Brio Artist sIGHTINGS

What are our BRIO Artists up to this month?

JUNE 2008

Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts) and Michelle Frick (BRIO winner for installation art) are among the featured artists in How Soon Is Now? on view at the Bronx Museum of the Arts through August 18th. Organized by Bronx Museum Assistant Curator Erin Riley-Lopez, it is an exhibition of work by 36 artists from Artist in the Marketplace (AIM 28), one of the most celebrated and competitive programs for emerging artists in the country. Not a BRIO winner, but a BCA staff member, artist Laura Napier is also one of the show’s featured artists.

Judith Baumel (three-time BRIO winner for poetry) has been awarded a June residency fellowship by the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, located near Sweet Briar College in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Virginia. She will be among the approximately 20 Fellows focusing on their own creative projects at this working retreat for visual artists, writers and composers. Judith has also been awarded a July residency Fellowship at the Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts in Ithaca, New York, where she will be one of five artists chosen on the basis of artistic merit through a juried selection.

Angel Chevrestt (four-time BRIO winner for photography) is among the artists featured in New York Press on the Wall, an exhibition of the work of twenty New York press photographers, curated by j.c.rice and on view at the Haven Arts Gallery through July 12th. Haven is located at 50 Bruckner Blvd. Building A, and is open daily 12:00-6:00pm and by appointment. For further information please e-mail info@havenarts.org or call 718-585-5753.

Elizabeth "Macha" Marrero (BRIO winner for acting) and Virginia "VinnieGumba" Cruz lead a troupe of drag kings and queens in Latino Drag Kings and Queens Rock the Bronx, a raucous cabaret evening of song and performance at 8:00pm on June 21st at the The Bronx Academy of Art & Dance, located at 841 Barretto Street in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Click here for directions. Admission is $15. Visit the Bronx Academy of Art & Dance website for further information or call 718-842-5223.

Alma Micic (BRIO winner for vocal performance) and Mary Pearson (two-time BRIO winner for music performance) are among the performing artists in Summer Song Jazz, a free jazz concert at 2:30pm on June 28th at the Bronx Library Center, located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For information, call 718-579-4238 or 718-579-4244.

Maxim V. Pakhomov (BRIO winner for instrumental music) will be performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.3 with The Orchestra of The Bronx on June 1st at 3:00pm at Lehman College’s Lovinger Theatre. Also on the program is Dvorak’s Symphony No.8. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Please visit www.bronxorchestra.org for directions. The college is easily accessible by train (4 or D) and there is plenty of parking if you are driving.

Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz (BRIO winner for mixed media and for painting) is the curator of Other, Other…, currently on view through August 7th at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos. Other, Other… is an exhibition featuring works by 18 artists of African, Asian, Latino, and Native American ancestry working in drawing, installation, mixed media, painting, performance art, photography, sculpture and video, representing a sampling of 2007 and 2008 Urban Artist Initiative grant (UAI/NYC) recipients. The Longwood Art Gallery is located at Hostos Community College at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street in the Bronx. Transportation: IRT 4 & 5, Bx1, Bx19 to Grand Concourse and 149 Street. Click here for directions. Click here for map of the Hostos area. For information on this exhibit, call 718-518-6700. For further information on Longwood and its exhibitions, call 718-518-6728 or visit www.longwoodcyber.org.

Toni Roberts (three-time BRIO winner for fiction) recently announced her creative expression and psycho-spiritual telephone counseling services for women in the creative arts. Full information can be found at: www.livingfromtheinsideout.org. Artists are encouraged to visit Toni's website and to contact her if her services can be of help. You can e-mail Toni Roberts or call her at 718-320-4207.

Moses Ros (BRIO winner for painting) will be part of a workshop at Wave Hill’s Kerlin Learning Center on June 14th, between 1:00-4:00pm, entitled The Poppy Award / El Premio del “Poppy” where he will sculpt a colorful, cardboard trophy to honor the “Poppy” in your life. Wave Hill is located at west 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For general information, call 718-549-3200 or visit www.wavehill.org. Mr. Ros also has a solo exhibition, Essences Is, at the Bronx Library Center through June 29th. It is an exhibition of prints and sculpture based on trees. Their trunks, branches, and leaves are condensed to pure forms and geometric elements. The artist distills the experience of nature to the meditative essence of being. Admission is free. Bronx Library Center is located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For information, call 718-579-4244.

Carlos Serrano (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) recently had a reading of one of his plays, No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy, at NYC’s Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre. It is the story of Pedro "Petey Baseball" Vargas, the Puerto Rican right fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, and his tumultuous season which began with the news of the death of his younger brother, a marine. The Cardinals are favored to go to the World Series, but Pedro puts their season in jeopardy when he is forced to answer his reasons for his protest, and faces his toughest rival, himself.

Jen Shyu (BRIO winner for music composition) recently performed (musical compositions, voice and dance) at the world premiere of “Cry of the Nomad” for Voice, Dance, & String Ensemble at Roulette Space in the SoHo section of NY

Muhamadou Salieu Suso (BRIO winner for instrumental music) recently performed at the historic Hudson Valley Pinkster Festival at Philipsburg Manor as well as NYC’s Rubin Museum of the Arts where he will appear again on June 1st, 8th, and 14th. The Rubin Museum of the Arts is located at 150 West 17 Street, between 6th & 7th Avenue. Call 212-620-5000 for additional information.

MARCH 2008

Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts) has created the Bronx Blue Bedroom Project, a new artist-run project space in her home located in the in Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. BBBP is an intimate art space where contemporary artists can exhibit their work in a setting that differs radically from the already established art venues. Artists are given the opportunity to participate in BBBP for the duration of one month. BBBP, located at 309 Alexander Avenue, is a new venue of BCA’s Bronx Culture Trolley as of March 5th For information, call 347-776-7504 or e-mail bronxbbp@yahoo.com.

Jessica Danser (BRIO winner for choreography) and her dansfolk dance troupe will perform their award-winning piece The Same Way You Are on March 7th at 8:00pm at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!) as part of the 2008 BAAD! Ass Women Festival. Click here for information.

Afua Hall (BRIO winner for choreography) will perform at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!) on March 9th at 8:00pm as part of the 2008 BAAD! Ass Women Festival. Click here for information.

Elizabeth "Macha" Marrero (BRIO winner for acting) will perform at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!) on March 15th at 8:00pm as part of the 2008 BAAD! Ass Women Festival. Click here for information.

Christal Brown (BRIO winner for choreography) will perform at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!) on March 22nd at 8:00pm as part of the 2008 BAAD! Ass Women Festival. Click here for information.

Nelida Tirado (BRIO winner for dance) is has a number of performances scheduled in March. Click here for performance dates and information.

Three BRIO artists have selected works appearing in the Locale, a group show on view at the new Haven Art Gallery (50 Bruckner Blvd., Building A) from March 5th thru 20th. They are Beth Brideau (BRIO winner for painting), Linda Cunningham (two-time BRIO winner for printmaking), and Aristides Logothetis (BRIO winner for scultpture).

