Tabla Rasa Gallery Presents About Face

Clarity Haynes, Her There From Here, charcoal and pastel on paper

Tabla Rasa Gallery is a wonderful venue that has hosted amazing shows over the last few years. The owners are friendly and enthusiastic about their space. The new show, opening on November 4th, features artists' works focusing on the human face. The works featured on the website and in the email are arresting. I'm looking forward to checking it out. The artists' reception is Wednesday at 5:30 PM, and the gallery is open to the public Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1 PM to 5 PM.

from the email:

Opening at Tabla Rasa Gallery on Wednesday, November 4th, ABOUT FACE offers selections curated to turn around the viewer's expectations of the human face in art. Whether obscured, distorted, psychologically askew, or oversize in scale, none of the works resemble traditional portraiture.

Original contemporary paintings, photographs, sculptures and works on paper will be on display. Among the artists exhibiting in ABOUT FACE are Jeannine Bardo, Stephen Basso, Simon Dinnerstein, Anita Giraldo, Clarity Haynes, Kiseok Kim, Alexandra Limpert, Alex Pimienta, David Prifti, Stuart Shedletsky, and Larry Siegel.

The gallery is located two "D" or "N" express subway stops from Manhattan to the 36th Street Station plus one "R" stop to 45th Street.

Ample street parking is available.

Tabla Rasa Gallery is free and open to the public. There will be an artists’ reception on Wednesday, November 4th, from 5:30 until 8:30 pm. General gallery hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 1:00 until 5:00 pm. ABOUT FACE remains on view through January 23, 2010.

Call 718.833.9100 for additional hours, events, and schedule updates.

NYC Marathon this Weekend!

We're lucky in Sunset Park where marathon watching is concerned. The leaders come by early enough that you can go pick up a bagel at Sunset Bagels, a cafe con leche at Gran Via, and then walk down to 4th Avenue to check out how they're doing. After an hour or so of cheering on the faster folks, you can stop over to Eclipse or International or Georges for some Sunday vittles only to return to cheer on the slower folks (who still have the energy to smile and/or wave back). Also, the people in costume still have the costumes when they get to us.

Enjoy!

Check out some great info about the entire route here.

Free Weekend Events - Sunday now added.

Sunday Added: I wanted to make sure this was happening on Sunday. The usual clean-uppers are meeting on Sunday at 9:30 AM in front of the Rec Center. It will be one of the last of the year, so if you need to work on your Karma or if you've just missed the last few, go this week. Sunday looks to be lovely.

Saturday the 24th of October is a busy one despite the forecast of rain.

For the kids: From Noon to 4 PM the annual HealthPlus sponsored Hallowe'en celebration will be going on at the Rec Center (7th Avenue and 41st). This year, there will be a Toddler Pumpkin Patch just for children ages 2-5. It's free, crowded, cute, and fun.

For the Freegans and their supporters:

The Very, Very Free Market that has been around the flagpole area several times now is moving indoors this time around. It will be held at 379 47th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues) from 2 PM to 6 PM. See below for more details, but here's the gist: You can bring items you no longer want/need, you can take items you really do want/need. You can bring literature about your community group as well. Everything is FREE; no money is exchanged. Any items left over at the end are brought to the Salvation Army over on 9th Avenue (I think, someone correct me in comments if that's wrong.).

from the email:

SUNSET PARK VERY MERRIE FREE MARKET

SATURDAY 10-24 FROM 2 PM TO 6 PM

in the SOCIAL HALL of FOURTH AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH

Enter at 379 47^TH St (between 3^rd & 4^th Avenues)

Make new friends! Meet community members, activists, and group leaders!! Bring along literature about your pet cause.

EXPLANATION: This is a space for community activists, groups and members to draw strength from one another's skills, and surplus or rescued resources. Neighbors meet neighbors; strangers make friends; friends share ideas, connections and conventions; and skilled practitioners of arts, crafts, trades, and professions can share critical skills and know-how, impart training, and offer free services that empower or save money.

