formar parte de eventos Italianos y Anglosajones, ya que su música no tiene límite de idioma, ni fronteras. Ha sido invitado a tocar con un sinnúmero de artistas de talla internacional siendo el anfitrión de una cadena de Restaurantes del Estado de NY.

Blasido Estigarribia

Paraguayo Blasido Estigarribia ha participado con el grupo Generación en la gran noche navideña en NY. En el evento de Rotary club en Queens, NY, Estigarribia canto con letra de Emiliano R. Fernández y del gran Maestro Eladio Martínez.

Mario Iglesias

Mario Iglesias was born in Paraguay, in a small town called Caraguatay. At the age of 6, his father, being a professional guitarist and composer, taught him to sing and play guitar. At the age of 12, Mario made his television debut on channel 9 in Asuncion. He also performed on radio shows and at venues in hotels and at folklore festivals. In 1982, he traveled to Buenos Aires and toured the night club circuit. From 1983 to 1988, he traveled to Brazil Fox de Iguaza and performed at venues including the Rafain chain of restaurants. In 1989, he traveled to Canada, performing in Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec. In 1990 he performed at Lincoln Center, Rockefeller Center, and the UN in New York. Between 1991 and 2006, he performed on Challe 47 (WNJU), at Kent University, and at Giants Stadium for a Hispanic Heritage Festival. In 2007, he returned to Paraguay and began touring the countryside, with his partner, harpist Victor Noguera, under the group name Dos de America. Together they recorded an album titled Folklore Latino Americano. Currently, Mario resides in New York and performs for private parties and public events.

Manuel Medina

Manuel Medina comenzó a practicar el arpa con su padre desde los 8 años. Fue integrante del proyecto, “Sonidos De Mi Tierra,” dirigido por el Maestro Luis Szaran. Medina ha participado en varios eventos de la comunidad en Nueva York.

Asociacion Paraguay de Futbol NY

José Sebastián Benítez Mellid

El Centro Paraguayo and Escuela Paraguaya

Nicolas Carter

Gaspar Felipe Escobar

Blasido Estigarribia

Mario Iglesias

Manuel Medina

ArtsWestchester, The Consulate General of Paraguay NY, and the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol NY present

DÍA DE LA

Very Special Thanks to our Community Partners:

INDEPENDENCIA

PARAGUAYA

Sponsors and Supporters:

This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.

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ARTSWESTCHESTER

FRIDAY, MAY 31 | 7–10PM 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY, 10601

artsw.org

ArtsWestchester, in association with OCA- Westchester & Hudson Valley, presents

A LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL:

Korean Performing Arts Center, Fan Dance (photo credit: Ji Jeon)

YEAR OF THE PIG

FEBRUARY 2 | 1-4PM 31 Mamaroneck Ave | White Plains, NY | artsw.org

LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAM

of the music combined with the colorful costumes and shifting geometrical designs entice the audience to believe that they are surrounded by a garden of flowers. Students of Sue Yeon Park perform this lovely dance accompanied by a wind and string ensemble.

Thuy Pham, Vientnam Heritage Center Executive Director, Introduction to Teết

WORKSHOPS, 1-2PM

• NY Korean Performing Arts Center, Korean Fan-Dance, 9th Floor • Professor Zhao and Mr. Richard Liu, Chinese Calligraphy, 2nd Floor • Julie Wang, Chinese Knotting, 2nd Floor

PERFORMANCE PROGRAM, 2-4PM Hwa-Rang Taekwondo, Korean martial arts demonstration Folk Dance Team of Hua Xia Greater New York Chinese School

Farewell Sorrow – Drawing on influences from Peking Opera and Chinese classical poems, this song describes a young man's devotion to his country, while leaving behind his beloved at home.

Eleanor Li, solo gu zheng

Spring comes to Lhasa

Ariane Kuo, solo yang qin 龍船 Dragon Boat, by Tian Kejian

The dragon boat race is a popular sport in Southeast Asia. The race is most commonly associated with the annual Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat festival) but also takes place at other festivals and events held by the water. “Dragon Boat” captures the excitement of the event from the beginning to the end: from the entertainment/preparation prior to the race to the final sprint at the finish line. One of the most memorable parts of a dragon boat race is the drum roll. The beat of the drum helps boat crews paddle in a synchronized fashion. Listen carefully and you will hear the yang qin imitating the sound of the drum.

紅河的春天 Spring at Red River, by Liú, Xī Shèng and Lǐ, Háng Tāo

This piece depicts the scenery and cultural activities that take place during spring time at the “Red River,” or “Honghe” in Chinese. Compositional devices are employed that imitate water sounds: rain drops, a flowing river, the sound of waves hitting rocks/land, the sound of a waterfall. Sections of the piece also portray the singing of native people along the river. The melodies and rhythms employed recall their cultural traditions.

Korean Performing Arts Center, dancers Song Hee Lee, Hea Sun Jung,

Mihee Kim, Jeong Soo Park, Hyeji An Buchae-Chum (Fan Dance) - This group dance is one of the most popular traditional folk dances of Korea. It is a relatively modern dance developed in the 18th century using the fan, a prop used in shaman rituals. Apart from their decorative and everyday functions, fans are thought to expel evil and bring prosperity. The grace

Tan Nguyen and Phuong Do, EF Academy Singers

Xin Chao Vietnam (Hello Vietnam) by Quynh Anh This song about love for Vietnam describes the country’s past and present beauties.

EF Academy Vietnamese Dance Troupe, featuring Nghi Phan, Van Pham, Khanh Doan, Anh Truong, Nhi Tran, Nhi Dang and Vy Pham Gam (Vietnamese beauty) is a folkloric song about the beauty of Vietnam and its people. The music is from the Northern part of the county.

Li Peng, (变脸) Bian Lian, ”face-changing” magic performance of the Sichuan Opera tradition.

Yingli Wen, Chinese classical dance

Eternal Love is the theme song for one of the episodes of the Chinese TV show Journey to The West. In this episode, a Buddhist monk named Tang Seng is sent by the Emperor to the West to obtain Buddhist Scripture. On his long journey to the West, he comes upon the All Women Kingdom and fell in love with the Queen. At the same time, he remembers his purpose of traveling to the West. Very reluctantly, he says goodbye to the Queen and continues on his journey. This dance reflects the Queen’s love for Tang Seng and her understanding of Tang Seng’s determination to serve his Emperor.

Heejung Han and Dr. Ju-Yong Ha, haegeum and janggu

Sanjo is a form of Korean music with its origin in the music of the Korean indigenous shaman culture and pansori (epic story-telling sung drama) tradition. An improvised multi-movement solo genre, the soloist interacts with the rhythmic accompaniment of the janggo (double-headed drum). –Dr. Ju-Yong Ha

Korean Performing Arts Center, dancers Song Hee Lee, Hea Sun Jung,

Mihee Kim, Jeong Soo Park, Hyeji An Jindu Buknori is a dynamic drum-dance that originates from the region of Jindo, an island located at the south western edge of the Korean peninsula. The drummer/ dancer performs with the buk (barrel drum) strapped around the waist. The drumming sections and rhythmic components are derived from the rhythm patterns of pungmulnori, the large percussion ensembles heard outdoors during community events such as Jindo Deulnora (Jindo Field Song) and Duregut (Dure Shaman Ritual). In Jindo, the buknori janggo (hour-glass shaped drum) techniques are realized and played on the buk—a distinctive feature found only in Jindo. Although this dance is known for its masculinity with vigorous dynamics, the dance movements are wellblended between lines of straightforward beauty and feminine elegance displayed in curved lines. Both show a high level of technique and artistry.

LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAM

Thuy Pham, Vientnam Heritage Center Executive Director, Introduction to Teết

WORKSHOPS, 1-2PM

• NY Korean Performing Arts Center, Korean Fan-Dance, 9th Floor • Professor Zhao and Mr. Richard Liu, Chinese Calligraphy, 2nd Floor • Julie Wang, Chinese Knotting, 2nd Floor

PERFORMANCE PROGRAM, 2-4PM Hwa-Rang Taekwondo, Korean martial arts demonstration Folk Dance Team of Hua Xia Greater New York Chinese School

Farewell Sorrow – Drawing on influences from Peking Opera and Chinese classical poems, this song describes a young man's devotion to his country, while leaving behind his beloved at home.

Eleanor Li, solo gu zheng

Spring comes to Lhasa

Ariane Kuo, solo yang qin 龍船 Dragon Boat, by Tian Kejian

紅河的春天 Spring at Red River, by Liú, Xī Shèng and Lǐ, Háng Tāo

Korean Performing Arts Center, dancers Song Hee Lee, Hea Sun Jung,

Tan Nguyen and Phuong Do, EF Academy Singers

Xin Chao Vietnam (Hello Vietnam) by Quynh Anh This song about love for Vietnam describes the country’s past and present beauties.

