Tags archives: new york city
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2 years ago
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Art for Progress (AFP) is set to launch its annual summer program for NYC public school students in July. Now in its sixth year, the program continues to evolve to address the needs of NYC’s young artists and musicians attending public schools across NYC.
The program, funded by The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, offers students interested in careers in the arts and music, summer guidance and instruction. For 2023, the program will shift to a mentorship focused program that offers select students the opportunity to work closely with professional artists across multiple genres including visual art, fashion design, music, and music production.
Teaching artist Paula Parker addressing students- Art for Progress Summer Arts Program
The long running program endured the challenging COVID years by creating an impactful online program that continued through 2021. In 2022, Art for Progress was very pleased to receive a three-year renewal for the funding of the program from The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation in 2022. With much joy, we returned to normal, in-person programming last year. A focused group of students and our energized teachers made the 2022 program a big success.
Knowing the foundations approach and goals for the summer program, AFP’s Founder Frank Jackson set out to make the 2023 program the best one yet. The message from the foundation has always been, what will you do to improve the program, and how will the program evolve over time to addres[...]
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4 years ago
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Event performance celebrating the end of the summer program (2019).
Now in its third year, Art for
Progress’ summer program gives students the opportunity to learn about life as
a professional artist, while also learning new advanced skills to help them
achieve their goals.
Funded by the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation with additional support from the Sansom Foundation, the program is taught by professional teaching artists with a long history of working with Art for Progress (AFP) in NYC’s Public Schools and other important projects. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, the program will be funded through 2021, which gives AFP the opportunity to expand and grow the program even more.
Over the years, the program has invited Grammy nominated musicians, prominent visual artists and high-level fashion designers as its guest speakers. It has been a valuable and exciting part of the program for students and highly rewarding for the artists. There’s no cost for students to attend.
Though the program for this summer will be hosted online, it will be one of the best yet, due in large part to Art for Progress’ newly developed online learning platform: https://learn.artforprogress.org, which was created to optimize the experience for both our teachers and students. The new website includes many valuable features which will enhance learning and promote better communication. This summer’s program is planned over four weekends beginning July 25th and ending [...]
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5 years ago
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Sylvan Esso's Lead Singer Amelia Meath Greets the Crowd. (photo by Graham Tolbert)
On a chilly November night in New York City, Grammy nominated electronic pop duo Sylvan Esso performed at the Beacon Theater for an adoring crowd of avid fans. The show which was the first of two nights featured a live ensemble of musicians for a special series of shows in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and the band's hometown, Durham, North Carolina.
It didn't take long for the crowd to warm up and get into the groove, as lead singer Amelia Meath busted out her own slick dance moves, sporting a puffy green mesh outfit (sending a message?). Her powerful voice along with some seriously infectious beats energized the crowd inviting a party like atmosphere. Re-creating electronic music with a live band is not always an easy task, but the band was flawless, and having the saxophone up-front in the the mix was a smart choice. With that said, Amelia Meath's amazing voice is clearly the centerpiece in their songs. At one point, in between songs, she proclaimed, 'this next song is about love, surprise.' On this night, she was feeling nothing but love from the energetic crowd
While most of the people were on the younger side, I did see some grey haired, older folks snapping photos and shooting videos like their younger counterparts. The fans were very engaged throughout. Singing along to many of the more popular numbers including "Hey Mami" and "Coffee," but the set list included quite a few[...]
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5 years ago
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Musician Billy Martin Shares Creative Ideas with Students
I had the great pleasure and fortune for the second year in a row to host and to teach at the Art for Progress Summer Music and Art Program. The program was made possible by a grant from the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, and was open to young people seeking to pursue careers in creative fields. Music and art were made, and a great and enlightening time was had by all this summer. The program consisted of workshops held on four consecutive Sundays in July and August. For each week’s session, we created a unique, interactive space where creativity seemed to be seeping from the walls. Curiosity was inspired and mysteries demystified. Each week featured a professional guest artist in a different creative discipline. Our guest artists shared with us the experiences they each encountered on their journey toward becoming a fully realized professional artist.
Jerrell Battle teaching Ableton while students interact
The focus of the of the program, in addition to developing specific skills, was once again centered on questions and situations that a professional artist might encounter. The kind, for instance, that might not be intuitive or often addressed in traditional academic settings. Basically, the stuff they don't tell you in school. We discussed finding your audience, vetting creative ideas, being band-mates as well as friends, and checking your attitude. There were also break out music sessions on topics i[...]
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6 years ago
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Art for Progress is pleased to announce The Carlos Reid Gallery will be pledging 3% of gallery sales to Art for Progress for the next two years.