Three BRIO artists will be performing at 3:00pm on March 9th at the Bronx Library Center as part of Journey to the Stage, three musical presentations by Maxim Pakhomov (BRIO winner for instrumental music), Jen Shyu (BRIO winner for music composition), and Muhamadou Salieu Suso (BRIO winner for instrumental music). Admission is FREE and all are welcome. The Bronx Library Center is located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) in the Bronx. Click here for directions. For library information, call 718-579-4244. For all other information, e-mail Lydia Clark at Lydia@bronxarts.org or call 718-931-9500 x35.

Ron Terner (two-time BRIO winner for photography) has an exhibition of his work on view this month at the Focal Point Gallery at 321 City Island Avenue in the City Island section of the Bronx. The exhibition is called Portraits & More. Call 718-885-1403 for information.

Lois Weingarten (BRIO winner for painting) has an exhibition of her work on view this month at City Island’s new Workspace/Gallery. The exhibit is called The Balloon Gallery. The Workspace/Gallery is located at 282 City Island Avenue in the City Island section of the Bronx.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) is a runner as well as an award-winning photographer. She ran in Puerto Rico’s The World’s Best 10K on February 24th. Out of 11,445 finishers from around the world, Marisol placed 3,528.

FEBRUARY 2008

Jenna Cardinale (BRIO winner for poetry) was recently a featured reader at the Micropress Poetry Pageant at the Stain Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She will be reading again on the Lower East Side on February 12th. Click here for information.

Jessica Danser (BRIO winner for choreography), along with her dance troupe, dansfolk, received a BCA Community Arts Grant (with Sustainable South Bronx as the fiscal agent) for a performance at BAAD! entitled "The Same Way You Are," Her group will perform the piece on Friday, March 8 2008.

Alejandra Delfin (BRIO winner for printmaking) is a participating artist in the group show Studio 889 Print Collection on view at Mud/Bone Studio 889 (889 Hunts Points Avenue, just off Garrison Avenue and one block from the #6 Train). The show will be on view Feb 6th-28th, with an opening reception on Feb 6th as part of BCA’s First Wednesday Bronx Culture Trolley night. For additional information about Mud/Bone Studio 889, call 718-670-2824 or e-mail studio@mudbone.org.

Elly Erickson (two-time BRIO winner for vocal performance) will be singing at the Nordic Spirit Symposium 2008: "Myths, Digs and Saga Kings: A New Look at the Viking Age," at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California on Feb 8th & 9th. For additional information and registration materials, you may contact C. Allan Carlson at (818) 788-4552 or seeallan@sbcglobal.net.

Peter Kalivas (BRIO winner for choreography) recently performed his piece “Full Circle” at the San Diego State University’s School of Music and Dance.

Judith Lane (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) wrote an opera with composer Catherine Reid which is receiving its World Premiere at the Peabody Music Conservatory on Feb 14thin Baltimore, MD. The opera, entitled "The Yellow Wallpaper" is based on the book of the same name by Charlotte Perkins. Performances will take place at Theatre Project in downtown Baltimore on Feb 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th. Click here for ticket and other information.

Wanda Ortiz (BRIO winner for mixed media and painting) has her MFA thesis exhibition on view at Rutgers University’s New Brunswick from Feb 4th-15th, with an opening reception on Feb 7th, from 4:00-6:00pm. Rutger’s is located at 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

Pattydukes (BRIO winner for vocal music) recently performed in “Hip-Hop Meets the Spoken Word, Part 3” at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

Moses Ros (BRIO winner for painting) is now selling some of his original creation T-Shirts on Ebay. Check it out by clicking here. For more information, contact Moses at mosesros@yahoo.com.

Nelida Tirado (BRIO winner for dance) gave a number of NYC city performances this past month at Alegrias en la Nacional and a slated to perform again in February. Click here for performance dates and information.

Lou Torres (BRIO winner for acting) is releasing his films “Rockaway” and “Brooklyn Knightz” this spring. Clips can be seen by clicking here.

Rhina Valentin (BRIO winner for acting) recently performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in downtown Newark as part of a “Three Kings Day” celebration.

Four BRIO Artists are among those participating in the group show Material Culture on view at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos thru Feb 7th. They are Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts), Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner fro drawing), Aristides Logothetis (BRIO winner for sculpture), Toni Roberts (two-time BRIO winner for fiction). Hostos is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street and is easily accessible by the #2, #4, and #5 IRT Trains. Click here for additional directions.

JANUARY 2008

Neal Haiduck (BRIO winner for instrumental music performance) played a recent gig at NYC’s Cornelia Street Café with poet Barry Wallenstein and French horn player Vincent Chancey. He also has three poems published in the current issue of BigCityLit. (click on “poetry”).

Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner fro drawing) will be conducting a free craft-making workshop at the Lonqwood Art Gallery @ Hostos this month. Visit the Artisans Initiative web page on BCA’s website for information on this and other artisans’ workshops and activities. Hostos Community College is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street and is easily accessible by the #2, #4, and #5 IRT Trains. Click here for additional directions.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) and En Foco Program Director was recently interviewed by Spanish Network Television Telemundo. The interview was aired on December 11, 2007 and can be seen by clicking here.

Bruce Tallerman (BRIO winner for fiction) is slated to teach an upcoming creative writing workshop at the Riverdale Community Center. Details on the workshop are forthcoming.

Pam Sporn (BRIO winner for documentary/film video) recently won Best of Hunter Student Showcase at the Avignon/NY Film Festival for her latest film Con el toque de la chaveta (With a Stroke of the Chaveta).

Aristides Logothetis (BRIO winner for sculpture) currently has an installation on view in Miami at Genaro Ambrosino's The Sizematters Experiment in addition to his pieces in Material Culture, currently on view at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos (see below).

Four BRIO Artists are among those participating in the group show Material Culture on view at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos thru Feb 7th. They are Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts), Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner fro drawing), Aristides Logothetis (BRIO winner for sculpture), Toni Roberts (two-time BRIO winner for fiction). Hostos is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street and is easily accessible by the #2, #4, and #5 IRT Trains. Click here for additional directions.

DECEMBER 2007

Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner fro drawing) will be conducting a free card-making workshop at the Lonqwood Art Gallery @ Hostos on Dec 29th. Hostos Community College is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street and is easily accessible by the #2, #4, and #5 IRT Trains. Click here for additional directions.

Jessica Danser (BRIO winner for choreography) and her dansfolk company (being showcased with other modern choreographers) will be performing an excerpt of 'Common Language' at 8:00pm on Dec 7th & 8th at The Dance Gallery Intimate at University Settlement (184 Eldridge Street at the corner of Rivington) Tickets: $15, general admission; $10 for students & seniors, $5 for children under 12.
For reservations, call 212-453-4532 or email project.audience@gmail.com.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) was one of two accomplished photographers whose work was recently on view in the show, Portrait of Loisaida, at NYC’s CSV Cultural Center.

Meg Duguid (BRIO winner for performance art) was one of the participating artists at a recent Synthetic Zero event where she screened her experimental film Bacon.

Neal Haiduck (BRIO winner for instrumental music performance) has announced the release of his new CD Montréal Meets New York (Blackwood #002).

