The Indian Panorama

Tag: Arts

  • WALL STREET EXEC INSPIRES TEACHING TEENS LIFE LESSONS

    • By Mabel Pais

    “I believe it is important for all young people to have time, resources and opportunities to think about the life they want to make for themselves and not just how they will make a living,” Ed Hajim

    What is the Ed Hajim Professional Readiness Program?

    Ed Hajim (Credit: NJPAC.org)

    This fall, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will launch a new initiative for its arts education students, the Ed Hajim Professional Readiness Program, which will offer rising teen artists, 14 and up, a series of free classes and opportunities that will propel them towards a successful career in the performing arts. The program will equip student performers with skills and strategies necessary to succeed professionally in the performing arts.

    Inspired by Hajim’s book, ‘Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable About Preparing for Your Future,’ a guide to success in life and business told in the form of a fable, the program is designed to let young artists harness the elements of success that propelled Hajim himself from foster care to Wall Street board rooms.

    Hajim, a leading business executive who held senior management positions with the Capital Group, E.F. Hutton, and Lehman Brothers before becoming chairman and CEO of Furman Selz, is supporting the program with a significant gift to the Arts Center. He will also meet with participants to share with them how he made his way from an orphanage to Harvard Business School and the C-suite of multiple financial firms.

    Watch 2015 Horatio Alger Award Winner Edmund Hajim speak of the troubles of his youth during the Depression, including time spent in foster care while his father was at sea during World War II, and how he discovered his passion for financial management while at Harvard Business School

    – youtu.be/i-9q2bKSCwM

    While career preparedness has always been an element of NJPAC’s extensive arts education programs  – which offer thousands of young people skills instruction in vocal and instrumental jazz music, acting, musical theater and hip-hop arts every year – the PREP initiative will formalize and significantly expand those offerings. 

    “Ed Hajim’s life story is a remarkable one, and the lessons he’s gleaned from his extraordinary career have inspired us to create a series of workshops and programs for our students to ensure they’re fully prepared for their professional lives. Success in the performing arts requires talent, of course, but also practical and interpersonal skills that Ed has uniquely identified,” says John Schreiber, President and CEO of NJPAC. “The career-readiness aspect of our arts education programming will be turbocharged by this gift and by Ed’s personal engagement with our students.”

    “These initiatives will help our students marry their raw talent with the skills they need to become thriving businesspeople as well as great performers. They’ll be able to explore their passions, and develop the skills that will allow them to make informed plans for their futures, all here at the Arts Center,” says Rosa Hyde, Senior Director Arts Ed Performances and Special Events at NJPAC.

    PROGRAM

    NJPAC Arts Ed Students (Credit: NJPAC.org)

    The  program – which is FREE to current NJPAC students who desire to pursue a profession in the arts, and to alumni of the Arts Center’s arts training programs – will guide students through a series of steps that will advance their career readiness. Starting at age 14, and continuing through their university-level education and the early years of their professional work, students will receive both instruction in key skills and access to a ready-made professional network. The programs that will be available to NJPAC students beginning in Fall 2024 include:

    • Business of the Arts Workshops: For students ages 14 to 18

    A year-long series of two-hour Saturday seminars (offered immediately following NJPAC’s Saturday arts training classes)  on the practical skills young artists will need to advance their careers, including resume-writing, social media management, contract and financial literacy and audition etiquette, taught both by working artists and professionals in other fields.

    • The Production Education Assistants program: For students and alumni ages 18-30

    Students and alumni will be offered the opportunity to take a month-long series of bi-weekly classes in technical theater skills, from light and sound design to stage management. Once classes are completed, they will have the opportunity to learn from and shadow professional stagehands. Participants will have the opportunity to sit for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) BACKstage Exam (Basic and Comprehensive Knowledge Exam for High School Technical Theatre Students), a prerequisite for consideration for union membership.

    • NJPAC Alumni Network: For graduates of the Arts Centers arts training programs New alumni will now be able to join and learn from a community of NJPAC-trained artists. Through this network, not only will alumni be able to share insights and information with fellow artists, but the Arts Center will be able to call upon its graduates to provide mentorship to younger artists, perform at events, advise on programming and share their success stories. Through a new online platform, alumni will be able to network with peers who can provide advice, share job leads, and collaborate creatively. These additions to the Arts Center’s arts education curriculum will also include expansions of career-focused initiatives that have been piloted at NJPAC in recent years including:
    • Creative Coaching: For student artists ages 14 through 18. The Creative Coaching program pairs arts training students with teaching artists who serve as their mentors for two years. Working together, student and mentor identify a career-focused goal for the year – from producing a student’s first EP to preparing a repertoire of songs and monologues for auditions – and work together on the steps toward achieving that goal. Mentors and students meet twice a week throughout the school year.
    • The Creator’s Room: For students ages 16 to 18 A quarterly series of conversations at which students can meet with working professional artists to both network and pick up tips and insight on how to handle auditions, how to find representation, where best to seek our job opportunities in today’s market, even how to dress for auditions and rehearsals. These meetings are designed to offer students the nitty-gritty details of pursuing a career in the arts, from artists who are currently working in the field.

