Arts & Entertainment

Brooklyn Museum Winter Events: Jazz, Salsa and More

From drop-in drawing workshops to Afro Latin Jazz, to classes for kids, there's something for everyone this January and February.

If you thought the Brooklyn Museum was just a place to see art, think again. There are also an array of programs for adults, teens, and kids.

The January and February programs include performances by the Grammy Award-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, pianist Joe Alterman, the Fat Afro Latin Jazz Cats, and Balmir Studio's salsa team; conversations with artists El Anatsui and Duron Jackson; a panel discussion about the Black female body in art; the premiere of the season finale of The Outs and a discussion with the team behind the acclaimed web show; screenings of the films La Playa D.C., Hilde Holger: Her Legacy (pictured), La Pirogue, Ethel, and Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story; a tour of the new installation Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas with curators Nancy Rosoff and Susan Zeller; and a variety of art-making classes and workshops.

THURSDAY EVENINGS AT THE MUSEUM

The Museum remains open every Thursday evening until 10, allowing visitors to linger later in the galleries and enjoy exciting evening programs. The series includes interviews, performance, film, and eclectic, eye-opening tours. January and February highlights include:

January 10
7 p.m. In Conversation: Artists and activists discuss creative tactics to address the needs of communities where they live and work. Participants include Sarah Schulman, author of The Gentrification of The Mind; Mitty Owens, Deputy Director of FUREE; Paula Z. Segal, Founding Director of 596 Acres; Risë Wilson, Founder of The Laundromat Project; and Todd Lester, Executive Director of the Global Arts Corps and creator of Lanchonete.org.

January 17
6 p.m. Gallery Tour en Español
7-9 p.m. Salsa Class: An evening of salsa music and dancing featuring a lesson and performance by Balmir Studio's professional salsa team.
7:30 p.m. New Ways of Seeing: A Drop-in Drawing Workshop: Explore artists' processes, develop professional drawing techniques, and meet others who share your interest. All ages are welcome, and no experience is necessary. There is an $8 fee to cover the cost of materials.

January 24
6 p.m. Sensory Tour: "Twenty-First-Century Art." Designed for individuals who are blind or have low vision, but open to all. Verbal descriptions, tastings, and tactile experiences included. RSVP requested to access@brooklynmuseum.org or (718) 501-6487.
7 p.m. BrooklyNites Jazz: Grammy Award-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, led by pianist, composer, and educator Arturo O'Farrill, combines Latin rhythms and African-based percussion instruments with modern jazz and swing. Plus special performance by the Fat Afro Latin Jazz Cats, an all-star youth big band.

January 31
7 p.m. Film: The team behind the acclaimed web show The Outs premieres the season finale and discusses the series' creation.
7 p.m. Performance: Artist Eleanor Antin reads from her memoir Conversations with Stalin, a dark comedy about growing up in Cold War-era New York in an idiosyncratic family of first-generation Jewish immigrants. This performance reading is part of a four-part series taking place at three other museums across the city.

 

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

PERFORMING ARTS & FILM

Film: Hilde Holger: Her Legacy
Sunday, January 27, 2 p.m.
A documentary on the expressionist dancer and choreographer Hilde Holger made by her daughter, Primavera Boman. A discussion with Boman follows the film.

 

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

TALKS & TOURS

Panel Discussion: "The Black Female Body in Art"
Saturday, January 12, 2 p.m.
In connection with the Mickalene Thomas exhibition, noted scholars and authors Deb Willis, Imani Perry, Carla Williams, Isolade Brielmaier, and Tisa Bryant discuss how the black female body has been idealized and misread in art history and visual culture. Tours of Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe will precede and follow the discussion at 1 and 4 p.m.

Artist Talk: Duron Jackson
Friday, January 18, 2 p.m.
The Raw/Cooked artist discusses his work.

Curator Tour: Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas
Saturday and Sunday, January 19 and 20, 2 p.m.
Curators Nancy Rosoff and Susan Zeller lead tours of the Museum's newly reinstalled collection of the Art of the Americas.

Holiday Celebration: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Sunday, January 20, 3-5 p.m.
WNYC's annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day celebration examines current events as they might be seen by three slain civil rights icons: King, Malcolm X, and Medger Evers. Passages from the play Malcolm, Martin, and Medger, by A. Peter Bailey, set the tone for an afternoon of discussion, music, and personal reminiscence hosted by WNYC's Brian Lehrer.

 

YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAMS

Artist Encounters: GO
Sunday, January 20, 12-2 p.m.
Get to know local Brooklyn artists through encountering artwork in GO. In this program for children seven and older with an adult companion, participants engage in an interactive exploration of the work of a single artist and create a piece of art using some of the same materials or concepts. Space is limited to twenty-five. To register, e-mail youth.family@brooklynmuseum.org.

Arty Facts
Sundays, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Children ages four to seven and their adult friends explore the galleries, enjoy a family activity, and make their own art in each ninety-minute Arty Facts class. This January go beyond canvas and paint and discover fun, funky, and unusual materials. In February, learn how today's artists create and then make your own creative art. Please do not bring siblings older than seven or younger than four. Materials fee (Museum admission not included): $10 per family (up to four participants), $5 for Gallery/Studio families and Members at the Family level, and free to Members at the Contributor level and above.

Meet the Museum
In Meet the Museum, toddlers two and three years old explore art and culture through song, gallery activities, and art making. Adult companions work closely with their children and discover fun, creative ways to interact with them. Classes are held Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Registration for the spring session, March 7 to May 16, opens February 15. For more information and to register, visit www.brooklynmuseum.org/education/youth-and-families/meet_museum.php. Early registration is encouraged; classes fill up quickly.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Prospect Heights-Crown Heights