What a week!!

Union City Chamber Players Provide Calm After the Storm
November has just begun and haven't we all had enough? I think  this will be the most memorable week in the Northeast since 9/11.  My heart goes out to all of you readers who endured this storm. If you get this blog post, you probably have electricity, so please pass this on to all your friends who are in the dark.

My friends, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a neighborhood concert.  Bring us your hungry, tired and powerless to Arts at St. John's this Sunday, November 11th at 3 p.m.  Arts at St. John's is proud to once again to present the Union City Chamber Players, the brainchild of  Union City resident and violinist Peter Borten, along with his opera singer wife Bernadette LaFond a mezzo soprano who has performed with the New York City Opera and the Dallas Lyric Opera, to name a few. Peter Borten has performed extensively in Europe and was a silver medalist in the International Chamber Music Competition held in Stresa, Italy.

Once again, inspired by the beauty of the space at Arts at St. John's and its flawless acoustics, both these artists came out of the woodwork (or rather the "hood" work) to share their world-renowned gifts with us all. I had the pleasure of seeing their inaugural performance last September, a "Schubertiade," featuring the music of Franz Shubert. It was a homage to the chamber music afternoons Schubert hosted himself.  This ensemble of players (violinist and violist Peter Borten, cellist Annette Espada,  violist Jack Rosenberg, pianist Marina Korsakova-Kreyn, and mezzo soprano Bernadette LaFond) gave a Carnegie-worthy performance, in my opinion.

If you missed that concert, you will have another chance to hear them  Sunday, November 11th at 3 p.m. This time, the Union City Chamber Players will be performing Bach, Brahms, and Barber with Bernadette LaFond singing, Peter Borten on viola and violin, along with pianists Marina Korsakova-Kreyn and Leslie Frost.

 Peter Borten's reflection on these pieces to be performed: "My own response to the music has to do with the almost unbearable intensity Bach manages to sustain for about seven minutes, and the pleasure-in-pain aspect of that, a fascinating contradiction. Why does listening to music that speaks of suffering give us a kind of rarefied nourishment we then begin to crave? It's a kind of mystery."

An afternoon of much needed beauty will only cost: $8 for adults (and kids are free). A reception will be held afterward with a little something to eat and a much needed glass of wine.

The Cabaret was GREAT!

This past Saturday Arts at St. John's was once again graced by the Donovan Ensemble with their Fall Revival Cabaret. Betwixt the show, wine, music, poetry, laughter and altogether joy the evening was an occasion that all present enjoyed to a maximum.

Christine Santelli was gracious enough to come and play the blues for us, and she was wonderful! Please check her music out at http://www.christinesantelli.com/fr_home.cfm

 Guinevere and Sarah did some tap dancing.

Biolu Min Essence and Caridad Rivera put on a song for us!

 Fellow blogger Melissa Murray-Mutch entertained.

 Jay Hebert and Jacqueline Thompson of Union City Opera sang to our hearts!

 Billy Joe dazzled us with fire and candy!

 Peter Borten and Bernadette Lafond of the Union City Chamber Players stirred our souls with beautiful music.

The whole act list was such:

Christine Santelli (Blues)
Mavis Pan (Jazz)
Peter Borten and Bernadette Lafond (Union City Chamber Players)
Jay Hebert and Jacqueline Thompson (Union City Opera)
Solangel and David Vasquez (Song and Guitar)
Joe Kolbow and Johnnie Niel (Hosts)
Karen Ethelsdattar (Poetry)
Melissa Murray-Mutch (Theater)
Aimee German (Comedy)
Guinivere DiPiazza and Sarah Kaye (Tap Dance)
Billy Joe (Magic)
Biolu Min Essence (Song)
Caridad Rivera (Dance)

All people of all ages were very impressed, and have us chomping at the bit to go to the next show! We'll let you know when the Donovan Ensemble and the Cabaret will return to St. John's.

We also thank Yvonne Selen for the delectable food that she provided for everyone! It was delicious.

Photo credit due to Gennarose Pope.

Please leave a comment below and tell us how much you enjoyed the evening  :-D

Revival Cabaret Night Returns October 6th at 6:30 p.m.

A fun filled, soul stirring and somewhat irreverent evening of Comedy, Music and Art.
 