The Carlos Reid Gallery is quickly becoming the ultimate destination for original, international, contemporary and modern art online. The gallery is based in the United States and is dedicated to representing emerging and established international contemporary artists. Unlike physical galleries, we have over 100 million potential online clients worldwide and are able to sell in over 150 countries. Clients include private, corporate collectors, galleries, and museums worldwide.
Please visit The Carlos Reid Gallery often to view our ever-evolving collection of original contemporary and modern art. After a visit to The Carlos Reid Gallery, you will soon discover a unique array of styles and mediums, at prices designed to meet the needs of any collector.
"The Carlos Reid Gallery's mission is to provide the highest quality art by the most talented new, emerging, and established artists- worldwide. To engage a wide array of audiences, against the backdrop of an online-based platform that elevates artists and their work."
The
Carlos Reid Gallery
www.thecarlosreidgallery.com
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6 years ago
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Art for Progress Summer Arts Program 2018
Art for Progress (AFP) is pleased to announce The Pierre & Tana Matisse Foundation has awarded the organization a three year grant in support of its Summer Arts Program. After a highly successful launch of the program in 2018, the foundation requested a multi year proposal to support the program which was recently granted in May.
Art for Progress will receive $52,500 to fund the program through 2021. The program was developed with the purpose of providing instruction in both music and visual arts over the summer months for students and young adults who are interested in careers in art and music. Although the focus is to provide instruction, knowledge and insight for career oriented students, the program is open to anyone interested (ages 13-24). Some of the key objectives of the program include:
providing a challenging curriculum while giving students the opportunity to choose and learn skills they desirepresenting professional, engaging artists to speak to attendees about the challenges of choosing a career in artssharing information and knowledge that's typically not offered in formal school programs such as "Key Tenets for the Professional Artist."providing teaching opportunities for students who are interested in education careers
The workshops will take place on four consecutive Sundays beginning July 14th (July 21st, July 28th, August 4th) from 10:30am-4:30pm. There is no cost for students and lunch wil[...]
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7 years ago
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Alex is a continuing student of philosophy and emerging artist. He seeks to address contemporary social issues and philosophical questions through symbolism in dynamic visual works.
Philosophical underpinnings are tied to Phenomenology, Existentialism, Post-, and Anti-Post-Modern thinkers. Alex has also begun to explore mythical symbolisms.
The evolution of Alex's work follows from an early introduction to Art History, Art Historical references in the works are found in the clavicle, harkening back to Gothic representations of the skull, connected to our understanding of human mortality. Hearts, from Keith Herring, representing an emotional and communal offering. The underside of feet, turned into the over the shoulder view of figures, referencing the irreverence of the Impressionists. Among other more personal stories.
Although much of the work illustrates concepts in the abstract, there are also layers of meaning that are at once personal and then again more thematic, sometimes not signifying the same story in any given image, and sometimes coinciding with those general themes.
Another philosophical feature of Alex's work is found in the geometries of the icosahedron or hypercube, each instantiation or general form representing another view of our social and physical realities.
Alex seeks to continue exploring these themes, while also remaining politically prescient. For a fuller explanation of the philosophical tones of his work, feel free to inquire for[...]
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7 years ago
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We recently caught up with the guys from the band Big Sweater to discuss their music, inspiration and their exciting new album they're currently recording.
In one way or another, members of the band have all been part of AFP's music education programs over the years. So, we're very proud and excited to see how they've progressed and evolved as artists. Check out "Platform Stare," a single from the new album.
Platform Stare by Big Sweater
1) What inspired you guys to become musicians, writers?
Collectively what inspired us to be musicians is that of which was instilled in us by our parents and their taste for the most part. Being shown things that would be considered "old school". Those things later becoming memories and what is now sense of nostalgia of car rides and long trips throughout the years subconsciously planting a seedling in a driving force that is creating sound as well as putting words together that sum up how we feel.
2) How would you describe your sound?
Our sound is derivative of multiple things that boil down for the most part to blues. Our upcoming album has a combination of really somber and light tunes and also some really upbeat ones but overall our sound is very mellow.
3) Have you been playing the songs off the new album live, and if so how has the crowd responded to the new songs?
We've played most of the upcoming album in a rotation for about a year now, the crowd now sings along and its one of the most gratifying feelings[...]
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8 years ago
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Bucket List confession: It's been a dream of mine for quite sometime to attend the Costume Institute's Met Gala. Colloquially and affectionately referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out,” the Costume Institute's Met Gala is PEAK celebration of iconic style.
