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Category archives: Art for Progress

  • I Am He as You Are He as You Are Me...

  • 10 years ago
  • Eran Riklis’s A Borrowed Identity starts out on a humorous note, as we see young Eyad (Razi Gabareen) attempting to improve his family’s TV reception by adjusting the roof antenna, while his father Salah (Ali Suliman) shouts instructions out the window. Though Eyad loses his footing, falls and is knocked unconscious, the generally blasé reaction of his family lets us know he’ll be OK. We learn that Eyad and his family – Salah, mother (Laëtitia Eïdo), grandmother (Marlene Bajali) and several brothers – are Arabs living in the Israeli town of Tira. Although the film, which is set in the 1980s and early 90s, retains moments of levity throughout, it soon becomes a serious coming-of-age story about a young man who is caught between two often clashing cultures. According to a 2013 census, over 20% of Israel’s population are Arabs, citizens of Israel who consider themselves Palestinian by nationality. A Borrowed Identity is based on the semi-autobiographical novel Dancing Arabs by Sayed Kashua, who also wrote the screenplay. It’s a clear-eyed look at the difficult situation of people who are not full members of the society in which they live, as well as the well-intentioned attempts by those in power at bridging that gap. In one early, mordantly funny scene, young Eyad casually announces, “Mom, I brought home my Jew,” the result of a school program endeavoring to bring together Palestinian and Jewish children. We learn that Eyad's father attended university as a youth, but[...]

  • Haven: A Summer Retreat for Artists and Friends

  • 10 years ago
  • Haven: Saturday, July 25th at The Mothership, Brooklyn- 7pm - 1am It's summer and it's time to celebrate with great music and art!  AFP is co-hosting this rooftop soiree with our good pals over at NOoSPHERE Arts. Barry Komitor's (AFP's Art Education Manager) band Bad Faces is set to perform with solo music performances from Lesley Kernochan and Charles Davi.  Also, AFP's Executive Director Frank Jackson (aka DJ Gatto) is breaking out some select choices from his vast vinyl collection, and longtime friend DJ/Producer SR SERGE will be spinning a late set for your dancing pleasure.  To add to the flavor, we have AFP artists Daniel Maldonado (Gashouse Films) and Jeanne Wilkinson creating video installations, while Cat Del Buono will present her "Beauty Box" installation. Last but not least, the very talented performance artist Duckie L'Orange will intrigue us with her creativity. Check out the invite below, grab a six pack or a bottle of wine and let's celebrate!!

  • AFP Music: Summer Concerts (pt 3)

  • 10 years ago
  • River To River Festival 2015 June 18–28 Lower Manhattan Since the festival began in 2002, River To River has been bringing dance, music, visual arts and other projects to various spaces throughout Lower Manhattan and the waterfront. This includes the Governors Island Arts Center, Pier 15, Federal Hall, North End Way, Nelson A Rockefeller Park, Fulton Center, Vbar, Robert R. Wagner Jr. Park and Peck Slip Park as well as a few others. In total River To River compiled sixty events (a full calendar can be viewed here), all of which are free. For those with limited capacity, it is possible to RSVP and reserve space. Of the dozens of performances, our picks are: Olga Bell When: Tuesday, June 23 8:30–9:30pm Where: Pier 15 Benyoro, Los Crema Paraiso & Golem When: Saturday, June 27 5:00–9:00pm Where: Seaport District: Fulton and Water Street Roomful of Teeth When: Wednesday, June 24 8:00–9:15pm Where: 28 Liberty Plaza Brasil Summerfest July 30-August 8 Where: South Street Seaport Founded by Petrit Pula in 2011 and co-curated by Beco Dranoff, Brasil Summerfest has since brought the sounds and energy of Brazilian music to New York for several years now. From July into the first days of August, the festival has sports a mix of traditional and new age music. Artists like Bebel Gilberto, Maira Freitas, Marcela D2, Planet Hemp, DJ Nuts, Brothers of Brazil, Pedro Moraes and DJ Greg Caz have played the festival in past years. Of this summer's lineup, our mus[...]

  • Wearable Art: Summer Designer Spotlight With Amber Jimenez Garcia

  • 10 years ago
  • This week, I caught up with independent designer Amber Jimenez Garcia, founder of Ambit NYC, who just completed an impressively large-scale project with a well-established lifestyle brand recently. Known for producing locally-sourced, handmade designs, Ambit NYC, is growing as Amber uncovers new ways to diversify her brand.  Via e-mail, she offers some insight to Art For Progress readers! 1) Can you fill us in about the experience of producing a high volume of hats for a top lifestyle brand, all on your own? In my experience, it is really about who you know. Every time I have had an opportunity to work for an interesting company on a freelance basis, it was due to a friend's recommendation. For this company, which is branded as high-quality, a friend who works there in accessories design, [reached out to be as] she was looking to push work with an American-made brand in millinery.  She has a few of my hats, and really believed in the quality of my work. [However this project was on] a much larger scale than what I'm used to. It was a great challenge, and I am happy to have had the opportunity. 2) Got any pro-tips for those looking to work with companies on a freelance basis?  One of the most important lessons that I gained from the project was to make a timeline, and to stick to it. Even with several setbacks along the way, sticking to a time-and-action calendar helped me meet each setback head on. 3) Are you still making baby booties [...]