Scott Hewitt (BRIO winner for instrumental music) recently performed a free concert at Valhalla Middle/High School.

Mindy Matijasevic (BRIO winner for poetry and nonfiction) had two of her poems chosen to be used in the production of Stripped Boundaries presented by an organization called Eyeblink. Information about the show can be found on their website. Over the summer, she was in a film called Pressure where she played a substitute teacher in Brooklyn during the beginning of the crack era and hip hop. You can view the trailer here.

Pattydukes (BRIO winner for vocal music) is slated for two performances at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. On Dec 7th at 6:30pm, she will be among those performers at the Bronx Museum of the Arts First Fridays (BxMA’s North Wing—2nd Floor). She performs again at the Bronx Museum on Dec 15th, from 1:00 to 3:00pm. Admission is free.

Mary Pearson (two-time BRIO winner for vocal performance) will be performing holiday favorites at the Bronx Library Center, 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Fordham Road) on Saturday, Dec 15th, from 2:30 to 3:30pm. Admission is free. All are welcome. For information, call 718-579-4244.

Rick Pernod (two-time BRIO winner for poetry) will be appearing at NYC’s Cornelia Street Café (29 Cornelia Street) at 6:00pm on Dec 29th. $7 cover charge includes one house drink. Call 212-989-9319 for information.

Toni Roberts (two-time BRIO winner for fiction) is also a gifted craft artist and jewelry maker with some great gift ideas for the holidays. Visit her website and see.

M. Salieu Suso (BRIO winner for instrumental music) is scheduled for a numbers of performances, workshops, demonstrations, teachings and story telling this month – all in Seattle. He recently completed the soundtrack for a documentary film called Tootsie’s Last Suit.

Nelida Tirado (BRIO winner for dance) has a number of appearances scheduled for this month (see her website for her current schedule) in addition to a tour in Mexico.

Rhina Valentin (BRIO winner for acting) was among the writers recently featured in the Boricua College Winter Poetry Series. She will be performing her comic piece, PMS Anonymous, at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos at 4:00pm on Dec 8th as the inaugural performance for BCA’s BRIO Saturday Series at Longwood. This performance may contain adult content. Admission is free. All are welcome. Hostos is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street and is easily accessible by the #2, #4, and #5 IRT Trains. Click here for additional directions.

Four BRIO Artists are among those participating in the group show Material Culture on view at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos Dec 5th thru Feb 7th. They are Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts), Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner fro drawing), Aristides Logothetis (BRIO winner for sculpture), Toni Roberts (two-time BRIO winner for fiction). Hostos is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street and is easily accessible by the #2, #4, and #5 IRT Trains. Click here for additional directions.

NOVEMBER 2007

Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts) has been selected as a participating artiist in the Spring 2008 Artist in the Marketplace program at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) will be teaching a digital photography workshop at Wave Hill on November 16th & 18th. Click appropriate dates for details. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting www.marisoldiaz.com.

Pattydukes (BRIO winner for vocal music) is among those performers celebrating Hip Hop History Month as part of the First Fridays activities on November 2nd at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (North Wing—2nd Floor). Admission is free.

Anthony Purdy (BRIO winner for music composition) will be performing on November 18th at the Riverdale YM-YWHA as part of the week long Riverdale Jewish Festival of the Arts. For more information, visit www.riverdaleY.org.

Danny Peralta (BRIO winner for photography) was recently honored at the Eugene Smith Awards for his photo collective The NYC Bridge Project.

Moses Ros (BRIO winner for painting) is a participating artist in Latino Visions, a group exhibition by four generations, on view November 5th thru 30th at the John Jay College Gallery at 445 West 59th Street in NYC. There will be a November 7th opening reception from 6:00-9:00pm.

Miguelangel Ruiz (BRIO winner for painting) is a participating artist in the group exhibition Neo-Neo-Dada at Rush Arts Gallery at 526 West 26th Street, Suite 311, in NYC’s Chelsea area. The show is on view through November 3rd. For information, call 212-691-9552.

M. Salieu Suso (BRIO winner for instrumental music) has a number of upcoming activities. Along with his upcoming gig in Boston, he will be appearing at the Circle of Art Awards Reception on November 2nd (6:00-9:00pm) at the Bank Street College of Education, Evelyn Rome Tabas and Daniel Tabas Auditorium, 610 west 112th Street in NYC.

Bruce Tallerman (BRIO winner for fiction) is currently teaching a fiction workshop at the Riverdale Community Center. He is currently seeking an agent for his new novel L.A. Rules.

Nelida Tirado (BRIO winner for dance) has a number of appearances scheduled for this month. On November 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, she will be appearing at the N Tapas Bar at 33 Crosby Street (between Broome & Grand Streets) in NYC (212-219-8856). On November 10th, she will dance in a special collaboration of Dance Folklorisimo at the The Paramount Theater at 17 South Street in Middletown, NY. Tickets: $28, $18 for seniors. On November 11th, 18th, and 25th, she will appear at the Suba Restaurant/ Tapas Bar at 109 Ludlow Street in NYC (212-982-5714). Visit her website for more information on Nelida Tirado.

Julio Antonio Toro (BRIO winner for screenwriting) recently wrapped shooting on his next short film entitled Repentance. He is currently in the editing stage, working on the film’s special effects. He also completed the first draft of his feature script The Phenom, for which he won his BRIO award.

Ray Vega (four-time BRIO winner for music composition) and Sharon Spinetti will be performing numbers from their latest CD, The Spinetti-Vega Project-Live from Wave Hill, on November 7th at 7:30pm as part of this month’s First Wednesday Bronx Culture Trolley.

OCTOBER 2007

Tim Blum (BRIO winner for sculpture) has wok exhibited in the show Adopted and Alien at Keung Hee Museum through October.

Christal Brown (BRIO winner for choreography), along with her Inspirit Dance Company, has a very busy October scheduled. On October 6th, she will be performing at 6:30pm at the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway). Tickets are free and available at the museum’s Visitor Center at 5:30pm on the day of the show. On October 13th, Christal will be performing at 1:45pm on the main stage of CultureFest 2007 (State Street and Battery Place in Lower Manhattan). On October 20th at 7:00pm, Christal and her company will dance the work of Paloma McGregor at Cleveland, Ohio’s Museum of Contemporary Art. General admission is $10; members are free. On October 27th at 8:00pm, Christal will perform at the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance (841 Barretto Street). Tickets: $15.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) will be teaching a digital photography workshop at Wave Hill on October 5th & 7th. Click appropriate dates for details. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting www.marisoldiaz.com.

Dahlma Llanos Figueroa (BRIO winner for non-fiction) has recently had a piece published on www.narrativemagazine.com. It is a non-fiction piece called Cuban Portraits.

Desi Moreno-Penson (BRIO winner for playwriting) recently signed with literary agents who came to see her play DEVIL LAND when it was part of The Summer Play Festival this past August.

Mindy Matijasevic has three poems in the current edition (9/15-10/14/07) of The Verse Marauder. Mindy's selected poetry and drawings are available in her chapbook "Sounds Like a Woman to Me". Click here to learn more about Mindy’s chapbook.

