Every artist was first an amateur
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Swinging and dancing at Salmagundi Club NYC.
A Night of live traditional jazz and lindy hop in the heart of the Greenwich Village
Last February 17, starting at 6:30 pm at the Salmagundi Club NYC in Greenwich Village, NY, it felt like taking a time machine for a night and be transported to the roaring ‘20s and the Great Gatsby era. In the magical atmosphere of the sumptuous halls of the historic brownstone at 47 Fifth Avenue, the band ‘Cait and the the Critters’ played two sets following a dance lesson taught by Seth Harris.
‘Cait and the Critters’ blends western swing, folk, and blues with the classic American songbook, and it is an ensemble very well known and appreciated in the vibrant and still very much present swing scene of New York.
Seth Harris, who is an artist member at Salmagundi and will teach some lindy hop steps and moves, was also an organizer and choreographer for the award winning Mermaid Parade swing dance performance group "The Findyhoppers".
Traditional jazz has been a staple in the cultural fabric of New York City for over a century. From the speakeasies of the Prohibition era to the smoky jazz clubs of the 1960s, traditional jazz has been an essential part of the city's music scene. The music's roots can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when African American musicians in New Orleans blended European harmony with African rhythms to create a new sound that would come to be known as jazz.
One of the most iconic forms of traditional jazz is the lindy hop dance style, which originated in Harlem in the 1920s and 30s.
All swing dance styles are jazz dances, and ‘swing’ referred to the style of Jazz music called Swing music. Lindy Hop is one of the four swing dances (Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Charleston).
Lindy Hop is an African American dance that originates from Harlem, New York City. It was danced first in the famous Savoy Ballroom by African American dancers in 1928 and was danced throughout the 1930s and 1940s. It is said the name Lindy Hop was inspired by aviator Charles Lindbergh who ‘hopped’ the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.
Lindy hop is a partner dance characterized by its upbeat rhythms and fast-paced footwork. It is a fusion of several dance styles, including Charleston, tap dance, and swing. The dance became popular in the ballroom scene and quickly spread to other cities across the country, but it remains most closely associated with New York City and the jazz music that inspired it.
The style is a highly energetic dance that requires quick reflexes, sharp musicality, and a sense of fun and playfulness. Couples dance together, often improvising and adding their own personal flair to the moves. The dance is often performed to swing music, which in itself is characterized by its strong beat and upbeat tempo.
Today, traditional jazz and the lindy hop dance style remain popular in New York City, with many venues and dance schools offering classes and events for those who want to learn or simply enjoy the music and dance. In addition, the city is home to a vibrant community of musicians, dancers, and fans who continue to keep the traditions of jazz and lindy hop alive. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the scene, there's no better place to experience the energy and excitement of traditional jazz and lindy hop than in the heart of New York City, at the Salmagundi Club.
Article and photos by Joseph Ralph Fraia
The History Beyond the Mith - Titanic The Exhibition gives New York a unique, fascinating immersive experience
Few steps away from Union Square, an emotional and thrilling journey awaits through history, memories, and timeless truths. A must-see. Click Here for Info & Tickets
The Titanic. A name so mighty and monumental that is immediately reminiscent of the size of both the ambition and the disaster associated with it.
If Fate were a dramaturgist and History a director, there wouldn’t be a more compelling and telling story of human sentiments and the harshness of reality. A better script couldn’t have been conceived to represent a real-life allegory of the myth of Icarus. What would happen to a society inebriated by wealth, comfort, and blind trust in technology, overconfident in its materialism to the point of believing to have the power to bend the forces of Nature?
Precisely like Icarus, who tragically had to get too close to the fire of the sun to see revealed the fallacy of his ambitions and beliefs, Western society had to get too close to the freezing waters of the Northern sea to see their flawed dreams shattered. A prophetic warning of the incumbent horrors of World War I and the Great Depression.
What sunk that moonless night of April 15, 1912, wasn’t just the ‘millionaires’ special,’ the ‘wonder ship,’ or the ‘unsinkable ship’ - as the owners of the vessel and the media of the time tragicomically nicknamed the latter - but above all the pretentious naivete of a reckless opulent generation across the two shores of the Atlantic. The Gilded Era in America and the Victorian Age in Europe, which saw the Wright brothers’ first flight and the World’s Fair of Paris respectively as the springboard of an unshakable bright future, were believed by their contemporaries to be aimed only forward and upwards thanks to an infallible human intellect.
With hindsight, we know how fragile and shortsighted those convictions were. And the failure of the Titanic stands there as a perennial reprimand and a screaming warning that the worst threats are the ones we willingly refuse to see coming.
But all that is the history and the myth. The greatest achievement the amazing show ‘Titanic The Exhibition’ accomplishes is to give the public something more: an intimate, emotional, intense look at some of the 2,200 lives present on that ship among passengers and crew of the Royal Mail Ship liner, most of whom didn’t see the light of that faithful day.
Organized by Spanish company Musealia, and presented by Fever and Exhibition Hub, the show is a remarkable display of images, objects, and recreations, most of which are first seen by the American public, and is enriched by the wonderful narration by the free audio guide.
Virtually everyone knows the love story of the fictional romance between Jack and Rose, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the global phenomenon James Cameron’s movie was, and which this year celebrates the 25th anniversary of its release. Fewer people know the stories, the dreams, and the lives of the diverse humanity spread across the three classes of passengers on the ship, and that is where this exhibition reveals its true value.
In a space that makes you feel like you are walking through the corridors and halls of the majestic vessel (sometimes quite literally, thanks to the installations presented), you get to see original photos, posters, and documents, along with objects retrieved from the Titanic or belonging to the latter’s sister ship Olympia, and personal belongings of the passengers.
The show gracefully and respectfully narrates the stories of some of the ‘celebrities’ and the ordinary people involved in the tragedy and does that in a powerful and teaching way.
On that matter, I had the pleasure of speaking with the prestigious Swedish historian Claes-Göran Wetterholm, one of the world's foremost experts on the Titanic, to whom I asked why the story of the Titanic is still relevant today and why it is important that it's kept being told to old and new generations.
He rightfully highlighted that the Titanic’s is one that resonates with anyone and everybody because, up to these days, we can still identify with those people, share their hopes, and sympathize with the misfortune of a tragic destiny.
Looking at the artifacts of this exhibition, you can clearly see that that ship was the crossroad of hundreds of lives, many ordinary and some extraordinary, all bonded by one dramatic, god-like strike by mother nature.
But the story is also a real-life cautionary tale of the dangers of human excesses and of blind trust in sole technology and human abilities.
The sinking of the "unsinkable ship" has left posterity the lesson that when we think that something "can't happen," we can always remind ourselves of the tragedy of the Titanic, and that knowledge and science are a hurdle race against forces more uncontrollable than we illude ourselves they are.
I couldn’t agree more.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Luis Ferreiro, Director and CEO of Musealia. Impressed by the size and quality of the exhibition, my first obvious question was about how long it took to put the show together.
The answer was even more impressive since I learned that the exhibition is the result of a 22-year endeavor that started very small and humble, with photos only, and then - over the years - by meticulous research and incessant work to find documents and artifacts, and contacting the authorities and families of the survivors, Musealia was able to proudly present the current display.
Mr. Ferreiro confirmed that many of the artifacts displayed in this show are absolute first seen in the U.S., and it is an honor and privilege to present them to the public of New York, the city where the famous transatlantic was meant to complete its maid voyage.
He underlined that each image and object of the exhibition tells the story of the person portrayed or its owner, with the weight and the significance of carrying on the memory and the legacy of both survivors and victims.
He also reminded that the passengers of the Titanic, the real people whose faith was struck by tragedy that fateful night of April 14, are the real and ultimate protagonists of this exhibition, meant to be, first and foremost, an adequate and hear-felt tribute to them.