    Finally, with this training supporting them, students engaged in the  program will be able to take on paid performance jobs through the Arts Center’s unique placement service for the students it trains:

    • Brick City Booking: For current students aged 14 and up, and NJPAC alumni

    Student artists and recent alumni can access paid performance opportunities, and work with staff and mentors to negotiate contract terms, prepare repertoire, and nurture ongoing relationships with clients, through this service, NJPAC’s student and alumni “booking agency.”

    Watch the video of Arts Ed Students – player.vimeo.com/external/351250473.hd.mp4?s=0659a112ecadb56e1fbe83d3c38de29ca4c3b345&profile_id=175

    For more information about NJPAC’s arts education and career readiness programs, visit njpac.org/arts-education.

    Ed Hajim

    Ed Hajim is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, ‘On The Road Less Traveled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom’ and ‘The Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable About Preparing for Your Future’.

    The son of a Syrian immigrant, he is a seasoned Wall Street executive with more than 50 years of investment experience. He has held senior management positions with the Capital Group, E.F. Hutton, and Lehman Brothers before becoming chairman and CEO of Furman Selz. Hajim has been the co-chairman of ING Barings, Americas Region; chairman and CEO of ING Aeltus Group and ING Furman Selz Asset Management. He is now non-executive chairman of High Vista, a Boston-based money management company.

    In 2008, after 20 years as a trustee of the University of Rochester, Hajim began an eight-year tenure as chairman of the university’s board. Upon assuming that office he gave the school $30 million—the largest single donation in its history—to support scholarships and endow the Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Through the Hajim Family Foundation, he has made generous donations to organizations that promote education, health care, arts, culture, and conservation.

    In 2015, he received the Horatio Alger Award, given to Americans who exemplify the values of initiative, leadership, and commitment to excellence and who have succeeded despite personal adversities. Married for 59 years, Ed and his wife Barbara have three children and eight grandchildren. Learn more at edhajim.com.

  • NJ BEAT

    NJ BEAT

    By Mabel Pais

    THE NEWARK MUSEUM

    Community Day: Art Extravaganza

    Saturday, May 15, 10:30am – 8pm EST, FREE

    newarkmuseumart.org/community-day-art-extravaganza

    Forget everything you thought you knew about art!

    Today we are going to dive into all the wacky, unique, and wonderful ways people create. Delight in an artist who makes masterpieces out of pancake batter, step into the world of illusion makeup, or even try your hand at making unconventional art of your own. Enjoy a virtual walk-through Newark looking at incredible wall murals. You will walk away from this event finding art everywhere in brand new ways!

    All programs are on the following platforms unless otherwise noted:

    Community Day: Art Extravaganza

    10:30am – Let’s Get Messy

    Have you ever wanted to make art with food? Join educators from the Children’s Museum of Manhattan as they show you how to create an edible portrait! Spend 45 minutes getting messy and having fun, while making art using items from around your house. Register at eventbrite.com/e/lets-get-messy-registration-149734386581

    12pm – Painting with Pancakes

    Sizzle sizzle, art comes to life on the pancake griddle! In this event, you can bet we will be playing with our food. Watch an artist from Dancakes create art using pancake batter. Dancakes is the premiere pancake art company filled with friendly, interactive, and very talented pancake artists. Register at eventbrite.com/e/painting-with-pancakes-registration-149736789769

    2pm – Dress Like A Work of Art

    Some artists paint on a canvas, but Ariel Adkins paints on her clothes! Enjoy this virtual experience where Ariel takes us through her unique process of creating outfits that completely mimic a work of art or natural surroundings. Some of her colorful, one-of-a-kind creations include a jumpsuit of Claude Monet’s “Waterlilies” and a skirt of “The Ten Largest” by Hilma af Klint.

    Find Ariel on Instagram @artfullyawear and don’t miss this artful experience. Register at eventbrite.com/e/dress-like-a-work-of-art-registration-149738406605

    4pm – Video Drop: See It To Believe It: Makeup By Marissa

    You won’t believe your eyes. Artist @makeupbymarissaa shows you how she creates an illusion out of her looks inspired by The Newark Museum of Art’s collection. Watch as she turns her face into a work of art!

