MCCC Gallery to Host “Pannaroma” Photography Exhibit Sept. 2-25
Topic: ART NEWS

 

MCCC Gallery to Host “Pannaroma” Photography Exhibit

Sept. 2-25

 By Tammy Duffy

 

The Gallery at Mercer County Community College  will open its new season on Sept 2, 2014.  The exhibition will feature panoramic photographs by 18 photographers who used a specially designed 1x3 panoramic camera built by Thomas Roma, the Director of Photography at Columbia University.  The show has been previously exhibited in New York City, Miami and New Orleans in the past.

 

“Pannaroma,” named for Roma’s wife, Anna, opens Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014 and runs through Thursday, Sept. 25.   The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 4, 6 to 8 p.m., that will feature statements by some of the photographers. 

 

 The photos in this exhibit were made possible by Thomas Roma, a Columbia University professor who built his own panoramic cameras in the 1980s to mid-1990s to allow for more versatility in this format.

 

According to MCCC Photography Professor Michael Dalton, co-curator of the exhibit with Gallery Director, Dylan Wolfe, Professor Roma created 31 cameras from the mid-1980s through the 1990s built on a handheld 35mm Nikon F.  Dalton notes that panoramic cameras at that time were significantly heavier and used larger film, requiring the use of a tripod.  “Professor Roma’s goal was to make the taking of panoramic photos easier and allow for more versatile subject matter,” Dalton said.

 

 

Many of the photos in the exhibit capture interaction between people and their environment, a departure from the sprawling natural scenery typically depicted with panoramic cameras.  “The Roma camera allows for more,” Dalton says.  “The result is a wide-ranging group of photographs that draws the viewer into the content of the photo.”

 

“Pannaroma” features work from professional photographers, including a number of Roma’s former students. In addition to Roma himself and MCCC’s Dalton, the exhibit includes photos by Inbal Abergil, Tony Chirinos, Sasha Waters Freyer, Lee Friedlander, Stephen Hilger, Yoav Horesh, Zsolt Kadar, Richard LaBarbera, Jeff Ladd, Kai McBride, Laura Mircik-Sellers, Claudio Nolasco, Anibal Pella-Woo, Dennis Santella, Raghubir Singh and Daniel Willner. 

The MCCC Galley is located on the second floor of the Communications Building on the college’s West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

 

 

 

 

Hours for this show are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

First Tuesdays at the ZIMMERLI Art Museum
Topic: ART NEWS

Antonio Berardi Never Disappoints
Topic: FASHION NEWS

Antonio Berardi Never Disappoints

by Tammy Duffy 

 

 

 

His striking, classical designs allow women to go from day to night with incredible ease. The sensuality of his color-blocked, figure-hugging dresses with an added flare at the hemline, is just delectable. Antonio’s suits seen below, clearly demonstrate his cultural heritage .These sophisticated Italian suits with a structured British style, are a wonderfully sexy addition to a woman’s wardrobe. A peplum here, a geometric pattern there, are the adornments these sexy bodycon dresses, pants and suits. Structured seams lend structure to the fitted silhouettes. With this gown, I would like to see it without the sheer silk bottom, lengthen the red dress, narrow its hem….you would have a spectacular, sexy dress. - See more at: http://www.mytrnd.com/review/tammy-anne-duffy/antonio-berardi/antonio-never-disappoints/343#sthash.9AagLDgd.dpuf

Trenton Public Library: Increasing Access for Trenton’s Success
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

Trenton Public Library: Increasing Access for Trenton’s Success

By Tammy Duffy

Our society may have no greater obligation than to ensure that every young person develops the academic, social, and personal attitudes and capacities that will lead to a fulfilling and successful life. Youth follow a journey to discover and then to develop their own talents, interests, preferences, and personal voice. For some, the path to developing their unique capacities and establishing their distinctive identities and voices is paved with multiple opportunities to read, explore, experience, and pursue interests during the out-of-school-time hours. For others, their voices are stifled by limited access to books, trips, learning experiences, and technology. This lack of access can have dire consequences, leaving our youth with restricted voices and “nothing to say at all. 

 

The Trenton Public library is expanding its services to ensure that the children in the city of Trenton will have access to books and the services they offer.

 

Recently, the library had Californian artist, Nicole Blackburn, is the founder of Big Sky Countries paint a mural in the new children’s room in the basement of the library.

 

Nicole came up with the name Big Sky Countries for her non profit because all of the murals she donates have a sky depicted in them. 