And as we all know by now, this year's Met Gala was a spectacular showcase of quasi-wearable, avant-garde fashion, honoring the Costume Institute's latest exhibition on Rei Kawakubo and her label Comme des Garçons.
And unlike past Met Gala events this hullabaloo was loaded with an incredible mix of celebrities smoking in a bathroom and meme-inducing sculptural looks that are still keeping the internet in a frenzy.
https://twitter.com/MarcSnetiker/status/859172626362585088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allure.com%2Fstory%2Fbest-met-gala-memes-2017
But if you still haven't visited the 2017 Costume Institute exhibition on Rei Kawakubo and her label Comme des Garçons you are missing out on a treat.
Here are three things you need to know about this incredible showcase.
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Photo by Jemal
#1 This showcase makes history
Aptly named Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, the exhibition highlights the reclusive designer's wide array of left-of-center, hyper-modern, sculptural constructions — retracing almost 40 years of clothing. And this is first exhibition since 1983 Yves Saint Laurent sh[...]
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8 years ago
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Modern Rendition of Cymbeline to Premier this April at NYC’s Historic Theatre 80 St. Marks
Director/Producer Alexis Confer and Art for Progress Founder Frank Jackson are proud to announce their upcoming production of Cymbeline at Theatre 80 St. Marks this spring. This production will use the classic language of Shakespeare, but approach the Bard’s “fairytale” with a modern lens. The audience will be transported to a world floating between the blurred morality and frenetic energy of a Vegas-like kingdom and the stark, colorful beauty of the American Southwest.
In order to bring a fresh, nuanced and uniquely comedic performance to the stage, the company is intentionally made up a variety of performance backgrounds from musicians to stand up comedians, from classically trained Shakespearean actors, to improvisers. Led by Confer’s direction, the tight-knit cast has done several Shakespearean shows together in 2015-2016 - Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream produced by OFFLINE Productions and Much Ado About Nothing produced by Art for Progress.
Most importantly, the goal of the show is to create a great live performance experience while raising awareness and funds for arts education. All profits from the show will go to Art for Progress’s programs for children and young adults - helping to empower NYC’s young artists.
Art for Progress’ Arts Education Community provides under-served youth with dynamic artistic programming that promotes reflection and self-expres[...]
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9 years ago
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Art for Progress & NOosphere Arts present
Haven: A Summer Retreat for Artists and Friends, Part II
Saturday, July 16th, 7PM at Mothership USA, $5, BYOB
252 Green Street, 2L, Rooftop, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Summer is here, and if you can’t be at the beach or away for the weekend, what’s better than a summer rooftop party?
Last year, Frank & Sol decided to throw a fun party for artists and friends at Sol’s artist studio, rooftop in Brooklyn, and it turned out to be one of the best parties of the summer!
So, we’ve decided to make this an annual event, and we are so very pleased to once again invite you to join us for a magical night of art & music to celebrate life, creativity and happiness.
LIVE MUSIC: Kick Ass Rock n Roll from NYC’s Hundred Hounds, Rootsy Americana/Folk from Brooklyn’s Bad Faces, Soaring Vocals and Eclectic Sounds from blythe is a mermaid
DJ’s: Brian Burnside (deepa) Gatto (AFP)
Performance Art: Autumn Kioti, Loren Crabbe
Physical Theater: Hilary Chaplain
Video Installations: Filmmaker, Daniel Maldonado, Artist Jeanne Wilkinson
We invite you to beta-test ArtFundit, a new website designed to help promote artists, their artwork and voice within the artist community. Visit the kiosk at our event for more information and how you can participate.
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9 years ago
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https://vimeo.com/124416402
As we arrive at the conclusion of another school year, Art for Progress arts ed programs are developing and evolving in new ways. The music program at Humanities Prep has been flourishing, and we recently held a student and faculty talent show, showcasing the wealth of talent that has been incubating within the school. Performances spanned a wide range of instrumentation and repertoire, and even included some original pieces and songs written by the performers. AFP's Young Adult Enrichment Program has now spawned three bands, which are now gigging around NYC. Statik Vosion, the core project of the program, also recently played alongside my own band, Bad Faces at the AFP live music series “We Deliver” at The Bowery Electric on Manhattan's storied Lower East Side. Other projects are in the works for the summer, including a recording project to produce an EP release for Statik Vision and a music enrichment program in partnership with the Upper West Side JCC which will provide music instruction for under-served elementary school students. I taught the classes last year and if was a blast!
At Humanities Prep, in Chelsea, I have been teaching music to high school students for the past three years. Some of the talent that has been emerging from the program is truly unbelievable. I have seen a number of students who had never played an instrument before become capable, and even inspired players, while others have come to me with some experience and s[...]
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