Ira Merritt (three-time BRIO winner for photography) was a featured artist in the group show Visions: Internal and Observed recently at the Taiwan Cultural Center (1 East 42nd Street).

Pattydukes (BRIO winner for vocal performance) had a positive review in a September 14th New York Times Theater Review of her play Till The Break of Dawn which ran from September 10th through the 24th at NYC’s Abrons Arts Center.

Anthony Purdy (BRIO winner for music composition) will be performing classical guitar at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum on October 5th. Admission to the museum is $5 per adult; $3 per senior and children; children under 6 years old are free.

Moses Ros (BRIO winner for painting) is a participating artist in two shows (Tomando Notas, Taking Notes and CAJARTE) featured at the Boricua College Bronx Annex through October 15th.

Miguelangel Ruiz (BRIO winner for painting) is a participating artist in the group exhibition Neo-Neo-Dada at Rush Arts Gallery at 526 West 26th Street, Suite 311, in NYC’s Chelsea area. The show is on view through November 3rd. For information, call 212-691-9552.

Jen Shyu (BRIO winner for music composition) will be performing at BAM Café Live (30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn) at 9:00pm on October 6th. Admission is $15; $10 for members. Call 212-242-1063 for reservations. See Jen perform by visiting her website at www.jenshyu.com.

Pam Sporn (BRIO winner for documentary film/video) is among the featured artists in the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance’s Blaktino Performnce Series 2007 this month. She will be screening two of her films, Remembering the Mamoncillo and With A Stroke of the Chaveta, on Oct 26th.

Rhina Valentin (BRIO winner for acting) is playing the part of Reina, Betty’s co-worker, in the award-winning short "Betty La Flaca" airing on HBO on Demand through the end of October for Hispanic Heritage Month. She and her group also performed in the Viva Bronx Festival this past September. Rhina is the Friday morning host of OPEN, a talk show presented by BronxNet that showcases local talent, businesses, and organizations. Open airs on BronxNet’s channel 67 at 10:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Find out more about Rhina and her upcoming performances by visiting www.rhinavalentin.com.

Ray Vega (four-time BRIO winner for music composition) released his latest CD, The Spinetti-Vega Project-Live from Wave Hill, this past September. Ray Vega and Sharon Spinetti are slated to perform at an upcoming First Wednesday Bronx Culture Trolley.

SEPTEMBER 2007

Tim Blum (BRIO winner for sculpture) has wok exhibited in the show Adopted and Alien at Keung Hee Museum through October.

Coleen Booth (BRIO winner for fiction, 2006) is beginning her year-long writer-in-residency at Laurenz Haus in Basel, Switzerland where she will complete her second novel. Her first novel TYRELL (winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize) has just been released in paperback by Scholastic. Click here for more information on Coleen and her work.

Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner for drawing) has a new book, The Chizholm Trail of Joy, hot off the presses at Blurb! Take a sneak peek and place your order if you're so inclined. Stephanie will also have a book signing at the Barnes & Nobles in Co-op City (290 Baychester Avenue) on September 15th. Click here at visit Stephanie’s website and learn more about her and her work.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) will be teaching a digital photography workshop at Wave Hill on September 7th & 9th. Click appropriate dates for details. Her photographic exhibition Beyond the Uniforms: Documentation of FDNY Bronx Firehouse 1998-2002, is currently on view through September 2007at the Bronx Borough President’s Gallery located on the third floor of the Bronx County Building (851 Grand Concourse. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting www.marisoldiaz.com.

Daniel Hauben (eight-time BRIO winner for painting) has an installation of his images on view at the Freeman Street Station in the Bronx (on the 2/5 line). His faceted glass images of Yankee Stadium, Westchester Square and other Bronx scenes can be viewed on both the uptown and downtown sides of the station. Click here to view some of these images. To learn more about Daniel and his art, visit www.artwing.com.

Mindy Matijasevic (BRIO winner for poetry & nonfiction) has added adult comedy to her repertoire. Enjoy it at YouTube - Mindy Matijasevic at Therapy and feel encouraged to leave a comment & give a rating. Mindy's chapbook of some of her poetry and drawings is available for six dollars or two for ten. Click here to learn more about Mindy’s chapbook.

Ira Merritt (three-time BRIO winner for photography) is part of the Best of the Bronx II exhibit currently on view through September 19th at Krasdale’s Bronx Gallery at 400 Food Center Drive, Bronx, NY 10474. Click here for directions. He is also part of a four-artist show called Visions: Internal and Observed at the Taiwanese Cultural Mission at 1 East 42nd Street in MYC. The show will run September 17 - September 28th with an opening reception on September 20th from 6:00-9:00pm. The show will include etchings, monoprints, photos, paintings. collages, and mixed media.

Joel Neff (BRIO Winner for crafts) will be busy this September with work appearing in four different crafts events. He will be at the Kipona Artfest in Harrisburg (Sept. 1st-3rd), the St. Louis Art Fair (Sept. 7th-9th), at Fall Craft at Lyndhurst (Sept. 14th-16th), and at the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City, MO (Sept. 21st-23rd).

Pam Sporn (BRIO winner for documentary film/video) is working on distributing her new documentary Con el toque de la Chaveta and preparing to teach documentary video production at Fannie Lou Freedom High School here in the Bronx in September.

Miguelangel Ruiz (BRIO winner for performance) will be participating in a group exhibition called Neo-Neo-Dada at Rush Arts Gallery at 526 West 26th Street, Suite 311, in NYC’s Chelsea area. The show opens September 21. For information, call 212-691-9552.

Rhina Valentin (BRIO winner for acting) recently appeared in the Nuyorican Universal Theater Society’s concert version of Our Times at the East Harlem Arts Festival. Rhina is the Friday morning host of OPEN, a talk show presented by BronxNet that showcases local talent, businesses, and organizations. Open airs on BronxNet’s channel 67 at 10:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Find out more about Rhina and her upcoming performances by visiting www.rhinavalentin.com.

AUGUST 2007

Blanka Amezkua (BRIO winner for crafts) is among the artists included in the group show, “El Museo's 5th Bienal: The (S) Files” on view at El Museo del Barrio located at 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street in NYC. For information on the show, call 212-831-7272 or visit www.elmuseo.org.

Tim Blum (BRIO winner for sculpture) is an exhibiting artist in the group show "Adoption" at Kwon Hee University this August.

Helene Brandt (BRIO winner for sculpture) has a two-part sculpture, The Assyrians, 2003-2007, as part of a sculpture park installation at Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art through 2009. For information, call Paul Hubbard at 215-568-4515 x4086.

Toby Buonagurio (BRIO winner for sculpture) has her subway art’s on view on the walls of the Times Square subway station. Click here to view the article about her work. At the request of the MTA Arts for Transit, Toby led a group of National High School Scholastic Award winners around the Times Square-42 Street Subway Station to view her MTA commissioned sculptural ceramic reliefs titled: "Times Square Times: 35 Times" installed throughout the newly renovated station complex along the 7th Ave. Passage, Broadway and 41st Street. While leading the group, Toby was photographed and interviewed for an upcoming feature article on her work in a national education journal. Click here to view Toby's MTA commissioned artwork: Times Square Times: 35 Times, in the Times Square-42 Street Subway Station.