She uses the sky that was outside the building of the prior mural she just finished to place in the next mural she accomplishes. The sky that is depicted in the mural at the Trenton library is actually from a morning sky she saw in Newtown, PA while painting a mural there in November of this year. The main mission of Big Sky Countries is to donate large-scale murals to facilities around the world. Since 2006, murals have been painted by Nicole Blackburn in Thailand, Ireland, the Philippines, Bolivia, New Orleans, Costa Rica, Atlanta, Los Angeles and now Trenton.  The mural she just completed at the library is her largest piece to date. The first mural Nicole ever painted was during her college years for a fraternity who’s emblem was a dragon. Nicole has donated about 20 murals throughout the world.

 

Nicole uses all water based paints to create these murals.  The murals have an infinite lifetime. Nicole uses her own money to make these murals throughout the world. Some area children got a sneak peek of the mural being created at the library and they were wildly gleeful when they saw it.

 

Nicole collaborated with the library to develop the concept for the mural. They wanted it to have elements of enchantment, fantasy and dragons. During her youth Nicole always played with fairies versus Barbie dolls. A drawing was created for the project and this was utilized as the template for the mural. There were subtle changes made from the original drawing based upon input from the librarians, police officers and those who donated money for the mural project. There were additions of peacock feathers, ducks, monkeys and bears added to represent the old zoo that used to reside at Cadwalader Park in Trenton many years ago. The mural is an artful treasure hunt for the children. The new Children’s room will also have a “tween” component to it as well.

 

There is a new Adult Learning Classroom opening in August at the library as well. There will be a variety of products and services available in the Adult Learning Classroom. The new services will include: Treehouse which is an online video and interactive learning platform that teaches people how to design and develop websites and mobile apps, Job Accelerator which integrates each part of the job search process in one place, Lynda.com which is a robust online video training library of more than 1,400 videos taught by industry experts and Rocket Languages which is an award winning interactive online language learning system.

 

A new media box is also coming in August to the Trenton Public Library. This new media box will work like a Redbox machine. People will utilize their library card to access the device. This is a completely new, innovative, interactive way for residents to access DVD’s at the library. It will inside the library and people can begin using in during the second week of August. There is a touch screen to allow people to select the movies they want.  This same touch screen allows them to return the DVD’s they checked out as well.  They can be checked out for four days.

 

In October, there will be two new library outposts in the city of Trenton. These library outposts will allow the TPL to have an expanded presence in the community to assist families who have no ability to get to the library.  It combines three components: a book drop, a book vending machine (that can hold up to 300 to 500 pieces of material) and a locker system. The way it will work will be: If you want to place something on hold you can use your smart phone or computer to do so. You will reserve items by using your library card and specifying what time and which library outpost you want to pick your selections up from. The TPL will then drop off the books that were placed on hold and place them into the lockers at the outpost you selected. To pick up the books you will use your TPL library card to open up the locker at the outpost.  When you want to return them you take them back to the drop box at the outpost.

 

The library is coming to the residents versus the residents having to go to Academy Street to the library. The library already has a mobile version of their website for people to use in this process. The locations of the outposts are still being determined. The library would like the cities and communities input on the placement of the library outposts. If you have any suggestions on where they should be located, please contact the library and share your ideas.  The criteria for the outposts are: they need to be indoors, safe, have data cables and be accessible to the public. There will be an additional two outposts added within the next year if funding is granted and the first two are successful.

 

In the next two years the Trenton Public Library hopes to have a new Cybermobile. The "Cybermobile" is a state-of-the-art mobile technology center on wheels. This air conditioned bus will be equipped with 20 desktop computers and a large-screen "Smart board" for instruction. The wheelchair accessible bus will offer classes in computer and internet basics...along with classes on Windows and e-mail. It will also have a hot spot with round tables for people to work and use the internet outside as well. This project is heavily dependent on funding from the city

 

The address and the hours of operation of the Trenton Public Library are: Monday-Thursday 9amto 8pm, Friday and Saturday: 9am to 5pm at 120 Academy Street, Trenton, NJ 08608

 

There is a Rainbow in Trenton and His Name is Leon
Topic: ART NEWS

There is a Rainbow in Trenton and His Name is Leon

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

The art of graffiti writing has been in practice since the stone ages. In the late 1960’s this artful revolution started in Philadelphia and then migrated to the New York City Graffitists. They in turn made it into a global phenomenon on the NYC subway system. Mayor Lindsay raged a war in NYC on the graffiti artists until the last train rolled off the tracks in 1989 to a train graveyard.  Some of these talented artists migrated to the “Graffiti Mecca and world renowned 5-Pointz building in Long Island City, NY. This was a place where artists could legally create graffiti work. The name 5Pointz came about because it signified the five boroughs coming together as one but, because of its reputation as an epicenter of the graffiti scene, the industrial complex actually united aerosol artists from around the world.

