Movement @ The Curiosity Project

The winter earth is finally thawing and I am hopeful that this spring will feature some amazing programming within the Staten Island artistic community. In December of 2012, I wrangled a group of seven members of the Staten Island creative and cultural community to discuss initiatives, to dissect the contemporary landscape of S.I. politics, and to figure out how to begin to get stuff done. Several weeks later, I was afforded a wonderful opportunity to curate a month-long program of events at the Curiosity Project, a pop-up gallery space managed by the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, on Beach Street near what I call the Van Duzer-Beach Street creative corner.

This small but lovely group of activists I have wrangled (comprised of a film scholar, a dancer, two musicians, a poet, a photographer, and an environmental/cultural/Staten Island activist) will be joining me in co-curating TRY: Movement @ The Curiosity Project. The Curiosity Team, as I will unofficially call us, includes Andrew Blancero, Phoebe Blue, Tom Bones, Michael C. Bongiorno, Jon Fox, Laura Neese, Monica Valenzuela, and myself. I am stoked to be working with them and we have had a lot of really great project ideas for this venture.

While the calendar is still being finalized, Staten Island get ready! We plan on hosting the following in relation to the word movement. What makes a local, social, political movement? How to do mobilize into action? And what are some historical movements that occurred on Staten Island:

- A community exquisite corpse movement poem

-Open level dance classes including yoga/somatic work

-The Staten Island Dance Jam will be housed here during April (Saturdays 2-4pm)

-Curiosity Book Swap and Wine Tasting Party

-Poetry workshops and discussions

-Afternoon Dance video showings

-Film screenings, lectures, and special movie showings

-Second Saturday choreographer's showing

-Photography and art openings

-Open Mic performance and Music shows

-Letter writing campaign for Pouch Camp preservation efforts

-Open Studio time for local artists and community members

and more!

I am so excited, I just cannot even contain myself. Second Saturdays Staten Island is in full swing, with the art walk picking up steam as the springtime slowly settles in. We have a new website up and running and are hoping to gain more audiences for this quaint art walk as more venues join aboard. 

Additionally, I will resume writing about events that I go to this spring. This winter has been a little rough with Hurricane Sandy and an extreme cold/flu/bug that pestered everyone I know. As we plan more for the Curiosity Project, I will be sure to post updates here and use The Independent Mover as the home-base for the events calendar.

Happy doings,

m

Reconciling Freshkills

I have vivid memories of riding through Staten Island's West Shore as a child. Coming over the small hills on Travis Avenue, approaching the strip malls and convenience stores, fields of cattails grew tall on both sides. I remember feeling uneasy whenever traveling to that part of the island. As children, we had known about the landfill yet knew not what to make of it. I did not know or have a sense then of just how much garbage was transported into the landfill each and every day from 1947 until right after September 11 2001 (the debris from lower Manhattan was transported to Freshkills). 

My grandparents lived not too far from the landfill and I recall summer evenings, sitting in their backyard where the plentiful tomato plants ripened and the smell from Freshkills loomed over us like a thick blanket. I remember one summer's day while I was in high school, a few friends had decided to visit the Staten Island mall. The weather was overcast and humid but we were stubborn and rode the bus across Staten Island to get there. As we came across the fields of Freshkills, you could see the storm clouds growing more ominously. The image in my mind read like nuclear disaster. I was a paranoid child and the Staten Island landfill, or the Dump as it was aptly called, always reminded me of a post-apocalyptic wasteland that sat silently yet poisonously at the western tip of our island.

They closed it down over ten years ago. I avoid that part of the island mostly because there is nothing much to see over there. My father talks about his childhood and the farmlands and creeks. I always wished to see them.  

Several years ago there were talks of a park. Freshkills was to be designated parkland and restoration to the depleted lands would take place over a long stretch of time (thirty years). When I heard about that, I did not understand how anyone would ever go there or why anyone would ever step foot onto those grounds. The history, the carcinogens, the smell were all reasons enough for no one who lived on Staten Island to ever go there.