Li Peng, (变脸) Bian Lian, ”face-changing” magic performance of the Sichuan Opera tradition.

Yingli Wen, Chinese classical dance

Heejung Han and Dr. Ju-Yong Ha, haegeum and janggu

Korean Performing Arts Center, dancers Song Hee Lee, Hea Sun Jung,

ABOUT THE ARTISTS Ariane Kuo has over 10 years of experience in yangqin/Chinese dulcimer. She was classically trained in a Chinese music school in Taiwan, and continued her studies in the United States under the award-winning yangqin professor, Liqun Li. Ariane has won several competitions in Chinese folk music, including the CCTV Eastern Region Chinese Folk Instrumental competition. She was also the gold medalist for the 2010 Chinese Instrumental International Competition World Cup. After graduating from college, she decided to pursue the field of business. She is still passionate about her music, and continues to perform at various events in her spare time.

EF Academy New York is an international boarding high school in Thornwood,

ranging from grades 9-12, with more than 750 students from 50 countries. The school offers several programs: US program, IGCSE program, IB program, preparing students for colleges/universities not only in the U.S. but around the world.

Eleanor Li is ten years old. She is a fifth grade student in the Edgemont school

district. She has been learning Chinese harp for four years. Early last year she obtained her certificate of a level seven harp player. Her teacher is Grace Chang, the founder and the principle of the New York Chinese Harp Music Center.

Hee Jung Han, a professional haegeum (two stringed fiddle) player, has performed

as a principle member of the two traditional orchestras in Korea, the Youth Korean Traditional Music Orchestra and Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra. She graduated from Chu-Gye University of Art (B.A and M.A) where she achieved traditional academic training and further developed her artistic talent by studying with the most celebrated haegeum performers Jung Lim Kim, a folk music master, and Kyung-Sook Yang, a Korean court music master. Upon arriving to the U.S. in 2005, she joined Sounds of Korea with whom she has performed at events including Lincoln Center Out of Doors and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She also has appeared as a soloist at the Korea Society, The Korean Consulate General in NYC, and at CUNY Graduate Center. In 2012, she was appointed as an artist teacher for K-12 public schools under “Spotlight Korea” through The Korean Culture Service, NY.

Hwa-Rang Taekwondo’s goal is to nurture students with the same beliefs as

the Hwarang Warriors of ancient Korea. This highly skilled group of protectors was chosen by the king, himself, based not only on the strength of their martial arts skill but on the strength of their character. Loyalty, leadership, integrity & perseverance were the hallmarks of the great Hwarang Warriors. We believe that physical training & mental discipline work together to build confidant, respectful & successful students. We have classes 6 days a week and we welcome all abilities and ages 4 & up.

Ju-Yong Ha, composer and ethnomusicologist, has worked in both academia, and

in professional performance venues. He has brought Korean and Asian traditional and contemporary music to the U.S., Europe and South America, and has worked closely with the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) as a cultural attaché to artistic communities abroad. He has been instrumental in creating the new journal, Perspectives on Korean Music, in which his own work on sanjo appears. He is the director of the annual International New York Sanjo Festival and Symposium sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Culture. He has taught at City College, Baruch College, and has been a guest lecturer at festivals and colleges in the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Ha received his doctorate in composition and ethnomusicology at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Dr. Ha is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hartford.

Julie Wang was born in Taiwan in 1962. She currently teaches Chinese and Folk Dance Troupe from Hau Xia Chinese School of Greater New York

Folk Dance Team of HXGNY Chinese School was formed over 5 years ago

by Chinese parents who have a passion for Chinese traditional dance. The group has been invited to perform in various cultural events, including Waca, Asian Cultural Festivals, and local community functions. The group’s performers include: Yahui Kang, Jin Xu, Fuchu Shen, Taosong Ai, Zengke Wang, Changxiu Li, Meng Chen, Yingjiu Fan, Ying Shen, and Olivia He.

Chinese knotting at the Northern Westchester Chinese School. During her college years, she was inspired by her friend’s mother to learn Chinese knotting. Unfortunately, at the time, she was unable to focus on it because she was maintaining her own pharmacy. It was during her trips back and forth from Taiwan to America, that Julie found time to develop her skills in Chinese knotting. Today, when she travels to Taiwan to visit relatives, she sets aside time to study the art of twined flower making. She is amazed by this art and believes in its beauty. Julie plans to continue practicing Chinese folk art and sharing the beauty of this culture with many others in America.

EF Academy New York is an international boarding high school in Thornwood,

Eleanor Li is ten years old. She is a fifth grade student in the Edgemont school

Hee Jung Han, a professional haegeum (two stringed fiddle) player, has performed

Hwa-Rang Taekwondo’s goal is to nurture students with the same beliefs as

Ju-Yong Ha, composer and ethnomusicologist, has worked in both academia, and

Julie Wang was born in Taiwan in 1962. She currently teaches Chinese and Folk Dance Troupe from Hau Xia Chinese School of Greater New York

Folk Dance Team of HXGNY Chinese School was formed over 5 years ago

Li Peng was born into a family of magicians. mother is a very well-known master magician in China. At 18 years old, Mr. Li joined the aerobatic troupe of Tianjin and became a professional magician. He toured nationally with the troupe and earned the favorable recognition of the magic community circle. In 1988, he visited Japan where he received the praise and recognition of Japanese audiences. In 1992, Mr. Li took part in a national aerobatics competition, where he won a special prize for his "God's Candle" act and was dubbed the new "Star of Magic" by the Chinese magic circle. In 1996, he took part in the Spring Festival sponsored by CCTV station. Over 1 billion people enjoyed his special magic show. Mr. Li expanded his recognition to the United States, at the invitation of IBM, to the international association of magic. He performed at their 71st session held in Celadon, Florida. Mr. Li currently lives in New York where he often performs for private and public programs.

His

the Vietnam Heritage Center. As Executive Director, Thùy oversees both the day-to-day operations and strategic planning at VHC. In her spare time, Thùy likes to watch football and mail handwritten letters to her friends and family.

Dr. Yingli Wen is an engineering manager with a major power company. When she is not working as an engineer, she enjoys Chinese folk dancing and Cantonese operas. She has performed with the Red Silk Dancers Dance Company in New York City. She has had supporting roles in a number of Cantonese Opera Productions in NYC’s Chinatown. For years, she taught Chinese Dances in the New York Chinese School and is currently a Chinese folk dance teacher for the Greenburgh Evergreen Club.

Professor Zhao is from Weihaiwei of Shandong province. He went to Central Art Institute in Beijing. His painting is very popular in China, particularly in Shandong Province. He has been a teacher with the Evergreen Club for more than 6 years. He also conducts art class in Flushing for seniors. Li Peng, Bian Lian Daner

Richard S. Liu has been a professional calligrapher since the early sixties. He has worked as a translator for the China Times and United Nations. He is the immediate past president and one of the founders of the Evergreen Club, the Chinese Seniors organization based at the Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh.

New York Korean Performing Arts Center - Founded in 1986, NYKPAC has

served a vital role in and around New York City through the teaching of traditional arts to members of the Korean community, and through performances for both Korean and general audiences. In addition, NYKPAC has played an instrumental role in instilling Korean cultural pride to second generation Korean Americans and in fostering intercultural dialogue with American society at large. Since 1998, NYKPAC has received annual grants from the Folk Arts Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In 2013, NYKPAC was awarded a grant from New York State on the Arts for the Korean Music and Dance Education for Children.

Phuong Do is a 17 year old senior at EF Academy who loves to sing and act. Tan Nguyen, known more popularly as Tan Tan, is an 18 year old senior at EF

Academy. He loves the arts and is currently taking an IB visual arts class. Besides painting and drawing, he has a passion for singing—one of many ways he channels his emotions. Lunar New Year is one of his favorite times of the year because it gives him the opportunity to perform Vietnamese traditional songs with pride and love.