     7pm – Murals in the Brick City

    Experience a virtual tour of a variety of murals across the City of Newark. Your knowledgeable guide from Have You Met Newark (haveyoumetnewark.com) will dive into the history of each mural, discuss the subject and meaning, and interview some of the talented artists behind the works. They’ll also share some tips for visiting the murals on your own in the future and where to grab a bite, a drink, or shop after. Register at eventbrite.com/e/murals-in-the-brick-city-registration-149727564175

    FROM NJPAC

    REGINA CARTER: Listening Party

     May 15, 2021 @ 2 PM, Free

    Have you ever heard a performance or recording that had such a profound effect on you, you listened to it over and over again?

    Regina Carter hosts an afternoon “listening party” featuring the faculty of NJPAC’s Geri Allen Jazz Camp and the music that holds a special place in their hearts. Hear what recordings, musicians, soundtracks and concerts grabbed hold of them and wouldn’t let go—leading them to the engaging world of jazz and improvisation.

    Hosted by Regina Carter (violin), Artistic Director of Geri Allen Jazz Camp

    Featuring esteemed Geri Allen Jazz Camp faculty members:

    Carla Cook (vocals)

     

    Marion Hayden (bass)

     

    Allison Miller (drums)

     

    Ellen Rowe (piano)

     

    Bruce Williams (saxophone)

     

    To register, visit eventbrite.com/e/listening-party-with-regina-carter-registration-152879599999

    AND

    VALERIE SIMPSON: Music, Mentors & Motown

    May 18, 2021 @ 7 PM, Free

    THE BRILLIANT SINGER-SONGWRITER ON HER LIFE

    AND THE WOMEN WHO HELPED SHAPE IT

     

    JOIN VALERIE AND NJPAC PRESIDENT & CEO JOHN SCHREIBER for an hour of words and music

    Valerie Simpson
    Photo /Courtesy NJPAC

    Valerie Simpson, of the songwriting, producing, and recording duo Ashford & Simpson, brought a string of timeless hits to the world, from “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” “I’m Every Woman,” and, of course, “Solid.” From the 1960s to the present day, Simpson has not only performed and recorded her own work but written songs for Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and many more. Valerie’s work has had an outsize influence on the world of music for decades.

    But who influenced her?

    Join Valerie and NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber for an hour of words and music that will focus on the iconic women who made Valerie the genre-defining artist she is, including Maya Angelou, Nina Simone, and Cicely Tyson. Valerie will share her memories of them, and of her decades in the business, including her time in Motown and her performing career with her husband and musical partner Nickolas Ashford.

    This virtual conversation with music is part of a new series at NJPAC: Every month, a special guest visits our virtual theater to talk about their own favorite artists — and share a few indelible songs. NJPAC’s John Schreiber joins our featured guest in a wide-ranging discussion, taking a deep dive into timeless music and tales of the legendary artists who brought it to life.

    To RSVP, visit njpac.tfaforms.net/145?id=a2F4o000000dlHSEAY

    FROM NEWARK ARTS

    HARRIET TUBMAN MONUMENT: Final Designs

    Submission Deadline: May 24, 2021, Free

    Artist finalists (clockwise from top left: Abigail Dawn DeVille, Dread Scott, Jules Arthur, Vinnie Bagwell, Nina Cooke John)
    Photo / Courtesy NewarkArts.org

    “The monument will serve as encouragement to our present and future generations, allowing them to draw inspiration from the artists who will put a modern view on Ms. Tubman’s life and works.” – Mayor Ras J. Baraka

     The City of Newark held a national open call for artists for a new monument honoring Harriet Tubman, the heroic abolitionist who made Newark an important stop on the Underground Railroad as she personally led enslaved African-Americans out of the South to freedom. The monument of Tubman will be installed in downtown Washington Park to replace the statue of Christopher Columbus that was removed in the summer of 2019.

    Five finalists were announced in March 2020, each of whom was commissioned to create a conceptual design for the new monument.

    In October 2020, the City of Newark announced that it will install the new monument. The City will also rename Washington Park to Tubman Square in 2022 when the new monument will be installed.

    The winning design will be selected by a jury of art experts, historians, and community stakeholders led by the City of Newark’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Director Fayemi Shakur. The jury members’ names and bios can be found at drive.google.com/file/d/18X93zkdwqXaCs91l5FGbgLRcdWZoFNsb/view

    To read about the 5 finalists, their designs and websites, visit storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/45af9aea62184a4290d1a7d6d50e71f6?mc_cid=020af718be&mc_eid=01b11e6403

    Enjoy viewing the designs and submit your comments about the 5 designs by May 24, 2021, for the jury to consider during their review, at

    storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/45af9aea62184a4290d1a7d6d50e71f6?mc_cid=020af718be&mc_eid=01b11e6403

    BEST PRACTICES: PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR ART

    May 18, 2021 @ 5 PM, Online Workshop, Free

     Learn the best practices to photograph your artwork with any type of camera. This webinar will introduce you to techniques you can apply using both natural and artificial lighting sources. Anthony Alvarez and Colleen O’Neal will walk you through some of the common pitfalls and easily avoidable mistakes made when photographing artwork. Technical aspects of post-production will also be introduced such as color balance, cropping, and sizing images for social media and submissions. This workshop is open to all levels and will be followed up in the summer with a workshop designed for advanced photographers to home in on the art of art copy. Learn more about the studio, visit newarkartistdatabase.org.