Put down the Ipad, the Nook and the Kindle fire.  It's time for a holiday and I'm not talking about Christopher Columbus. A night of fun and entertainment awaits you at Arts at St. John's this Saturday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m located at 1516 Palisade Avenue in Union City, NJ. Hosted by the world famous Donovan Ensemble and a host of other performers. Tickets are $15 at the door or get them in advance for $11 on http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/280662

Health and Wellness Back with a Vengance

We are back and a little behind on our blog because we've been busy!! We are into week 2 of our Fall Health and Wellness program with some old favorites and some all new classes from September 25th- December 18th. Here's the run down:
Tuesday Nights
• 6:30-7:25 Sculpt and Tone
• 6:30-7:25 Belly Dancing
• 7:30-8:25 Zumba®
• 7:30-8:40 Kundalini Yoga
• 8:45-9:30 Meditation
Saturday Mornings
• 8:30-9:25 Tai Chi
• 9:30-9:25 Zumba       
• 9:30-10:25 Kundalini
•10:30-11:25 Boot Camp
• 11:30-12:25 Gymnastics 6-9yrs
• 11:45-12:30 Meditation
• 12:30-1:25 Gymnastics 10-14yrs

I had the  opportunity to take my first Boot Camp class.  I was rather nervous, thinking that this will truly kill me.  I pictured a drill sergeant reminding me how weak and pathetic I am while attempting  to eek out a push-up. The instructor, Tony Gomez, whom you may have seen outpacing everyone in the annual O'Connell Run here in Union City, looks like he could easily fill in for Captain America.  Before we started Tony gave us his story which in a sense, is history.  “I used to obese” he tells us. Yeah, right.  I couldn't  believe it. I thought surely he’s kidding. However he showed us skeptics in the class, a photo of himself in 2009. Sure enough, Boot camp instructor Tony was more or less, back then, "Fat Tony".  Sorry for the Simpson’s reference, but it was hard to believe there was a “Fat Tony” photo on his cell phone who  transformed himself into “Fit Tony”-(sorry again! but seriously Iron Man fit)  Before I could pick up my jaw we were working out.  There I am trying to do something--badly and here he comes. “Oh no!” I panic.  “I’m not doing it right! I really am a pathetic weakling!!” But instead he just gives me an adjustment and shows me the right way to do the exercise. No humiliation tactics were necessary. Whew! So now I think I can do this and so can you. We are lucky to have once again amazing instructors in a beautiful place--newly painted, in the neighborhood without having to go to Hoboken. I’m not down on Hoboken, it’s just nice to know we have something nice in our neck of the hood.  Also there are more classes this time, even something for kids!!  A rather new and fabulous  addition to the Health and Wellness roster  is  Gymnastics for kids.  Taught by Roxy Dobre-- she is the real thing. Trained in Romania, Roxy, performed with Ringling Brothers and toured  Asia and Europe. Along with favorites from last summer (Belly Dancing, Kundalini Yoga and Meditation) our new classes include Tai Chi,  Vinyasa Yoga, Sculpt and Tone and Zumba ya'll. Now friends of St. John’s, please do not wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decide to turn over a new leaf. Start today and come to the feast with all the trimmings on your gut instead of the on the turkey! Can I get a witness? You have no excuse. Especially on Saturdays, darn it!  Classes are reasonably priced, especially if you sign up for 10 classes at $12 per class but one can drop in for $15 if you sign up as a member for $20.  A full class schedule can be found at www.StJohnsUC.com. See you there!!

Tomorrow, September 15, 2012, I'll be at the Union City Arts & Crafts Festival at Ellsworth Park on New York Avenue at 23rd Street. The Festival is from 10 to 6, admission is free, and there will be food and drink, and live music & dance performances.

I'll have a table set up to do portraits, caricatures, comic book or cartoon characters, or whatever my customers want me to draw. I'll also have a couple of easels set up this year to display some of my artwork more visibly to passersby. 

I can do a portrait or caricature of you live, which can take 30 minutes to an hour, or if you prefer, you can contact me at a later date, and I can work from photo reference, which may be a bit more expensive, but gives me more time to work on your piece with greater care, giving it a more detailed and less "sketchy" look.