Musealia it's thrilled by the success of this New York installment, told me Mr. Ferreiro, which doubled the great response the show already received in London, where it was first displayed. The company will continue expanding on this endeavor, and it's already working on further enhancing the experience by adding a new section in the future that will focus on the stories of the immigrants that were leaving Europe seeking fortune in the New World.
Currently, Musealia is also working with the United Nations on a project related to awareness about the holocaust and the horrors of the Auswich camp.
Mr. Ferreiro also made a brief mention of an upcoming project about which he couldn't disclose any details but about which he is very excited, and invites everybody to keep an eye on Musealia's initiatives through their website.
It was a great conversation, and I had a wonderful time exploring the exhibition, especially the very last room. So emotional and intense. I won’t spoil it because I want you to see it for yourself.
Hurry up and go grab your tickets, the exhibition will be up only until December.
Article and photos by Joseph Ralph Fraia
@jrfstudio - jrfstudio.com
@livein_magazine - livein-magazine.com
Don’t Miss Out the National Poetry Month!
For me, April was always associated with April Fools’ Day. But there is much more to this month than jokes and laughs.
April is also known as National Poetry Month. It was founded by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Since then, many libraries and schools have organized poetry events for children and adults all over the United States to get more people excited about poetry.
This year is not an exception. For example, the Brooklyn Public Library organizes poetry events for both kids and adults. On Friday, April 15th, it is hosting a 30-minute virtual poetry reading of Jack Prelutsky’s (American writer of children’s poetry) work.
There are online events for adults as well. On April 20, the Brooklyn Public Library is inviting poetry lovers to the New Utrecht Poetry Group to discuss and read the works of the world’s most famous poets.
But to fully dive into poetry and feel like a real poet, you should participate in in-person poetry readings in the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
The Cafe was founded in 1973 in the East Village apartment of Miguel Algarin, a poet, and writer. There, playwriters, musicians, and poets of color, who were not noticed by the mainstream industry, could share their work with the audience.
Soon the cafe got so big and popular that it purchased a former tenement building at 236 East 3rd St, where the cafe stays to this day.
Today Nuyorican Poets Cafe is one of the most well-known and respected arts organizations. It organizes open mics, poetry slams, concerts, and theatrical performances.
Every Wednesday and Friday, Nuyorican Poets Cafe hosts Poetry Slam events. Wednesday slam competition is open to everybody, and winners are chosen entirely by the audience. Friday slams are a little different. Only the Wednesday slam winners are allowed to participate and fight for a place in the Semi-Final Slams.
Finally, there is a Grand Slam Final that usually happens in April, during the National Poetry Month.
So bring your poems to Nuyorican Poets Cafe and share them with the audience, or get a drink and be a part of the audience yourself!
The main rule is to bring your own poetry and enjoy your time!
Article by Joseph R. Fraia
A Fully Immersive Data-Driven Exploration of Trust
Organized by ARTECHOUSE WITH FUSE*
ARTECHOUSE is now presenting TRUST, an immersive exhibition that explores the concept of trust.
The audiovisual exhibit explains the idea of trust, and its’ changes throughout the years. The audience has a chance to look at the development of trust through historical events. What’s more, viewers can see the different predictions of the future: the one with trust, and the one without, and see how their lives would look like in both cases.
The information about the past comes from the major historical events that shifted the understanding of the concept. Present comes from the recent events that are being recorded and processed to create the art that’s constantly changing. Finally, the future consists of the predictions that are made according to the world’s history.
ARTECHOUSE that hosts the exhibition is an innovative art organization that creates exhibitions that combine art, science, and technology. With its multiple projectors and sound technology, viewers can dive into the exhibition and be not just an observer, but a part of it.
The exhibition opened on January 31 and will last till May 30. This is a must-go for those who want to experience the past, present, and future in one day. TRUST is a great opportunity to get lost in the beautiful installation and change your perception of art.
ARTECHOUSE is located at 439 W 15th street inside the Chelsea Market.
Article by Mary Zakharova
Editing by Joseph R. Fraia
La vie, l'amour et... Molière
Opening February 17th, 2022, and only for five nights, The Russian Arts Theater & Studio in New york celebrates the 400th anniversary of the birth of the famous French author
Opening Night today at 8 pm!
The year 2022 marks the 400th anniversary of Molière, France's most celebrated and censored playwright.
Livein is thrilled to join The Russian Arts Theater & Studio once again at Pushkin Hall in an intimate theater soirée as we showcase this master of stage and satire.
Acclaimed director Aleksey Burago stages a medley of scenes from Molière's repertoire, including Versailles Impromptu, The Miser, The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Don Juan.
The cast features Albert Baker, Michael Anne Hoffert-Cone, Luisa Menzen, Robyne Parrish, Tom Schubert, Naira Zakaryan, and Di Zhu.
Five dates only! Get your ticket now at http://russiantheater.org/
PH Jared Biunno
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#moliére #400 #anniversary #france #theater #puskinhall #therussianartstheaterandstudio #nyc #theater #magic #stage #art #artist #actor #actress
Fotografiska Museum - PH Joseph Fraia
Jerry Schatzberg at Fotografiska
I’m standing in one of those big old freight elevators you normally see in movies about artists from the 60s and 70s. It’s very slow, and while I’m in there, I imagine that I’m going to an artist’s party in his studio.
That’s not that far away from the truth. The sixth floor, where the elevator stops, was once the studio of Jerry Schatzberg, a New York photographer. This was where he took the shots that made him famous.
The place that was once a salon able to host dozens of people is now quiet. Other than me, there are two couples looking through the photographs and a man working at a small table next to the bar, where you can get coffee and drinks if you buy a special ticket.
A Bob Dylan song is playing. That’s because he was one of Schatzberg’s models, and a photograph of him is one of the most famous among all. In the middle of the room, there is a small stage with a screen, where more Schatzberg’s photography is displayed.
You can sit on a purple velvet couch or a green cushioned seat and watch a 5-6 minute slideshow about the photographer's work.
The pictures are mostly black and white. They are the most evocative: dancers, musicians, scenes from the everyday life of New Yorkers.
PH Mary Zakharova
PH Mary Zakharova
The black and white give them a special retro and romantic flavor.
The photographs are hanging all over the walls. Big posters and small framed pictures. My favorite part of the exhibition is a wall with large photographs portraying Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Geoffrey Holder, and Catherine Deneuve.
Schatzberg’s lens also caught The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Andy Warhol. During his career, the photographer worked for Vogue, Esquire, McCall’s, Glamour, and LIFE, and then successfully tried his hand at filmmaking.
The exhibition is presented by New York’s photography museum Fotografiska on Park Avenue and East 22nd Street, and they encourage everybody to “Have fun. Stay late. Get deep. Spill your drink.”
Maybe next time I’ll stay a little later.
Article by Mary Zakharova
Editing by Joseph R. Fraia
Photos by Joseph R. Fraia - jrfstudio.com and Mary Zakharova
Scene form the movie “The Reunion” - Courtesy of Reunion Films Production
Dave Rosenberg
Cast of New Indie Film, The Reunion, share their thoughts on creating the film
It is challenging enough to produce a film, not to mention doing so amidst a worldwide pandemic. Nevertheless, the creators of the new movie, The Reunion, worked diligently to make the film come to life, a process that spanned two decades. Livein Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with four members of The Reunion cast, including the writer, co-producer, and star of the film, Dave Rosenberg.
Rosenberg originally conceived the film, and his two friends, Andrea Modica and Dinh Doan, who co-produced the movie with him. Rosenberg teamed up with Modica and Doan and a number of his other friends in the acting world to create the film.
Based on Rosenberg’s personal childhood experience, The Reunion follows the story of Ricky Reilly (played by Rosenberg), a man seeking spiritual fulfillment, suddenly has his life turned upside down when he sees an old classmate who beat him up when they were in high school together. Seeing his old nemesis dredges up deep emotions that compel him to confront his bully at their high school reunion. The journey leading up to this confrontation is fraught with Ricky’s inner conflict, drama, and suspense, which leads to the film’s description as a “spiritual thriller.”