    Register at newarkartistsdatabase.org/events/best-practices-photographing-your-art-with-anthony-alvarez-colleen-oneal/?mc_cid=020af718be&mc_eid=01b11e6403

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)

  • Sri Niketan Organizes International Music Festival

    Sri Niketan Organizes International Music Festival

    8-year-old students Thaarun and Tharuni Recite Shlokas at the opening Ceremony

    NEW YORK(TIP): The performance by dozens of internationally  renowned artists at the International  Music Festival organized by Sri Niketan, a sister of the decades old Shikshayatan run by Purnima Desai, one of the best known promoters of Indian classical music and dance traditions, cast a soothing spell on the audiences who applauded the performances by music maestros and  dance performers.

    The daylong  program at the Ganesha Temple auditorium  in Flushing, Queens was imaginatively crafted.

    Opening ceremony was shloka recitation by 8 years old students Thaarun and Tharuni.

    The morning session started with a renowned Odissi dancer Kaberi Sen who performed very graciously and left a great impression on the audience.  Kaberi ji’s fist performance was Surya Pranam and the second was Anandi Pallavi. The music was composed by Anjan Saha and dance choreographed by herself. She ended the performance with Moksha.

    After that Anjan Saha , a renowned Sitarist accompanied by top Tabla artist Amit Chatterjee gave a splendid  performance.  Anjan Saha sitarist: Alaap, Jod Vilambit Gat and Drut Gat in Teen Taal in Raag Sindhu Bhairavi followed by Jhala, then Dhun in Raag Mishra Pilu.

    Biplab Mukherjee a,  top class vocalist sang classical and light songs in his sweet voice. He was accompanied by Anirban Chakraborty on harmonium and  Dibyarka Chatterjee on tabla.

    Biplab Mukherjee sang Raga  Sudhha Sarang and Komal Aangi Kafi and Tarana and after that divine song. He totally mesmerized the audience with his melodious voice.

    Part two , the afternoon session  saw  great sarod player Apratim Majumdar with Amit Chatterjee on Tabla give a stellar performance. Their Jugalbandi was unique which won applause from the  audience. Apratim Majumdar sang Raga Jatagi and Kirwani.

    Pandit Sanjoy Banerjee accompanied by Namami Karmakar on harmonium sang  Raag Madhuwanti, Raag Kafi, and a  Meera Bhajan .

    Sixteen  students from Chandrika Kurup , principal instructor and choreographer of  Noopura Institute of  Indian classical dance s, performed various classical dances of India like Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohini Yattam. They stole the hearts of all with  their extraordinary performances. Their first performance was Pushpanjali;  second item was Shanmuga Kautuvam in which the dancers praise Lord Murugha. The third item was Neeradha in Mohini Yattam style and the fourth  was Tillana.

    Abhik Mukherjee a well-known sitarist and Jay Gandhi on flute had the best Jugalbandi. In the third round . Abhik  Mukherjee and Jay Gandhir sang  Raaga  Puria Dhyaneshri.

    Kankana Banerjee a very famous vocalist sang ragas accompanied by Dibyarka Chatterjee.  Kankana ji sang Raga Bageshri (par karo mori naiya prabhuji) in Vilambit Taal Jhumra followed by Drut  Teen Taal   ( guniyana aage sir jhukau)  and then a Meera Bhajan  (payoji maine ram ratan dhana payo.).  Kankana also sang a bhajan in Raga Bhairavi (maa bhavani dayani)  and she also sang another bhajan (araj suno mori banke bihari)  written and composed by her. She is a disciple of Ustad Amir Khan and Pandit Pratap Narayan.

    A Manipuri Dance  by Sanjib Bhattacharya with his troupe  mesmerized the audience. It was a creation of Guru Bipin Singh. Along with  Jagannath Leiranjam, Krishnakali Dasgupta and  3  local new students  presented Yugal Nartan, Kanduk Tanum, Pung Cholom, Radha Roop Varnan, Manjira Nnartan, Dhole Cholam, Geet Govind, Mridang Vadan. they showcased traditional Raslila, Pravandha, Festival and Sankirtan (drum-pung and dhol) tradition of Manipur.

    The entire program was admired by one and all in the audience.  All artists were recognized for their extraordinary performances. The Sangeet Mahotsava will long be remembered  for the variety of artists and their soulful presentations.

    (Based on a Press Release)