After hearing about a park-preview event recently through word of mouth, I decided to visit Freshkills this afternoon. I had my reservations; the last few paragraphs weigh heavy on my mind. I have read about those who grew up during the Cold War, who feared the shelter drills and television programming depicting the end of the world. My mother was a child during the 1960's and still talks about how terrified she was to crawl beneath the desk in preparation for nuclear war.

Today's weather was exquisitely autumnal. There was just the right amount of sunshine piercing through the green canopy trees that line the courtyard outside my bedroom window. The breeze was cool and lazy. This was a most perfect fall day. I drove with the windows open, listening to the White Stripes (did I tell mention how awesome their song, Hotel Yorba, is?) Driving through the winding roads near the Greenbelt reminded me of my time up north in Massachusetts. Green rushing through on both sides.

Freshkills Park Sneak Preview featured a variety of family friendly exhibits and events. There were kayaking trips and bike tours; local artisans featuring information about quilting and upcycled jewelry. Also featured were demonstration tables for the abundant local and city-wide organizations promoting sustainable living through means of recycling, composting, and swapping (clothing swaps are a great way to give away things you no longer need/want in exchange for things that can be of use to you now). 

I am so happy to see families taking advantage of the wealth of information these organizations provide. I am a firm believer that if we present this information to our communities, they will use it. People want to take better care of their surroundings. If they realize how dire things actually are, if they are presented not only with facts and statistics but simple solutions (ie, taking your garbage bags and weaving them together to make jump ropes and fashionable reusable bags out of them, as one local artisan does), they will make the effort.

PARK

In addition to all of the festivities, there was a dance performance by Kathy Westwater as part of an artistic residency she has maintained since 2010. Her performance piece, PARK, was presented at the bridge which sits just north of the East Mound. The piece ran for about one hour, featuring eight dancers, Westwater, and a lone saxophonist. PARK began with the dancers warming up through communal acts of hugging and partnered somatic work moving into an improvisation. Warming up the body.  The dance begins rather quietly, with the warm up stemming into a circular pattern of walking and running. There are moments of intersection, of dancers making decisions to go one way or the other. The wind was blowing. The sun was pounding onto us.

As the dance progressed, I could not help but see the East Mound in the distance, with a lone birds-nest  standing tall. The dance shape-shifted through moments of a large foil tarp being held down to moments where dancers walk solemnly yet emphatically on stilts made out tree stumps. 

I felt both frustrated by this dance and connected to the ritual of it. It frustrated me because it moved mostly within its own bubbled world. It felt hard to attach it to the landscape at times. The dancers seemed so entranced with their own mythology that I felt almost alienated from it.

There were moments of beauty. In fact, the whole thing was beautiful. The dancers moved fluidly and Westwater danced powerfully. It was a powerful statement to ground art as a means to rehabilitate not only the land, but our memories of the land. The sections with the tarp and tree-stump stilts seem to signify that the most for me. 

Below are pictures from today, mostly from the performance. I also took some footage of the tarp solo and the stilt-walking. The latter section, for me, is the most affecting and quite beautiful to watch. The dancers walking across the bridge, standing on tree stumps made into shoes seemed to carry the weighted history of the location.

The audience, which comprised of many Islanders but also those who made the trek from New Jersey, Manhattan, and the regional New York area, was completely perplexed and entranced by the performance. I want to emphasize how rare it is to see professional modern dance (or post-modern dance, if we must even categorize it) on Staten Island. While I am working to make this less rare, this was an important step for movement based arts appearing on the island.

Footage of Kathy Westwater's solo section

Footage of the dancers walking on tree stumps

Overall, this was a positive trip. I left feeling amazed by the massiveness of the Freshkills grounds. While I am not sure I will visit again anytime soon, I would rather see this place a wildlife reserve than a commercial strip; or a housing development; or another landfill.

Photography of PARK by Kathy Westwater:

Overlooking the mound stands a birds-nest.