Working on a large creative project with friends can have its benefits and challenges, as these actors attested when we spoke to them. However, they all apparently made it to the other side, with friendships still intact and a very well-produced and beautifully shot film as a result.
In our interview with Rosenberg and three other cast members of The Reunion, we dove into the joys and perils they experienced while working together, the ups and downs of the entire creative process, along with what scenes they enjoyed the most and exciting anecdotes while filming in The Big Apple.
Along with Dave Rosenberg, we interviewed Andrea Modica (“Andy”) and Marta Pozzan (“Mariel”), who are both originally from Italy. We also spoke with Austin Pendleton (“Al”), the group veteran who is a Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning actor and a Tony Award-nominated theatre director. Each of the actors brought their own unique personality, experience, and perspective to the film, which you’ll see in their answers below.
If you haven’t already seen The Reunion, read below, and you’ll want to add it to your weekend watch list!
Having based the screenplay on your personal life experiences, what was the most challenging part or parts of writing the script?
Dave: I began writing the script in Union Square Park when I was on a spiritual trip. I was in the flow, and that was pretty easy breezy. I did numerous improvisations with my actor friends, many of whom are in the film, and that was fun and games. The most challenging parts were the scenes I wrote on my own, where I had to dig deep into some significant trauma and unbear my soul. The one scene that stands out was writing the "Rite of Passage" scene. This was the last scene that I wrote, only months before shooting. I was going through challenges in my relationship, and I was staying at my friend Dinh's ("Danny" in the film) apartment in Manhattan. It was hot as hell, and I decided to go for a walk through Washington Square Park. My stomach was killing me, and I started puking. My guts were literally being torn up. So I started belting out a monologue from Hamlet as I walked around Washington Square, puking. Then I went back to Dinh's apartment and typed up the scene. Catharsis!
What are your overall thoughts about the film being a "spiritual thriller"?
Dave: When Megan Huggins (formerly of Gravitas Ventures) pitched us, she pitched the film as a "Thriller." I had never really thought of "The Reunion" as a thriller, although it certainly has thriller elements to it. We always thought of it as a drama, with comedy, a dramedy! But when she said it, it struck me. I think the thriller aspect comes in with the question of "Who is the wolf?", in addition to the character of Jason, who's a bit of a mystery. The "spiritual" part was always there, particularly at the film's beginning, with Ricky on his spiritual journey. I like to think it's like the Yin/Yang, with the "spiritual" half being the Yang (light) and the "thriller" half being the Yin (dark).
Andrea: A decision needed to be made on which tagline to use. A spiritual thriller or confront your fears. I always like the confront your fears tagline. That was my vote. It’s the tagline we’ve always had, and I felt it best represented the movie.
Marta: I love it; I find it very fitting and unique as the movie itself is. I love movies that deal with past traumas and unresolved emotional issues; they’re the most intriguing to me and fun to watch.
Austin: I love the idea of the movie being a "spiritual thriller." I've literally never heard that phrase before about anything. But actually -- and the movie dramatizes this -- the spiritual questions that we actually struggle within our lives (as opposed to just thinking about them) are the ones that give us the highest degree of what I guess you could call emotional suspense. So, yeah. A spiritual thriller. I'm proud to be in a movie that can legitimately be called a spiritual thriller.
As close friends in real life, was the creative process and working together easier or more challenging?
Dave: Both. It was easier with the writing and the acting because we had a familiarity with each other, a shorthand which we understood, and a love and a passion for each other and the story. The challenging part was in the producing, really. When big decisions came up and we were not on the same page. When egos got involved. When who got credit for what and who got what percentages of what was in question. Then it was not fun! But, again, in retrospect, it was what it needed to be. I think we all learned and grew a lot. And we got to see all parts of ourselves and each other: The good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Andrea: Sometimes it made the process easier and sometimes not. But overall, I think it made it easier.
Austin: Being close friends with Dave made it very exciting, actually. Sometimes that can inhibit the process, but in this case, it intensified it. I also loved working with the director, by the way, whom I'd never met before.
What are your personal favorite scenes in the film? Why?
Dave: I think my favorite scene is the boxing scene. That was so much fun to shoot. We got to shoot in Brooklyn Bridge Park on a pier overlooking the Statue of Liberty! Andrea and I had rehearsed his scene for years, literally. And when we shot, the camera was so far away from us that it didn't even feel like we were acting. It just felt like Andrea, and I was shadowboxing. This was also the scene where my character gets "woken up" by Andrea's character, Andy. In rehearsals, Andrea hit me. And I said, "Bro, you can't hit me. We need to discuss this first. And choreograph it." Andrea disagreed! But we found something, and we were able to replicate it when we shot for real. Also, that scene was a blast to work on with the composer, Nick Repetto. And it has a really nice homage to two of my favorite films, "Rocky" and "The Karate Kid." I will also say I think the most powerful scene in the film is the scene with Travis (my nemesis) at his therapy group, which I hadn't really expected.
Andrea: The boxing scene because it’s a scene we hardly ever worked on, but somehow it just clicked. I also had a few surprises for Dave that I had planned and plotted, which he knew nothing about, and seeing his reaction was a joy for me. It worked like a charm. There was also a lot of improv, and it freed us up and made it more authentic.
I also really liked the post-fight scene with Ricky and Natalie. It was heart-wrenching and very powerful. I was on set that day as producer and friend to give support. It was a tough scene for them.
Marta: I liked shooting by the beach; I honestly had never been in that location where we shot before, and it was so fun and different than anything I’ve ever filmed before.
Austin: Well, I love the scenes I'm in. I love being a political firebrand. I don't think I've ever been asked to do that in a movie before. But actually, the scenes in the movie affect me deeply.
What was the most challenging part of creating this film? What was the easiest part?
Dave: The most challenging part was the conflicts with close friends with whom I worked on the movie. The easiest part? I can't think of one!
Andrea: The most challenging part for me was the beginning of post-production as a producer. The creative differences were extremely difficult to navigate around.
The easiest and most fun part was the acting. We got to play. Shakespeare would call actors players for a reason.
Austin: The most challenging part was shooting key scenes at two o'clock in the morning in Washington Square. But then that was also exciting. There's a vibe about shooting a movie in Washington Square at two o'clock in the morning, particularly a politically radical scene.
Being shot in NYC, any interesting anecdotes to share when shooting any of the scenes?
Dave: Yes. When we were shooting on the Lower East Side, in Chinatown. It's the scene where Ricky has just run into his childhood nemesis, and he's been re-traumatized. As is the case in the Hero's Journey, his ally comes to help him on this journey. And in this scene, it came in the form of Andrea vrooming in on a Harley Davidson, and the first thing we see of him is his crotch. Well, on the day, there were about 75 people across the street, watching our small indie-film production (that three actor friends from HB Studio had written two decades before) as if it was a big-budget Hollywood Blockbuster with Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio. And as Andrea is pulling up to my curb in his Harley, all of these people are watching and taking pictures. It was a scene! And I got to see my best friend on the streets of Lower Manhattan...as a movie star! That was special.
Andrea: We had to steal shots. So the two scenes that were shot out front of the police station were the most interesting for me. I would walk into the police station and look around, waiting for a text message from the Director to say action. By about the fourth take, I was walking into the police station looking around, and I could see all the police officers looking at me, looking at each other and nervously wondering what I was doing in there, continuously walking in and looking around and then walking out. After the fourth take, I said to the Director I can’t walk in there anymore. All the police officers are getting twitchy and nervous.
Marta: For my last day of shooting, I flew in the same day at around 10 pm, shot all my scenes, and went straight back to the airport at 5 am. I definitely realized then that our bodies and minds are so powerful, and we can pretty much make them do whatever we want!
Austin: Shooting at 2 am is also the most vivid anecdote about shooting the movie in NYC. The people who show up when you do at two o'clock in the morning! It kind of electrifies the city in the middle of the night.