EVERYTHING everyone brings, or takes, is FREE, and that may include electronics, clothes, toys, furniture, food, grain, condiments, spices, (YOU fill in the blanks!)

Sorry, no drop-offs or pick-ups. We'd rather see you than your stuff :-) Intended primarily to serve the local community, but open to all. Newly unemployed or chronically homeless? A Special Welcome 2 u!
If you need to take stuff home, come prepared with sturdy bags.

Contact: VVFMarket@gmail.com

Best access: R train to 45 St; walk up 2 blocks on 4^th Ave; right on 47^th St.

(If you missed this one, join us again 3^rd Saturdays 11-21 & 12-19, same time, same place)

Reminder: Angels and Accordians in Green-Wood Tomorrow

Hopefully the weather will hold out.

See here for more detail.

UPROSE to Host Open House for Environmental Justice

UPROSE recently welcomed a hybrid electric bus into its fold, and now it wants to train you to conduct environmental tours in the bus. While the website could use a little updating (No recreational space in Sunset Park? And now we have a high school!), it explains what the organization is about and what its goals are. Check it out, and if you're looking for an "in" with UPROSE, attend this Thursday's open house event. See below for details:

OPEN HOUSE - this is a free event

Thursday - October 1, 2009
5-7 PM
at the UPROSE offices: 166A 22nd Street, Brooklyn, New York
(between 3rd and 4th Avenues)

Who can apply and/or be nominated:

Must be 18 years or older
Must live or work in Sunset Park
Certification is given upon completion of the Program
People of Color and Spanish Speakers are Encouraged to Apply

Program starts October 8, 6-8 PM and happen every other Thursday.

About Sembrando Futuros: Community Empowerment for the Green Economy is a program to introduce, educate and train community members in local sustainable job development opportunities and environmental and economic equality. Upon completion, participants of our program will receive:

a) certification to conduct Environmental Justice tours of Sunset Park, and be community educators on Climate Justice;
b) training and certification to become tree stewards for the urban environment; and
c) access to information and opportunities for their children through our Youth Justice program.

Sembrando Futuros leaders will help improve our community’s environment and health. This initiative will enhance participants’ roles in their current employment or create opportunities for growth. Leaders will also have the opportunity to be contracted on an ongoing basis as consultants to various UPROSE programs. UPROSE will also connect them to other employment resources when possible.

Learn about these programs in more detail at the Open House! You can also read more about them at www.uprose.org. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Cece Carpio at ejustice@uprose.org, or call 718-492-9307.

UPROSE- “Siempre En Lucha Y Siempre Por Nuestra Gente ”

UPROSE is dedicated to the development of Southwest Brooklyn and the empowerment of its residents primarily through broad and converging environmental, sustainable development, and youth justice campaigns. Founded in 1966, UPROSE is Brooklyn’s oldest Latino community-based organization. We aim to ensure and heighten community awareness and involvement, develop participatory community planning practices, and promote sustainable development with justice and governmental accountability.

Learn Massage for Free

Stressed out about the economy, summer's end, or the use of firearms in the park? Want to help someone else relax (so you can call in a favor at a later date)? Here's your chance.

I don't know if many slots are left, but it sounds like a fantastic program.

Paraphrased from the SPAN list, via The Rock Dove Collective:


Please join the Rock Dove Collective for a free Massage Workshop on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 6 PM. Come to the 3rd floor of the Center for Family Life at 443 39th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues).

Learn how to prepare for massage by stretching, focusing, and paying attention to others.
Learn how to give yourself massages with your hands and simple tools like tennis balls and doorways.
Learn how to give others massages.
Learn other relaxation techniques to help you take better care of yourself.

Please RSVP to rockdovecollective@riseup.net to reserve a space.

