about the exhibition.
On View: February 7-27th, 2016
Opening: February 7 (2:00pm-6:00pm)
press release
The Engaging Artists exhibition features the work of 8 NYC-based first generation and foreign born artists, who participated in the Engaging Artists Residency. The works emerge from grassroots volunteering as a catalyst for social practice. In 2015, More Art’s Engaging Artist Residents developed long-term projects to connect with aging populations through multilingual art-making projects, recreation activities, and conversations at nursing homes and community centers in their home neighborhoods—from Flushing, Queens to Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
This exhibit features works that serve as documentation and response to critical issues associated with aging, health, home, and isolation through the lens of contemporary art. Engaging Artists fosters inter-generational exchange and diverse artistic perspectives on the challenges associated with aging and immigration in New York City.
Featuring artwork by Annie Kurz, Aurélien Grèzes, Christie Neptune, Hidemi Takagi, Michelle Melo, Sara Meghdari, Soi Park, and Uday K. Dhar. Closing reception features a live composition and dance performance by Alon Nechushtan and Andrew Nemr.
schedule of events.
Sunday, February 7, 2016 (2:00-3:30pm)
Artist Talk: Art + Inter-generational Exchange
moderated by Silvia Juliana Mantilla Ortiz, IMI Corona Community Organizer and Artist Services Coordinator, Queen Museum
Sunday, February 7, 2016 (3:30-5:30pm)
Engaging Artists Opening Reception
Meet the exhibiting artists and learn more about their experience process of working with seniors throughout NYC.
Sunday, February 14, 2016 (1:00-4pm)
Family Art-making: “Memory Mats” Weaving past and present
More Art teaching artists will lead a textile-based collage activity. Both children and adults (ages 4+) are encouraged to design a set of drawn symbols and brief descriptions of memories on patches of textured fabric. Families will use thread and yarn weave these patches together, incorporating multi-generational perspectives into a single memory mat. The final object can be both decorative and used at family meals.
Saturday, February 27, 2016 (4-6pm)
Engaging Artists Closing Reception + Live Performance
Engaging Artist residents Alon Nechushtan and Andrew Nemr will present Duologue – a cross-cultural exploration of music and percussive dance traditions. They will engage in a constant flow of musical information, rhythmic and ethnic cultural references, morphed in a contrapuntal dialogue. Native of Israel, Nechushtan brings a few modal surprises from his homeland to this project, while Nemr, from a Lebanese heritage, finds complementary rhythmic input to complete the cycle.
community partners.
We thank the Artist Volunteer Center for facilitating volunteer opportunities in community organizations such as: Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration, Marcy Plaza Farmers Market (Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn), Brooklyn Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn), Gaylord Senior Center (Harlem, Manhattan), India Home at Sunnyside Community Center for Active Adults (Sunnyside, NY), Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly – Carver Senior Center (East Harlem, Manhattan), Jefferson Senior Center (Harlem, Manhattan) The Korean-American Senior Citizens Society of Greater NY (Flushing, NY), The New Homestead Home (Kew Gardens, NY), Prospect Hills Senior Center (Crown Heights, Brooklyn) Saint Teresa of Avila Senior Apartments (Crown Heights, Brooklyn), Queens Community House, Kew Gardens Senior Center (Kew Gardens, NY), Washington-Lexington Senior Center (East Harlem, Manhattan)