  • Human Rights Watch Film Fest: Celebrating Change

  • 10 years ago
  • Now in its 26th edition, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival will take place in New York City from June 11 to 21, with 16 films from around the world that celebrate the power of individuals and communities to create change. The festival, co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and IFC Center, is organized around three themes: Art Versus Oppression, Changemakers and Justice and Peace. Special programs include a discussion on the ethics of image-making in documenting human rights abuses, a master class on international crisis reporting and digital storytelling, and a multimedia project on women activists of the Arab Spring. The festival kicks off on June 11 with a fundraising Benefit Night for Human Rights Watch, which includes a screening of Matthew Heineman’s Cartel Land, which exposes two vigilante movements that have arisen from Mexico's drug war. Opening Night on June 12 features Marc Silver's 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets, about the 2012 shooting of a black teenager, Jordan Davis, at a Florida gas station and the trial of his killer, Michael Dunn. On the festival's Closing Night, Stanley Nelson’s The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution will screen; the renowned documentarian's history of the Black Panther Party contains rare archival footage, from the party’s beginnings to its ultimate dissolution. The directors of these and other films will be on hand for post-screening discussions. Other films to be shown include Ayat Najafi's No Land’s Song (Art [...]

  • AFP Music: Summer Concerts (pt 2)

  • 10 years ago
  • 3. SummerStage May 18 - September 24 Rumsey Playfield Musically, Central Park is usually just buskers and that one guy playing music obnoxiously loud from his phone. Except in the summer. During the warm months, the Park hosts SummerStage, an outdoor festival of almost entirely free shows. Like Celebrate Brooklyn, the series includes the odd benefit concert, for which admission is charged, but the majority of the line up is free. Everyone loves free concerts. Plus, even when admission is charged the money made helps fund SummerStage, so the proceeds still go to a good cause. Each year the SummerStage concerts are held at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, which can be best accessed by entering the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue. Seating (e.g. bleachers) isn’t always available and space is limited, so come prepared and probably early. On weekdays, doors are an hour before the show and on weekends are an hour and a half. If you don’t get a good spot or arrive after capacity is reached, there always plenty of green space around the venue to sit on and listen. Alcohol is not permitted, but food/drink will be available from Pizza Moto, Asia Dog, Blue Marble, Lonestar Empire, and many more vendors. Professional cameras (SLRs) are also not allowed, but there’s always your phone? So settle in with an Ommegang and snapchat your friends from #Summerstage. Of all this season’s shows some of the stand-outs are: 6/6: Blue Note Jazz Festival (2:00 PM) 6/17: Lindsey Stirl[...]

  • Wearable Art: Here's 3 On Fleek RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Moments

  • 10 years ago
  • Known as the Super Bowl of Drag, RuPaul's Drag Race, now in its 7th season, will announce this year's winner tonight on LOGO-TV! I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it! Image Credit: Mathu Andersen/LOGO Full disclosure: It's one of my all-time favorite program, and I totally believe it is one of the best shows on TV. And what's wonderful is that I'm not the only one. RuPaul's Drag Race's fans span all social backgrounds and sexual orientations! Sure this year's edition hasn't been the most outstanding season, with mostly lackluster "Lip Syncs For Your Life." it's still great to see the evolution of all of queens, especially the finalists Ginger Minj, Pearl and Violet Chachki. Getty Images for LOGO Here are three fabulous fashion moments as shared to me by Blog Founder, Social Media Strategist Nichelle Stephens, and fellow fan. Like me, she's not quite sure who she's rooting for: "I can't decide but I think I am #TeamViolet," she says. Ginger Minj After last season's Ben de La Creme and Darienne Lake, Ginger Minj seemed like a weak mash-up of the two.  However as the season progressed, you can see that Ginger has Southern charm with campy sensibilities and style. Jason Kempin, Getty Images for Logo TV The best look for her was runway look on the penultimate episode.  The white gown was gorgeous; her makeup was glamorous with being too much and her wig was teased up into a perfect crown.  LOGO-TV Violet Chachki Violet Chachki is waist traini[...]

