RI Visual Arts Assn : RI Tram Past & Future

A new exhibit to debut at RIVAA, the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association, of large photographs by Island resident Tad Sudol of the Roosevelt Island Tram from the old machine room along with the design for the permanent exhibition of the old tram's parts.

Our Trash Featured in the WSJ

Who would ever think that our trash, Roosevelt Island trash would be featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal. But there it is. Granted our trash is moved underground within an automated vacuum system (yes the AVAC) that is cooler than seeing it pile up on the sidewalk.

If you have not stopped over to RIVAA to check out their Fast Trash exhibit plesae do before it closes as it is worth checking out. Dick Lutz just ran a great article about it in last week's Main Street WIRE.

Next Weekend Begins Local Hispanic Heritage Month Events

Next weekend starts a month of several special events recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month across Roosevelt Island. The events are sponsored in part by RIVAA and RIOC.

The RIVAA Post - The Holocaust Exhibition

In what is hoped to be a continuing "column" on this blog, I have invited the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association to publish here regarding each current exhibition with the goal of increasing direct contact within our community and to enable further promotion of that exhibition.

The following post is written by Anca Pedvis, a current member of RIVAA, and an accomplished writer and poet. You can learn more about Ms. Pedvis HERE. My apologies to RIVAA for the delay in publishing this post:

"In what is going to be roughly a month from the Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting, On June 10, 2009, in Washington D.C., RIVAA gallery will host a show entitled, “Holocaust – Never Forget, Never Again” starting on July 11th.

In the show, artist Dana Baldwin Nauman will present 17 lead sculptures commemorating the horors that took place in Auschwitz on of many German camps death camps during Hitler’s reign of terror. The sculptures, each accompanied by a narrative poem by the artist, are humbly and lovingly dedicated to the life of his friend, and Auschwitz survivor, Sigmund Strochlitz (1916-2006).

Recommended by his friend, the Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, Mr. Strochlitz was a member of President Jimmy Carter’s Commission on the Holocaust. In this capacity he worked with Mr. Wiesel to create the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.

By strongly affirming his creative kind of remembering Dana Baldwin Nauman’s show seems to be endowed with a powerful message: that the grief and sorrow associated with the horrors of the death camps are not Jewish only – they are supremely and ultimately human, and as long as they belong to the realm of human consciousness, they will be partaken by anyone possessing this quality, be it in relationship to Auschwitz, Bosnia, or Rwanda."

Anca Pedvis

HOLOCAUST – NEVER FORGET, NEVER AGAIN

Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York City
July 11 to August 7, 2009 / Opening Reception Saturday, July 11, 2009
6:00 – 9:00 PM

THIS This Weekend: Queensboro Bridge Centennial Festivities on Roosevelt Island

Somehow last weekend I ran the below post well I was off a week but here we are now.

Three events will be taking place this Sunday 5/31 on Roosevelt Island to commemorate the Queensboro Bridge Centennial:

"All Aboard to the past; the Queensboro Bridge Trolley" as photographed by Sid Kaplan

RIHS Visitor Center, Tram Plaza

1pm to 7ppm

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"Connecting Islands and Generations - the Queensboro at 100"

Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street

2pm to 7pm

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Grucci Fireworks

Viewable on the Island anywhere above Southpoint Park

(no barges but launched from Southpoint)

9pm

Have a great weekend everybody !!!!

This Weekend: Roosevelt Island Based Queensboro Bridge Centennial Events

Three events will be taking place this Sunday 5/31 on Roosevelt Island to commemorate the Queensboro Bridge Centennial:

"All Aboard to the past; the Queensboro Bridge Trolley" as photographed by Sid Kaplan

RIHS Visitor Center, Tram Plaza

1pm to 7ppm

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"Connecting Islands and Generations - the Queensboro at 100"

Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street

2pm to 7pm

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Grucci Fireworks

Southpoint Park

9pm

Have a great weekend everybody !!!!

Long Holiday Weekend: Only Queensbound Subway Stopping at Roosevelt Island

Only the Queensbound F Train will be making stops this weekend through Tuesday, 5/26, at 5:00am on Roosevelt Island so if you are coming over for the below listed events and need to return to any borough plan on taking the Tram to get off the island if you did not arrive by car.

