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.