Thùy Pham was born in Sài Gòn and grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. After

graduating from Vassar College, she moved to New York City and eventually became an attorney. She became active with the Vietnamese community in 2004 to improve her own Vietnamese language skills and eventually became one of the founders of

MORE ABOUT THE TRADITIONS About Bian Lian – Bian lian—literally “face changing”—is an ancient Chinese dramatic art that is part of the more general Sichuan opera tradition. Face-changing originated 300 years ago, during the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. It was first used to tell the story of a hero who stole from the rich to help the poor. When pursued by feudal officials, the hero changed his face to disguise himself and escape. Originally, opera masters changed the color of their face by blowing into a bowl of red, black or gold powder. The powder would quickly adhere to their oiled skin. Following the old coaching principle of many traditional Chinese art forms, face-changing techniques were exclusively passed down from one generation to the next within families and only through male family members. Today, master performers no longer use powder, but other kinds of techniques, which remain carefully guarded.The masks typically depict well known characters from the opera, which they change from one face to another almost instantaneously. Chinese Knotting (zhong guo jie) is a decorative handicraft art that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) in China. The art is also referred to as Chinese traditional decorative knots. One major characteristic of decorative knotwork is that all the knots are tied using one thread, which is usually about one-meter in length. However, when finished, the knot looks identical from both the front and back. They can come in a variety of colors such as: gold, green, blue or black, though the most commonly used color is red, symbolic of good luck and prosperity. There are many different shapes of Chinese knots. The most common being flowers, birds, dragons, fish, and even shoes. Culturally they were expected to ward off evil spirits or act as good-luck charms for Chinese marriages. Chinese Knotting by Julie Wang

His

New York Korean Performing Arts Center - Founded in 1986, NYKPAC has

Phuong Do is a 17 year old senior at EF Academy who loves to sing and act. Tan Nguyen, known more popularly as Tan Tan, is an 18 year old senior at EF

Thùy Pham was born in Sài Gòn and grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. After

Very special thanks to our community partners:

Thank you to The Banh Mi Shop (White Plains) and CravWings (Yonkers) for the delicious foods.

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts and OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates Westchester & Hudson Valley.

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A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R P R E S E N TA

BRAVO

PARAGUAY! FESTIVAL

Dia de la Independencia Paraguaya Viernes, 31 de mayo ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., 1er piso, White Plains, NY 7pm-10pm | ENTRADA GRATIS Únase a nosotros en el segundo festival anual de arte y cultura paraguaya de Westchester, que incluirá arpa tradicional, polkas paraguayas, canto y danza de origen guaraní, tereré (yerba mate helada), chipas (pan de queso) y sopa paraguaya (pan de maíz paraguayo). Presentado por ArtsWestchester, el Consulado General del Paraguay en Nueva York y la Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol en Nueva York Un agradecimiento muy especial a nuestros socios de la comunidad:

UNA CELEBRACIÓN DE ARTE Y CULTURA PARAGUAYA Este programa es parte del Programa de Artes Folklóricas de ArtsWestchester, hecho posible por el Consejo de las Artes del Estado de Nueva York.

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220 artsw.org

EXHIBICIÓN

Arte, Artesanía y Cultura Paraguaya

PELÍCULA

Galería, Biblioteca Pública de White Plains, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains

En guaraní y español con subtítulos en inglés.

En exhibición 2 de mayo - 24 de mayo

Para el horario de visitas, visite www.whiteplainslibrary.org ENTRADA GRATIS Westchester es el hogar de una de las comunidades paraguayas más grandes de los Estados Unidos. Este mayo, el Programa de Artes Folclóricas de ArtsWestchester, en colaboración con la Fundación de la Biblioteca de White Plains, presentará la primera exposición del Condado dedicada exclusivamente a las artes, la artesanía y la cultura paraguaya. Originado por de la comunidad, la exposición presentara ejemplos de textiles tradicionales, encajes Ñandutí, artes de cuero, cerámica, cestería, pintura y más. Presentado por ArtsWestchester, la Fundación de la Biblioteca de White Plains y el Consulado General del Paraguay en Nueva York.

TALLER

Baile Paraguayo

Domingo, 5 de mayo Auditorio, Biblioteca Pública de White Plains 2pm-3:30pm | ENTRADA GRATIS Sumérgete en los movimientos y colores de la danza tradicional paraguaya, bajo la dirección del Ballet Panambi Vera, el conjunto de danza paraguaya más aclamada de Nueva York. Los participantes aprenderán los fundamentos de las danzas folclóricas, incluyendo las polkas paraguayas y la famosa “danza de la botella.” Todos tendrán la oportunidad de bailar en trajes hechos a mano con accesorios tradicionales. Presentado por ArtsWestchester y la Fundación de la Biblioteca de White Plains.

La Chiperita: Por el Camino Jueves, 23 de mayo

Teatro Emelin, 3609, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck, NY 7pm – Disfrute de las presentaciones de música tradicional paraguaya y de las demostraciones de elaboración de la chipa o “pan de queso.” 8pm – Introducción de La Chiperita por el director de cine Hugo Cataldo Barudi, seguido por la proyección de la película. Un gran éxito de taquilla en Sudamérica, La Chiperita es una película conmovedora sobre la vida cotidiana en una ciudad pequeña de Paraguay. Virgilia, una tímida e inocente vendedora de chipa (pan de queso), pasa sus días enamorada de Walter, su mejor amigo desde la infancia. Su amiga Juanita la alienta a confesar su amor, pero Virgilia teme el rechazo. Cuando las cartas y el apoyo financiero de su hermano Anselmo dejan de llegar desde España, Virgilia debe dejar de lado la ilusión de amor para apoyar a su familia. Presentado por el Teatro Emelin, el Consulado General del Paraguay en Nueva York y ArtsWestchester.

Para boletos:

emelin.org/la-chiperita

EXHIBICIÓN

Arte, Artesanía y Cultura Paraguaya

PELÍCULA

Galería, Biblioteca Pública de White Plains, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains

En guaraní y español con subtítulos en inglés.

En exhibición 2 de mayo - 24 de mayo

TALLER

Baile Paraguayo

La Chiperita: Por el Camino Jueves, 23 de mayo

Para boletos:

emelin.org/la-chiperita

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R P R E S E N TA

BRAVO

PARAGUAY! FESTIVAL

UNA CELEBRACIÓN DE ARTE Y CULTURA PARAGUAYA Este programa es parte del Programa de Artes Folklóricas de ArtsWestchester, hecho posible por el Consejo de las Artes del Estado de Nueva York.

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220 artsw.org

ARTSWESTCHESTER PRESENTS

BRAVO

PARAGUAY! FESTIVAL

Paraguayan Independence Day Friday, May 31, 2019 ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., Fl 1, White Plains, NY 10601 7PM-10pm | FREE ADMISSION Join us for Westchester’s 2nd annual Paraguayan arts & culture festival, featuring traditional harp playing, Paraguayan polkas, indigenous Guaraní song and dance, tereré (iced yerba mate), chipas (cheese bread), and sopa paraguaya (Paraguayan cornbread). Presented by ArtsWestchester, the Consulate General of Paraguay in New York, and the Asociacion Paraguaya de Futbol New York Very special thanks to our community partners:

A Celebration of Paraguayan Arts and Culture in Westchester This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220 artsw.org

EXHIBITION

Paraguayan Arts, Crafts and Culture On display May 2nd – May 24, 2019

Gallery, White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains, NY For visiting hours, see www.whiteplainslibrary.org | FREE ADMISSION Westchester is home to one of the largest Paraguayan communities in the United States. This May, the ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program, in partnership with the White Plains Library Foundation, will present the County’s first-ever exhibition devoted entirely to Paraguayan arts, crafts and culture. Sourced from the community, the exhibition will feature exquisite examples of traditional textiles, Ñandutí lace, leather arts, pottery, ceramics, basket weaving, painting and more. Presented by ArtsWestchester, the White Plains Library Foundation, and the Consulate General of Paraguay in New York

WORKSHOP

Paraguayan Dance Sunday, May 5, 2019

White Plains Public Library 2PM-3:30pm | FREE ADMISSION Immerse yourself in the movements and colors of traditional Paraguayan dance, under the guidance of Ballet Panambi Vera, New York’s foremost Paraguayan dance ensemble. Participants will learn fundamentals in folkloric social dances, including Paraguayan polkas and the famous “bottle dance.” Everyone will have the opportunity to dance in hand-made costumes using traditional props. Presented by ArtsWestchester and the White Plains Library Foundation

FILM

La Chiperita: By The Road

In Guaraní and Spanish with English subtitles

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Emelin Theater, 3609, 153 Library Ln, Mamaroneck, NY 7PM – Enjoy performances of traditional Paraguayan music and chipa “cheese-bread” making demonstrations. 8PM– Introduction of La Chiperita by film director Hugo Cataldo Barudi, followed by the film screening. A huge box office success in South America, La Chiperita is a heartwarming film about daily life in small-town Paraguay. Virgilia, a shy and innocent chipa (cheese bread) seller, spends her days daydreaming about Walter, her best friend from childhood. Her friend Juanita encourages her to confess her love but Virgilia is afraid of rejection. When letters and financial support from her brother Anselmo stop arriving from Spain, Virgilia must leave aside the illusion of love, to support her family. Presented by the Emelin Theater, the Consulate General of Paraguay in New York, and ArtsWestchester.