  • AFP Music: Summer Concerts (pt 1)

  • 10 years ago
  • 1. Governor's Ball June 5-7, 2015 Randall’s Island Park The sunburn of Warped Tour meets the popular appeal of Coachella at this NYC concert series. The Governors Ball Music Festival began in 2011 as a one-day affair on Governor’s Island featuring among others Girl Talk, Reptar, Big Boi and a DJ set by Passion Pit. After a healthily-attended inaugural year, Gov Ball has grown to be the concert series to wear your snapback to each summer. This year the festival will bring dozens of bands to Randall’s Island for the weekend, but there are definite stand out that you should make a point of seeing each day: Friday: My Morning Jacket, Ratatat, The Decemberists, St. Vincent, Twin Shadow will take the stage along with Drake, Florence + the Machine Saturday: Future Islands, Marina and the Diamonds, Conor Oberst, Ryan Adams, Deadmau5, Bjork Sunday: Lana Del Rey, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, The War on Drugs, The Black Keys, Hot Chip, Echosmith,"Weird Al" Yankovic. Be sure to arrive early to secure a good spot. Buses and ferries beginning shuttling concert-goers to the island at 11:00AM. Gates open at 11:45 and the music starts at 12:15 (and doesn't stop until 11:00PM!) Don’t forget/lose/damage your wristband. Gov Ball, like many of the bigger music events, distributes wristbands to ticket holders via the mail (or via the box office for late purchases.) They are your ticket in and are what allow you to re-enter the festival each day. Mind you can only re-enter o[...]

  • Female Desire on Film: Quirky American and Comedic French

  • 10 years ago
  • This week: two very different movies from female directors, who are (sadly) still an extreme minority, even in independent film. I Believe in Unicorns and Gemma Bovery both open on Friday, May 29th. Leah Meyerhoff’s first feature, which she both wrote and directed, is the semi-autobiographical I Believe in Unicorns, a simple yet visually inventive film about a sensitive teen’s first love (and sex) affair. Davina (played by the wonderfully soulful Natalia Dyer) lives with and cares for her disabled mom (played by Meyerhoff’s actual mother, Toni), whose husband abandoned her many years before. We all know -- or were -- girls like Davina: creative, whimsical, deep-thinking types who live largely in their imaginations. Davina collects unicorn toys, dresses inventively and takes searching self-portraits with a Polaroid camera. One day she spots Sterling (Peter Vack) skateboarding with his pals and becomes smitten with the sexy, slightly older teen, who is clearly a Bad Boy. (Though the moody, kinetic Sterling might seem a bit goofy to us, he is devastating bait to a 16-year-old.) He becomes equally charmed by her and they soon become a couple, but not without some glitches; after their first sexual encounter backstage at a punk club, he becomes distant much to her distress, but she pursues him almost aggressively.  It's unusual and somewhat refreshing to see a teenage girl's desires portrayed so matter of factly and Dyer is great at showing how the inexperienced Davina i[...]

  • For “The Boulevard Trial” Author Stephanie Laterza, A Red Sweater Helps To Ignite Her Creative Passions

  • 10 years ago
  • "Juggling a full-time job with parenting and writing is no joke. It’s exhausting," shares writer and attorney Stephanie Laterza. “Some mornings, it’s heartbreaking to try to explain to my toddler son why my husband and I have to go to work and why he has to go to daycare, and why we can’t all just stay home, or go to the park like we do on the weekends.” Laterza’s son was the inspiration behind her short story, The Clown Nose, published through Akashic Books’ Terrible Twosdays series last year, which she feels captures an aspect of this hectic lifestyle. Other works like short stories In Triage and Niagara, and her recently released first novel, The Boulevard Trial, draw from moments in her life and career, serving as a huge influence in her storytelling. And as challenging as the balance between lawyering, parenting and writing tends to be, Laterza credits her husband and mother for their unwavering support: “As I say in my blog, I send much peace and inspiration to all families making it work one way or the other.“ Find out what three favorite personal possessions Stephanie can’t live without! Then to learn more about this gifted author, visit StephanieLaterzaAuthor.wordpress.com   Red Sweater My red sweater from H&M, which I bought about ten years ago. I put it on every time I write and it kept me warm on many mornings in my drafty den this past winter. Red is, and has always been, my favorite color. Of course, red signifies passion, love and fire[...]

  • We Deliver presents "Summer Fever"

  • 10 years ago
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UkrX_ikRUY Sunday, May 24th at The Bowery Electric Memorial Day Weekend we're kicking off the season properly with an incredible line-up of some of NYC's best bands, performers and DJ's on two levels. ROCK, FUNK, HIP HOP, ELECTRONICA, AMERICANA DOWNSTAIRS: Live Music: $9 Advance Tickets, $10 at the door XNY, Soul Khan, Blythe Sword, Bad Faces, Digital Diaspora, Statik Vision UPSTAIRS:  Live Music until 10pm, DJ's til late:  NO COVER MAP ROOM:  Graham Norwood and Amy Miles DJ's: Sameer & Gatto - 10pm til late Hosted by Art for Progress,  Doors: 7pm,  Music: 7:30pm