Looking back now after having created The Reunion, what would you have done differently?
Dave: Wow! I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, so I'm not sure I would take anything back because I wouldn't have learned all the lessons that I've learned. But, in retrospect, I would have been less reactive, controlling, and more trustworthy. The stakes were really high for me. This was my life's project, and I had a clear vision for the film. But I was working with other talented artists who each had their own vision as well. Collaboration is really challenging. But I'm getting better at it!
The Reunion is out now on all major VOD platforms, including Amazon, iTunes, Prime Video, and YouTube. For more information: https://www.thereunionfilm.com/
Also join The Reunion WATCH PARTY - watch the film while listening to a live discussion by the cast and crew, hosted by Film Threat on Friday, Feb. 11th at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT. For details: https://filmthreat.com/news/gather-with-us-for-a-watch-party-for-the-reunion/
Article by Joseph Ralph Fraia
Photos Courtesy of the Production
Austin Pendleton
Marta Pozzan
Andrea Modica
Limitless journey
The Sabìr created by dap - Luigia d'Alfonso and Ada Perla
are back in New York
Secret Essence of Italy is proud to announce the great return of two fantastic Italian artists to New York. The solo exhibition of the artistic duo dap will take place at Time Art Gallery, in the heart of the West Village, from January 10 to 16.
Following the warm welcome that the "Big Apple" reserved for them in 2019, the Sabìr and Totem painted by Luigia and Ada return to be exhibited in the city.
The artworks by dap with their signs and colors invite the viewer to "listen" and enjoy visual storytelling that starts from a theme and evolves into an individual journey that has no limits of time and space.
As noted by Roberto Savi, curator, and admirer of the Sabìr: "Luigia d'Alfonso and Ada Perla invite us to "navigate", they suggest a journey through recognizable, symbolic elements, which coexist with signs and abstract forms, fluid or halted by color, in which each work, each vision, is dedicated to a theme".
The exhibition runs January 10-16, 2022 at Time Gallery, 178 Bleecker Street, New York.
The Gallery is open daily from 11 am to 2 pm.
To make an appointment after business hours please email info@secretessenceofitaly.com
Opening reception - January 12, 2022, from 7 pm to 9 pm.
For further information:
Liria Ingallina
ingallinaliria@gmail.com
mob. (718) 210 - 7504
About the artists
Luigia d'Alfonso was born in 1967 in Rome where she has always lived and worked, ranging from jewelry design to textile design with cross-over into theater. After collaborating with a cultural foundation specialized in ancient Roman studies, Luigia worked at “Il Punto” - Center of Contemporary Art. Since 2002 she has shared an atelier of art and handicraft with Ada Perla. In 2014 it was born the artistic duo dap – d’Alfonso, Perla, a partnership focused on the accomplishment of the four-handed project for the creation of Sabìr.
Ada Perla was born in Rome in 1960, studied art since high school, and graduated in art history. After her college graduation, she published some articles on journals specialized in historical-artistic studies. Ada worked as a graphic designer for agencies and theaters, and since 2002 she has shared an atelier of art and handicraft with Luigia d'Alfonso. In 2014 they started an adventure that led the artistic duo towards a common language: Sabìr.
About Secret Essence of Italy
Secret Essence of Italy is a project thought and set by Liria Ingallina, an Italian professional with a long and prestigious experience in public relations and communication. SE of Italy aims to promote Italian emerging and independent artists and designers throughout the USA - starting from NYC to later expand its horizons to Miami and Chicago - combining art & design fairs and events, special charitable projects, and cultural events.
Puppet Art on display at Salmagundi Museum from 11.25.2021 to 01.30.2022 with the exhibition: BIL BAIRD & OLGA FELGEMACHER: “A NARRATIVE LEGACY”
The Salmagundi Club, one of America’s oldest arts organizations, is exhibiting a Wonderland of Puppet Art in “Bil Baird & Olga Felgemacher: A Narrative Legacy.”
The great BIL BAIRD created many iconic marionettes for television, film and stage, including the Lonely Goatherd scene from The Sound Of Music.
Bil and his wife/partner Cora (members of the Salmagundi Club) also ran New York’s only permanent professional puppet show place, The Bil Baird Theater on Barrow Street. OLGA FELGEMACHER, master puppeteer and (along with Craig Marin) co-creator of the Flexitoon Puppets, became lead puppeteer at Bil’s theater after Cora’s passing.
Together, Bil & Olga (whom he dubbed “Queen of the New Roost”) went on to create award-winning, critically acclaimed live theater for nine seasons. From Alice in Wonderland to Dorothy in Oz to Pinocchio (no lie!) Olga starred in them all.
When Bil’s theater closed, and after a stint on Sesame Street and the first Muppet Movie, Olga met CRAIG MARIN and together they forged a career and life. The Salmagundi Club has devoted their elegant parlor gallery to the show.
Half the room is Baird’s puppets and half is Felgemacher/Marin’s creations. Puppets, props and ephemera dance and dangle throughout the room, spanning the decades while pointing to new horizons in puppetry.
The club is alive – with the sound of puppets.
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021, Olga & Craig will present a multi-media gallery talk that covers Bil Baird’s career, Olga’s work with Bil, then her teaming with Craig. And since it’s the season of magic, some puppets may even spring to life!
The exhibition is free to the public, though reservations are required for the Gallery Talk.
CONTACT
SALMAGUNDI CLUB 47 Fifth Avenue @ Twelfth Street | New York, NY 10003
pr@salmagundi.org
RSVP: Click Here
FLEXITOON
www.flexitoon.com
flexitoon@gmail.com
212-877-2757
Art in New York tells extraordinary stories. “Strenght and Grace - A Tale of Two Worlds’’ is the exhibition set to awe the audience.
From December 9th to 12th at Times Art Gallery - NYC
In the heart of the West Village in Manhattan, it is where the next visionary art project by New York Creative Director and Fine Art Photographer Joseph R. Fraia will take place, hosted by the prestigious private gallery Time Arts, on Bleecker Street.
“Strength and Grace - A tale of two worlds” is the exhibition that tells an archetypal story of empowerment, self-consciousness, and self-realization through iconic aesthetics and powerful images.
The show is a visual representation of a contemporary heroine’s journey from the cradle of tradition and family in the Far East through the challenges of becoming aware of her Self in the West, and the final manifestation of her true nature.
“I believe this project is an inspiring tale about the meaning of the American Dream today and will leave the audience in awe,” said the author when asked about the exhibition.
Joseph R. Fraia is an experienced Creative Director and Fine Art Photographer born and living in New York City, a resident artist at the historic Salmagundi Club NYC (in which he also seats as Chairman of the PR Committee) who is known for his polyhedric talent and the ability to nonchalantly cross and fuse genres, media, and subjects but always with a distinctive sophisticated aesthetic touch and profound mindfulness. For this project, he is also the producer, creative director, and curator.
The Solo Exhibition will be hosted by Time Arts Gallery, directed by April Zhang-Autio.
Media Partners: LIVID Magazine - Livein The Lifestyle Magazine
Sponsors:
Sip&Co. - This is Good Water - Frankly Vodka - Isa Lazo - Beautiful Amore - Life is a Treasure Hunt
Information:
178 Bleecker St, New York, NY
December 9th to 12th
Opening reception - December 9 from 7 pm to 10 pm
Closing reception -December 12 from 6 pm to 9 pm
Gallery Hours from 2 pm to 8 pm
For info, press, and inquiries artshow@wearenotthatfar.com - 917-930-1494
For our friends in Italy! Do not miss this out!