Tickets can be reserved at

emelin.org/la-chiperita

EXHIBITION

Paraguayan Arts, Crafts and Culture On display May 2nd – May 24, 2019

WORKSHOP

Paraguayan Dance Sunday, May 5, 2019

FILM

La Chiperita: By The Road

In Guaraní and Spanish with English subtitles

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Tickets can be reserved at

emelin.org/la-chiperita

ARTSWESTCHESTER PRESENTS

BRAVO

PARAGUAY! FESTIVAL

A Celebration of Paraguayan Arts and Culture in Westchester This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220 artsw.org

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

P R E S E N T S

PERFORMING

FAMILIES The Art of Runway and Step

The Legendary House of Comme des Garçons

Prestige Step Team

Saturday, May 4 at 7:30pm | $10 Admission | FREE to Students Join us for an unforgettable evening of dance and conversation with two award-winning families of choice. The Legendary House of Comme des Garçons, one of New York’s top ballroom organizations, will demonstrate the art of runway walking and discuss the house system’s importance to Black and Latinx LGBT youth. Prestige, a competitive step team from New Rochelle will perform and discuss the bonds of step, a form of percussive dance that combines foot-stomps and handclaps with spoken word. The program will be moderated by Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls, professor of Black Literature & Culture at St. John’s University who has published extensively on hip-hop, Black performance, and queer & trans* aesthetics. The Legendary House of Comme des Garçons will be represented by NYC Mother Aaliyah Garçons, NYC Princess Egypt Garçons, and NYC Prince Leyria Garçons. For tickets and info visit: artsw.org/perffamilies2 This program is made possible in part by a Humanities New York Action Grant and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Community partner:

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program series does not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

P R E S E N T S

PERFORMING

FAMILIES MONEY MAKIN’ MOB

PTAH-SHABAZZ WISDRUM ORCHESTRA

PRESTIGE STEP TEAM

BERTHA & MONICA MEAUX HOPE

SAT. FEB. 29

7pm | $10 Admission

An Evening of Music, Dance & Conversation In celebration of Black History Month, join us for an unforgettable evening of music and dance with four family ensembles as they perform and discuss the meaning of kinship, tradition and the arts. The event features the award-winning Prestige Step Team (New Rochelle), the Ptah-Shabazz Wisdrum Orchestra (White Plains), Bronx Jazz Legend Bertha Hope with daughter Monica Meaux Hope (NYC), and the old school hip-hop crew the Money Makin’ Mob (Mount Vernon). Performing Families is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

P R E S E N T A

PERFORMING

FAMILIES

Sábado

Abril 13

a las 7:00pm

Actuaciones por Bandas Familiares Una Tarde de Música, Danza y Conversación

Celebra los enlaces de la música y la danza con cuatro bandas familiares que tocarán y discutirán el significado del parentesco, de la tradición y de los artes. El evento presentará bailarines aztecas del Grupo Atl-Tlachinolli, la banda beninés Jomion y los Uklos, bailarina clásica del Sur de India Nalini Rau y sus alumnos, y un trio de música y baile coreano compuesta por Hee Jung Han y sus dos hijas Zena y Jaylyn. $10 Admisión. Para boletos, visite: artsw.org/perffamilies

GRUPO ATL-TLACHINOLLI

JOMION AND THE UKLOS

HEEJUNG, ZENA, AND JAYLYN HAN

SMT. NALINI RAU AND NATYA ANUBHAVA DANCERS

Este programa es parte del Programa de Artes Folklóricas de ArtsWestchester, hecho posible por el Consejo de las Artes del Estado de Nueva York.

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 | 914.428.4220

PERFORMING

FAMILIES An Evening of Music and Conversation

Saturday April 21, 2018 ARTSWESTCHESTER GALLERY

SMT. KIRUBA & SHAARANYA PILLAI

MARIACHI SOL MIXTECO

LOFT’S PRIDE CHORUS

SRULI & LISA’S FAMILY KLEZMER BAND

7pm | $10 Admission

Celebrate the bonds of music with four family bands as they perform and discuss the meaning of kinship, music, and tradition. Featuring family ensembles: Mariachi Sol Mixteco, the LOFT’s Pride Chorus, Sruli & Lisa’s Family Klezmer Band, and mother-daughter South Indian Carnatic singing duo, Smt. Kiruba and Shaaranya Pillai. An audience talkback will follow the performance.

For Tickets and Info visit:

artsw.org/PerformingFamilies 31 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10601 914.428.4220

This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.

ABOUT ARTSWESTCHESTER For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support in order to ensure the availability, accessibility and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. It helps to fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives.

PERFORMING

FAMILIES

In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neoclassical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-tiered gallery is located on the first floor of this historic building.

This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council for the Arts.

For information on more Westchester Arts events, join our mailing list at:

artsw.org

An Evening of Music and Conversation

Saturday, April 21, 2018 ARTSWESTCHESTER GALLERY

The Folk Arts Program at ArtsWestchester ArtsWestchester launched its Folk Arts Program in 1996 exploring a significant occupational tradition in the region: the work of past and contemporary stonemasons. Since then, the program has presented at least half a dozen public programs each year, documenting and highlighting the diverse cultures of Westchester. Collaborating with partner organizations throughout the county, ArtsWestchester offers promotional and cultural development services to artists, community groups and cultural organizations committed to the preservation and cultivation of folk arts. If you are a Westchester based traditional artist or community member interested in developing folk arts programming, please contact our Director of Folk Arts, Aaron Paige at apaige@artswestchester.org.

PARAGUAY INDEPENDENCE DAY: A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, DANCE, AND FOOD

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2018

White Plains Public Library 1-4pm | FREE ADMISSION Come join us for Westchester’s first Paraguayan arts & culture festival featuring traditional harp playing, Paraguayan polkas, Guarani song and dance, mate cocido (tea), chipas (cheese bread), and sopa paraguaya (Paraguayan cornbread).

WEST AFRICAN MUSIC & DANCE THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

What is Folk Art? Folk art can refer to the work of skilled artisans, traditional performers, storytellers and others whose practice builds on a foundation of community or family-based culture, or occupational trades learned in apprenticeships with skilled masters. Folk Arts are typically not learned in art schools, conservatories or dance academies, but from parents, grandparents, skilled mentors and community based teachers. In celebrating and safeguarding folk traditions, ArtsWestchester acknowledges and honors the skilled arts of our region and the places of origin of Westchester’s many immigrant communities.

Upcoming Folk Arts Programs

1 Roosevelt Square, City Hall Plaza, Mount Vernon 7-9pm | FREE ADMISSION

Aaron Paige Director of Folk Arts ArtsWestchester

Celebrate and experience the music and dance traditions of Ghana, West Africa with The New York Ghanaian Unity Ensemble. The Unity Ensemble performs a diverse repertoire from Ghana’s many ethnic groups. Performers include internationally acclaimed dancers and Mount Vernon residents Gloria Nyame and Richard Dwomoh, as well as renowned master drummers Attah Poku, Nii Boye, Michael Ofori, Ben Paulding, and Hola Kutte.

PARAGUAY INDEPENDENCE DAY: A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, DANCE, AND FOOD

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2018

WEST AFRICAN MUSIC & DANCE THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

Upcoming Folk Arts Programs

1 Roosevelt Square, City Hall Plaza, Mount Vernon 7-9pm | FREE ADMISSION

Aaron Paige Director of Folk Arts ArtsWestchester

PERFORMING

FAMILIES

This program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council for the Arts.

For information on more Westchester Arts events, join our mailing list at:

artsw.org

An Evening of Music and Conversation

Saturday, April 21, 2018 ARTSWESTCHESTER GALLERY

Shaaranya Pillai has been learning Carnatic South Indian classical vocal music since she was five years old. Born and raised in the U.S., she began her journey in Carnatic music with her mother, Smt. Kiruba Pillai, and continued learning from her current guru, Smt. Kiranavali Vidyasankar (based in Philadelphia) since 2006. She completed her vocal Arangetram in 2011 in Toronto and has performed Carnatic vocal on many stages in the U.S. and Canada and has sung for several Bharathanatyam (South Indian classical dance) recitals as

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

SMT. KIRUBA & SHAARANYA PILLAI

well. She has been a teacher of the art form for the past 4 years. Smt. Kiruba Pillai, Shaaranya’s mother, is a virtuoso in Carnatic music. Gifted with a rich singing voice, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in music from Annamalai University and has had extensive training in vocal music under the legendary maestro Dr. TV Gopalakrishnan in Chennai, India. She lives in New York, performs and teaches Carnatic music and gives voice training in the US and Canada.

