BRIC Announces Spring Free Programming

BRIC is pleased to announce free programming for its spring 2016 season at BRIC Arts | Media House, the organization's 40,000SF home in Downtown Brooklyn. The season includes over 30 free events including film, art, and creative workshops. BRIC is the leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn, and one of the largest in New York City. With offerings ranging from evening concerts to daytime family programming, BRIC House has quickly become one of New York City's most inviting and accessible spaces to experience the arts.

FREE PROGRAMMING

Ride or Die: An exhibition of newly commissioned work by Miguel Luciano
On View: Feb 2 - Mar 5, 2017
Opening Reception: Feb 1, 2017 | 7-9PM
BRIC Gallery
FREE Admission

A prominent mid-career artist based in Brooklyn, Miguel Luciano works in varied media to examine issues of cultural identity, politics, and popular culture. BRIC has commissioned Luciano to create new work - sculptures featuring customized vintage Schwinn bicycles - that commemorate the traditions of Puerto Rican bike clubs in New York. He will exhibit this work along with paintings and historic ephemera that question the colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, at the centennial mark of U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans (1917-2017). This body of work acts as a powerful commentary on the current economic and political crisis in Puerto Rico and examines its impact on the diaspora.

This exhibition is sponsored in part by City Point, Brooklyn

Public Programs:

Island Promesas: A Conversation on the Economic Crisis in Puerto Rico
February 8, 7pm
BRIC Stoop
FREE
A panel discussion about the effects of the current economic crisis, with Luciano, Ed Morales, Ian Seda-Irizzary, and others TBA.

BKLYN Bike Meet-up February 25, 2-5pm
City Point, 445 Albee Square W, Brooklyn FREE
Join local Puerto Rican bike clubs and other bike enthusiasts as they show off their wheels and celebrate bike culture! With food, music by DJ Sol Nova, family activities, giveaways, and a raffle for one of ten brand new Schwinn bicycles!
This event is presented in partnership with City Point, Brooklyn, and promotional partner Schwinn.

Public Access/Open Networks
On view: March 23 - May 7
Opening reception: March 22, 7 - 9pm
BRIC Gallery
FREE Admission

In the late 1960s, visual artists experimenting with the New Medium of video saw the potential of public access television to act as an open and uncensored platform for the creation and dissemination of their work. This exhibition will present both key and lesser-known figures who worked in the public-access arena, as well as contemporary artists experimenting with the democratic potential of new media platforms on the Internet. BRIC's own public access channels will be continuously aired in the gallery space, and a stage in the center of the gallery will act as a set for the production of new programming by BRIC's community producers.

Historic and recent programming by: Collaborative Projects, Jaime Davidovich, Glenn O'Brien, Nam June Paik, Paper Tiger TV, and Tony Ramos. Contemporary artist projects by: Natalie Bookchin, E.S.P. TV, Jayson Musson, Jon Rubin, and URe:AD Press (Shani Peters and Sharita Towne).

Public Programs:

Screening of Natalie Bookchin's Long Story Short
April 5, 7pm
BRIC Stoop
FREE Admission
A full screening of Natalie Bookchin's 2016 video, Long Story Short, an exploration of poverty comprising hundreds of interviews with men and women in homeless and job-training centers?in California. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the artist.

E.S.P. TV Live Taping
April 12, 7pm
BRIC Stoop
FREE Admission
E.S.P. TV hybridizes technologies old and new, contemporary and obsolete, to realize the live television studio as a site for performance-based works. Working within galleries, museums, and artist-run and public spaces, E.S.P. TV's television programs are taped before a live audience and place the labor of production in an equal spotlight with the artists and performers with whom they collaborate. Join E.S.P. TV for a live taping on the Stoop -- and expect the unexpected.

Project Room Exhibition:

Surface Matters
Curated by 3walls, Brooklyn
On view: February 2 -February 26
Opening reception: February 1, 7 - 9pm
BRIC Project Room
FREE Admission

Through a highly personal relationship with their chosen materials, artists Véronique Gambier and Sarah E. Brook create powerful works rich with emotional content. Gambier's acrylic-on-paper paintings seek to express tension rather than harmony, movement rather than stillness. The varied materials in Brook's installation Rise Early, Know This mimic elements and processes of an expansive landscape, while also expressing their intrinsic physical properties.

Public Program:

Artist Talk with Véronique Gambier and Sarah E. Brook
February 22, 7pm
BRIC Project Room
FREE Admission
A salon-style conversation with artists Véronique Gambier and Sarah E. Brook, who will discuss their work in the Surface Matters exhibition, and will explore how the importance of the process in making their work is, for each of them, as much an expression of environment or internal state of being, as it is the tangible visual mark or structure they create.