Director Andrew Morgan Gets Back to Creative Roots in
SAMANTHA ROSE
OUT TODAY // SEP 7, 2021
Amazon - iTunes - Apple TV - Vudu - Xbox - Google Play - YouTube Movies - More
(PR RESOURCES // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES IMAGES HERE)
TRAILER - WEBSITE - PR RESOURCES
“Quietly intoxicating and warmly spirited” - Viddy Well
“Low key goodness, the kind of film that finds you when you need it the most” - First Showing
“A very sweet and charming gem of a film” - The Artswire Weekly
Los Angeles, CA – September 7, 2021 – Director Andrew Morgan's feature film, Samantha Rose, is now available via Freestyle Digital Media on most digital and satellite platforms today, September 7, including Amazon, iTunes, Apple TV, Vudu, Xbox, Google Play, YouTube Movies and more.
There will be a sold-out, invite-only premiere screening event tonight, September 7 at 7 pm at the Chaplin Theater at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles with an outdoor red carpet with opportunities for the media to cover. Media interested in covering can contact Kathryn Musilek to inquire (km@sharkpartymedia.com).
Director Andrew Morgan (Long Gone By, The True Cost) has just released his latest feature film, Samantha Rose, conceived of, shot, and completed during the 2020 pandemic in a small and safe cast and crew setting in the rural settings of the Pacific Northwest. The film is available to rent and own on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms as of today, September 7, 2021, through Freestyle Digital Media.
Centering non-binary actor, Sam Rose, the feature is a tale of a young woman battling family codependence and aimlessness alike. Samantha Rose returns to her hometown in northern Oregon and is reunited with a childhood friend and his misfit commune of friends where they work the fall harvest on the surrounding vineyards. Sam is lost, working a dead-end job, and afraid to pursue a real-life of her own, while this ragtag family of runaways is fearless and free, leading Sam on a journey of discovery and healing. There are motorcycle riders and homemade wine, midnight swims and bonfires, horses, camping, and a love story that unfolds as Sam comes to see her life for what it really is: her own.
Said Andrew Morgan, “With so much heaviness in the real world, it felt like the perfect time to make something beautiful that hopefully could give people a sense of relief and escape from it all.” Months into the pandemic, with current projects on hold, he invited a group of friends up to Oregon to make a film together. “We needed to create something and I wanted to see if we could capture that simple joy of telling a story the way we used to in backyards growing up.” Filmed on a shoestring budget with all first-time actors, no famous faces and very little time before other projects were starting, everyone agreed to come and set out together for what would become what Morgan describes as “absolutely unforgettable days.”
He says, “we built our own little world out there. We rode motorcycles, jumped off cliffs, drank wine, played music, outran forest fires, laughed so hard it hurt, and made a new film that we are SO excited to share with you.”
Said Sam Rose, the lead in the film, “People showed up in the face of the pandemic to create a story that they believed in and there is nothing more beautiful than that.”
Centering a non-male protagonist was important to the team and to the actors. Said the first-time actor and lead, Sam Rose, “Everyone goes through what Samantha Rose goes through in the film whether it be self-doubt, insecurities, or being lost. Having the story be told by someone who isn’t a white cis male gives a dynamic nature to the human experience. I want everyone who is on any spectrum of gender to understand the universal nature of this experience.”
In fact, the entire cast of Samantha Rose was made up of first-time actors; all of them were artists in various capacities including musicians and visual artists, but this was their first time acting in a feature film role.
About Andrew Morgan:
Andrew is an internationally recognized, award-winning filmmaker focused on telling stories for a better tomorrow. His experience includes a broad range of work that spans narrative and documentary storytelling for multiple films and new media projects that have been filmed and released all over the world. Previous films include After the End (2013), The True Cost (2015), The Heretic (2018), and Long Gone By (2020). The New York Times described his unique style as “gentle, humane investigations,” and Vogue Magazine wrote that it is “evidence that each of us can act as a catalyst for change within our own lives and work together towards a greater good.” He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Emily and their four kids.
Samantha Rose Online: Website - Trailer - PR Resources
Samantha Rose is now available on:
Amazon - iTunes - Apple TV - Vudu - Xbox - Google Play - YouTube Movies
AT&T U-Verse - DirecTV - Dish Network and Sling TV - iN DEMAND - Vubiquity - Swank - Hoopla
DVD will be released on Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com, Walmart.com, and Barnesandnoble.com by 10/19
Salmagundi Club
2021 Open Cityscapes Exhibition
June 07, 2021 - June 24, 2021
The Salmagundi Club NY, located off of 5th Avenue near the iconic Washington Square Park, and celebrating this year the 150th Anniversary since its foundation, will host the exhibition ‘Open Cityscapes.’
The event will take place from June 7th to the 24th in the upper gallery of the prestigious brownstone home to the numerous artist and patron members of one of the oldest art organizations in America.
‘Open Cityscapes’ is an exhibition open to all media centered on representing the countless facets of big cities around the world and the innumerable souls who every day fill their streets.
For many artists based in the Big Apple, this is also an opportunity to show their love for New York and the desire to see life slowly go back to normal after the terrible year of the pandemic.
In the ample hall of the upper gallery, art lovers, buyers, and collectors can admire evocative skylines, majestic structures, urban greenery, but also close details, cursory glances, and play of light and perspectives among the artifacts that make each town and city so unique.
The works exhibited in the gallery are also available online on the renowned Art Platform Artsy at ‘The Galleries at Salmagundi.’
Now that the City is gradually returning to normality, Salmagundi Club offers the opportunity to enjoy beautiful art in a refined setting, enriched by a prestigious artistic legacy that speaks about the timeless fascination of New York City.
Salmagundi Club
Upper Gallery June 07, 2021 - June 24, 2021
Gallery Hours:
Mon-Fri, 1-6 PM | Sat-Sun, 1-5 PM
Gallery Closed June 19th for Private Event
47 Fifth Avenue | New York, NY 10003 | (212) 255-7740 | Email: info@salmagundi.org
Introspective Retrospection
Solo Exhibition at Gallery RIVAA, NYC by Salmagundi Club Member Georgette Sinclair
From June 12 to 18
Opening Reception June 12 from 6 to 9 pm
From the Artist
“In every piece of art that I created I put a piece of my soul. Behind each painting there is a story regardless I painted on location or I took pictures of the place or person. Like a poet, I try to express my emotions through poetic landscapes, or any scapes by capturing the mood of the moment. I admire a lot the Impressionists and the tonalism trend of art, which inspires me. That is the introspective part of my art.
I traveled a lot privately with a friend or with a group of artists, either through Plain Air Magazine amazing trips or different workshops, in search of the beauty of nature and unexpected experiences... This is the retrospection part of the show a Journey in time, present and past...
During the darkness and harshness of pandemic isolation, I reflected on what is the most important part of our own life, what brings us joy and inspiration...
That was the moment when the seeds of the Introspective Retrospection idea came alive... I dedicated part of my expressive inspiration to my family, my precious granddaughters, the Sunshine and Moonlight of my life ...
Looking back, my paintings remind me of beautiful places and joyful moments that I was fortunate to experience...
Life is full of surprises and I try to keep an open mind and soul also to the future...
I was always a dreamer... As a kid, I used to watch the sky, following the light embracing the earth and I was fascinated by the changing form and color of the clouds. I wished I was a little cloud in that magnificent moment. Today, I am captivated by the French impressionists and by the poetic vision of American Tonalism. I try to capture the mood of the moment and want to freeze it forever, as it is a sublime experience that nature reveals to us... The secret is to just look around with an inquisitive eye and an open soul and mind.”
About the Artist
Georgette is inspired by the eternal beauty of nature. Working mostly in pastels she finds poetry in the ordinary scenes. Her atmospheric landscapes evoke her enthusiasm and spirit of places that charm and enchant the soul and mind. The expression of mood is her response to a fragment in time. Traveling is a great source of inspiration for her work. She delights in painting outdoor scenes, fields of lavender, golden haystacks, or wandering in a hidden country road. She is equally fascinated by peeking in and out of the window, as can be seen in some of her paintings.