On Voting, Sex, and that Staten Island Summer

Dear Reader,

As I type this the summer is coming to a traditionally marked close: Labor Day Weekend. What started as an American holiday to celebrate the hard working contributions of the American workforce has grown to mean barbecues and that last, official "summer" swim. If you are living on the island of 
Staten, there are several things you can do this weekend to ring in the autumn, which is still a few weeks away but always unofficially starts with the beginning of the school year.

The first thing you can do is visit the Richmond County Fair! Having spent many years visiting the county fair in all different social contexts, I think this year is going to be a good one. There will be the traditional contests: hula hooping, potato sacking, and pie eating; you'll see the adorable farm animals and zoo animals sure to intrigue children and adults alike; there will be staples from the Decker's farmers market; and many demonstrations and workshops from the Historic Richmond Town staff and volunteers--- workshops in tin-making and other staples of early American life are dispersed throughout the museum grounds. There's also a lovely bookshop tucked away inside the old borough hall building that features naturalist and historical literature about and by Staten Islanders.

Isn't it fascinating to ponder how several hundred years ago, Richmond Town-- nestled in the middle of Staten Island, used to be the social/economical/and legal capital of Staten Island. Trading boats used to creep up the streams to do business there. Super cool, in my opinion! 

Anyway, get that pumpkin cider and come on down to the Richmond County Fair! This year there will be no pig races, they've been replaced with little Dachshunds, aptly called "wiener dogs". They will be racing. Let the best dog win?

In other news, tonight is a grand event at the Coyle Cavern, a gallery space in St. George founded and curated by Brendan Coyle. Tonight's event is an end-of-summer party that will feature visual art installations by several Staten Island and NYC-based artists and live music by local bands. Coyle Cavern is located at 194 Bay Street, so that is super convenient for you ferry goers and those taking the SIR. The doors open at 7pm and music begins closer to 730/8pm. 

There's a lot of activity from the band/bar circuit as well. I think you would be hard-pressed not to find something that appeals to your tastes this weekend. Go out and find something to do and, as always, support your local small-business owners!

On Sex
I have been reading a recently published book, Sex at Dawn (2010) by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá. Mostly a book that attempts to debunk the "mainstream" narrative that humans are inherently monogamous primates that participate in longterm pair-bonding mating systems, the authors take us through an abbreviated history of 20th century primatology, evolutionary psychology, and the many platforms of anthropology. Mostly, so far, this book has piqued my interest in the history of sexual (and societal) suppression of females. There are a lot of counter-arguments for the "humans are naturally promiscuous" theory, but I think many of them are rooted in antiquated theories. I will be exploring more of this and giving more fleshed out thoughts when I have had time to digest what I am reading about. 

To put it simply, I do not believe we are naturally monogamous creatures. We are a species that loves  sex (albeit, we attempt to put conditional stigmas upon this love). We are a species that, after the advent of the agricultural and later industrial "revolutions", shifted into much different socio-cultural atmospheres than our hunter-gathering, foraging ancestors who (in my opinion) really loved good sex-- using it as a way to distill any brewing social incongruence as well as to support competition in male sperm. 

If you are interested (and I know you are), in why we mate with whom we mate, why we feel the pious martyrdom to commit solely to one person and deny the carnal urges to be with more than one person, if you are confused or curious about some of the alternate socio-sexual lifestyles that persist in different cultures around the globe, I would recommend reading this book. Also, Michel Foucault's History of Sexuality, which I have not read yet but it has been highly recommended by a dear colleague. 

Go read this book: Sex at Dawn.  

There's an election this year?
Are you stressed out from watching the Republican National Convention? Are you perplexed by the simple and greedy mindlessness of the current day politician? Are you finding feelings of apathy and existential loneliness unfurling with this impending election?

Me too.