Stephanie Chisholm (BRIO winner for drawing) has a new book, The Chizholm Trail of Joy, hot off the presses at Blurb! Take a sneak peek and place your order if you're so inclined. Stephanie will also have a book signing at the Barnes & Nobles in Co-op City (290 Baychester Avenue) on August 11th. Click here at visit Stephanie’s website and learn more about her and her work.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) will be teaching a digital photography workshop at Wave Hill on August 5th. Click here for details. Her photographic exhibition Beyond the Uniforms: Documentation of FDNY Bronx Firehouse 1998-2002, is currently on view through September 2007at the Bronx Borough President’s Gallery located on the third floor of the Bronx County Building (851 Grand Concourse). She recently received a citation from the Borough President’s office and was featured in a recent issue of Tiempo’s Latina Week New York. Click here to view article. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting www.marisoldiaz.com.

Meg Duguid (BRIO winner for performance art) recently performed her new work, Split, Splat, Splot, one of her unique pie performances, in Central Park this past July.

Neal Haiduck (BRIO winner for instrumental music performance) recently played Latin jazz and Salsa at NYC’s Camaradas in El Barrio in July.

Mindy Matijasevic (BRIO winner for poetry & nonfiction) recently gave another comedy performance at NYC’s Therapy Lounge this past July. Mindy’s chapbook, "Sounds Like a Woman to Me," is available for six bucks or two for ten. For information on the book, visit Mindy’s Poetry Page.

Maxim Pakhomov (BRIO winner for instrumental music) will be playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 at two concerts this August (8:00pm on the 1st and the 3rd) at Bargemusic, New York’s floating concert hall in Brooklyn. Click here for details.

Desi Moreno-Penson (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) was honored to have her play “Devil Land” chosen as part of the August’s Summer Play Festival produced by Arielle Tepper at Theatre Row Studios (412 West 42nd Street, 3rd Floor, in NYC). It will run from through August 5th for a total of 7 performances. Public tickets are $10 per play and are currently on sale. For more information, call 212-279-4040 or visit www.spfnyc.com.

Danny Peralta (BRIO winner for photography) is part of a team of young photographers whose JB Fellows work was recently on view at the ICP School in July.

Jen Shyu (BRIO winner for music composition) will be performing lead vocals with her band at 10:00pm on August 29th at Barbes located at 376 9th Street at 6th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. For more information about Jen and her music, visit www.myspace.com/jenshyu.

Nelida Tirado (BRIO winner for dance) will be performing in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Series at the Rose Theater on August 19th. For more information about Nelida and her upcoming performances, click here to visit her website.

Rhina Valentin (BRIO winner for acting) is the Friday morning host of OPEN, a talk show presented by BronxNet that showcases local talent, businesses, and organizations. Open airs on BronxNet’s channel 67 at 10:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Find out more about Rhina and her upcoming performances by visiting www.rhinavalentin.com.

18 Visual and Media Arts BRIO Winners are participating in BX1: The Second Bronx Artist Biennial Exhibition at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos (on view through August 25th). They are Blanka Amezkua (crafts), Melisa Firelei Báez (crafts), Timothy Blum (sculpture), Reina Mia Brill (crafts), Toby Buonagurio (sculpture), Peter Cabot (mixed media), Marisol Díaz (photography), Juan Doe (painting), Ruth Marshall (mixed media), Josh Millis (painting), Joel Neff (crafts), Danny Ramón Peralta (photography, Wanda Raimundi-Ortíz (mixed media and painting), Silvia Romero (photography), Pam Sporn (documentary film/vdeo), Ron Terner (photography), José Antonio Vicenty (documentary film), and Lois Weingarten (painting).

JULY 2007

Toby Buonagurio (BRIO winner for sculpture) was recently featured in a Newsday article “Her Subway Art’s on Track” highlighting her MTA commissioned work which is now on view on the walls of the Times Square subway station. Click here to view the article.

Jenna Cardinale (BRIO winner for poetry) has just had a "tinyside" published by Big Game Books. This tiny handmade book contains one of her poems, "Four Hands." Click here for more information or visit myspace.com/jennacardinale.

Marisol Diaz (two-time BRIO winner for photography) will be teaching a digital photography workshop at Wave Hill on July 1st. Click here for details. Her photographic exhibition Beyond the Uniforms: Documentation of FDNY Bronx Firehouse 1998-2002, is currently on view through September 2007at the Bronx Borough President’s Gallery located on the third floor of the Bronx County Building (851 Grand Concourse). She recently received a citation from the Borough President’s office and was featured in a recent issue of Tiempo’s Latina Week New York. Click here to view article. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting www.marisoldiaz.com.

Elly Erickson (BRIO winner for vocal performance) was recently featured in Nordstjernan, a weekly newspaper for Scandinavians living in America. Click here to view article. Learn more about Elly and her upcoming performances by visiting www.ellyerickson.com.

Daniel Hauben (eight-time BRIO winner for painting) has completed his MTA Arts-for-Transit commission which has been installed in the newly renovated Freeman Street Station in the Bronx (on the 2/5 line). The images are all based on Mr. Hauben’s paintings of the Bronx and each includes elements of the elevated trains. His faceted glass images of Yankee Stadium, Westchester Square and other Bronx scenes can be viewed on both the uptown and downtown sides of the station. Click here to view some of these images. To learn more about Daniel and his art, visit www.artwing.com.

Ira Merritt (three-time BRIO winner for photography) is part of the Best of the Bronx II exhibit currently on view through July 15th at the Krasdale White Plains Gallery at 65 West Red Oak Lane, White Plains, NY 10604. Click here for directions. When it finishes its White Plains run, it will move down to Krasdale’s Bronx Gallery at 400 Food Center Drive, Bronx, NY 10474. Click here for directions. It will be on view at the Bronx Gallery July 16th through September 19th.

Alma Micic (BRIO winner for vocal performance) finished recording her second album for the independent Bronx based CTA jazz record label. The album will be out in the fall of 2007. It features mostly her work as a composer/songwriter as well as jazz gospel versions of famous spirituals. To learn more about Alma and her music, visit www.almajazz.com.

PattyDukes (BRIO winner for vocal music) recently released her first single, Fresh 2 Def, featuring herself and Rephstar. The song was written by PattyDukes, Rephstar & P. Rosado, and produced by Burn'Em Up for Dangerous LLC. Patty is also one of the hosts for a new Latino cultural show called En La Escena. Learn more about PattyDukes and her music by visiting www.pattydukes.com.

Desi Moreno-Penson (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) will be performing her award-winning solo piece “A Latina Prepares” as part of a fundraiser at The Kettle of Fish (59 Christopher Street, near Seventh Avenue South, in NYC’s West Village) on Sunday, July 1st. For information, call 212-414-2278. Desi’s play “Devil Land” was chosen as part of the next upcoming Summer Play Festival produced by Arielle Tepper at Theatre Row Studios (412 West 42nd Street, 3rd Floor, in NYC). Her play will run from July 31st to August 5th for a total of 7 performances. Public tickets are $10 per play and are currently on sale. For more information, call 212-279-4040 or visit www.spfnyc.com.