Affected events:
(1) Saturday 5/23, 4:00 pm Improv Everywhere MP3 Six
(2) Sunday 5/31 Adorama Tweetup / Shootout
(3) Sunday 5/31 Queensboro Bridge Centennial Events at the Visitors Kiosk and RIVAA
(4) Sunday 5/31, 9:00 pm Centennial Fireworks

You would have thought for a holiday weekend the MTA could have delayed this stoppage as it must be affecting events and festivities up and own the F Train line.

Berlin on Roosevelt Island ?

4/16 - 12:30 pm Updated for Last Paragraph:

Back on April 6th, I reported that according to a post on Curbed that some sort of Spacebubble will be making a stop on Roosevelt Island but no information existed as to what event the bubble would be associated with. It appears now that according to The Pop Up City the possible appearnace of a bubble would be part of an expo titled

‘Spacebusters’ (April 16-27), which deals with the work of German studio’s Raumlabor and Plastique Fantastique. The exposition called ‘Berlin in NYC’ starts with ten consecutive evenings of events in an inflatable pavilion in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Roosevelt Island.

After dropping into the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA) on my way home I confirmed with the folks in the gallery that RIVAA is indeed involved with bringing the bubble to Roosevelt Island. The date is either 4/18 or 4/19 and they were not sure what works were to be exhibited in the bubble. They also confirmed, to their understanding, that the bubble would be set up on the Rivercross Lawn across the street from Blackwell House.

Vernissage 8 at RIVAA

The Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA) is hosting Vernissage 8 starting on March 14, 2009 running through April 19, 2009. This group show is always a great one to catch as the variance of artists is extremely enjoyable.

As per Bonnie Goodman of RIVAA: "Vernissage has its roots in the old practice of setting aside a day before an exhibition’s opening for artists to varnish and put finishing touches to their paintings – a tradition that dates back to 1809 when it was instituted by England’s Royal Academy of Arts."

Fall Arts Festival Oct 4th - Oct 26th

The complete published schedule for the 2008 Roosevelt Island Fall for Arts Festival is listed below. The event is sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association in cooperation with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

The Art Festival kick off on October 4th should make for a very busy October here on Roosevelt Island as the Roosevelt Island KidFest event series is starting that same day and also running through the end of October.

The below image was modified from its original format to fit this medium.

Movie Night 6/21 : Choice of Features

This Saturday evening, June 21st, Roosevelt Island residents will have the choice of seeing two movies or perhaps seeing in effect a double feature.

Starting at 7:30 pm at the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA) residents can vew on the island the film "A Necessary Music" which was filmed on Roosevelt Island as a collaborative work between Beatrice Gibson and Alex Waterman. You can read more about this film by linking HERE to past blog posts about the film or linking HERE to the film's website.

Starting at 8:45 pm RIOC presents 'The NeverEnding Story" which is being shown on a large inflatable screen over at Firefighters Field. As previously reported the RIOC Summer Film Series has been moved this year from Southpoint to Firefighter's Field to allow for greater access as opposed to residents having to navigate the unpaved paths required to get to Southpoint.

PBS “City of Water” Screening at RIVAA – May 14th

Thanks to Bonnie Goodman at the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association for the following program information:

"The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and the Municipal Art Society invite you to the premiere screening on Roosevelt Island of City of Water, a thirty-minute documentary about the future of New York’s waterfront.

Recently featured on PBS, City of Water explores the aspirations of public officials, activists, academics and everyday New Yorkers for a diverse, vibrant waterfront – at a time when our shoreline is changing faster than ever before.

The film includes interviews with Dan Doctoroff, Nydia Velazquez, Joy Garland, Majora Carter, Philip Lopate, Cathy Drew and many others. But, what’s makes this documentary extraordinary are images of the New York waterfront itself. The film skillfully weaves vintage footage from the years when New York was a working seaport with a discussion of future development.

Carter Craft, Director of Programs and Policy for the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, will introduce the film and inspire us with the MWA’s vision for a New York waterfront that is both productive and accessible for all New Yorkers.

Please join us for this special event.

Wednesday, May 14, 7:30 Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island

Please note: because of the conflict with the Rivercross election meeting, the film will be shown continuously – on a smaller screen - from 7 PM on. Rivercross residents are welcome to drop in before your meeting. (Paper plates will be available for you to take dessert with you!)