This is why, dear reader, I implore you to watch every debate, every speech; read about every issue and perspective you possibly can to formulate your own educated opinions and thoughts. You will know what you're talking about because you will have looked at the many angles. You will understand why you are casting a vote for one candidate over the other. And trust me, considering the issues floating around in this election (the health and control over women's bodies; health-care repeals, reforms and other r's; the still downtrodden economy; the hysterical fear that we can shift into apocalyptic doom at any given moment), you are going to want to make an informed, educated vote.

It is hard, with the over saturation of media, to stay focused. However, you will feel the rush of empowerment that crisp, autumn day this November when you go to your local voting center and step into that enclosed booth. Also, don't just think of politics on the national level. It starts in your community. Who are your local constituents? What are the issues surrounding your home-base and what are the candidates claiming they will do? Get to know your community and how you can make a difference through volunteering your time and efforts at local town-hall meetings, community watch-groups, and advocating for your local small-businesses.

And whatever you do:

vote! and vote ny!
Voter registration deadline in New York City is October 12!! That is a little over a month from today so make sure you're registered!!

Have a great, safe, and happy weekend with friends. Enjoy the winding down of summer.  I cannot wait for autumn!

mw

Disclaimer: I realize this blog seems very pushy (Read this book! Vote in this election! Go to this fair!.... but if you think about it, you're smart and you will want to do these things because they will make you better informed. :) 

Tottenville, a historic town at New York's Southern Tip

The local Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island shared an article from the New York Times this morning. The article profiles the state's southernmost tip, the town of Tottenville, which is the home to the Conference House museum grounds.

Located at the southwest tip of Staten Island, The Conference House sits at the shore and features several historical houses which date back well into the the 19th century, some even dating back to the Revolutionary War. The site often hosts walking tours and concerts by the Staten Island Philharmonic. 

A reenactment of the historical 1776 meeting of members of the Continental Congress (including Bejamin Franklin and John Adams) with the British Admiral Lord Richard Howe will take place on the grounds on September 15 2012. 

Visit the New York Times Region Profile on Tottenville

This article also profiles the historic Public Library on Amboy Road (the first to be built on Staten Island and the first NYPL to be funded by Carnegie) and Egger's, a vintage counter-top ice cream shop with homemade ice cream and soda fountain. 

The trip is guaranteed to take you out of the fast-paced city-vibe of New York for a little while. 

The Conference House

298 Satterlee St.

Staten Island, NY 10307

Phone: (718) 984-6046

http://www.conferencehouse.org/

Gallery

Photographs courtesy of the Conference House website

The Island of Staten

One of the reasons I am sad now to leave Martha's Vineyard is because I romanticize Staten Island to be as beautiful as the winding roads and old oak trees of this island I have come to visit each summer since 2010. Here, the islanders and travelers come to let go of the fast paced nature of contemporary daily life. They leave their cellphones for the beach, the leave their computer desks to hike an uncharted trail, they turn off the television (in fact, some houses probably do not have one to begin with) to see a live theater performance or visit an art gallery. 

This is the Staten Island of the early 1900's, the one my father even remembers from his childhood--- the Staten Island I will never see, though there are things that are faintly reminiscent. For instance, there is Snug Harbor which has the maritime museum and many acres of farmland and art galleries (well, we also have two of the only working farms in New York City, something I think is astounding). We also have a long boardwalk and beach which has seen a lot of revitalization efforts over the past twenty years. 

The arts are growing and remind me of Martha's Vineyard in that small town support the arts community (aspires to) give one another. Dancing at the Staten Island Dance Jam each Saturday reminds me of my mornings taking dance class at the Yard with many retired dancers and artists as my classmates. 

Sure, we have streetlights and many cars on the road (although there are no street lights, Martha's Vineyard has plenty of cars on the road, something I wish was not the case) but there are traces of that summer beach feeling in the island that is Staten. There is a long history of the naturalist, the artist, the vacationer here that reminds me of my summers on the Cape. The vibe is a bit more contemporary, a little less elitist, but the real face of both islands is the small niche communities that are open to welcome travelers and those passing by.