 

On August 21, 2013, the New York City Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve plans to build condos on the 5 Pointz site. The amazing work was gone with a swift coat of paint.

 

In the city of Trenton there is a graffiti artist by the name of Leon Rainbow. Leon was 12 years old when he did his first tag which as he says, ”Was probably placed somewhere really dumb”, but the placement of his EXTRM tag started it all for Leon. Graffiti artists all have unique names and tags. Another artist in another town can have the same name but a completely different tag.

 

 Leon learned how to do simple and block letters from an early age and has been drawing and creating art ever since. He learned how to tag from the streets and the more advanced tagging techniques from the likes of Sew, Joe Base and Pose2. Leon has built on his foundation and has a strong connection to hip-hop culture.

 

Leon made the transition from painting illegal walls to legal walls by going to MCCC and then being awarded small to medium size commissions. He has done pieces for the city of Trenton, the Urban Work Café, advertising for local businesses and many others projects in and outside the city.

 

There are a multitude of creative projects that Leon is involved in today.  Some of his current projects include, the up and coming Jersey Fresh Jam in August 2014, being involved in Terracycle’s TV show entitled, Human Resources on Pivot TV, an up and coming art exhibition at Robert Wood Hamilton Hospital focused on street art in September 2014, teaching art classes for the Trenton after school programs and the Hopewell Valley Stampede in August 2014. The team from Modern Recycled Spaces and Isles has allowed Leon to use their space on Johnston Ave in Hamilton for free to paint the oxen.

 

 The Hopewell Valley Stampede is the first program sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. In August, there will be a herd of fiberglass painted oxen roaming throughout the Hopewell Valley. The oxen will be placed in neighborhoods, parks, businesses and schools. It will be a free outdoor museum of oxen for all who live in or visit Hopewell Valley to enjoy.

 

The Hopewell Valley Stampede generated excitement and interest among local and regional artists who were eager to contribute their talents. Leon has painted two oxen for this outdoor exhibition.

This Stampede exhibition by Hopewell Valley also has associated music festivals, art exhibits and other cultural programs. This will help heighten awareness of the arts, promote educational participation, increase the visibility of the region’s artists and businesses, and boost tourism. The Hopewell Valley Stampede will inspire residents and visitors alike to remember the past and celebrate the present.

 

When I asked Leon what is the piece you are most proud of, he said, “The next one and the mural installation I did at the Ellarslie Museum in Trenton from July-September 2009 (which is shown at the top of this article).”  It was a mural that was representative of his life.  The first section depicted his Native American heritage then migrated to show a baby with a spray can.  The baby is Leon; he was born to do this. The child on the tricycle shows Leon riding with his dreams. Leon’s childhood was filled with imagination and creativity that is representative in his work. When Leon was 19 he went through a drug phase that he was lucky enough to turn around and create the positive world he now lives in.  Leon is an extremely talented artist positively impacting the community in which he lives. 

Welcome to the Blog
Topic: Welcome to the Blog

The blog will celebrate a mixture of fashion,art and community, with a mission to educate the community on the arts, artists, fashion and community events and news. It will help designers, the community and artists find a place to showcase their work and share their stories.

The author, Tammy Duffy, of this blog does this all for free. Her passion to her community is something her father, John Duffy,Sr. taught her as a young girl. Besides this blog, Duffy has articles that have been placed in magazines and local newspapers. (see attached link below)

 http://www.tammyduffy.com/duffyphotography/id11.html  

Local newspapers have lost their ability/budgets to focus on the arts, non profits and the wholesome things happening in the community. They focus on murders, prostitution and other negative aspects of the community. This blog changes that. Duffy had a column in the local Trentonian but when a new editor came to the newspaper it was given to a gentlemen to educate the public on marijuana, NJ Weedman is the name of the column.

Duffy did not take this lightly. She went to the CEO of Digital First Media and told him what happened. She shared with him her concern NJ Weedmans column. Allowing the newspaper to educate the community with a weekly column, that already has a large drug problem, was not a good idea. He and his team answered DUFFY that day. They said they wanted to give the new editor time to revamp the newspaper, however maybe the editor could give Duffy a digital presence. Duffy's Cultural Couture also is linked to the Trentonian newspaper. (see link below)

http://www.trentonian.com/blogs

Duffy's blog is now part of the global outernet as well. See a column DUFFY wrote on this topic.

