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BRONX
BAAD!ASS WOMEN FESTIVAL IN THE BRONX

LEHMAN GALLERY SHOWBRONX SERIES AND OTHER WORKS

By: Howard Giske

Superman by Hugh Ward.

Statue Tofic.

T
Work Parachutes.

n March 7th, Susan Hoetzl, a curator of exhibits Michael Ferris Jr., the Bronx Series and Other Works and Under the Influence: The Comics gave a tour. Michael Ferris Jr. is a talented artist who is able to accurately draw from portraits from life, done in ink on Bristol paper. He then superimposes designs on the persons form. This is preliminary work for wooden sculptures that are of recognizable people, but are highly designed and inlaid with colorful patterns. The statues are faces and busts and in some cases whole body sculptures that are larger than life. A huge statue, at least 7 feet tall, is called Tofic, 2010, an uncle of Mr. Ferris. The flowing, slightly unkempt form is made of salvaged wood from chairs and other objects. The statue has color from the original wood, dark from mahogany, lighter from pine and birch and sculpted with power tools. Then grout attaching the pieces is colored with tattoo-like patterns. The effect is reminiscent of totem poles, or the Lebanese card playing tables that have a similar arabesque designs that Ferris recalls from his youth. Another statue that begins at the waist is, Alan, 2011. It is straighter and more muscular, as it is of a younger, thinner man. The various muscles of the arms and chests form distinct design groups, as does the flow of the shirt on the subject. Ferris moved to the Bronx several years ago and lives with his wife in a large house in the Morris Park section that also contains his studio.

On the other side of the gallery the theme is comics and other fantasy works. The first work is a swirling, easy recognizable painting of Tony the Tiger, in a painting, Great, 2011, by Marc Dean Vecca. There is the influence of Andy Warhol with the blurring of art and advertising. Across there is a large diorama by Priscila De Carvahlo, Untitled (Parachutes) 2009, which extends from 3 paintings to a pole with wires to the pictures, and then extends downward by a track that continues in a circle into the exhibiting room. The work represents the favela slums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These favelas are constructed on little mountains over the fancy beaches of Rio. They are connected to electricity by power lines and occasionally face police interventions with helicopters and airplanes. A classical-style painting is a colorful poster of Superman by Hugh Ward, and is owned by Lehman College. This Superman has a sort of Ronald Reagan look, and the familiar curl in the middle of his forehead. Another memorable work is by Red Grooms, Mike and Chuck (2009), built up with wood so it has a threedimensional surface. In this piece, New York Mayor Bloomberg is trying to coax the groundhog out of its hole, and in the process, the Mayor is bitten. It is a funny, historical scene. The exhibits at Lehman College Gallery will run until May 12, with a special reception on March 19th. To learn more call 718-960-8731, or see lehman.edu/gallery. The Gallery is located at 250 Bedford Park West.

he Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance presents BAAD! ASS WOMEN 2012, its twelfth annual cultural festival celebrating the empowerment of women through art, culture and performance. The festival, which includes twelve evenings of dance, theatre, film, music, poetry and prose, selfdefense and dance workshops, opens on Friday, March 16, 2012 with two provocative documentaries celebrating the lives of African American women and culminates on March 31 with the celebrated performance artist Rhodessa Jones. The festival takes place at BAAD!, 841 Barretto Street in the South Bronx. Ticket prices vary from free to $20. Participants can take advantage of the Five for $5 special (you and four "girlfriends" make a group of five and pay only $5 each with a prior reservation.) BAAD! offers discounts to BAADGE cardholders, Bronx Cultural Card holders and NALAC (National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures) members. Ticket offers cannot be combined. Crowned "a funky and welcoming performance space" by The New York Times , BAAD! is a 70 seat workshop and performance space that presents cutting-edge and challenging works by established, evolving and emerging choreographers, playwrights, poets, musicians and artists that are empowering to women, people of color and the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities. Friday, March 16 at 8pm - Free Kick Off Event! B.D. WOMEN and STANDING ON MY SISTERS' SHOULDERS B.D. Women is a wonderful celebration of the history and culture of Black lesbians. Lively interviews feature Black women talking candidly about their sexual and racial identities. These contemporary views are cleverly interwoven with a dramatized love story, set in the 1920s, in which a sultry romance develops between a gorgeous jazz singer and her stylish butch lover. This film is by Inge Blackman. The award-winning documentary Standing on My Sisters' Shoulders takes on the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi in the 1950's and 60's from the point of view of courageous women who lived it and emerged as its grassroots leaders including Fannie Lou Hamer, Annie Devine, Unita Blackwell, Mae Bertha Carter, and Victoria Gray Adams who are lesser known, but without their efforts the movement in Mississippi would not have been possible. This film is by Joan Sadoff, Dr. Robert Sadoff and Laura J. Lipson.

BAAD! will lead a discussion after the screenings on lesbian representation in the Civil Rights Movement. Saturday, March 17 at 8pm - $20 Soul Dancing! MUSICAL AMAZONS Ganessa and Tiffany James lead a tribe of singers and musicians who own the stage with their musical power including X Factor's Reina Williams, rapper Sargenta G and trumpet diva Gia Jordan and The Violence. Friday, March 23 at 8pm - $15 Raw Latina Identity Politics! With Alexis M. del Sol and Alison Vasquez This collaborative project is an incisive expression of the Latina experience in the U.S. Using the powers of dance, theater and video Alexis M. del Sol shares her navigation of her Latina identity as she spins the audience through her kitchen, the dance floor and through family testimonios, while Alison Vasquez delivers her thrilling theatrical performance of identity politics as witnessed by three generations of Mexican American women. Saturday, March 24 at 8pm - $20 Sensational Evening of Dance!
EVOCATIVE EXPRESSIONS: BAAD!Ass Woman 2012 Dance Concert

The BAAD!Ass Women dance concert showcases an exciting and diverse line-up of choreographers and a magnificent mix of contemporary dance and performance forms. This year's artists include Cashel Campbell, Keila Cordova, Jessica Danser, Kristen Hatleberg, Toni Renee Johnson's Maverick Dance Experience, Djuna Passman, Megan Minturn, Noele Phillips and Danielle Russo. Sunday, March 25 at 1pm-3pm - Free Honoring an icon! WIKI-FREDIA: Brunch and Celebration Since 2008, BAAD! has celebrated the life of the dynamic Freda Rosen, a Freedom Fighter, Political Leader, Writer, Life Coach and Bronxite who was pivotal to its creation and development. This year the event celebrates Freda by harvesting personal stories and launching her Wikipedia page. Event will include a brunch topped off by a big chocolate cake.

Harlem News Group March 15, 2012 Harlem News Group March 15, 2012
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