While I am really sad to leave (I think another week would suffice to do all that I want to do), I can say that this week I performed what has come to be a truly emotional dance inspired by the memory of Jenni Jenkins; dipped my feet in the cool but completely soothing Nantucket sound;  revitalized my soul beneath the sunset at Menemsha Beach and met such amazingly interesting travelers at the Martha's Vineyard International Youth Hostel.

Dear reader, I encourage you (implore you, even) to venture out into the world. Take a trip (even a short one) to gain some perspective, see some culture, and meet some people. Have a conversation with your neighbor; people are not always scary. And please: the next time you step on the Staten Island ferry, get off and walk around once docked. There are a lot of interesting, creative places and people just waiting to share a bit of Staten Island with you.


Traveling onward,
melissa

Last Night

Going down to Stapletown.


I always identify with the male protagonists in the books I read. This began when I was very young. I felt as sensitively as Charlie did in The Perks of Being a Wallflower; my heart broke for the male character (whose name I forget) in The Devil in the Flesh. I even related to the gravity of Richard Dawkin's poetic prose in The God Delusion. And I virtually am Jack Dulouz in Maggie Cassidy. And Stephen Dedalus.


Of course, there are female protagonists I identify with (though not nearly as often-- not sure if there is a reason for this. I have meditated on the possibilities but I will save them for another time). I certainly connected with Jane Eyre, and the writings of Sylvia Plath, and others that I cannot think of at the moment. This doesn't necessarily only apply to books. I have felt as though I was Charlotte from Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette in her biopic. Basically, I am the protagonist of whatever story this is that is currently unfolding.


I am sure you can relate, right?


Well, after I returned home from the dance jam at the Forest Haven Center for Dance and Music, I was feeling kind of down. I am in a very strange transformative place in my life. Feeling as though I do not have a centered group of friends, this is something I am always trying to change or facilitate although it is a challenge.

I am a transient. As you read in the last post, I do not like many people. I mean, I love people just seldom do I connect with many. I am trying, folks-- really, I am.


So, I was inclined to watch netflix all night and eat left over pizza but it was Saturday night. I felt old. My skin was crawling. It is hard to go out when you feel alone. But I decided to go out anyway, figuring I would force myself to be social and that maybe my mood would change as a result. I had several friends who were at Van Duzer Days in Stapleton and knowing there would be bands playing all night at the Full Cup I decided to go.


I put on my plum lipstick and wire-necklace. The black boots with the golden socks. I tried to feel prettier than I have been. Whatever, I just wanted to go out. Ever have those nights? When the warm breeze brushes through the window and you're just itching to get out? So, I put on my shades and drove  on down to Stapletown.


The Full Cup, for those who have never been, is this eclectic and eccentric coffee shop meets alleyway venue with christmas lights meets back room bar and stage. This place is just awesome. It's sort of the only place for the disgruntled yet magically optimistic 20-30 something creative crowd of Staten Island to really feel at home. I have taught hula hooping and dance classes there. I have written poetry (both by myself and with groups) there. Many a cup of tea and soup has been sipped there.


Last night was about the most fun I have had in a long time. I ran into so many special faces that I see in passing throughout the art scene on Staten Island. I hula hooped on a friend's roof while they played music and took pictures. I saw the Manhattan skyline. The night air was warm and smelled like flowers and poetic shit like that. Phoebe Blue and the Make Baleaves played a quietly cool set in the alleyway underneath the x-mas lights. I looked up at the pale blue sky and the brick buildings and everything seemed so real. This punk rock Jap chick band, Mars&Me, played an amazing set in the back room. Another local band, Hunny, played great tunes that sounded like punk meets screamo in a more sophisticated manner.

Best part of the evening. After Hunny played, there was a dance party!! 

The disco balls on the ceiling twirled as we all just danced to Come on, Eileen and other vintage awesomeness. I just have never before connected with a group of people in dark room dancing for the sheer love of it; the joy of moving and connecting with others the way I did last night. I loved those people. I don't even know half of them. But I loved them.