A New York artist currently living on Roosevelt Island, Georgette Sinclair is an award-winning artist who earned a Master of Science and a Doctoral Degree in Audiology. Georgette's art training began in early childhood with drawing and painting classes at the public School of Art in the country of origin. Later on in life, Georgette attended the Art Student League of NYC in addition to attending various art workshops in the States and abroad. She has been a member of Pen & Brush Inc. in NYC (2001-2003), Salmagundi Club of NYC since 2001, and RIVAA since 2001. Her work is owned by collectors around the world and has appeared in solo and group shows in galleries in NYC, New Jersey, Vermont, and abroad.
Introspective Retrospection
Solo Exhibition at Gallery RIVAA, NYC by Salmagundi Member Georgette Sinclair
From June 12 to 18
Opening Reception June 12 from 6 to 9 pm
Gallery RIVAA at 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044
Gallery Hours:
Wednesday 6-9
Saturday-Sunday 11-5 pm.
Telephone (212) 308–6630
For more information about the gallery please email galleryrivaa@gmail.com
For more info about the artist please visit www.georgettesinclair.com
Artist Jamie Russell joins Park South Gallery and the Exhibition “Freedom and Rebirth”
June 11, 2021 from 7 to 11 pm
Jamie Russell is a New York native who has been creating art for many years. She earned her BFA in Drawing and Painting (as well as Art History) from SUNY Purchase College. There, she learned to hone her artistic skills and further grow her love for the craft.
On June 11, 2021, she will join artists Steven Calapai and Joseph Fraia at Park South Gallery for the opening reception of the exhibition “Freedom and Rebirth” which will start at 7 pm.
RSVP at calapai@gmail.com
From the Artist
I’ve been searching for my own definition of beauty that would be untainted by culture. As a young girl, I read many books of charming women who captivated me to the point where I wanted to resemble them. I started painting women in fantastical situations with mythical creatures. They gratified me as idealistic pretty girls who, subconsciously, I projected myself into. When the paintings revealed me as the heroine I moved forward into painting my own experiences that were real. As I revisited my childhood I looked back to the stories that I adored so much and found a disdain within myself. With age comes discovery, and what I found was that my heroines were flawed. The women I have prized were creations that were shaped by masculine society. As girls, we are told to be bubbly, endearing, and eloquent, and given role models who embody those accepted traits. My heroic ladies fell off their pedestals and into a sea of cultural male-dominated aesthetics. With this discovery, my ladies took a turn. I wanted my figures to be relatable to myself and to other women and our experiences. Not everything we go through is “pretty”. I enjoy making paintings that are traditionally “pretty” with lovely feminine colors like pinks and purples. I then darken them with the imagery. In “Cold Stare” for example, it’s a painting of a woman in pain and in fear. She's muffling her own screams. The negative space however has organic, floral brush strokes gracing across the magenta canvas. I enjoy the juxtaposition and hope others will as well.
Portrait Photo by Daniel Hernandez @danielwilliamportraiture
For more info about the artist
Instagram Her Coloring Box
For more info about the gallery
Park South Gallery
78A Montauk Hwy, Amityville, NY 11701
Instagram Park South Gallery
Freedom and Rebirth - Park South Gallery Presents "The Summer Calendar Kick-Off Reception and Show" 6.11.21 from 7 to 11 pm
Park South Gallery is the new hub for artists and creatives in Long Island and is ready to present its Summer calendar of events and initiatives.
Gallery’s owner and artist Steven Calapai has laid out a program that will regularly feature both resident artists and new addition throughout the summertime.
The series of events will start on Friday, June 11, from 7 to 11 pm, celebrating the reopening and the regained liberty after more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions. The theme of the exhibition is ‘Freedom and Rebirth,’ and the resident artists Steven Calapai and Joseph Fraia will present new works inspired by the topic and that want to reinforce the positivity and optimism we can all rejoice as we see the pandemic coming to an end.
Steven is the visionary owner of Park South Gallery and the prolific artist who is the mind and the heart of this project that also allows him to express his polyhedric talent across different media: sculpture, painting, and digital photography.
Joseph is the resident artist from New York who has contributed to the gallery with his stunning fine art photography and has brought the glamorous and electric vibe of the City to the opening receptions of the exhibitions.
At the event of June 11, Park South will also feature works of Tattoo Artist and eclectic talent ‘Gentle Jay’ Blondel from the renowned TV show ‘Ink Master’ and, for the first time, the evocative and colorful paintings of Jamie Russell, native New York artist founder of ‘Her Coloring Box,’ an artistic endeavor aimed at celebrating femininity and womanhood.
The upcoming schedule of the gallery includes the event on June 25th which theme is going to be ‘The Power of the Sun - Healing and Wellness’ in collaboration with Shop Local Designers, the platform for designers and creatives, which will feature local brands in fashion, jewelry, and wellness along with - of course - stunning artworks.
In July, August, and September, Park South will host an art reception at least once a month with the addition of numerous collaborations.
For information and RSVP, contact calapai@gmail.com
Park South Gallery - 78a Montauk Hwy Amity Harbor, NY 11701
Salmagundi Club NYC presents 2021 Open Cityscapes Exhibition - June 07, 2021 - June 24, 2021
2021 Open Cityscapes Exhibition
Upper Gallery, June 07, 2021 - June 24, 2021
This will be an exhibition and sale in all media of CITYSCAPES; the hustle and bustle of the big city as it was before Covid and as it will be again, soon.
Gallery Hours:
Mon-Fri, 1-6PM | Sat-Sun, 1-5PM
Gallery Closed June 19th for Private Event
Park South Gallery Presents Groundbreaking Artists Who Are Subverting The Art World - Event Opening May 8, 2021 from 7 to 10 pm
There is a place in Long Island, New York, where something special is taking place. It is the dawn of a concept that is ready to shake a world, the art world, from its foundation.
The art industry is one that always swings between stiffed, pompous elitism and classism, and a desperate thirst for novelty and originality, and it is stuffed with an overwhelming number of gatekeepers at every step of the way, people who spend most of their time trying to convince artists why they need them and why they are necessary.
But a revolution has already started. And as all the revolutions, they start where you would least expect, innocuous places that are part of our daily sight, and by someone who is an outsider, an exception to a system that is not prepared to detect it, a man who does not owe anything to that system and does not expect anything either from that system.
That man is Steven Calapai, the Park South Gallery owner in Long Island, New York, and polyhedric creative himself: painter, sculptor, designer.
Steven wants his gallery to present artists with a story, a journey, a humanist endeavor; creatives who are unapologetic about who they are and what they do, protagonists of their own life who are not afraid to show their true essence.
The works-of-art featured then become doors beyond which each of us can explore ourselves and mirror our experiences, thoughts, feelings, fears, and dreams.
And the exhibition that starts on May 8, 2021, will offer the very first look at what Park South Gallery will be able to achieve. The featured artists are “Gentle” Jay Blondel, Joseph Fraia, and Steven Calapai himself: three creatives who have completely different backgrounds and artistic expressions but share the peculiarity of not limiting themselves to one genre or theme and the willingness to show and present their polyhedric works.
Gentle Jay Blondel is an award-winning tattoo artist, fine artist, and piercer from Brooklyn, New York. He Started tattooing in ‘99 and appeared on the TV Show Ink Master Season 4 as a contestant. He made it to the final 6, where he was eliminated under controversial circumstances. While Gentle Jay got his nickname from his light touch and his mastery of fine detail, he prides himself on being a well-rounded tattoo artist. In his own words, “my specialty is tattooing; if it can be tattooed, I can tattoo it. My specialty is versatility.” This is the very first exhibition in which it will be possible to admire Jay’s artworks on canvas.
Joseph is a Brooklyn-born international published fine art photographer who has traveled across three continents over his career as an artist, writer, and media expert. He is a resident artist at the prestigious Salmagundi Art Club in Manhattan, NY, where he also sits as Chairman of the PR Committee. He is the Chief Editor of Livein Media and an acclaimed fashion photographer.
