One Glass Productions is pleased to announce "FilmArtFunction," a fundraising event benefiting the non-profit docu-series "Under the Bridges," profiling artists and creative businesses in the Brooklyn waterfront's DUMBO district who exceed expectations for environmentally sustainable practices and social responsibility. The event takes place on Thursday, October 23rd at Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street in DUMBO Brooklyn, the first cultural venue in NYC to be certified "green" by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), from 8pm - midnight and features live performances, film screenings and a fine art auction. For information or tickets visit FilmArtFunction.
With the pilot episode complete, One Glass plans to air the program on local network television once fundraising goals are reached to complete the series. The goal is to raise awareness of the evolution of DUMBO from its past as a desolate industrial waterfront to a center of Brooklyn's burgeoning the arts and culture community, while highlighting the efforts of companies and individuals to support and sustain practices that protect the environment.
A clip from the pilot can be seen at the Under the Bridges website, and a DVD screener of the full episode - with segments on Susan Woods of Aswoon Studios, Prague Kolektiv, Halcyon the Shop, and Spring Gallery - is available upon request.
In 2006, Stephanie Testa and Valery Jung Estabrook co-founded One Glass Productions. Projects have included an animated music video Dawn Landes, and a short film directed by Henry Cruz headed for the GLBT festival circuit in the Fall. In 2007, One Glass organized a sold-out Film Festival in Manhattan, called "a Celebration of Short Films."
"What I love about the Brooklyn waterfront is looking out and seeing the water, and seeing Manhattan. It makes you feel connected to the city," said Valery of their chosen location."We started this project for our love of the neighborhood. At first, we weren't sure what our focus would be, but when we started interviewing people, and the theme of recycling in art just naturally emerged," said Stephanie.
Stephanie Testa sold her first film - the documentary "Starving for Control" - while still a film student at the University of Rochester. Since, she has independently created over a dozen short films and music videos, and she worked as sound designer for cult film icon Barbara Hammer's latest film, A Horse is Not a Metaphor. She was recently profiled in Go Magazine.
Valery Jung Estabrook studied at Brown University, focusing on digital media and interactive art. Her work has included a feature length documentary and a series of self-portraits exploring her Korean-American identity. She directed One Glass's music video for Dawn Landes, "Bodyguard" recently screened in the Coney Island Film Festival.
FilmArtFunction will be hosted by actress and comedian Kendra Cunningham and will feature performances by pop-pianist Derrick Wang and illusionist Matthew Haicken, with music by DJ and Halcyon Records Store founder Shawn Schwartz. World famous ice sculptor, Joe O'donoghue will create an 8 foot tall custom made sculpture to be displayed at the event. The silent art auction includes works donated by twelve celebrated NYC artists, offered to the public at reduced prices.