MARIACHI SOL MIXTECO With its beginnings as a rural folk music from Western Mexico, Mariachi today is a transnational phenomenon that can be heard throughout Mexico and the Mexican diaspora. Today, Mariachi is regarded as a traditional Mexican music played at all types of social and cultural events. As a family based group, Mariachi Sol Mixteco strives to represent their Mexican roots and culture through music. The group is comprised of two families, and is led by children Christopher and

MARIACHI SOL MIXTECO Leslie along with their parents Mariela and Jose Navarro. The band’s objective is to provide entertainment, joy, and a touch of elegance to events where they play traditional Mariachi music in full costume. They provide shows and entertainment throughout Westchester County. Valerie Navarro, a 17 year old senior at White Plains High School, is also the founder of Mariachi Juvenil Los Tigres, White Plains High School’s first ever Mariachi.

With its beginnings as a rural folk music from Western Mexico, Mariachi today is a transnational phenomenon that can be heard throughout Mexico and the Mexican diaspora. Today, Mariachi is regarded as a traditional Mexican music played at all types of social and cultural events. As a family based group, Mariachi Sol Mixteco strives to represent their Mexican roots and culture through music. The group is comprised of two families, and is led by children Christopher and

Leslie along with their parents Mariela and Jose Navarro. The band’s objective is to provide entertainment, joy, and a touch of elegance to events where they play traditional Mariachi music in full costume. They provide shows and entertainment throughout Westchester County. Valerie Navarro, a 17 year old senior at White Plains High School, is also the founder of Mariachi Juvenil Los Tigres, White Plains High School’s first ever Mariachi.

Multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Sruli and Lisa play the clarinet, violin, accordion, bass recorder, cello and drum, and perform and teach Klezmer and Hasidic music and dance all over the country. They have performed live on Polish National Television and Radio, and frequently perform live on National Public Radio. Sruli and Lisa are on staff at KlezKanada and regularly teach Klezmer and Yiddish music at the Workmen’s Circle schools. They perform at many prestigious festivals such as the

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

SRULI & LISA’S FAMILY KLEZMER BAND

Jewish Festival in Cracow, Poland, the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto, the Tidewater Jewish Festival in Virginia, and on worldrenowned stages like the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and The Jewish Museum. Sruli and Lisa’s Family Klezmer Band includes sons Zachary on Baritone Saxophone and Aaron on piano and percussion. Zachary recently graduated with a Masters from the New England Conservatory, and Aaron graduates this spring from Brown University.

LOFT’S PRIDE CHORUS The LOFT’s LGBTQ Pride Chorus strives to reflect the diversity within LGBTQ communities. They blend voices representing all different sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, races, abilities and music/choral histories. Just like people, families come in all colors, shapes and sizes. There are some families who are not connected by biology but the bond between them is just as strong. The LOFT’s Pride Chorus is one of these families of choice who come together to sing and bring joy into their lives and their audiences...one song at a time!

LOFT’S PRIDE CHORUS Zack Wright, the Director of the LOFT’s Pride Chorus, is a native of Georgia and holds a bachelors degree in Music Education with Choral Emphasis from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. After graduating, Zack spent three years working as a teacher and musician in Chicago. He was Assistant Choral Director at Hubbard High School (a Chicago Public School), resident Music Director at the Northbrook Children’s Theatre Company, and accompanist for the Northbrook Community Choir. In 2015, Zack moved to White Plains, NY to begin teaching at The Harvey School in Katonah, NY. Additionally, Zack is a music director at the Westchester Sandbox Theatre and Coordinator of Music and Worship at Memorial United Methodist Church, where The LOFT: LGBT Community Center is located.

The LOFT’s LGBTQ Pride Chorus strives to reflect the diversity within LGBTQ communities. They blend voices representing all different sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, races, abilities and music/choral histories. Just like people, families come in all colors, shapes and sizes. There are some families who are not connected by biology but the bond between them is just as strong. The LOFT’s Pride Chorus is one of these families of choice who come together to sing and bring joy into their lives and their audiences...one song at a time!

Zack Wright, the Director of the LOFT’s Pride Chorus, is a native of Georgia and holds a bachelors degree in Music Education with Choral Emphasis from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. After graduating, Zack spent three years working as a teacher and musician in Chicago. He was Assistant Choral Director at Hubbard High School (a Chicago Public School), resident Music Director at the Northbrook Children’s Theatre Company, and accompanist for the Northbrook Community Choir. In 2015, Zack moved to White Plains, NY to begin teaching at The Harvey School in Katonah, NY. Additionally, Zack is a music director at the Westchester Sandbox Theatre and Coordinator of Music and Worship at Memorial United Methodist Church, where The LOFT: LGBT Community Center is located.

T H E F O L K A R T S P R O G R A M AT A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

SONGS OF THE

BRICKYARDS:

THE UNTOLD STORY OF HAVERSTRAW’S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARTSWESTCHESTER GALLERY | 3-5PM | FREE ADMISSION

ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. It helps to fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-tiered gallery is located on the first floor of this historic building.

artsw.org

SAT. NOV.10 2018

INTRODUCTION Dunnigan brickyard workers (photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum)

Haverstraw African American Connection For years it was thought that African Americans were one of the later groups to come to Haverstraw. While many came to the village from the South in the early 1900s for seasonal work in the brickyards, African Americans were, in fact, first brought to Haverstraw in the 1600s against their will, as slaves. The U.S. Census of 1790 reported 238 slaves living in the area. Throughout the early 1800s, a series of laws were passed gradually emancipating Blacks throughout New York State. In Haverstraw, former slaves were left to fend for themselves, seeking out an existence as farm hands, domestic workers, peddlers, and brickyard laborers. African Americans in Haverstraw lived in two shanty communities: “The Beach” in northern Haverstraw and “The Mud Hole” in the southern part of the village. In the early 1900s, some individuals and families were able to save and buy homes in the neighborhood around Clinton and Jefferson Streets. Several of those homes are still owned and occupied by the descendants of Haverstraw’s Black brickyard workers. In 2005, Ginny Norfleet discovered an unusual brick while tearing down her house on Clinton Street in Haverstraw, NY. The brick changed her life, and the life of her community, forever.

The mission of the Haverstraw African American Connection is to research, recover, preserve and teach the rich culture and contributions of African American’s with emphasis on the African American people of Haverstraw N.Y.

This program is supported by

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts and the support of BAC Local 1 New York.

Community Partner

INTRODUCTION Dunnigan brickyard workers (photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum)

This program is supported by

This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts and the support of BAC Local 1 New York.

Community Partner

PERFORMERS • Minister Angel Brooks Hill – Minister Angel Brooks Hill is the youngest child of

the late Dr. Victory “Vicky” Brooks. The anointed singer, pianist and songwriter of Gospel and Praise worship music discovered her gift of singing and playing the piano at the age of three. Her mother was known as the Queen of Gospel in Rockland County and all of her children were gifted with musical talent. The Brooks Family Singers are known throughout the state for their powerful voices and performances. Brooks Hill since embarked on a solo career and has performed internationally and throughout the United States.

• Geneva (Liz) Welch – Liz Welch was born into a family that has been singing gospel

music throughout the tristate area for over one-hundred years. She is the eldest daughter of gospel great Hattie Lassiter and granddaughter of gospel legend Geneva Powell. Welch grew up in the church hearing her mother and grandmother sing. As soon as she could talk, she too began to sing gospel. She continues her family legacy and electrifies audiences with her powerful voice.

• Kelly Waller Lawson – Kelly Waller Lawson has been singing in local churches

since the age of three and has since become known for her voice throughout the Rockland County gospel community. Her range and smooth voice attracts audiences and her solos have been requested by pastors and politicians. She continues to participate in several local choirs in Rockland County.

• Virginia (Ginny) Norfleet – Ginny Norfleet is a lifelong Haverstraw resident and a

storyteller of the Haverstraw African American experience. She is the very mortar that holds together one of the oldest slave holding communities in the Hudson Valley. In fact, Norfleet connects her community, which consists of many ethnicities and backgrounds, to support community-building and promote the healing of the wounds of racism. Her faith, passion and love for the forgotten people of Haverstraw has driven her to create the first African American park in New York State and her vision has helped to create a non-profit organization called Haverstraw African American Connection. She is now in the process of creating Rockland County’s first African American museum.

• Lashana (Shana) Kee – Lashana Kee is a lifelong Haverstraw resident and the

granddaughter of Deacon Buddy and Maggie Kee. She is known for her infectious personality, warm smile and exotic hair styles. Kee has a love and passion for children and is a member of the Haverstraw African American Connection and the president of its kids group. Kee brings an energetic atmosphere to any event in which she participates.