Toni Roberts (BRIO winner for fiction) will be conducting three writing workshops at the Baychester Branch of the New York Public Library on July 11th, 18th, and 25th at 3:30pm. Click here for details.

Jen Shyu (BRIO winner for music composition) composed and performed the music for “Lee/Gendary,” a play by Soomi Kim's play which inspired by Bruce Lee. The play was part of the First National Asian American Theater Festival which took place in NYC June 11th-24th. For more information about Jen and her music, visit www.myspace.com/jenshyu.

M. Salieu Suso (BRIO winner for instrumental music) will be performing at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction (34 Avenue A, between 2nd & 3rd Avenues) on Friday, June 29th at 9:30pm. Sousa is a master of the 21-string kora, one of the world's most beautiful sounding instruments. For information, contact Salvatore Principato at 212-477-8161 or salvatp@aol.com.

Antonio Antonio Vicenty (BRIO winner for documentary film) will be screening his film “Nelson” at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street) on June 30th as part of their Queerhood Film Festival (from 3:00-5:00pm) featuring Independent LGBT Films by Bronx Natives. A Q&A will follow the screening. On July 15th, he will be screening his video art piece "Dollies" at Fluid’s Film and Video Screening Event at Local Project (21-36 44th Road, Long Island City, NY). Find out more about Antonio and his work by visiting www.myspace.com/antoniovicentyfilms.

JUNE 2007

Coleen Booth (BRIO winner for fiction) recently won The Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature. The award was given for her novel, TYRELL, which was published by Scholastic PUSH. For more information on Coe Booth, visit her website at www.coebooth.com.

Christal Brown (BRIO winner for choreography) is a special curator for the Bronx Academy of Dance’s Boogie Down Dance Festival at 8:00pm on June 6th. Click here for details.

Jenna Cardinale (BRIO winner for poetry) will be featured in the Earshot Reading Series on June 8th at 8:00pm. The reading is held at Brooklyn’s The Lucky Cat. The Lucky Cat is located at 245 Grand Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, between Driggs and Roebling. Visit their website for directions. Admission is $5 (includes one free drink). Click here for more information.

Jessica Danser (BRIO winner for choreography) and her company, Jessica Danser/dansfolk, recently performed at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance and at NYC’s City Center Studios.

Marisol Diaz (BRIO winner for photography) will be teaching a digital photography workshop at Wave Hill on June 3rd. Click here for details. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting her website at www.marisoldiaz.com.

Elly Erickson (BRIO winner for vocal performance) presents A Nordic Tapestry: Exploring Our Roots, a free concert of Scandinavian Songs on June 6th at 12:15pm at the Bronx Library Center (310 East Kingsbridge Road at Briggs Avenue) as a free segment of the BCA/Bronx Library Center’s “First Wednesdays at the Library” workshop series. Click here for details. She will also be performing on June 23rd at the Scandinavian-American Heritage Society Midsummer Celebration in Vasa Park, Budd Lake, NJ. Learn more about Elly and her upcoming performances by visiting her website at www.ellyerickson.com.

Desmar Guevara (BRIO winner for music composition) is the musical director of Pregones Theater’s upcoming performance of The Beep (through-June 3rd). Pregones is located at 571-575 Walton Avenue (between 149th & 150th Streets). For information on this show, visit www.pregones.org or call 718-585-1202.

Neal Haiduck (BRIO winner for instrumental music performance) brings his clarinet to the Yankee Tavern on June 6th for a swing & dixieland jazz performance at 6:00 & 7:00pm as part of that evening’s BX1 / Bronx Culture Trolley. Click here for details.

Daniel Hauben (BRIO winner for painting) begins his residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts this month (through July 5th).

Peter Kalivas (BRIO winner for choreography) will appear in the 2007 Florida Dance Festival in Miami "STREAMS" on the June 21st Florida Dances program at 8:00pm at New World Dance Theater, 8th Floor, 25 NE 2nd Street, Miami, Florida.

Ruth Marshall (BRIO winner for mixed media) is an exhibiting artist in Radical and Subversive Knitting, a unique exhibition of international artists using fiber in unexpected ways. Ruth will be showcasing her series of knitted coral snakes that represent all sixty eight species of this colorful and venomous reptile. The show runs thru June 25th at the Museum of Art and Design at 40 West 52nd Street in NYC. For information on Ruth Marshall and her work, visit her website at www.ruthmarshall.com.

Elizabeth “Macha” Marrero (BRIO winner for acting) will be among some of today’s hottest Latin comics take the stage at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts at 8:00pm on June 2nd. Click here for details.

Mindy Matijasevic (BRIO winner for poetry & nonfiction) read her poetry at a reading in a community garden on 6th street and Avenue B on Mother’s Day afternoon. Click here to find out more about Mindy and her upcoming projects.

Ira Merritt (three-time BRIO winner for photography) is part of the Best of the Bronx II exhibit currently on view through June 29th at the Krasdale Galleries in White Plains, NY, exhibiting etchings from his series called Internal Politics.

Nelida Tirado (BRIO winner for dance) will be performing at 7:30pm on June 7th at the Peter Norton Symphony Space at Broadway and 95th Street in NYC. For ticket information, call 212-864-5400 or visit www.symphonyspace.org.

Maxim Pakhomov (BRIO winner for instrumental music) will be playing Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto with The Orchestra of The Bronx at the Lovinger Theatre of Lehman College on Sunday, June 3rd at 3:00pm. The concert is free and open to the public. Click here for details.

PattyDukes (BRIO winner for vocal music) is performing a hip-hop show at Pregones Theater at 7:45pm on June 6th as part of that evening’s BX1 / Bronx Culture Trolley. Click here for details. She is currently working on her debut album.

Mildred Ruiz (BRIO winner for performance) and Desmar Guevara (BRIO winner for music composition) will be performing with the NuyoRican School Original Poetry Jazz Ensemble at NYC’s Julia de Burgos Theater at 1680 Lexington Avenue (between 105th & 106th Streets) at 7:30pm on June 7th and 14th. Admission is free and open to the public. For information, call 718-931-9500 x19.

Jen Shyu (BRIO winner for music composition) will be performing at NYC’s Silk Road Mocha at 30 Mott Street on June 8th at 8:00pm. She recently performed with her trio at the Passport to Taiwan Festival in NYC’s Union Square Park North and sang with Steve Coleman’s band in Moers, Germany in May.

18 Visual and Media Arts BRIO Winners are participating in BX1: The Second Bronx Artist Biennial Exhibition at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos (June 6th – August 25th). They are Blanka Amezkua (crafts), Melisa Firelei Báez (crafts), Timothy Blum (sculpture), Reina Mia Brill (crafts), Toby Buonagurio (sculpture), Peter Cabot (mixed media), Marisol Díaz (photography), Juan Doe (painting), Ruth Marshall (mixed media), Josh Millis (painting), Joel Neff (crafts), Danny Ramón Peralta (photography, Wanda Raimundi-Ortíz (mixed media and painting), Silvia Romero (photography), Pam Sporn (documentary film/vdeo), Ron Terner (photography), José Antonio Vicenty (documentary film), and Lois Weingarten (painting).