Steven is an award-winning, published self-taught artist, sculptor, and designer. With an incredible success story and an art career that started at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, Steven has already been featured in LiveIn Style and Modern Luxury magazines and has exhibited in international galleries. Steven’s multifaceted talent allows him to express his creativity in multiple media and with an incredible array of styles and subjects. He is the owner of Park South Gallery in Long Island, NY.
For info, media pass and inquiries, contact calapai@gmail.com or 631 867 8745
Must RSVP to attend.
2021 Spring Auction to Benefit Salmagundi
Auction day - April 09, 2021
Today is the day.
The Salmagundi Spring Auction will be held Live Online on April 9, 2021, at 4 pm ET.
To view the art and bid, click HERE.
Founded in 1871 Salmagundi is the oldest art club in New York, and former home to many of the great names in American art history, including Thomas Moran, William Merritt Chase, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Chaim Gross, N.C. Wyeth, Guy Wiggins, and Norman Rockwell. The club is also home to the oldest continuous art auction in the city, offering works selected from member submissions sold to benefit the club, all featuring the famous Salmagundi Club label and offered to a live audience.
Over 200 works will be offered, mostly paintings, all professionally framed and appearing at auction for the first time. Among the ‘experiences’ offered will be the opportunity to commission a Salmagundian to paint your portrait, architectural or landscape scene. The auctioneer will be Nick Dawes of Heritage Auctions, who is also Chairman and CEO of Salmagundi and familiar to many through 25 years as an expert appraiser on PBS ‘Antiques Roadshow’.
These Spring Auctions are a major fundraising event for Salmagundi, a non-profit organization. Monies raised from the auctions help to fund the operation of our historic organization and maintain our landmark building.
Three Ways to Bid:
1) Online at Live Auctioneers
2) By Absentee Bid Form that can be faxed to 646.349.2275 or emailed to info@salmagundi.org
3) By phone. Call 212.255.7740 in advance to register to bid from wherever you are. We will call you during the auction just prior to your lot coming to the block.
A 15 percent buyer's premium will be applied to all purchases.
To view the award winners, click HERE!
Article by Joseph Fraia
Lot # 11 - Nedra Newby - Brooklyn Bridge - East River View Acrylic on Canvas 15 19 0 Image Size: 15" x 19" - Opening Bid $ 250
- Lot # 30 Joseph McGurl - Becalmed at Sunset - Oil on Canvas - 12" x 16" Bid starts at $ 3000
Lot # 9 - Elizabeth Stainton - Old New York - Oil and Metallic Leaf on Panel - 18" x 18" - Opening Bid $ 350
Lot # 115 Claire Taveras - Artistic Attributes - Oil on Birch Panel - 16" x 21" Opening Bid: $2000
Steven Calapai – The resilience in Art
The year 2020 is proving to be the most challenging one in generations, arguably. For most of us, this is the first time we are asked to face an event of a global scale on which we have no or minimal incidence, and many of us are forced to review, and even question, the important decisions we have made in the past. But that is only part of the journey we are experiencing because we also need to look at the future, a future still unclear and uncertain; nevertheless, we have an obligation towards ourselves not to give up and figure out what to do.
Especially in times like these, it is important to turn our attention to people who can show us – with their example – how we can turn this forced introspection into positive thinking and constructive action. We are proud to be able to present you one these stories.
The protagonist is Long Island-based Artist Steven Calapai. Steven is a creative entrepreneur who, from a successful career in Hollywood representing top tiers celebrities, later applied his skills and valuable network of contacts in the professional event organization industry and – when he decided to come back to New York – in the Commercial Real Estate Business.
As for many other entrepreneurs, the beginning of the pandemic last March heavily impacted Steven’s businesses, imposing an unpredicted but inevitable stop and the tearing dilemma of what to do in the upcoming months.
But that was the time when something new and different sparkled in Steven: instead of losing heart because of the hurdle, he embraced a new self and tunneled his creativity and energy towards the arts. He bought canvases, brushes, and colors and started painting, putting his imagination, passion, and fantasy in his works.
The results have been astounding ever since. Steven almost immediately received recognition and admiration among the very well educated and selective community of art connoisseurs and collectors of Long Island and New York, who started buying his creations and, doing so, generating a remarkable buzz in the local as well as the national art scene.
Today Steven is a full-time artist, and his creativity is in a full-steam mode, receiving attention and requests from a fast-growing base of admirers, and not even the news in early November that he contracted COVID-19 has stopped him.
He is a COVID survivor who also does not forget the troubles of the pandemic's challenges; that is why he always donates part of his proceedings to charity. The last important occasion was the fund-raiser organized by "Mandate For Humanity," a live virtual concert charity event that featured appearances by Ozzie Osborne, Jane Lynch, Cedric the Entertainer, Henry Rollin's, Julian Lennon, and many others. The painting was inspired by an encounter Steven had with David Bowie backstage and is expected to bring in more than $20,000.
You can visit Steven’s online gallery of works at his website www.stevencalapai.net and follow his inspiring story on his social media.
Article by Joseph Ralph Fraia IG @jrfstudio – www.jrfstudio.com
Images courtesy of Steven Calapai
Salmagundi Club, a Center for American Art since 1871, presents Thumb Box Exhibition & Sale from 11.10.2020 to 01.02.2021
The BIGGEST "little art" Show of the Year!
Upper Gallery, November 24, 2020 - January 02, 2021
Contactless purchase option available on site.
On View:
Tue-Fri, 1-6 PM | Sat-Sun, 1-5 PM
Closed Mondays
Exhibition and sale also on Artsy at https://www.artsy.net/the-galleries-at-salmagundi
In this challenging year for New York and for many art institutions of City, it is comforting news that one of the oldest art clubs in the country it is managing not to simply survive, but also to keep its spacious and refined galleries open and accessible since last July in compliance with the current health and safety regulations.
Especially in these times of necessary restrictions and limitations on how we can gather and socialize, we are thrilled at the idea of physically walking into an exhibition to admire great works of art and buy them on the spot.
And since we are already in the midst of a Holidays Season that is going to be special for many different reasons, we can consider supporting the prestigious institution Salmagundi represents for the preservation and continuation of American figurative art and contribute to its endeavor by buying the works of the Club’s members exhibited for this occasion. It is an excellent way to sustain art and artists from across the country and contribute to the continuation of one of America’s finest art organizations.
The exhibition is a cornucopia of "small" works priced to sell. This extraordinary pageant of small and original art works is one of the most anticipated fine art shopping opportunities in New York City. Over 250 works of art in all media will be presented this year in both the Club’s main galleries.
Unlike other exhibits, the Thumb-Box Sale is a rotating one: with each work sold, another work takes its place waiting for its next owner. Returning shoppers often find a plethora of additional works from which to choose to enrich their personal collections.
47 Fifth Avenue @ Twelfth Street | New York, NY 10003 | (212) 255-7740 | Email: info@salmagundi.org | website www.salmagundi.com
Article by Joseph Ralph Fraia
IG @jrfstudio – www.jrfstudio.com
Image by Amanda Epstein, Beavertail Lighthouse Conanicut Island, watercolor 4x9
The Dark Corners of the mind. New York Debut for Cinzia Bonfirraro, the painter who has overcome her nightmares with the resilience or her talent
This year marked the New York Debut for Cinzia Bonfirraro, the Italian painter and artist that is about to shake the status quo and conventions of the contemporary art scene in the Big Apple.
Cinzia’s journey through life has not been easy at all so far: moving from Italy to the US by herself at a very young age, a girl willing to pursue her American dream at all costs. But, very soon, she had to face the harshness of a reality that does not spare anybody in New York City.
The City that never sleeps every day reminds you of how great life can be, what money – especially a lot of money – can allow you to do. But at the same time, the day-by-day experience is filled with the struggle of finding a decent job, a place where to live that is not a hole in the wall, a neighborhood where it is safe to live.