Last night reminded me of how wonderful it is to be twenty-five. How exciting it is to get dressed up and meet new faces. To be merry. And also of the summer evenings that live on forever. I hope to have more evenings like this and one of the more important notes is that I made it happen. In all of my existential anti-socialness, I decided to just go out and be positive and I met so many awesome people and am so glad I pushed myself out the door. We ultimately have control over our attitudes and constantly have the ability to change them. If you're feeling down, try to activate the positivity from within. Eventually it will radiate outward and be as warm as christmas lights on a July evening.


love.

So, what is there to do on a saturday night on Staten Island, anyway?

This is a question I find myself asking quite often. This is also the reason I moved to Williamsburg in 2009. Once I was there I longed for the nights of riding around aimlessly in cars, drinking tea at Everything Goes Cafe, and the chilled evenings at the South Beach boardwalk.

Needless to say, I moved back to Staten Island within a year. As much as I would like to like Brooklyn, I just prefer the open space, the cold beach air, the warm cafes here much better. So, since I am one of the twenty somethings that would like to spend my weekends local,  I will continually highlight some of the coolest hang-outs and places of potential on S.I.

First up: Coffee Shops, Venues, and Other Spots

Everything Goes Cafe and Neighborhood Stage

E.T.G. is a cozy, special place where one goes for a number of reasons. Not only do they have an exceptional tea and coffee menu, they offer light snacks: sandwiches, soups, cookies, chocolates which often feature locally grown and cultivated ingredients. They sell and advocate local, organic, fair trade.

Aside from the food, ETG also has a bookstore of used, vintage, and new books on every subject you can think of: history, religion, culture, children's books, poetry, self-help, philosophy, nature and science to name a few. There is also a great selection of local musicians cd's, locally featured art exhibits, and a small stage that is the performing grounds of many local poets/musicians/and dancers. If I have written the word local twenty times in one paragraph, it is because this place is one of the best places to meet your fellow Staten Islanders.

For those who do not have computer or internet access, you can use their computers for ten cents per minute. For those who want to read some news, they have magazines and leaflets that deal with politics, the arts, and sustainability. What's not to love?

There's also a sense of welcoming. The staff are always friendly, intelligent, and conversational. Katie and Steve, the mainstays, are always helpful. And the bathroom is well-kept, beautiful (this is an old building with mosaic tiles), and filled with advertisements for events, arts clippings, business cards and all. Consider it graffiti art of a different kind.

I first stumbled upon this place in 2007/8 and I go there whenever I am in St. George. They usually have bands playing, poets reading, and dancer's dancing. They frequently host community related meetings, such as brainstorming for Second Saturdays, arts groups, and hearings.

Did I mention this place has books? Tea? Cookies? Art? If you're bored on a friday (or any other day except mondays when they are closed) check out this local hot bed of cultural and artisan activities.

REGULAR HOURS:
Tue -Thur  10:30 - 6:30                  Fri - Sat  10:30 -10                     Sunday  12 - 5pm
open until 10pm on event
evenings (see calendar)
CLOSED MONDAYS

PS: I recently read an inaccurate article written in the New York Times that depicts ETG (and Staten Island, in general) as an old, washed up, perhaps archaic place that seldom has any young people out and about. If you'd like to read that article for some outside perspective, you can do so here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/nyregion/hoping-a-project-will-lift-staten-island.html

Ms. Bellafante could not have been farther from the truth in her description of ETG. I have been there on many evenings and late afternoons, either working, perusing, performing, or spectating. There is always something happening here. It is a quaint and wondrous place... and every year they participate in St. George Day!

Visit them on the web here: http://www.etgstores.com/bookcafe/

Or in person here: 208 Bay Street near; turn left at Victory and Bay.

Everything Goes is the business model for GANAS commune. It features the Book Cafe, Vintage Clothing Store, Vintage Furniture Store, and a Gallery space. Check out their website here: http://www.ganas.org/