MOMA, Ananse and Tim Burton! Oh My!

Courtesy of pulpfashion.com

On December 12th both BAC (Bronx Art Collective ) and BAE (Bronx Acting Ensemble ) went on a field trip to MOMA! We had a wonderful time. Our main purpose was to see the Tim Burton Exhibit.



BAC participant Kevin, commented that while Tim Burton's artwork is "interesting, twisted and abstract", he thought "it was unusual to see this work at the MOMA." Edwin, the BAC intern thought that the Tim Burton exhibit was "humorous, even though a bit cruel."

While at MOMA we were looking for inspiration and ideas to help us with our current project. We are working alongside BAE to produce a play for children about Ananse the spider. During this trip we picked up a lot of ideas for costumes, scenery and props.

After viewing the Burton exhibit we walked through MOMA's many galleries for inspiration.

We had a wonderful day! Our next post will detail the behind the scenes making of Ananse, until next time!

Ananse Theater Production

This week B.A.C. is working on costumes and masks for the B.A.E. theater production of Ananse the Spider.

Ananse is a character in West African folklore. He is always portrayed as a trickster who uses others to do menial tasks for him. Unfortunately the trickster is usually tricked in the end by his own trick!

Ananse will debut at the DreamYard Art Center the end of January.

Costumes are currently being designed for the different animal characters in this play. These characters include: a Spider, Wart-hog, Lion, Bird and Monkey.

2009-2010 BAC Program Launches with a Trip to The New Museum to see Emory Douglas

Screengrab courtesy of Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

BAC is back in session and on October 17th we went to see the Emory Douglas show at the New Museum. Emory Douglas was a member of the Black Panther Party and he was known as "the "revolutionary artist of the movement."

His artwork was first published in the Black Panther newspaper, which advocated programs they initiated, while discussing politics and police brutality. Douglas uses a combination of printmaking, collage and drawing techniques to create simple yet powerful statements about the events of the times. The Black Panther Party started in the 1960's during the Civil Rights Movement in response to discrimination against African Americans, Hispanics, Immigrants and Gays and Lesbians.

Some things we noticed and learned from the exhibition are:

"What caught my attention was how many Black Panther's are still incarcerated to this day, for being activists and speaking there minds. Also Douglas' images are just, BAM! There's no censorship, they're very direct." - Edwin

"It was a big surprise to learn about all the public initiatives and services the Black Panthers provided for the community. They had free transportation for the elderly and a free breakfast program for kids." - Naralyn

"A map detailing the number of Black Panther Community Centers in the United States showed the divisions within our country. The south had fewer community centers, while the west and east coasts had many." - Carlos

"The Black Panthers rallied to free B.P. prisoners and provided lawyers, who fought to make them innocent and absolve them of crimes charged against them." - Karina

"I always thought the Black Panthers were violent. I never knew they had lawyers in their group, and that they knew it was legal to carry unloaded guns to protect themselves from police brutality." - Kevin

To learn more about Emory Douglas and the Black Panthers click here: http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/415

Highlights from The World: As We See It, Know It and Envision It

Naralyn Camacho's Red World viewed by BAC participants

In May DreamYard's BAC participants created their final show of the year titled The World: As We See It, Know It and Envision It, held at the Pregonis in the South Bronx in conjunction with BAE's play titled Is Anybody Listening? The event was proof that the Bronx is alive with talented young artists ready to express themselves and be heard. Celebrating a successful opening night with a packed house, over a hundred people came out to support BAC and BAE.

Here's are highlights of the event in case you missed it....

BAC members Edwin Velazquez and Diana Perea install Diana's series of photographs, the diagram for the installation is below.

Edwin Velazquez: Utopian School Model


BAE performs Is Anybody Listening?

2009 DreamYard Benefit and Silent Auction

On May 4, 2009 DreamYard's annual benefit was held at 538 Park Avenue in New York City. Over 400 people attended the dinner event, with a silent auction of artwork created by DreamYard students held during the cocktail hour. BAC members Diana Perea and Naralyn Camacho worked the auction that evening. The money raised will help support DreamYard's art programs next year.

BAC members would like to send out a huge thank you to all the artists that donated work and to everyone that attended the event!!

A view of the silent auction

Auction highlights

Start bidding!!

In The BAC Studio

BAC is currently preparing for their upcoming exhibit titled The World: As We See It, Know It and Envision It. The exhibit will be on view at Pregones on Saturday, May 16 & Sunday, May 17.

Opening reception for the artists will be held on May 16 from 5:30PM- 6:30PM. Following the art opening DreamYard's BAE will present their play Is Anyone Listening? at 6:30PM. The event is free and open to the public, so spread the word!! Pregones is located at 575 Walton Avenue in the Bronx.

Here's a behind the scenes look at some of BAC's very own preparing for the show:

BAC Visit to Gage/Clemenceau Architects

Screenshots courtesy of Gage/Clemenceau

I'll be visiting Mark Gage at Gage/Clemenceau Architects later today. I am building a model of a utopian school and am going to get some helpful tips from Mr. Gage on how to do this. I'll report back later on how the trip goes! You can learn more at gageclemenceau.com

- Edwin Velasquez