FRINGE!!!

In 1947, when 8 univited theater groups performed around the edges of the Edinburgh International Festival, they kicked off a festival series that -- more than 60 years later -- is larger and wilder than ever. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival today, with more than 2,000 shows in 250+ venues, may be the great-granddaddy of the international Fringe events, but there are several local FringeFests coming up that are worthy contenders. image by Eva Surany

The New York International Fringe Festival has been around since 1997, and coming up this August 14th - 30th, 2009, some of the top theater groups and independent performers in the world will converge in our frontyard for our entertainment. And this year, among the groups juried in, will be a contingent from Mercer County Community College.

"1-900-SELFPLEX," written by MCCC adjunct instructor Alex DeFazio and directed by Jody Person (coordinator of the college’s Theatre/Dance program) features 3 recent graduates of the MCCC Theatre Program: Deena Jiles, Patrick Martin and Michelle Wood in the feature roles. A 2009 graduate of the college, Eva Surany, is doing ad design for the production and Bob Terrano (coordinator of the college’s Entertainment Technology program) is the technical director. It will premiere on August 17 at The Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre. For tickets, additional times, and ticket information, check out the NYFringe schedule.

The Philly Fringe will be coming up September 4 - 19, so I'll post more on them later in the summer. If you haven't made it to a Fringe Festival yet, you owe it to yourself to start checking out these packed full schedules and planning a couple of visits.

Get YOUR Art on the Wall! Art All Night!

Art All Night, the 24 hour multi-arts party hosted by ARTWORKS in Trenton, takes place this weekend from 3 pm Saturday (June 20) - 3 pm Sunday (June 21). This is the 3rd annual, and -- having been at both #1 and #2 -- I can tell you that it is one of those "not to be missed" events.

There's still time for all of you ARTISTS out there to be a part of this event. Artists (trained, untrained, professional, amateur, poseur, racanteur -- it doesn't matter!!!) of all ages from any area are invited to submit one piece of art to be displayed. Drop off of artwork takes place 6 - 9 pm this Friday night, June 19, and from 8 am - 2 pm on Saturday morning, the 20th. You'll speed things up if you upload the registration form from the Art All Night website.

And if you'd like to be even more involved, there are still shifts open for volunteers. It's a great way to meet other artists, check out a full mix of music, and party with the best of them...all for FREE (although purchase of an Art All Night T-shirt, and a few dollars in the "Donate" boxes will ensure that ARTWORKS -- and Art All Night -- keeps doing its good work.

Black Film Festival returns to Trenton

from This is My Africa

Once again, film lovers will have an opportunity to check out the Newark Black Film Festival at the NJ State Museum in Trenton this summer. A full roster of movies - old and new - explore different aspects of the African American experience during this six week, FREE, festival. In recent years, this Festival has played host to numerous emerging filmmakers, directors, actors, writers, and producers who have mingled with viewers throughout the event. For a full listing of films and events, you can go to the State Museum's website at www.state.nj.us/state/museum/index.htm  

One featured film is Zina Saro-Wiwa's award winning documentary film, This Is My Africa. The memories, dreams, culture and experiences of 20 London-based Africans and Africa-lovers are woven into a "...50-minute crash course in African culture."

FIGMENT Festival this weekend!!!

Thanks to both Ellen Hackl Fagan (whose incredible Reverse Color Organ installation in The Listening Eye exhibit wowed visitors here at The Gallery back in 2005) and Cindy Stockton Moore (Dangerous Women Two [DW2] participant and an amazing artist and instructor) who each have work in this weekend’s FIGMENT Festival. Their invitations reminded me that the 3rd annual version of this AMAZING event takes place this weekend, June 12-14th. Some of the installations will remain on view as 'City of Dreams', an interactive sculpture garden and the artstop Mini-Golf course through October 11, 2009.

The music/art/performance/installation/anything goes happening takes place across New York City’s historic Governor’s Island. The ferry to the island is free -- as are all of the events - which feature 400+ artists and include everything from performance art to mini-golf.

Ellen's holding forth at location AW05 with her process art workshop, The Alphabet Game. Cindy and fellow DW2 artist Abby Goodman’s found-object sculpture Salvage will be on display in the City of Dreams sculpture garden through October. Cindy plans on being there on Friday. Cindy and Abby documented much of their process in creating Salvage, and you can check it out on Cindy’s site www.cindystocktonmoore.com/figment.html

For more information about FIGMENT - including a map of the events and installations – go to http://figmentnyc.org/2009/

For directions to the Manhattan or Brooklyn ferries going to Governor’s Island (and a schedule) go to: http://www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/directions.asp

Note: sketch of Slavage by Abby Goodman/Cindy Stockton Moore