To give you an idea of what I'm capable of, here are some samples of my work:

Here is a portrait, done live: 

Here is a caricature, done live, for someone who asked that his head be drawn on a giraffe:

Here is a portrait done at home from a photograph. Note that it has a more delicate, controlled, less "sketchy" look to it:

This is an ink caricature done on commission for a customer who wanted to be drawn in his Captain Kirk uniform, posed with Star Trek actress Marina Sirtis on bridge of the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation:

   
This is a pencil sketch of an eight-and-a-half-year-old NJ Devils fan:

 This an 18th birthday card for another New Jersey Devils fan:

This is a 10th birthday card for a boy that was intended tie in thematically with his birthday gift. The gift was an hourglass with green sand (hence the green rocks draw into the black hole), and a pair of books on cars, one of which bears a cover depicting a car resembling the spaceship he's riding in the illustration:

And for comics art lovers, here is the Hulk doing his thing:

These and other artwork is available on my Facebook page in the following albums:


Portraits & Caricatures
Live Figure Drawing
Miscellaneous Artwork

See you at the Festival!

Luigi

Health and Wellness Class Have Only Just Begun

“IT’S ALIVE!!” A very famous scientist once cried.

Yes, ASJ Health and Wellness is in full effect here in Union City. A fairly good turn out on was in store on our first official opening on July 17^th at Arts at St. John’s.  Visitors got to meet our very own super artists, Felix Gross, Joe Kolbow, Caridad Rivera and Guinevere DiPiazza. I’ve decided that they are more or less like the neighborhood  “Avengers” without the ginormous green, muscular dude, however I’m told that Guinevere DiPiazza gives a smashing workout in her Strength and Stretch class. She is petite, probably the size of Hulk’s thumb but just as mighty. GDP is apparently capable of kicking some major flabby ass. A very sweaty friend of mine sauntered into a much-needed Yoga class with Felix Gross after sampling her S&S class. As the fluids continued to flow from his forehead, I asked my sweaty friend if he liked Guinevere’s class and he replied with some leftover panting saying “Yeah, I needed that.” And what you need to know about Guinevere’s talents is that there are many. Guinevere DiPiazza or “Lady Guinevere” in some legendary circles is a professional aerialist dancer, teacher, choreographer and personal trainer. A true artist, who followed her passion for being awesome, all the way from Michigan.  She has performed her aerial acrobatics for Usher, Lady Gaga, Flo Rida, T-Pain, Rob Base, DJ Grand Master Flash and New York Mayor Mayor Bloomberg.  Yes, she’s all that and a bucket of chicken. And she will teach you Aerial Acrobatics right here at ASJ!! She would like to teach a class and offer private lessons if you are interested.  What could be more interesting? You don’t have to be a wealthy upper-eastsider and you don’t have to wait for Groupon to hook you up. ASJ WILL DO IT FOR YOU!! If you don’t believe me check out her website:    http://www.

aerialacrobatentertainment.com/

 

I also had the great fortune to sit in on Felix Gross’ Kundalini Yoga Class. I was challenged by the notion of sitting still and clearing my mind. Really? I thought to myself surely this guy is asking the impossible. Clear my mind? That’s like asking someone to get through the day without a cellphone.  But nonetheless, I managed to focus.  I focused and listened to the sound of calm and managed to shut out status reports on Facebook. I think I actually liked that. I found that class accessible and unintimidating. Felix Gross is a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor and has been teaching in New York and New Jersey for 1and half years.

Caridad Rivera ASJ’s resident Belly Dance teacher, who taught me all of my fabulous moves. A taste for the exotic and a desire to put your right hip in and take your right hip out and put your right hip in and shake it all about with a beaded skirt. Just think of it as a sort of centuries old, grown-up version of the kid’s game designed to make you feel like Cleopatra. Caridad who is often mistaken for an Arabian Disney Princess, is actually a Hudson County Cuban Princess who incorporates classic Egyptian, Moroccan and Middle Eastern Belly Dancing styles, (with a little tribal dancing) focusing on abs and core work then finishing with improvisation and cool choreography to impress your friends!!                            

 

And last but not least one of founding fathers of Arts at St. John’s Joe Kolbow a.k.a Merrill Garrick, one half of the Donovan Ensemble duo, who is also one of the brains behind this endeavor to keep us all healthy and alive. If you sign up for classes that run until September 4^th and find a newer you, Aside from bringing his theatrical talents, locally, nationally and internationally, Joe is teaching Mediation on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.  Classes begin with a short talk about mindfulness and an instruction in a simple meditation. So if Joe, tells you to sit down and be quiet, you better do it or else!! This way you won’t confuse the path of enlightenment for Port Authority Bus Terminal.