Under Minerva Recycles - until October 4th

IS THIS RECYCLABLE?
A GROUP EXHIBITION
Curated by Vanessa Juriga

Exhibition Dates: 26 AUGUST - 4 OCTOBER, 2009

Under Minerva is pleased to announce Is this Recyclable?, a group exhibition that examines how artists utilize recycled products, found objects and other non-traditional materials to create their artwork. This thirteen-person show focuses on artists who break away from traditional materials and use what is often overlooked or readily available to them as catalyst for their creations.

For nearly one hundred years, artists have been using non-traditional objects to create art. In 1915, Marcel Duchamp coined the term readymade to describe his found art. In the 1980s and 1990s, many artists began focusing on mass-produced items. At present, several artists are using discarded objects and recycled materials as their medium. Is This Recyclable? contemplates whether this trend is a response to environmental issues, commentary on the increase in consumerism or an attempt to uncover new meaning for the object.

From sculptures made out of recycled objects, portraits created out of keyboard keys and melted down pill bottles that create a flowing installation, Is this Recyclable? is a dialogue between what the object once was and what the object now is. The artists featured are: Angela Basile, Jasmine Begeske, Mark Cannariato, Travis Childers, Gary Duehr, Jesse Holt, Ryan McIntosh, Desi Minchillo, Raquel Muslin, Anne Percoco, Caitlin Rueter, Ian Trask, and Barbara Wisnoski.



Under Minerva Gallery and Event Space
656 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11215
(Between 19th and 20th Streets)
www.underminerva.com

Wednesday Music Ends with Ballet Fiesta Mexicana Ybarra

This Wednesday at 10:30 AM will be a wonderful show for everyone. This group has performed for Sunset Park several times, and they are always fantastic. Hopefully the weather will cooperate to allow this final performance in the series to go on!

Fati & Charles in the Park

El Baile de Sombrero - photo by VeesVision

Hasta la Proxima

Children who visited the weekly Bibliobus yesterday had a special treat of music and fun on top of the books and library treats. Fati & Charles entertained the children with music, props, and dancing for an hour. Happily, the weather cooperated, and there was a lot of fun to be had.

If you're interested in finding out more about Fati & Charles, check out their website - abbasubi.com .

Fati & Charles to Play at Bibliobus

Summer is the time for an abundance of music and fun in Sunset Park. The latest infusion of music for children will occur on July 22 at 2 PM. Fati and Charles will be playing their music in the park right by the 6th Avenue and 44th Street entrance (next to the Bibliobus). This should be a great time, and the musical artists seem very down to earth and dedicated to creating fun tunes for our children to dance to and enjoy. Check out their link below.

from their email:

My name is Charles Mister and along with my wife, Fatima, we have produced a CD of songs for kids in Spanish called El Baile del Sombrero. My wife, who wrote the lyrics for the songs, is from Argentina and I wrote the music. We were inspired to take on this project by our children, Chloe (almost 4) and Kylen (2) who we sang to and danced with so much that we decided to take it a step further and make music for other kids as well. To learn more about us, hear our music, or see a video of us, please visit our website at abbasubi.com

Through the assistance of Maria Roca, we were put in contact with Felix Plaza at the Bibliobus and have set up a show on Wednesday July 22nd at the Bibliobus at 2:00 pm. We also are going to play in Sunset Park at the Farmer's Market on Saturday July 18th at 10:30 am. If you could list these events on your blog, I'd really appreciate it.

Tomorrow's Green Market Will Be Musical

If you stop by the Green Market on 4th Avenue and 59th Street tomorrow, hang around for the 10:30 AM music from Fati & Charles. They have a new CD out with children's songs, and they plan on sharing lots of music will us all tomorrow.

from their email:

The songs are from our new CD called El Baile del Sombrero...There's a salsa about a rag doll, a story about a rabbit named Teo who forgets he likes carrots, and a song about Chloe's best friend, her manta. We will have hats, shakers, and sponges for the kids and adults to play with.