(http://www.tammyduffy.com/ARTFASHION/index.blog/2349618/free-internet/)  

 

Duffy owns all the copyright to the blog.  Copying of this blog is not allowed without the direct permission of DUFFY

 

Robert DeNiro Sr. : Remembering the Artist
Topic: ART NEWS

Robert DeNiro Sr: Remembering the Artist

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

 The prevailing notion in many parts of the art world is that art prices do go up when an artist dies, as if death trips some kind of mystical instant inflation switch.  Most artists age gracefully over time and gradually taper off in terms of production as they get older. Some artists actually knowing their death is imminent, will madly dash to the studio to produce as much art as they can before they reach the big easel in the sky.

HBO and the DC Moore Gallery (535 West 22^nd St, NYC) have done a luminescent  job representing the work and life of artist Robert DeNiro Sr. The current exhibition of DeNiro Sr.’s work at DC Moore ends on July 31,2014. The HBO documentary entitled, Remembering the Artist: Robert DeNiro Sr. is available to watch on HBO at this present time.

The actor and son of DeNiro, Robert DeNiro has put together the ultimate tribute to his Father with this exhibition and the HBO documentary. A true homage of his love for his Father.  The movie is so heartfelt, the paintings in the exhibition so exquisite. Both the film and exhibition are filled with love, life and a layering of stories told by DeNiro.

De Niro recalls memories of his father’s despair over his own sexuality and his overlooked body of work.  DeNiro’s father was gay. His father wrote in a journal,” If God does not want me to be a homosexual than he will find me a woman I will love and who will love me for me.” (as stated in the HBO film, Remembering the Artist)

In the 1940’s, NYC was emerging as the place for the rise of contemporary art. A small group of artists achieved fame during this time and became known as the NY School of Art. Artists in this group included the likes of Jackson Pollock, Grace Hartigan, William de Kooning, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert DeNiro Sr.

The entire time Robert DeNiro’s Hollywood career was skyrocketing, his father was living his final days as a starving artist in Paris. DeNiro brought his father back from Paris to live his final days in the USA.

Though DeNiro did not spend a lot of time with his dad, who was divorced from his mother, poet and painter Virginia Holton Admiral, the actor still felt close to him.

“We were not the type of father and son who played baseball together, as you can surmise, but we had a connection.” My father wasn’t a bad father, or absent. He was very loving. He adored me… as I do my kids.” DeNiro said in the movie. DeNiro Sr. was conflicted about being gay, being from that generation, especially from a small town upstate. He was from Syracuse, NY.

His father was the real thing. He was a dedicated great artist. The exhibition at DC Moore Gallery is an ocular wonder. Layer upon layer of pentimenti displayed in the paintings demonstrate multiple stories that are clearly seen and hidden amongst the canvases. You are left to freely associate with each painting and formulate your own stories, your own vibrant experience.

His use of color, gesture, and movement, created works that resemble techniques seen in European French modernism, with Abstract Expressionism.  You feel that Delacroix and Matisse have entered the paintings to add their own “tag” to each painting. . DeNiro’s extensive knowledge of art history, allowed him to maintain the tradition of representational painting that was under attack by the tide of abstraction championed by many artist and critics in the 1950s.   Greta Garbo also found her way into many of DeNiro’s works.

He had studied with Hans Hofmann in New York and Provincetown, and Josef Albers at Black Mountain College, North Carolina, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and then worked for five years at Hilla Rebay’s legendary Museum of Non-Objective Art. In 1945, he was included in a group show at Peggy Guggenheim’s Art of This Century in New York, which was a leading gallery for the art of both established European modernists. He had his first solo exhibition there in April and May of the following year.  In 1958-1962, DeNiro radically changed his painting style. There was a new profound energy evident that was absent before.

Today, when the art world has opened to a larger range of artistic perspectives, De Niro’s many accomplishments and unwavering dedication to his personal artistic vision can be more readily appreciated as a singular achievement in postwar American art. Robert De Niro, Sr. has work in many museum collections, including those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and Whitney Museum of American Art. In 2009, a retrospective of his work was presented at the Musée Matisse in Nice, France.

The documentary is De Niro’s a great lesson to all of us to preserve what is most precious. The love we have for a parent and the legacy they gave to the world. He accomplished this with the documentary and exhibition. It is the ultimate love letter to his father.

 DeNiro has done a beautiful job preserving his father’s legacy. The HBO film is one of the most beautiful, heartwarming art documentaries I have ever watched, and I have watched quite a few in my years on this earth. The heartfelt emotion and love DeNiro, the actor, has for his father is so evident. The preservation of his father’s art studio is a memorial to him. Most memorials are placed in public spaces with the intention of maintaining an aspect of history. The art studio memorial, the exhibition and the documentary are a striking, loving reminder of who Robert DeNiro Sr. was and where he came from and love a son has for him.