 So on Tuesdays, drop in or sign up for classes, starting at 5:45 p.m. and running until September 4^th. One can enter St. John’s feeling one with the universe and taking in the sweet smell of incense and herbal tea all included!!!  Here's the schedule: 

* 5:45-6:45 Belly Dancing
* 6:00-7:00 Stretch and Strength

* 7:00-8:00 Kundalini Yoga 

* 8:15-9:00 Guided Meditation

* Saturday 11:00 am - 11:45 Guided Meditation 

For more info: ASJWellness@gmail.com 

www.StJohnsUC.com

Flyering, Culture, and Harmless Ranting

My fellow author, Melissa, and I sat down together in the St. John's office and contemplated a number of things. It went from the very basic immediate to-do list to esoteric questions about culture and the significance of family for Union City's Hispanic population. All of this over the course of an hour with Puerta Abierta's phone ringing in the background and the AC giving us slight respite from the heat and air quality warnings sitting just outside the windows.

Initially, we discussed what we need to accomplish to promote the Arts at St. John's Summer Wellness Program, simple things like flyering the heck out of the surrounding houses and apartment buildings, chatting it up like crazies and such. This was decisive and easy, then the conversation shifted a bit.

Much of our appeal, as Arts at St. John's and previously with Art Talk, has been to the local Anglo community, as a majority of our current constituency, with little input or draw from the majority local Hispanics. Obviously, our first and simplest issue is our inability to hablar (how's that for a redundant infinitive?) Español, and vice versa when it comes to Enlgish for much of our Hispanic counterparts. But it goes deeper than that, as we conversed we hit upon a few cultural gaps. First, we are talking about more than one solid bloc, as there are a multitude of ethnic groups locally, let alone regionally. Setting aside that point, the second thing is that within our own personal experience we see daily just how much the family unit, immediate and extended, is part and parcel to this particular demographic. How that affects us is that not only are we an outside group in terms of language, but we also are trying to crack into a core group that there's simply no way we can think of to do that at the moment. Folks wake up in their rented row-house apartments next to their cousins and siblings, eat breakfast with them, go to work with them and return home. How do you break into that, especially considering that our asking prices, currently, are probably simply out of reach for them?

We have this beautiful building in a perfect location for the surrounding neighborhood and to this point we have not been able to communicate that we want this space to become a mutually beneficial home for artists seeking a home and Arts at St. John's to really become a recognized institution that brings people together in a spirit of exploration and creativity.

The other issue we have is trying to not duplicate the actions of other spaces and groups in the area broadly (Park Theater, etc..). If we are duplicating, as there is always some natural crossover, how do we do whatever it is better or more efficiently?

We had lots of questions, but few answers. As we prepare to enter the fall season we want to continue to revive our own spirits with knowledge that we care, are willing to work, and have a passion for this mission we have embarked on as a group. It is our continued hope that we can invigorate those around us into action as well.

As always we invite you to come with your fresh ideas, creativity, and your person. We also encourage feedback, please comment below!!!

Thanks for reading!

Health and Wellness classes to begin at Arts at St. John’s, Tuesday July 17th. Free Preview Tuesday July10th.

A.S.J. artists in Union City want you take a good look at yourself, inside and out.    

By co-contributor Melissa Murray-Mutch

 You may remember me as the character of “Franceline” in the last Revival of the Arts Cabaret back in May.   She was the West Indian, highly skilled, union-usher, who co-hosted the event along with the Donavon Ensemble.  She is a character I've written who is alive and well in a solo show called "Obnoxious". I’d like to consider myself “alive and well”  too but I’m at the age where I’m constantly questioning every little ache and pain and considering going back to school to receive a master's degree in "Internet Self-Diagnosis". I made that up.  I really am a professional actress, mother of two and struggling to hold on to the memory of a once fast metabolism.  Yes, it is indeed a memory never to return in its real form again. Okay, I can live with that. But can I live in Union City where one can’t escape the constant blare of the ice cream truck's repetitive music at every corner, at all hours of the day and night?   Okay, there’s a science-fiction movie in there, about a post-apocalyptic Hudson County town, where obesity is the norm and Mr. Softee is the Mayor and State Senator.  But who can resist the alluring scent of fresh baked bread and fruit tarts from both the Cuba and Argentinian bakeries? The beckoning call of Comidas Latinas…EVERYWHERE?