Nothing comes at a low price, and the social environment in a city of 8 million people resembles more a ruthless jungle than a quiet beach. Among the streets of New York, you can search and find the answers to your problems, but you are also reminded that they might become the only home for the homeless.
And this struggle took a heavy token on Cinzia: years of substance abuse were about to lead her to the edge of self-destruction when you are so deep down the tunnel that the light is not visible anymore.
But this young woman has been able, instead, to find in herself the strength and the determination to kill her nightmares and make the dark clouds in her mind disappear. And all by herself.
Today, thanks to her endeavor, we can admire and get inspired by her works, which so densely and vividly show us how dark the aisles in our mind can be. How the upside downs in our life can project on us shadows hard to defeat, and the border between sanity and insanity can be so thin that you forget it exists. But Cinzia also shows us that it’s never too late to get back in charge of your life, that to overcome an addiction is not only possible, but it might be the monster you kill to become a champion. And life can be beautiful. Again.
Livein Media and Chief Editor Joseph Fraia are proud to be sponsors and supporters of this remarkable debut.
For info and inquiries, call Joseph Fraia at 917-930-1494 – email editor@livein-style.com
Author: Joseph Ralph Fraia @jrfstudio - © All rights reserved
Photos provided by Cinzia Bonfirraro @cinzia_bonfirraro_art
October 14-19, 2020 One Art Space - NYC Fine Art Photographer John Mazlish Launches Virtual Artist-run Gallery MAZLISH GALLERY
NYC Fine Art Photographer John Mazlish
Launches Virtual Artist-run Gallery
MAZLISH GALLERY
Now open for viewing
Inaugural Exhibition
October 14-19, 2020
One Art Space
23 Warren Street, New York, NY
featuring 7 artists
Limited capacity - Masks required
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
(New York, NY - September 29, 2020) For centuries, the world has been full of gifted artists who love to create. The greater challenge has always been to earn a living from one's art. Brooklyn fine art photographer John Mazlish understands this challenge firsthand, and in response has launched the Mazlish Gallery - a virtual art gallery that treats artists fairly and with the utmost respect for their creations. The Mazlish Gallery is now live at Mazlishgallery.com, and showcases the work of 10 dynamic artists - each personally selected by Mazlish.
The Mazlish Gallery is thrilled to announce its Inaugural Exhibition, a 5-day event of curated fine art, artist meet & greets, and creative multi-media events from Oct. 14th-19th. This 5-day exhibition will be held at One Art Space, located at 23 Warren St. in Tribeca, NYC. All events will be limited to a 20 person capacity, and masks will be required. For the complete schedule and details, CLICK HERE.
The Gallery's Inaugural Exhibition will feature a group of seven talented artists whose work spans a diverse range of styles. They are CLoD (aka Claudia Echeveria), Aima Saint Hunon, Patrick Collins, Shawn Ehlers, Paddy Cohn, Andrew Cotton, and Mazlish himself.
Mazlish believes a key element that sets his gallery apart is that it is artist-owned and operated. His intention is to run a gallery that in his words "represents artists the way that I myself wish to be represented. That means with integrity, honesty, and genuine caring. Ours is a community of kindred spirits, and the goal is to support one another’s success, well-being, and creative/professional growth. The joy is in the journey."
Another unique feature of the gallery is that it has partnered with Angelika Design Studio - a boutique interior design firm based in NYC- to offer optional installation and lighting assistance to clients. This additional service originates from the understanding that proper art placement and lighting is crucial to enjoying a work of art.
Mazlish gravitates towards artwork that exudes light, playfulness, color, and originality, noting that “the cliché of the tormented artist does not apply here. Rather, our artists work from love. If I could choose one word to characterize the art represented here, it would be ‘Heart.’”
Fall Auctions to Benefit Salmagundi Club - Center For American Art since 1871 - Friday, October 16 beginning at 4:00 PM
Fall Auctions to Benefit Salmagundi
Upper Gallery, September 28, 2020 - October 16, 2020
This Fall's Auction will be installed in the Main Gallery and will also be available for viewing at Live Auctioneers. The Auction will take ONLINE ONLY on Friday, October 16 beginning at 4:00 PM
Gallery Hours:
Tue-Fri, 1-6 PM | Sat-Sun, 1-5 PM
Closed Mondays. The Gallery will be closed on Sunday, October 11 for the SCNY Portrait Competition.
The Salmagundi Club hosts its Annual Fall Auction as a fundraiser to benefit the SCNY, a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization.
SCNY was founded in 1871, as a center for American Art, is a tax-exempt, educational, and charitable organization.
Over 175 works of art by current Salmagundi members in all media will be auctioned. Works from the Salmagundi Collection will also be offered.
Art Collectors since the early 1900s have attended SCNY Auctions for the opportunity to purchase quality artwork by living artists.
Three Ways to Bid:
1) Online at Live Auctioneers
2) By Absentee Bid Form that can be faxed to 646.349.2275 or emailed to info@salmagundi.org
3) By phone. Call 212.255.7740 in advance to register to bid from wherever you are. We will call you during the auction just prior to your lot coming to the block.
A 15 percent buyer's premium will be applied to all purchases.
If you want to support Salmagundi Club - Center for American Art since 1871, please consider donating. Click here.
The Salmagundi Club
Founded in 1871, the Salmagundi Club is one of the oldest art organizations in the United States. Housed in a historic brownstone mansion in Greenwich Village, New York City, the Club offers programs including art classes, exhibitions, painting demonstrations, and art auctions throughout the year for members and the general public.
The Salmagundi facilities include three galleries, a library, an elegant period parlor, and a restaurant and bar with vintage pool tables. All facilities are available for special events and private rentals.
The Club owns a collection of over 1,500 works of art spanning its 149-year history and has a membership of over 1,000 artists and patrons. Its members have included important American artists such as Thomas Moran, William Merritt Chase, Louis Comfort Tiffany, N.C. Wyeth and Childe Hassam. Today the Club builds on this legacy by providing a center for the resurgence of representational art in America.
The Salmagundi Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Works Pictured (from left to right):
Top Row
Junyi Liu, Washed Away, oil on panel, 20" x 16"
Walter Hatke, Measure by Measure, oil on linen, 24" x 17"
John Mansueto, Early Pasture, acrylic, 17" x 20"
Low Row
Stephanie Amato, Conservatory Water, oil on linen, 27" x 21"
Jeffrey Friedkin, Spring Awakening, photography, 16" x 24"
Richard Lithgow, Hippo Rum, oil, 14" x 16"
Sandy Jordan- The Psychic Impressionist
Sandy Jordan has enjoyed an unusually broad and diversified background in creative arts. Her artistic activities began in childhood as a dancer, actress, and singer. She has performed on stage and screen and sung in concerts, clubs, and on TV in the states and abroad. Her repertoire ranges from Puccini to jazz.
During her most active years in the performing arts, Jordan spent as much time as possible on her artwork. She designed fabrics, jewelry sculpted in stone and clay. Her hand-painted ties and bottles were sold in several of the chic Madison Avenue Boutiques.
Jordan is mediagenic and, therefore, no stranger to the media. She has been interviewed by numerous radio and TV talk show hosts and has lots of coverage on local and national news programs. The New York Post's famous Cindy Adam's wrote about Jordan in her column and numerous other columnists fascinated with her visionary paintings and illuminating celebrity portraits. She was interviewed at her studio by NBC TV News about her portrait of John Lennon entitled "Strawberry Fields”.
Jordan is, above all, a sensitive, a medium. Her creative process often does not follow a straight line or has no immediate reference to her personal experience. Many times Jordan paints in a state of trance, not in control of her mind or body; sometimes, she paints in mind a clear picture, with the awareness that it does not belong to this level of reality, and above all, to the notorious physical world.
Author Joseph Ralph Fraia @jrfstudio
Art Through Images
“In each of my works I like to capture the essence of the moment, that unique one-time glance at the infinite”
- Joseph Fraia
@jrfstudio - www.jrfstudio.com
