"The Artist's Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love" book signing on Wednesday

This Wednesday, July 1, at 5:30 the Bronx Museum of the Arts will have a book signing event for Jackie Battenfield, author of The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love.

The comprehensive handbook coincides with Living and Dreaming, the 29th annual Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) exhibition, featuring the works of 36 emerging artists; and in fact Ms. Battenfield was the AIM Program Leader for 15 years.

Ms. Battenfield is a practicing artist and teaches professional development classes at Columbia University and the Creative Capital Foundation. Her book The Artist’s Guide provides the tools and techniques for developing and sustaining a successful art career. She provides answers to the challenges artists face everyday and includes real-life examples, illustrations, step-by-step exercises, and bulleted lists that allow readers to dive in and begin working immediately.

During this event visitors will also be able to see the AIM 29 Living & Dreaming exhibition.

If you’re taking the BCA Culture Torlley, it picks passengers up at Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos (near the 149 St-Grand Concourse station) at 5:30pm.

Admission is free. For more information, please visit www.bronxmuseum.org

Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

THE BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS at the North Wing Entrance

1040 Grand Concourse (at 165th Street)

Bronx, NY

Open House and Street Fair

Sunday June 21st was BxMA’s Open House and Street Fair! Though the rain and the clouds prevented us from having the “Street Fair” on the streets, we brought the fun indoors. There was a great turnout; music by D.J. Eli Efi and Jazzmobile, tasty food from Fauzi Abdur-Rahman, and Yiya Natural Vegetarian Cuisine, vendors selling jewelry, shirts, and prints, and the opening of two great exhibitions AIM 29 Living & Dreaming and Katie Holten’s Tree Museum.

Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) is an intensive 13 week program at the Bronx Museum of the Arts that provides professional development opportunities to 36 chosen artists. At the end of the year, the public gets to see the works of the 36 chosen artists. When interviewed, mostly every artist in the program found it as an enjoyable experience that fostered community and furthered their passion for art making.

Along with the AIM 29 exhibition is Katie Holten’s public art project the Tree Museum, a “museum without walls” that celebrates conservation and preservation of trees on the 100 year old Grand Concourse. How does it work you ask? Simply stroll down the Grand Concourse, see a Tree Museum logo next to a tree and its extension number, and just dial 718-408-2501 to get an audio guide; dial the tree’s extension number and you have access to facts and stories about the trees, the neighborhood, and the Bronx told by people in the neighborhood.

You can also pick up a paper guide at the Bronx Museum of the Arts which has the complete mapping of all the trees. That same day EJ McAdams led Haiku Hikes through the Grand Concourse and a walking tour was given by urban planner Sam Goodman. The education department also had Our History, a family-art making event going on as well.











In line with the geological histories of the Grand Concourse, Bronx residents and visitors were able to share their stories of the Bronx and living by the Grand Concourse. Oral History Projects by Bronx historians Mark Naison, William Casari and Steve Siegel and My Sacred Bronx, a community project by Stephanie Diamond gathered the stories of many street fair goers.

We were able to document some testimonies as well, stay tuned to some videos and pictures

Thank you to all who attended and supported the Museum and if you weren’t able to make the opening, no fear, you can come visit the Bronx Museum of the Arts to check out the ongoing Intersections The Grand Concourse at 100 exhibition, AIM 29 Living and Dreaming Exhibition and to pick up a pamphlet of the Tree Museum.

Bronx Museum's Teen Council Teen Night Event

Here are some photos of a successful Teen Council event.
The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation for the Teen Council Photography exhibition, Teen Council's podcast videos and "All the Ladies Say" film launch. We even had Sway from MTV pass by and interact with the students of Teen Council, which brought big smiles to their faces.We also had a large audience of break dancers, which they didn't waste anytime to start break dancing on our Lower Gallery floor. Hope you enjoy the photos and a short video of the event is coming soon so stay tune.

Intersections: The Grand Concourse at 100

Intersections: The Grand Concourse at 100 is divided in three segments succeeding each other chronologically: Past, Present and Future.

The first segment, Past, will feature a number of historical documents borrowed from collections of the Bronx Historical Society, the New York Public Library and the Museum of the City of New York and related to the creation of the Grand Concourse.

The second segment, Present, will focus on the present conditions in the area through a series of projects specially commissioned for the occasion.

The third segment, Future, will propose possibilities for how the Bronx could evolve in the next few decades and cope with the pressing needs for housing, green spaces, and transportation. The exhibition will open a competition for young architects to submit proposals for the area. Ten selected projects will receive stipends to produce architectural models that will be displayed at the North Wing gallery during the months of November and December.

First Wednesdays Book Signings

“On the Wall” with Janet Braun-Reinitz and Jane Weissman

Wednesday, June 3, 5:30-7:30

The Bronx Museum of the Arts

North Building Entrance

Admission: Free

Photo taken by Kristin Reed

First Wednesdays at the Bronx Museum of the Arts features the signing for “On the Wall: Four Decades of Community Murals in New York City,” a book by Janet Braun-Reinitz and Jane Weissman. Six years of research and hundreds of interviews led to this 150 page documentation of New York City’s community murals. In the book, Ms. Weissman and Ms. Braun-Reinitz reveal the histories and stories behind each cultural piece. Please Join the Bronx Museum of the Art’s for this free event on June 3^rd from 5- 7:30

The “On the Wall: Four Decades of Community Murals in New York City” is available at the Museum Shop.

Teen Night

Wednesday, June 3^rd 2009, 4pm – 8pm
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
South Wing – Lower Gallery
Admission: Free

“Teen Night,” Wednesday June 3^rd 2009 features dancer Rokafella, artist Tim Rollins and the Teen Council photography exhibition organized by Debby Hymowitz.

From 4 to 5 pm teens have the opportunity to take a special master dance class taught by B-girls Beta, Aiko, Lady Champ, Baby Love, Severe, and Vendetta. Then choreographer Rokafella will screen her new documentary film “All the Ladies Say” followed by a Q&A moderated by the Teen Council

The night continues with the Teen Council’s presentation of their podcasts and the fifth installment of their interview series featuring artist and educator Tim Rollins and K.O.S.

So join us for music, break dancing, the Teen Council’s photography show, and other free events that celebrate the youth and the arts.

* For more information and to register for the class please call (718) 681-6000 x 151