Five BRIO Winners Appear on OPEN. On Friday, May 25th, Melisa Baez (crafts) and hip-hop artist PattyDukes (vocal music) appeared on the show and on Friday, June 1st, Marisol Diaz (photography), Elly Erickson (vocal performance), and Muhamadou Salieu Suso (instrumental music). OPEN, airing live on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00am on BronxNet’s channel 67, is a wonderful forum for the Bronx Community sharing information about issues and services, give exposure to artists working in various media, showcase video art, provide a forum for discussion and debate, and edifies viewers about what's happening in the Bronx and beyond. The Friday segment of OPEN is hosted by noted Bronx performer Rhina Valentin (BRIO winner for acting).

MAY 2007

Linda Cunningham (two-time BRIO winner for printmaking) was one of three artists whose work was recently on view in a show entitled Earth Wind Fire at the 2x13 Gallery in NYC. Click here to learn more about the show.

Alejandra Delfin (BRIO winner for printmaking) is among the participating artists in MUD/BONE Studio 889: Encounters with Pablo Neruda, on view at Beacon Artists Union Gallery at 161 Main Street, Beacon, NY through May 6th.

Marisol Diaz (BRIO winner for photography) is hard at work preparing for her dream of running in the NYC Marathon. She’s joined the Road Runners Club, trains regularly, and ran her first race on April 22nd, all in preparation of her big run this November 4th. Learn more about Marisol and her work by visiting her website at www.marisoldiaz.com.

Elly Erickson (BRIO winner for vocal performance) announced a number of May performances of A Nordic Tapestry including: May 6th at 2:00pm at Pincus Auditorium, Yonkers Public Library-Grinton Will Branch; May 18th at 2:00pm at NYC’s 92nd Street Y; and May 24th at 7:30pm at the Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue in NYC. Learn more about Elly and her upcoming performances by visiting her website at www.ellyerickson.com.

Desmar Guevara (BRIO winner for music composition) is the musical director of Pregones Theater’s upcoming performance of The Beep (May 24-June 3). Pregones is located at 571-575 Walton Avenue (between 149th & 150th Streets). For information on this show, visit www.pregones.org or call 718-585-1202.

Daniel Hauben (BRIO winner for painting) currently has two projects underway this month with The New York Society of Etchers. He is a participating artist in The Art of Persuasion, an exhibition on view through June 29th at the Paramount Center for the Arts located at 1008 Brown Street in Peekskill, NY. Click here for information about the show. Daniel is also one of the submitting artists who are contributing etchings to a portfolio of prints of the Bronx Zoo. He is doing three commissioned paintings of the campus of Lehman College (the autumn and winter pieces are complete, and he is currently working on spring). Daniel was recently awarded a residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (June 1- July 5) and his work was featured in the spring issue of Dining Out Magazine. After a five year collaboration with the fabricator Larry Gordon (of Gordon Stained Glass Studio), his Metropolitan Transit Authority “Arts for Transit'” commission work is complete and installed at Freeman Street on the 2/5 line in the Bronx. The four 4' X 8' panels and two niche windows are all based on his paintings of the Bronx and include elements of the elevated trains.

Peter Kalivas (BRIO winner for choreography) announced the East Coast Premiere of his newest work I Might Be Falling which will be performed May 4-6th in Miami, Florida, as part of the 4th Annual Choreographers Series at Excello Dance Space, 8702 SW 129th Terrace, Miami, Florida. Call 305-298-5879 for ticket information and reservations. Click here for more about Peter and the P.G.K. Project.

Mindy Matijasevic (BRIO winner for poetry & nonfiction) co-hosts the STARK Open Mic with Viviana Grell nn the 4th Saturday of each month from 3:00-6:00pm, at the Times Square Arts Center, 300 W. 43rd St., Room 506, in NYC. It features poets, musicians, and comics. Anything goes at the open mic. Admission is $5.00. Click here to find out more about Mindy and her upcoming projects.

Desi Moreno-Penson (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) will be performing her solo piece, A Latina Prepares, at Brooklyn Public Library at Williamsburg, 240 Division Avenue at Marcy Avenue Brooklyn on Saturday, May 12th at 1:00pm. On Wednesday, May 16th at 7:00pm, there will be a staged reading of her play, Devil Land, at The Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, 135th Street & Malcolm X Blvd. This reading is being done as part of the Future Classics Reading Series sponsored by Classical Theatre of Harlem. In addition, Devil Land has been selected to be part of the next Summer Play Festival produced by Arielle Tepper. The festival, which this year will showcase the works of 16 emerging playwrights, takes place every July-August at Theatre Row Studios and features playwrights from both the US and the UK.

Anthony Purdy (BRIO winner for music composition) presents Music of Latin America, a free concert of music of South American and Spanish composers on May 2nd at 12:15pm at the Bronx Library Center (310 East Kingsbridge Road at Briggs Avenue) as a free segment of the BCA/Bronx Library Center’s “First Wednesdays at the Library” workshop series. Click here for more information.

Moses Ros (BRIO winner for painting) has two exhibitions on view this month: Exposicion al Maestro Vicente Fabre at NYC’s Boriqua College at 3755 Broadway at 156 Street on view through May 11th; and The Colors of my Home/Los Colores de mi Casa at the African American Museum at 110 North Franklin Street in Hempstead, NY, on view through May 18th.

Alba Sanchez (BRIO winner for acting) has been invited by HBO Latino to write a new commercial campaign in Spanglish. The commercial spots will be filmed this summer. They include spots for The Sopranos, The Wire, Rome, coming attractions and more. She will be performing at The Comedy Store in the show Latinas Don't PMS on May 17th in Los Angeles, California. For more information about Alba Sanchez, visit her website at www.albasanchez.tv/.

Jose Antonio Vicenty (BRIO winner for documentary film) will be screening his 2006 the documentary Nelson on Wednesday, May 30th, at Anthology Film Archives/Newfilmmakers Night, 32 East 2nd Avenue at 2nd Street, 6:00pm. $5 Cover Charge.

APRIL 2007

Timothy Blum (BRIO winner for sculpture) currently has a show on view in Shanghai, China.

Helene Brandt (BRIO winner for sculpture) currently has a one-woman show at the Humanities Gallery at the Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus, Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues in Brooklyn, NY. Helene Brandt: The Phoenix, the traveler and the acrobat will be on view thru April 30th with an opening reception on Thursday, April 12th, from 6:00-8:00pm. It is an exhibition of recent sculpture using steel tubing twisted, cut and welded together into figures that resemble animals, humans and tree roots. Information, call Nancy Grove at 718-488-1198.

