Monthly archives:June 2016

  • Expanding Beyond Guitar at Hudson High School

  • 8 years ago
  • Art for Progress’ after school music enrichment program at Hudson High School for Learning Technologies was especially inspiring this spring semester because of a dynamic group of multi-talented, and eager students. The program was reinstated this spring thanks to the efforts of principal Nancy Amling. The program had been inactive for the fall semester because a lack of funding, Ms. Amling was influenced in her decision to restart the program by an exceptional young student and musician named Terelle. Terelle’s enthusiasm and hunger for new knowledge were the ultimate catalyst for the formation of the program. Tarelle wanted to learn about how music works beyond the shapes he was learning on the guitar. Hudson HS currently offers a beginning guitar class as a part of the school’s regular curriculum. The class is focused on the mechanics of playing the instrument, but like most beginning guitar classes, it did not address the underlying music theory necessary for students who to build their skills beyond the basic guitar vocabulary. The group of students that comprise the AFP after school program at Hudson range from 9th-12th graders, and are led by Terelle.  He expressed a desire to learn some more universal musical concepts in order to set up a foundation upon which to develop their musicality. They were made up of aspiring singers, guitarists, pianists, and bass players of varying levels of experience. We explored the construction of scales, chord building and common[...]

  • Haven: A Summer Retreat for Artists & Friends, Part II

  • 8 years ago
  • Art for Progress & NOosphere Arts present Haven: A Summer Retreat for Artists and Friends, Part II Saturday, July 16th, 7PM at Mothership USA, $5, BYOB 252 Green Street, 2L, Rooftop, Greenpoint, Brooklyn Summer is here, and if you can’t be at the beach or away for the weekend, what’s better than a summer rooftop party? Last year, Frank & Sol decided to throw a fun party for artists and friends at Sol’s artist studio, rooftop in Brooklyn, and it turned out to be one of the best parties of the summer! So, we’ve decided to make this an annual event, and we are so very pleased to once again invite you to join us for a magical night of art & music to celebrate life, creativity and happiness. LIVE MUSIC:  Kick Ass Rock n Roll from NYC’s Hundred Hounds,  Rootsy Americana/Folk from Brooklyn’s Bad Faces, Soaring Vocals and Eclectic Sounds from blythe is a mermaid DJ’s:  Brian Burnside (deepa)  Gatto (AFP) Performance Art:  Autumn Kioti, Loren Crabbe Physical Theater: Hilary Chaplain Video Installations:  Filmmaker, Daniel Maldonado, Artist Jeanne Wilkinson We invite you to beta-test ArtFundit, a new website designed to help promote artists, their artwork and voice within the artist community. Visit the kiosk at our event for more information and how you can participate.

  • AFP Music: Five Songs You Should Be Listening To

  • 8 years ago
  • While you wait for that new Taylor Swift album which is surely in the works given the artist’s recent break-up, here are a few songs to enjoy in the warm weather. No matter whether it’s more #endlesssummer or more endless bummer... 1. Stabwounds’ “Fragile Boy” Don’t let their name fool you. Despite the fact that their name makes them sound like a metalcore band, Stabwounds is more indie folk than -core. Together, bandmates Emma March Barash and Amanda Brooklyn form what they call “the sexually charged reincarnation of Simon and Garfunkel”. The duo crafts soft harmonies that drift likes breezes about heartache and relationships. Layered atop acoustic guitar or occasionally unaccompanied, they’re an easy listen. If you missed the chance to see the band live at their recent Pianos gig, they’ll be playing an upcoming show at The Manhattan Inn in Brooklyn on July 11th! 2. Modern Baseball’s “Wedding Singer” Although both Brendan Lukens and Jake Ewald share the duty of primary vocalist in Modern Baseball, this single off their new record Holy Ghost features Ewald alone and perhaps at his best. The video features a pink haired hearse driver (think a younger Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind) coming to the rescue of a frantic young man, pacing the gates of a cemetery. The two drive around in the modified cadillac, eventually roller skating and karaoking. It’s like a four minute rom-com complete with all the will-they, won’t-they meaningful eye contact yo[...]

  • Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2016

  • 8 years ago
  • Formed in 1978, Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations devoted to defending and protecting human rights. Having long recognized the power of film to educate and bring change, the organization’s New York-based Human Rights Watch Film Festival screens approximately 500 films in 20 cities around the world each year. The 2016 edition of its New York City event is presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and IFC Center from June 10 through 19, featuring 18 feature films and three interactive programs. Here are some highlights: Opening Night selection is Hooligan Sparrow, which documents the efforts of  filmmaker Nanfu Wang to track Chinese activist Ye Haiyan (aka “Hooligan Sparrow”) in her mission to prosecute a school principal who arranged the rape of schoolgirls by government officials. Sparrow, a women’s rights advocate who first made headlines by speaking up for sex workers, seeks to close a loophole in China’s child prostitution laws that has enabled officials to elude rape charges by claiming that the victims were prostitutes. Hooligan Sparrow shows its protagonist and a small group of fellow protestors being harassed regularly by government-hired thugs, as Wang uses hidden cameras to record interactions with uncooperative police officials. Sparrow avoids arrest by fleeing to several cities during the course of the film, including her home village, as she awaits the verdict in the schoolgirl case. For Hooligan Sparrow, Wang [...]

  • 3 Reasons Why Brand Merchandising Is A Major Win-Win

  • 8 years ago
  • Ok, fashion creatives, now let's get in formation! If you are passionate about streetwear design, be sure to create brand merchandising that seamlessly promotes your brand in a unique and fun way, and that stands out with Beyoncé-level swag. After all, it's not only a spectacular way to strengthen customer allegiance, it also pushes word about your company further into the world. Below: This week, a model sporting an old-school style logo tee at Gucci Cruise 2017 at Westminster Abbey. Crafted by creative director Alessandro Michele, this season's layered looks also embrace logo design Photo: Getty Images Even outside of the fashion world, Internet giants like Reddit and Mailchimp have discovered great success in brand merchandising. For Reddit, their first run of promotional gear sold out in 24 hours. And, as spirits company Sweet Tea Vodka points out, company swag is a more widespread form of advertising: [Fans become like] "billboards walking around, which is great," he says. "The beer companies have done it forever." As journalist Tim Donnelly writes in Inc., "brand merchandise is a great way to create new loyalties with your customers and enlist them to spread your name to new audiences." However there's a caveat: "You have to do it in a way that creates viral sensations, not just oversized promotional T-shirts that end up at the bottom of someone's closet." Below: Looks like Alessandro Michele took a risk using oversized promotional gear for a look th[...]