• Susan Filgueras – Susan Filgueras is on the executive board for the Haverstraw (above)

Tenement house, Up-the-beach, Haverstraw (photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum)

(below)

St. Thomas A.M.E. Zion Church, Haverstraw, 2015 (photo courtesy of H.A.A.C.) Haverstraw Landslide, 1906 (photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum)

African American Connection (HAAC) and holds the position as local historian both there and at Stony Point. Filgueras spends countless hours researching historical documents and locations in order to piece a hidden history together. No stone goes unturned as she looks to expose the true history of the brickyard worker and of the African American of Haverstraw. She has a wealth of information and she captures the attention of audiences of all ages, races and backgrounds.

PERFORMERS • Minister Angel Brooks Hill – Minister Angel Brooks Hill is the youngest child of

• Geneva (Liz) Welch – Liz Welch was born into a family that has been singing gospel

• Kelly Waller Lawson – Kelly Waller Lawson has been singing in local churches

• Virginia (Ginny) Norfleet – Ginny Norfleet is a lifelong Haverstraw resident and a

• Lashana (Shana) Kee – Lashana Kee is a lifelong Haverstraw resident and the

• Susan Filgueras – Susan Filgueras is on the executive board for the Haverstraw (above)

Tenement house, Up-the-beach, Haverstraw (photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum)

(below)

St. Thomas A.M.E. Zion Church, Haverstraw, 2015 (photo courtesy of H.A.A.C.) Haverstraw Landslide, 1906 (photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum)

T H E F O L K A R T S P R O G R A M AT A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

SONGS OF THE

BRICKYARDS:

THE UNTOLD STORY OF HAVERSTRAW’S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARTSWESTCHESTER GALLERY | 3-5PM | FREE ADMISSION

artsw.org

SAT. NOV.10 2018

A R T S W E S T C H E S T E R

P R E S E N T S

BONDS

Saturday, October 13, 2018 3PM–5:30PM

31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601

FREE ADMISSION

Families of bricklayers have shaped the landscape of Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley for more than 200 years. Their mark is all around us – in our homes, music halls, aqueducts and places of worship. In this workshop, participants will learn about the rich history of bricklaying in the region, will explore the structural significance and aesthetic beauty of various brick bond patterns and joints and, with professional guidance from Westchester bricklayers, build a wall by using introductory masonry techniques. The program will be led by men who represent three generations of the Cantamessa family, as well as brothers Mike and Pete Clifford, who represent BAC Local 1 Union. Wear casual clothing and appropriate footwear (no open-toed shoes).

for more information vist:

artsw.org/brickbybrick This ArtsWestchester Folk Arts Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts and the support of BAC Local 1 New York.

EXHIBITION AT ARTSWESTCHESTER

The Erie Canal & The Building Boom

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Dear Friends of ArtsWestchester: Ordinarily, one wouldn't mention the Erie Canal, Carnegie Hall and the Croton Aqueduct in the same breath. Yet they are linked by the building bricks that travelled along the Canal, the Hudson River and its tributaries following the Canal's opening in 1825. The Erie Canal was a significant infrastructure project that brought economic prosperity to every stop along its route, igniting a statewide building boom and the growth of a massive brick industry that touched hamlets throughout the state. Brick by Brick: The Erie Canal & the Building Boom is an exhibition inspired by this shared story of the Canal and the Hudson Valley brickyards. Brick became New York State's defining and unifying architectural material, and the story of the Hudson Valley brickyards is one hits close to home. After all, ArtsWestchester's building is a historic landmark built mostly from brick. In our basement, tucked away in a corner was a pile of discarded bricks stamped with the name SCHULTZ - a family whose brickyard was in Ulster County. We'd like to think these recovered materials built the bank that would one day become a home for the arts. We are proud that Brick by Brick was awarded a major grant from the New York State Council on the Arts and are grateful for the support of the many individuals and community partners who helped bring this project to fruition.

- Janet Langsam CEO, ArtsWestchester

FROM THE CURATORS Photo credit: Margaret Fox

Photo credit: Mary Alice Franklin

tretcher. Header. Bed. These are the three "faces" of a brick. Walk down a street in any town or city along the Hudson River and look at the brick buildings. You'll see stretchers and headers. The bed faces are usually hidden, holding the mortar that joins each unit together. Offering the largest surface area, the bed is the foundation upon which structures rise. If you were to get your hands on a single brick, you'd likely see a name, a set of initials, or a symbol imprinted on the bed. This stamp is called a frog. If you search the frog on brickcollecting.com, it's more than likely you will discover that its origin lies in the Hudson Valley, where a once mighty brick industry fed the development of New York State. With its beginnings in the 17th century and New York's early Dutch settlers, the story of brick-making

Cover, Hudson River of Bricks by Julia Whitney Barnes

in the Hudson Valley is truly an American story, rich with complex and challenging intersections of immigration, industry and innovation, and of family enterprise, environmental impact and economic development. Brick by Brick: The Erie Canal and the Building Boom tells this story through the work of contemporary artists, which is presented in context with historic materials and the rich personal accounts of brick-industry descendants and enthusiasts. Bricks become eloquent symbols for a range of subjects that are present in the work of the twelve exhibiting artists in Brick by Brick:the transient quality of the manmade, the fragility of our environment, forgotten histories, and shared human experiences. Artworks include large-scale contemplative human heads that are constructed

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- Janet Langsam CEO, ArtsWestchester

FROM THE CURATORS Photo credit: Margaret Fox

Photo credit: Mary Alice Franklin

Cover, Hudson River of Bricks by Julia Whitney Barnes

STRETCHER FACE

from artist-made bricks, commissioned photographs of remnants of the industry, and paintings and glass sculptures that interpret the aesthetic qualities of bricks.

I •

Brick-making was one of the Hudson Valley's most prolific industries, comparable in magnitude and impact to IBM and the nascent biotech companies of today. While the brick industry faded after World War 11, its byproducts are still present today in the cultural and physical composition of our towns and cities. Hudson Valley brick is all around us. It lies within our homes and businesses, speckles our forests, covers our shorelines, and appears in our stories. This exhibition connects the materiality of brick as a historic and aesthetic object to the intangible stories that local residents construct around it. The adventures of brick hunters, the discoveries of collectors, and the tales and songs of ancestors past, all find voice here. ■ Kathleen Reckling Gallery Director

BED FACE

Faces of a Brick

WIDTH

HEADER FACE FROG

LENGTH

BRICK POSITIONS

Stretcher

Shiner

Sailor

IMPORTANT TERMS

Aaron Paige

#AWbricks

Folk Arts Director

Soldier

Rowlock

Header

BOND - the patterned arrangement of brick or stone in a wall.

JOINT - the mortar bond placed between individual masonry units such as brick, block or stone.

MORTAR - a pasty building material composed of sand, lime and cement mixed with water. This mixture gradually hardens when exposed to the air. Mortar is used as a joining medium in brick and stone construction.

COURSE - a horizontal row of bricks, when laid in a wall. It is a continuous level or layer of any masonry unit throughout the face or faces of a building. A header course, for example, would consist entirely of header facing bricks.

STRUCTURAL BRICK BONDS ArtsWestchester's Arts Committee & Board of Directors Haverstraw African American Connection

Haverstraw Brick Museum

The Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. The Construction Advancement Institute of Westchester & Mid-Hudson Region, Inc. New York State Museum I Tech Center, PNW Boces I Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 The Bannerman Trust I Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct I The Croton Historical Society The New York Power Authority I BLT Steak Michael Brophy, President, Haverstraw Brick Museum I Erik Cantamessa, BAC Local 1 I Mike Clifford, BAC Local 1 Westchester and Putnam Field Rep I Pete Clifford, BAC Local 1 Rockland and Orange Field Rep Peter Dispensa, Civil Engineer for NY C Water Supply I Susan Filgueras, Stony Point & HAAC Historian Dr. Allan Gilbert, Fordham University I Mayor Michael Kohut, Village of Haverstraw I Virginia Norfleet, HAAC Founder Jim Ormond I Fred Rieck I Karl Solvin, President MWest Holdings, Hutton Brickyard Tom Sullivan I Andy van der PoeI I Rob Yasinsac Timeline captions: 1771, Dutch Gardens, New City. Detail.© Christopher Payne, 2018 I 1832, Nicolino CaIyo, Burning of the Merchants Exchange, New York, December 16 & 17 18351835 DiIon canvas, Museum of the City of New York, New York, NY I 1842, Croton Aqueduct at the Harlem River. Tower F.B. Illustration of the Croton Aqueduct. New York & London: Wiley & Putnam 1843. Museum of the City of New York I 1883, Haverstraw earns the title "Brickmaking Capitol of the World" photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum I 1990s, Wheeling green bricks to kiln, Haverstraw, photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum. I Landslide of 1906, Haverstraw. Photo courtesy of the Haverstraw Brick Museum I 1980, Hutton Brickyards from the water, from therondoutrower.wordpress.com

When used for structural purposes, bricks are most commonly seen in the header and stretcher positons with the bed face down. These positions maximize the surface area for mortar, thus increasing the bricks structural function. The header course ties the wall to the backing masonry material. Examples include: Common Bond or American Bond- Features a header course every 5th, 6th, or 7th course.