Luis Fonseca (two-time BRIO winner for digital art) currently has a one-person show, Cyanotypes Alternative Photographic Processes, at YOHO Art Gallery in Yonkers thru April 22nd. Call 917-836-2924 for information or to set up appointment. He is part of the Riverdale Art Association Group Art Show (showing cyanotypes) at The College of Mount Saint Vincent’s Elizabeth Seton Library (6301 Riverdale Avenue, entrance gate at 263rd Street, 718-405-3267). The show runs thru May 31st. Viewing hours are 4:30pm-7:30pm. He is also part of the Riverdale Art Association Group Show (showing two digital photography works and two-mixed media works) at Manhattan College’s O'Malley Library thru Apr 30th. For more information about Luis and his work visit www.luisfonseca.com.

Dana Frobig (BRIO winner for instrumental music) presents Dana Frobig and Friends, a free classical concert on April 4th at 12:15pm at 12:15pm at the Bronx Library Center (310 East Kingsbridge Road at Briggs Avenue) as a free segment of the BCA/Bronx Library Center’s “First Wednesdays at the Library” workshop series. Click here for more information. Dana is also co-owner with her husband, Andy, of “Frobig Wind Repair”, an instrument repair business located across from Lincoln Center.

Peter Kalivas (BRIO winner for choreography) is presenting his solo Running Backwards and premiering a new duet for himself and Megan Jenkins, a new dancer Peter’s P.G.K. Project (A Contemporary Dance Company) entitled I Might Be Falling, I Could Be Falling, Yes I am Falling on April 14th as part of the Mix It Up Program at The Stage 7 Theatre in San Diego, California.

Mindy Matijasevic (BRIO winner for poetry & nonfiction) shares her poetry on Monday, April 2nd, ay 7:30pm as part of the Saturn Series Poetry Reading & Open Mic (sign-up at 7:00pm) at the Nightingale Lounge, 213 Second Avenue, (NW Corner of 13th St. & 2nd Avenue) in NYC. $3.00 donation plus one drink minimum. On the 4th Saturday of each month from 3:00-6:00pm, co-hosts the STARK Open Mic with Viviana Grell at the Times Square Arts Center, 300 W. 43rd St., Room 506, in NYC. It features poets, musicians, and comics. Anything goes at the open mic. Admission is $5.00.

Ira Merritt (three-time BRIO winner for photography) is part of the Best of the Bronx II exhibit currently on view at the Krasdale Galleries in White Plains, NY, exhibiting etchings from his series called Internal Politics.

Desi Moreno-Penson (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) will be performing her solo performance piece, A Latina Prepares, as part of the Urban Stages outreach touring program on April 25th at 6:00pm and April 28th at 11:00am. Location: Coney Island Learning Center, 1901 Mermaid Avenue at 19th St. Brooklyn, NY.

Edwin Pagan (BRIO winner for screenwriting) recently received pre-production (R&D) funds from Latino Public Broadcasting for his Bronx Burning documentary. Bronx Burning tells the story of the tragic events and misguided policies which almost led to the complete destruction of a major U.S. borough and the residents who decided to stay and re-claim their neighborhoods from the ashes of neglect, economic opportunism and political indifference.

Lou Torres (BRIO winner for acting) just returned from the shoot in Philadelphia for the film The Mercy Man (www.mercyman.com) in which he plays the role of Perez. He recently completed post-production for the film Back Stab (www.myspace.com/backstab) and is in pre-production for a new film Kiss of Chaos.

Jose Antonio Vicenty (BRIO winner for documentary film) recently sent his recent works Nelson and Dollies to film festivals/screening rooms/galleries for exposure. He has two upcoming works is the video art piece titled Playing with Dollies about dolls (homage to dolls in horror movies) and a short experimental video art piece titled Plastic about plastic safe sex. He is currently penning a feature length narrative screenplay to be shot in 2008.

MARCH 2007

Cristal Brown (BRIO winner for choreography) and her INSPIRIT dance company will be performing 16 Stories at the Tribeca Performing Center is located at 199 Chambers Street in NYC on Mar 16th & 17th. 16 Stories is a collaborative work created by INSPIRIT to challenge the ideas of perception, environment and experience. Told from the theatrical space of 16 story building dancers embody 16 stories with the use of movement, text and theatrical prowess assisted by projection and film. General Admission: $10. Special rates for students and groups. For more information, contact the box office at 212-220-1460 or visit www.inspiritdance.com.

Alejandra Delfin (BRIO winner for printmaking) is among the participating artists in MUD/BONE Studio 889: Encounters with Pablo Neruda, an upcoming exhibition at Beacon Artists Union which will be previewed on Mar 7th at MUD/BONE Studio 889 (889 Hunts Points Avenue, just off Garrison Avenue) as a free segment of BCA’s Bronx Culture Trolley.

Luis Fonseca (two-time BRIO winner for digital art) currently has a one-person show, Cyanotypes Alternative Photographic Processes, at YOHO Art Gallery in Yonkers. Call 917-836-2924 for information or to set up appointment. He is part of the Riverdale Art Association Group Art Show (showing cyanotypes) at The College of Mount Saint Vincent’s Elizabeth Seton Library (6301 Riverdale Avenue, entrance gate at 263rd Street, 718-405-3267). The show runs Mar 2nd thru May 31st with an opening reception on Mar 2nd. Viewing hours are 4:30pm-7:30pm. He is also part of the Riverdale Art Association Group Show (showing two digital photography works and two-mixed media works) at Manhattan College’s O'Malley Library thru Apr 30th.

Desmar Guevara (BRIO winner for music composition) will be playing piano in When the Mountains Come to the Bronx with Appalachian master banjo player and fiddler Ron Short of Roadside Theater at Pregones Theater (5:50 & 6:50pm) on Mar 7th as a segment of BCA’s Bronx Culture Trolley.

Meg Duguid (BRIO winner for performance art) recently screened one of her videos at a Synthetic Zero loft event in NYC.

Peter Kalivas (BRIO winner for choreography) is currently creating a new contemporary/modern work for The California Ballet's "First View" program which will premiere at The Contemporary Museum of Art in La Jolla, California this May. Peter and his P.G.K. Project will be among the represented performers on a shared program of four companies slated at The Stage 7 Theatre in San Diego, CA, and the they are off to Miami where they will be presented in the Excello Dance Series. Click here for more about Peter and the P.G.K. Project.

Neal Haiduck (BRIO winner for instrumental music performance) recently performed at the premier Carmelo Comberiati's Three Pieces of Clarinet, at a faculty-artist recital at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.

Steven Lubin (two-time winner for instrumental music) will be playing in an all-Schubert concert on Mar 9th at Bates College in Maine.

Elizabeth Marrero (BRIO winner for acting) and Desi Moreno-Penson (two-time BRIO winner for playwriting) are performing artists in the Mar 4th reading of The Vagina Monologues (6:00pm) at the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance at 841 Barretto Street in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Click here for directions. Admission: $15. For further information, call 718-842-5223 or visit www.BronxAcademyofArtsandDance.org. Desi also has an upcoming staged reading for her new play, Rainbow Skin, on March 22nd at 7:00pm at New Georges/The Room, 520 8th Avenue, Suite 326, in NYC. Admission is free and open to the public. No reservations necessary.