Yes, the food in U.C. is pretty kickass compared to our neighbors in Weehawken. And pretty darn cheap too! Typically, one can order two entrees at one’s favorite Latin joint and the meal could produce leftovers for days and days. There is never enough rice to dish out. Lot’s of rice and beans and meats seasoned to make you want to call home.  And oh, the sandwiches. The sandwiches!!! The Big Mac cannot compare to what’s between the buns of a Mexican sandwich:  steak, fried baloney, french fries, guac, cheese, ketchup and mayo all at once. My ldl cholesterol rises just thinking about it!!  It’s tasty stuff, high on starch but low on veggies.  I try to make it a point of having some kind of vegetable with every meal but sometimes I get so distracted by the large serving that I tend to have the “let it go” this time, attitude. This town ain’t exactly Berkeley, CA. There aren’t too many brown rice sides or organic-smoothie, soy-latte, gluten-free, vegan joints in Union City. Sometimes the take-out styrofoam containers might include a slice of avocado, a sliver of red onion and a large white, piece of iceberg lettuce leaf. But I digress, getting back to my wistful longing for my former self, I’m excited to spare you my troubles and get you readers excited about the Arts at St. John’s Health and Wellness Program!!! 

The artists and teachers, Joe Kolbow, Guinevere DiPiazza, Felix Gosse and Caridad Rivera have come to the rescue by not only throwing a cabaret every now and then but also to provide an escape from the over consumption of Union City cuisine. Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings, from July17th till September 4^th Arts at St. John’s will offer Stretch and Strength Aerial Lessons (Yes, aerial lessons suckahs!!) Kundalini Yoga, Meditation and Belly Dancing.  Best of all there is free preview class on Tuesday, July 10th and a free grand opening class on Tuesday, July 17^th. Free is quite a deal in these hard times and the deals are pretty amazing once you sign up for the summer long program.  Munch on that Berkeley!

You may also remember in the last Revival Cabaret me Belly Dancing alongside Caridad Rivera.  Yes, that was me shaking it in front of my two young children in skimpy clothes on a church alter. There’s something so wrong about that but what can you do? They’ll have to work it out in therapy, I suppose.   In any case what’s best about belly dancing is that you don’t have to look like America’s Next Top (anorexic) Model and you won’t get screamed at and you won’t have to have a tear jerky moment when you’ve lost a pound or two. You just get to wear a jingley skirt, be sexy and lose weight!! You also get top notch, teachers who provide group and private lessons who will do their best to tame those voices in your head without leaving the hood.  For more info click on to this link : www.stjohnsuc.com.

So It Begins with a Dream

If you were given control of something, say a church building, and you could do whatever you wanted with it, what would you dream into existence?

Last fall I moved to Union City, and have been given that opportunity with St. John's. This beautiful church, here for over 100 years, is essentially my place to come up with something, anything that will keep this place open. Now, this has a lot of issues (it basically costs $500 a week to keep the place open), especially when you know that the Sunday morning congregation isn't going to be a saving grace for the place.

So what do you do? Fortunately, Union City has a whole lot of talent, and in this cramped city there's a need for space. Talent needs a home, and we need talent. What can we do to give artists a home, and how can they help maintain that home? Mutual benefit, what will it look like?

If I have my way, St. John's would be a community center. People learning to paint or dance, new ideas being spawned organically from a mix of programs that locals attend and teach. How do we reach out to each other? How do we make this happen?

I am very fortunate that there are other people interested in making this dream happen. Melissa Murray-Mutch and Luigi Novi will be co-writing this gamble we call Arts at St. John's with me.

Things really started this spring with a set of three events. The first thing we did was call the local arts community into our doors. This was the first meeting of Arts at St. John's. Everything was laid bare, the church is trying to remain open in the face of a small Sunday congregation, and it didn't know how much longer the doors could be open. There was also a lot of interest from the community end in having a place to let culture, art and learning happen naturally in the immediate neighborhood. The Revival Cabaret was the first born child of these discussions.

The event was so lively, it felt like our own local version of A Prairie Home Companion, a variety show based out of St. Paul, Minnesota. That night some of my dream came true in the laughter and singing, family friendly frivolity fused with the sense that this is something new.

Union City Opera followed up not long after with Viva Italia!, with the lofty and stunning vocal skills of their company giving life to Puccini, Verdi and more on a humid spring night, but leaving behind any trace of doubt that this was something different as well.

And currently, this summer, we have a wellness program, that offers everything from meditation to belly dancing classes, even aerial acrobatics classes for the adventurous.

But all of this is this is just the beginning. My dream is to get you to dream too. There are very serious real issues, certainly, like how to pay for these dreams. But the first thing is to have you look into yourself and find something you want to see happen, what gift do you want to shine? Are you willing to try it out, and I mean really put some work into it? We have a place for you here, at Arts at St. John's. Dream with us.

Photo credit to Luigi Novi and Johnnie Niel.