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English Bond-A bond where one course is composed entirely of headers and the next course is composed entirely of stretchers. Alternate courses of headers and stretchers are laid so the joints between stretchers are centered on the headers.

NON-STRUCTURAL BRICK BONDS

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These bonds often feature the brick's bed face out. They are designed for aesthetic, not structural purposes. and are most commonly used in pathways, floors, or non-load bearing walls. Examples include:

Flemish Bond -A bond consisting of alternating headers and stretchers in each course. The headers in a course are centered above and below the stretchers in the in-between course.

-------------------------

Herringbone Bond-This pattern imitates a herringbone weave, a distinctive V-shaped pattern.

English Cross or Dutch Bond-This bond uses alternate headers and stretcher courses. The joints of the stretchers center on the stretchers two courses above and below; headers center on headers.

-----------------------

Sailor Stack Bond- A purely aesthetic bond with bricks stacked upon each other in sailor position.

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Adapted from Peter Dispensa's Brick Guide

STRETCHER FACE

from artist-made bricks, commissioned photographs of remnants of the industry, and paintings and glass sculptures that interpret the aesthetic qualities of bricks.

I •

BED FACE

Faces of a Brick

WIDTH

HEADER FACE FROG

LENGTH

BRICK POSITIONS

Stretcher

Shiner

Sailor

IMPORTANT TERMS

Aaron Paige

#AWbricks

Folk Arts Director

Soldier

Rowlock

Header

BOND - the patterned arrangement of brick or stone in a wall.

JOINT - the mortar bond placed between individual masonry units such as brick, block or stone.

STRUCTURAL BRICK BONDS ArtsWestchester's Arts Committee & Board of Directors Haverstraw African American Connection

Haverstraw Brick Museum

---------------------

NON-STRUCTURAL BRICK BONDS

---------------------

Flemish Bond -A bond consisting of alternating headers and stretchers in each course. The headers in a course are centered above and below the stretchers in the in-between course.

-------------------------

Herringbone Bond-This pattern imitates a herringbone weave, a distinctive V-shaped pattern.

English Cross or Dutch Bond-This bond uses alternate headers and stretcher courses. The joints of the stretchers center on the stretchers two courses above and below; headers center on headers.

-----------------------

Sailor Stack Bond- A purely aesthetic bond with bricks stacked upon each other in sailor position.

1111111 1111111

Adapted from Peter Dispensa's Brick Guide

- Brick industry - ErieCanal

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c115.000 - c11,700 BCE Clay formed in the Hudson Valley During the last ice age, blankets of ice weighing millions of tons crush mountainous rocks into a flour textured clay. Rich blue and yellow clay sediments are deposited in vast glacial lakes that come to rest in the banks of the newly-carved Hudson River. These immense clay beds along the Hudson are later identified as the ideal raw material for brickmaking.

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1616-Haverstraw is first settled by the Dutch. c.1630-1690-Brickmaking Comes to New York State. Remains of a 17th century brickmaker's house and brickyard were discovered at Quackenbush Square Parking Facility Historical Archaeological Site in Albany in 2001. The site provides the earliest evidence of brickmaking in New York.

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1771-Brickmaking comes to Haverstraw, the Future Brick Capital of the World. Dutch settler Jacob Van Dyke discovers huge deposits of clay in the Hudson Valley and begins producing the first handmade bricks in Haverstraw for use in fireplaces and chimneys.

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1835-Second Canal enlargement to lessen canal traffic 1840s-First large scale immigration into the Hudson Valley by the Irish, brought about by the Gorta Mor, Great Hunger, with many Irish being employed in the brickmaking industry.

1842-The Croton Aqueduct is completed. (opened to the public on October 14, 1842)

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1817-Construction on the Erie Canal begins near Rome, NY on July 4, 1817 with the Rome-Utica canal section (section opened in 1819).

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1807-Robert Fulton's steamboat, the Clermont, sails up the Hudson. Steamboats become the most practical form of transportation in the Hudson Valley, opening up commerce in upstate New York.

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Wedding of the Waters. On October 26, 1825, Governor Clinton performs a ceremony during which waters from Lake Erie are poured into the New York Harbor. The event marks the opening of the canal and symbolizes the newfound connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. 1832-1835- Crisis in New York City. More than 3,000 people die during a cholera outbreak. The City agrees to invest in the infrastructure for a clean water supply, leading to the construction of the Croton Aqueduct. At the same time, fires sweep across lower Manhattan, resulting in new building co?es. Bricks are the building materials of choice to remedy both crises. The Hudson Valley brick industry booms.

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1780s-Early visions of a canal. The First Erie Canal proposal is submitted to New York legislature. The proposal fails due to lack of funds and an inability to approve a comprehensive canal route.

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1883-Haverstraw earns the title "Brickmaking Capitol of the World" with an estimated ,.._,._,,,.._, 302,647,000 bricks produced that year. 41 brickyards are operating in Haverstraw at this time, employing some 2,500 men in the brick plants. 1893-Labor unions on the rise. The Panic of 1893 produces an economic depression for much of the decade. Labor agitation becomes more prevalent amongst the Hudson Valley brick workers. Unions begin to pop up in the area.

1900: 18% of the U.S. workforce is composed of children under the age of 16. 1 out of 5 children worked in the U.S.

1900s: Significant numbers of African-Americans move to Haverstraw from the South (Virginia, Georgia and the Carolinas) to work the brickyards. By the turn of the century, they come to constitute nearly 60% of the brickyard labor force.

1900s- Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, cheaper European bricks flood the market. Focus shifts to lighter building materials such as aluminum and steel. The Great Depression sounds the industry's death knell and World War II delivers the final blow.

1906-On January 8th, the Haverstraw Landslide occurs. A third of the village is destroyed by either the landslide or resulting fires. 1980- Hutton Brickyard, one of only two remaining Hudson Valley yards, closes. In 2001 Powell & Minnock (Coeymans, NY) is the last Hudson River Valley brickyard to close.

2000-As part of a preservation effort, Congress designates the Erie Canal as a National Heritage Corridor.

2017-The bicentennial anniversary of the start of construction on the Erie Canal.

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1842-The Croton Aqueduct is completed. (opened to the public on October 14, 1842)

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1817-Construction on the Erie Canal begins near Rome, NY on July 4, 1817 with the Rome-Utica canal section (section opened in 1819).

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1807-Robert Fulton's steamboat, the Clermont, sails up the Hudson. Steamboats become the most practical form of transportation in the Hudson Valley, opening up commerce in upstate New York.

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1780s-Early visions of a canal. The First Erie Canal proposal is submitted to New York legislature. The proposal fails due to lack of funds and an inability to approve a comprehensive canal route.

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1900: 18% of the U.S. workforce is composed of children under the age of 16. 1 out of 5 children worked in the U.S.

2000-As part of a preservation effort, Congress designates the Erie Canal as a National Heritage Corridor.

2017-The bicentennial anniversary of the start of construction on the Erie Canal.

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Virginia ··Ginny" Norfleet Haverstraw, NY

Julyl,2018

Interview Excerpts

It's the story of a people." Virginia "Ginny" Norfleet

"Prior to 2005, I knew my grandfather worked in the brickyards. My mother's birth certificate has him down as a laborer in the brick yards, and a colored laborer at that. That was his title. In 2005 when I demolished a home on Clinton Street, the home I sit in now, I found a very unique brick ...a brick that had a cross that had been etched out of it. My life with the brickyards changed as I got into more history on that brick. I found out that that brick was the corner stone of a slave church."