Popcorn during the screening, dessert after.

Information: (212) 371-9084"

"Necessary Music" Film Issues Casting Call

A casting call has been issued for those interested in participating in the film about Roosevelt Island to be titled "A Necessary Music". All parties interested should come down to Gallery RIVAA on Saturday April 5th between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. To read more details double click the above image. Filming is planned to take place this month.

"A Necessary Music: a film about Roosevelt Island"

Tonight artist Beatrice Gibson and Composer / Musician Alex Waterman will officially kick off their project to film a movie about the music of Roosevelt Island. The project announced within a WIRE article (page 8, Sat. 2/23/08) and an insert where multiple questions were posed to residents sounds interesting enough for anyone looking to participate and to learn more to show up at RIVAA tonight to do just that ... learn more.

A Flea Market, a Book & Sock Sale, and a Celebration of Community Activism and Representation (December 1-2, 2007)

The following are three posters advertising events taking place this weekend December 1st and 2nd on Roosevelt Island. On Saturday afternoon Island Kids is hosting its First Flea Market fundraising event from 12pm to 5pm. At 5pm the Roosevelt Island Residents Association will be celebrating 30 years of community service at RIVAA.





On Sunday December 2nd the Roosevelt Island Jewish Center is hosting it annual sock and book sale from 10am to 4pm.

"Cool Focus" Exhibition Opens at RIVAA

This weekend RIVAA opened its newest exhibition "Cool Focus". For more information you can visit either of the active RIVAA websites, the current site and the new site.

Double click the above image to see the authorized exhibition card. The above image is an edited version of the official card formatted to fit this space.

RIVAA: New Exhibit and Newly Redesigned Web Page

This past weekend the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association opened a new show featuring the works of Ioan Popoiu and Beatrice Popoiu. The show will last just under a month until November 11, 2007.

According to a newly designed (in progress) web page on the RIVAA website:

“Ioan Popoiu’s artworks are playful abstractions employing pastels and whites, the mood of which represents his worldview. His works brim with positivity search of eternal beauty, instantly disarming the viewer. Indeed, there is a timeless, organic quality to Popoiu's art as streaks of white haze flow downward or across muted pastel backgrounds.

The RIVAA home page is apparently going from this current web page to this new design. The new site appears to be much more interactive allowing the viewer to interact with some of the images enlarging those from the home page they wish to see in a larger format as well as presenting greater samples of the artists in residence.

RIVAA Offers Free Art Classes to Island Residents

The Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association is, as the above poster indicates, organizing six free art classes open to Roosevelt Island residents. The classes which start September 15, 2007 will each be 3 hours in length and all materials will be provided by RIVAA for the attendees. Classes will be taught by professional artists each of whom is a RIVAA member. Based on the poster I believe the classes will be held at The Art Studio at Sports Park.

Gallery RIVAA is located at 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island. Their phone number is 212-308-6630. As no info is listed on the poster for registration I would suggest calling the Gallery or stopping by as I am sure space is limited and fills up quickly.

The current Gallery RIVAA exhibition is a photographic exhibition by Tad Sudol titled “Stone and Fire”. It premiered this weekend and will be showing for one month through October 7th.

Fall for Arts Festival - 2006 Video

Roosevelt Island on October 6, 2007 will host it’s Annual Fall for Arts Festival. The deadline for performers and artists to submit their applications is today, September 7th, per the RIOC website. The Festival last year attracted a number of local performers and artists showcasing their work in addition to individuals from off the island. Per the RIOC website, there will be a final meeting regarding the Festival on September 27th at the RIVAA Gallery.

The below video is part of a larger video I taped of a puppeteer performing for the children and adults alike. This video focuses on the Ballerina and perhaps should have been shot closer to the puppet but I felt at the time I wanted to capture the performer and how she brought the puppet to life. My then two year old was captivated by the DVD I made and it was played constantly. The performance was shot just around the corner from the 501 Main Street sign.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I will try to find the performer’s contact info and post it here for those interested. The other puppet she performed with was a magician. Both puppets were beautiful and obviously hand made.

I really hope this year’s festival has more programs for young children. The arts and crafts were fun but after that and the puppet show some of the kids got bored. The art wall on the lawn at Blackwell Park was great to look at into the late Autumn on the way to the Tram and Subway each day.