We are Brooklyn parents (Fati comes via Argentina) who love playing music and dancing and singing with kids. To see some more about us or hear some of our music go to abbasubi.com

We're playing at the Sunset Park Greenmarket this Saturday, July 18th at 10:30 am and then in Sunset Park at the Bibliobús near the 6th Avenue and 44th Street entrance on Wednesday, July 22nd at 2:00 pm.

See you there!

Photos from Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz in Sunset Park

The first of three free music events in Sunset Park was well attended and a lot of fun. Geared to 5-10 year olds, the Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz musicians (with Hayes Greenfield) had the kids be-bopping and dancing and clapping along for close to an hour. Combine that with perfect weather and a cool breeze coming up the hill, and you've got a fantastic event.


Thanks to Friends of Sunset Park and CityKids for sponsoring the event! This coming Wednesday at 10:30 AM will be III Style & Peace. More to come in a future posting.

Recess Monkey at the Library Tomorrow

In case you end up missing Jazz-Ma-Tazz on Wednesday due to nap-time or other life issues, or if you just want a day filled with lots of musical activities, check out Recess Monkey (get it? Rhesus monkey?) at the Sunset Park library. It starts at 1:15 PM, and it's described as "a fun concert of goofy original and educational songs for children." It's for the Pre-K set, but I'm sure slightly younger and older children would also enjoy it.

It's part of the Summer Reading program. Read more and sign up for the program here.

Sunset Park Library
5108 Fourth Avenue
718 567 2806

Wednesday Summer Music and Fun is Back

Last summer hosted a wide variety of plays, music, dancing, and puppets from outer-space. This year, the Friends of Sunset Park and CityParks Kids are giving us Jazz, Peace, and Mexican Ballet.

It all starts this Wednesday with Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz. Hayes Greenfield hosts "an interactive music education program that inspires participants to take risks, gain confidence, and experience a sense of personal achievement through the use of jazz and the art of improvisation." Sounds like a fantastic musical experience for the kids and those they bring to the show.

All the shows start at 10:30 AM, and they are well attended. (They are popular with the local day camps as well as care-givers and park-goers.) Get there early for a good seat.

Under Minerva presents Goddess

Making Funny closed on July 5th, and that will make room for the next exhibition: Goddess.

If you like free champagne, go to the opening reception on July 10th from 7-9 PM. Otherwise, check it out any day but Monday or Tuesday. Hours are posted below.

Under Minerva Gallery and Event Space
656 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11215
(Between 19th and 20th Streets)

www.underminerva.com
718.788.0170

Gallery Hours:
W-F 12PM-6PM
Sat-Sun 2PM-6PM

FREE ADMISSION

Any sales of artwork will mean a contribution to stroke research in women. See below for more information about that.

G O D D E S S
July 8 - AUG 14, 2009

OPENING RECEPTION JULY 10, 7 - 9PM
Champagne compliments of our neighbors at Korzo

Hunter Clarke, Ilene Godofsky, Michelle Orsi Gordon, Matt Harvill, Erin Lee Jones,
Georgina Keenan, Raghava KK, Nia Mora, Jennifer Murray, Sara Woolley

Curated by Under Minerva's Artistic Director, Tony Orrico


G O D D E S S is a group art show that reflects on the wisdom and guidance of the divine feminine. This show is a dedication to Brenda Navas (1977-2008), a prominent business woman in our community whose successful entrepreneurship led to the development of our gallery space. Brenda, a native of Guatemala, and her husband Chris Achong, a native of Trinidad built a financial services company from the ground up, which currently comprises of nearly 200 active representatives and is still growing. In late January of 2008, Brenda died of complications from a sudden stroke at the young age of 30.

In Brenda's honor, a portion of our proceeds from the sale of this artworkwill be donated to The Hazel K. GoddessFund for Stroke Research in Women toassist their efforts in education, outreach, research and endowment for thefuture. The Goddess Fund, based in New York City, speaks ofone clear and compelling intention: toeliminate the impact of stroke in women's lives, the lives of their familiesand society at large (www.thegoddessfund.org).