Ginny Norfleet at Haverstraw's African Amencen Memonel Perk. 201 B

" ...If you ask people that live there today, they don't know what the mudhole is. Now it's a very upscale condominium. But it's still the mudhole to us because we have fond memories there. Now it's an artsy upscale neighborhood, predominantly white. Haverstraw is changing. It continues to change. So I think that it is important that we preserve this part of the history so that all can understand it. It might just be a condo to them, but it's the ground that we worked on, the ground that we lived on, and the setting of stories from our youth growing up." "The workers in the brickyards would use a call and response way of singing. Someone would lead and the rest would respond. That comes from the church and we still do it to this day. Depending on the day, the workers would make up songs or they would sing gospel songs ... the spirituals. Imagine being a woman who is nine months pregnant and going through labor but forced to work ...she would probably sing something like 'Precious Lord Take My Hand.' Because who is she crying out to? She is certainly not crying out to the brickyard owners because they have to produce bricks. They have to build Manhattan. We were taught to endure and to hold onto our faith. People talk about the men with the call and response, but there were women in the yards singing songs also. And this music is still in the African American culture."

culture and contributions ol

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Virginia ··Ginny" Norfleet Haverstraw, NY

Julyl,2018

Interview Excerpts

It's the story of a people." Virginia "Ginny" Norfleet

Ginny Norfleet at Haverstraw's African Amencen Memonel Perk. 201 B

culture and contributions ol

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Tom Sullivan & Michael Brophy

Fred Rieck & Andy van der Poel

July 3, 2018

June 3, 2018

Stony Point, NY Haverstraw, NY

Torn Sullivan and Mike Brophy at the Haverstraw Brick Museum Sullivan's brick collection 1s mounted on the back wall

Elizaville, NY Kingston, NY

Interview Excerpts

"A worker pulled the lever and dumped the clay while my grandfather's hand was still on the rail. It was a serious injury. Tough old Irishman. He come on home which was not far from the brickyard. Took a couple swigs of whiskey to help him out. His wife sent him to a doctor around the corner. After getting treated, he went back home, finished the bottle of whiskey, walked back out to the brickyards, and finished up his day's work. That's Patrick Sullivan from Tipperary Ireland." - Tom Sullivan

"I grew up on the river. Always been a fan of the Hudson. Then I read Van Hutton's book about the Hutton brickyard here in Kingston. Upon reading that, I said to my daughter 'you want to go look for bricks?' She was probably 10 or 11 at the time. So, off we went. We went to the Schleede yard and found some bricks. We went up to the Port Ewin beach and found some Turner bricks. Went over to Hutton yard and found some more bricks. Took then all home and then. I guess from there on it was get more bricks. Then I found bricks that I couldn't identify, so I turned to the internet. That's when Fred and I started to correspond. He came over one day and obviously, we struck up a friendship. It was just game on from there. I had a canoe and a small motor boat. We were perfectly equipped to do whatever we needed to do and go, up and down the river. Everywhere. Both sides. From Mechanicville all the way down to Nyack. There aren't too many places we haven't visited and found all kinds of things along the way." - Andy Van Der Poe!

"When you hold a brick, you think construction. You think building. Could be building a house. Could be building a bridge. Maybe just lining a wall with brick. And there's a certain amount of warmth looking at a brick, red brick. Especially a red brick wall. That's what I get out of a brick. And then, if you are a rebel-rouser or trouble-maker, you can break up the bricks and throw them." - Tom Sullivan "I look at one made today and I look at one made during the 1900s. In one I see machine. In the other I see people. You can see the love and everything they put into it ...making that brick. That's the way I look at it. I see one today ...it's a perfect rectangle. Those made years ago ...yeah just might have been a little rounded and everything. But my love is in the bricks of the past because you know these new ones are mass produced. And the names ...the names give me the chills." - Mike Brophy

"Bricks were something that were just ignored for the most part. Who paid any attention to the brick? One is like the other. Until a few people realized, yeah they are all different. There is a history. There are people behind it. There are immigrants behind it. The Lithuanians, the Italians. The Irish. You name them. You go to these old brick manufacturing cities like Mechanicville, Haverstraw, Cohoes and you see all these different churches. All these ethnic groups had their own church, which was their support structure here in America. And they all worked in the brickyards and paper mills. So many cultures coming together. They had their own bakeries! Then Urban renewal came along and tore everything down. 'Ah, these are just old buildings. We can put modern in here.' Well, they tore down a lot of these places. It upset these little enclaves of people. Yeah, the places weren't fancy, but people were comfortable. They were happy. No matter what happened to them in life they had people around them for support." - Fred Rieck

Andy van der Poel and Fred Reick m front of van dar Poal's Hudson R1var Brick Collection, Kingston NY. 2018

identified hundreds of Hudson

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Tom Sullivan & Michael Brophy

Fred Rieck & Andy van der Poel

July 3, 2018

June 3, 2018

Stony Point, NY Haverstraw, NY

Torn Sullivan and Mike Brophy at the Haverstraw Brick Museum Sullivan's brick collection 1s mounted on the back wall

Elizaville, NY Kingston, NY

Interview Excerpts

Andy van der Poel and Fred Reick m front of van dar Poal's Hudson R1var Brick Collection, Kingston NY. 2018

identified hundreds of Hudson

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

EXHIBITING ARTISTS

Peter Dispensa

Julia Whitney Barnes

Hartsdale, NY

Poughkeepsie, NY

August 9, 2018

Interview Excerpt

Pelar D1spensa

"Bricks contributed to the development of today's modern cities. Without the brick we wouldn't have the infrastructure that our cities needed to flourish. But a lot of the older brick architecture has been demolished in the name of urban renewal, and the history of brick is rapidly being forgotten. Also, there aren't enough young people getting involved in the brick laying trades. I like to tell my students, 'take a look at this. The elements of the brick, as simple they seem, become incredibly complex when you put them together. Think about what they can create.' We need to take a step back and look at where it all came from to understand what we are building upon.''

He has worked he/fl_ fl_rotect NYC's immense and

architectural and engineering

"One great example of the use of brick and the aesthetics of it is the Tarrytown music hall. The brick workmanship on that building is incredible. The tight joints that they used, the turn of the brick, the patterns ...it is a really nice example that you don't find too much in Westchester. I also love Garth road in Scarsdale. Some of the older prewar buildings contain a lot of the structural brick bonds. You can see English, Flemish, Scottish, and Sussex bonds as well as most aesthetic designs where brick is inset into the wall and turned onto its side to show the bed face of it.''

"New York City is one of the most iconic cities in the world, and 90% of the city's plentiful brick structures (and infrastructure) were essentially created out of Hudson River mud. A Hudson River of Bricks is a scale version of the Hudson River, created from bricks that were made in the more than 200 historic Hudson River brickyards. The installation brings attention to the rich history of bricks from the Hudson River area, and also shows the beauty of these utilitarian objects that ceased to be produced here. Viewers can appreciate the work from a historical, artistic and/or local resident background. Dozens of people contributed bricks and information to this project. Meeting with them, and hearing stories about their bricks and their lives, has been an important aspect of the project. I am always seeking new donations in order to expand the work. As we are living in such a politically divided time, it feels especially significant to interact with people of diverse backgrounds and political views to speak about a neutral topic. I often think about the project as the 'United Hudson River of Bricks' in that it brings both people and bricks together.''

Hudson River of Bricks (detail)

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

EXHIBITING ARTISTS

Peter Dispensa

Julia Whitney Barnes

Hartsdale, NY

Poughkeepsie, NY

August 9, 2018

Interview Excerpt

Pelar D1spensa

He has worked he/fl_ fl_rotect NYC's immense and

architectural and engineering

Hudson River of Bricks (detail)

BRICK BY BRICK PROGRAMS Saturday Oct. 13 3-5:30pm ArtsWestchester Gallery 31 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 FREE ADMISSION

Saturday Nov. 3 3-5:30pm ArtsWestchester Gallery 31 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 FREE ADMISSION

Saturday Nov. 10 3-Spm ArtsWestchester Gallery 31 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 FREE ADMISSION

BRICK BONDS Families of bricklayers have shaped the landscape of Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley for more than 200 years. Their mark is all around us - in our homes, music halls, aqueducts and places of worship. In this workshop, participants will learn about the rich history of bricklaying in the region, will explore the structural significance and aesthetic beauty of various brick bond patterns and joints and, with professional guidance from Westchester bricklayers, build a wall by using introductory masonry techniques. The program will be led by men who represent three generations of the Cantamessa family, as well as brothers Mike and Pete Clifford, who represent BAC Local 1 Union. Wear casual clothing and appropriate footwear (no open-toed shoes).

BRICK HUNTERS OF THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY AND WESTCHESTER BRICK SWAP Have you ever heard of brick hunting? Brick flipping? Brick frogs? Come hear the region's leading brick collectors tell stories of discovery and adventure along the Hudson River. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own "brick stories" and marked bricks (up to 7 per person) to share and swap. An event for those who love New York State history, genealogy, archaeology, collecting, folklore and, of course, bricks.

SONGS OF THE BRICKVARDS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF HAVERSTRAW'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY In 2005, Ginny Norfleet discovered an unusual brick while tearing down her house on Clinton Street in Haverstraw, NY. The brick would change her life, and the life of her community, forever. Join storytellers, singers of spirituals and gospel legends as they narrate the tale of the brick. This unforgettable musical journey will take you through the history of slavery, the brickyards and the African American church in Haverstraw. The event features the Haverstraw African American Connection and gospel greats, including Minister Angel Brooks Hill, Geneva Liz Welch, Kelly Waller Lawson and more.

These programs are part of Arts Westchester's Folk Arts Program, made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.

ARTS

ARTSWESTCHESTER

31 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10601

914.428.4220

artsw.org