Did you know? We commonly associatestroke with men, yet 61 percent of deaths by stroke are actually women. 80 percent of strokes are preventable. To order a free Women in Your Life booklet (sponsored by AstraZeneca), call1-800-STROKES.

Salsa at the Waterfront

It's rain or shine, and it starts at Noon on June 27th. Head down to the 58th Street Pier on 1st Avenue for lots of music and good times.

Baseball Parade on Saturday

Postponed until July 11th due to inclement weather.

Adorable Kids Alert!

As always, thanks to the Friends of Sunset Park for information and organization:

BASEBALL PARADE

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009

Line Up Starts: 10:00 a.m.
Parade Route: Starting at Sunset Park
(7th Avenue & 43rd Street)
Marching Down: To Baseball Field
41 Street & 3rd Avenue
Opening Ceremony: 10:30 a.m.

Dear Neighbors:
You are invited to participate in a good old fashion “Community Parade”
Everyone is invited to be part of the program.
We are asking all of our Neighbors along 7th Avenue and 41st Street to please join us by
Decorating the front of your building/windows/cars with balloons and steamers.

Get the family together, bring out your chairs and get ready to Scream, Shout and Wave to the Children in Uniforms as they march down to the field.
Lets make them feel special and proud that they are a part of a great program in a wonderful community that Loves and Supports them.

2nd Annual Greening the Ridge Festival on Sunday

Check out the website for more information. Here's Sunday's rundown:

GREENING THE RIDGE 2009!
SUNDAY, JUNE 14th, 2009 at Veteran’s Memorial Pier at 69th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
10am- 6pm
(no rain date)

Festival Schedule:
9am-10am: Exhibitor setup
10am: Festival Opening Ceremony
10am-Noon: Xavier High School Jazz Band “Bailout”
11am, 1pm, and 3pm: Dance Performance Installation, “What We Can See From Here,” by Cassie Mey and Jesse Phillips-Fein
Noon: Dance Performance Installation- Kids Workshop!
2:00pm: OLPH Twirlers!
2:30pm: SRWA Green Youth Award Ceremony
Noon to 6pm: Pill Hill Radio and Musical Guests
6pm: Festival end

The Sunset-Ridge Waterfront Alliance is pleased to announce our Second Annual Greening the Ridge Festival in 2009! This annual summer festival will bring vendors, agencies, programs, and individuals to the pier for an educational festival on how to green our community.

Building upon the success of our First Annual GTR Festival in 2008, this year’s event will bring even more people, and more inter-active booths to the Veteran’s Memorial Pier at 69th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. In addition, we are unveiling our Green Youth Award Program at this year’s festival, click here for more information!

Gallery Etiquette and Inner Workings for the Young Ones

Under Minerva, on 5th Avenue and 19th Street, is hosting a pretty cool kiddie activity every Saturday in June. And it's free. And they get a juice box. And you can take them walking in Green-Wood afterwards. Check it out.

CHILDREN'S GALLERY WALK:
Meet Tony, Under Minerva's Art Director. Learn gallery etiquette, see behind the scenes, and discuss the current exhibition, Making Funny. Get a free juice box and a treasure map to find Minerva in Greenwood Cemetery!

2-3PM Saturdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27
Age: 5-9
Cost: FREE

Now! It just started! Bring the kids!

I know this happens on Brooklyn Day, but I flaked. Sorry! Thankfully, the Friends of Sunset Park are on the ball. I doubt the rain will cancel the events. Get to the park now. See you there.

Come to Sunset Park TODAY ✦ Thursday- June 4th ✦ 10am-4pm

for

International Family Day / Brooklyn & Queens Day

Mid-park

☛ 6th Avenue / 41st - 44th Streets ☚

GAMES, COTTON CANDY, POP CORN,

COMMUNITY INFORMATION,

DANCE, SONG + FUN, FUN, FUN