Student Exhibition:

The 29th Annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition
On view: May 18 - June 18
BRIC Gallery
FREE Admission

BRIC is pleased to present The 29th Annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition, showcasing the creative works of students from over 30 public schools, grades K-12, who participated in BRIC's school-based residency programs that bring contemporary artists and their studio practices into the classroom. Curated by BRIC's Education Team.

Public Program:

Family Day
May 27 & June 10, 12pm - 3pm
BRIC Gallery
FREE Admission

Join some of BRIC's Teaching Artists for an imaginative adventure in art-making.

Brooklyn Youth Media Festival: Concrete Stories
May 31, 1:00pm & 6:30pm
BRIC House Ballroom
FREE Admission

This 4th annual media showcase of work by youth under the age of 20 celebrates talented young media makers who are telling stories through short films, documentaries, and animations. Produced and curated by a group of media-savvy Brooklyn high school students as part of the BRIC Youth Media Fellowship Program.

COPRESENTATIONS

Matuto
April 19, 7:30pm
BRIC House Ballroom
FREE with RSVP

Self-described "NYC based pan-American roots" band Matuto (Brazilian slang for "country boy") beautifully embraces Brazilian forró rhythms and incorporates American bluegrass with varied instrumentation. This performance will feature new works written and performed by youth in collaboration with Matuto as part of Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections program. Drawing through-lines from South America to the Southern U.S., Matuto is sure to get your feet moving across the BRIC House Ballroom dance floor. Presented in association with Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concerts. Lead support for Neighborhood Concerts is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Look + Listen
May 19, 8:00pm
BRIC House Stoop
FREE with RSVP

Now in its 16th year (4th at BRIC), the annual Look + Listen Festival showcases the best of contemporary classical music in a visual art setting. Featuring solo works and chamber pieces, each show is chock-full of multi-faceted musicians, ensembles and composers who revels the breadth and depth of 20th and 21st century new classical music. This year's line-up includes Yarn/Wire's world premiere of the L+L 2017 commissioned piece by Žibuokl? Martinaityt?, performances by So Percussion, and more... all overlooking BRIC's 29th Annual Contemporary Art Education Exhibition on view in the BRIC Gallery.

"The Look & Listen Festival is a playground where sound, images and objects align for a seriously fun experience" - Terrance McKnight, WQXR host.

Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance CompanyCommunity Dance Class?
All Ages/Levels?
Free with RSVP

All ages and skill levels are welcome to join us for a series of Community Dance Classes taught by Ronald K. Brown and members of his company, Evidence, A Dance Company.

Evidence, A Dance Company blends traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word providing a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. These Community Classes, accessible for all ages and skill levels, are rooted in the Company's fusion aesthetic and are the perfect alternative to another boring day at the gym. Come discover the joy of dance! No previous experience necessary.

Classes meet the first Monday of each month, at 6:30PM.

February 6
March 6
April 3
May 1
June 5

BHeard Community Town Hall
BRIC TV hosts local politicians, activists, journalists and community members to unpack some of the most important-and most difficult- issues facing the borough. From Gentrification to Race & Policing, no topic is off-limits, and no viewpoint is ignored.

Public Trust in the Media April 28, 7pm
BRIC House Ballroom
FREE with RSVP

B-Side
B-Side is BRIC TV's live in-studio music series, featuring performances and interviews from Brooklyn's hottest emerging and established musicians of all genres.

Circadian Clock
January 19, 7:30pm
BRIC TV Studio
FREE with RSVP
Circadian Clock is a 5 piece rock band formed in 2008. The seemingly mismatched group of strangers come together to make some seriously strange music, and they prefer it that way. The unique blend of many different styles of music make it difficult to pinpoint them under one genre, but they promise you'll enjoy the ride between rock, pop, punk, jazz, classical and everything else. Circadian Clock is a group of strange people who have come together to make some strange music. Please enjoy the ensuing chaos.

Alsarah & The Nubatones
February 2, 7:30pm
BRIC TV Studio
FREE with RSVP
Brooklyn-based East African retro-pop group, Alsarah & The Nubatones perform a special intimate concert.

Rue Brown
February 9, 7:30pm
BRIC TV Studio
FREE with RSVP
Rue Brown is a multifaceted singer, with a strong background in dance and musical theater. Born and raised in D.C. and now residing in Brooklyn. Ms. Brown is a blend of jazz, hip hop & soul, a unique sound that reflects her journey, love, and the times.

Sunny Gang
February 16, 7:30pm
BRIC TV Studio
FREE with RSVP
Comprised of Nasty" Nate Hitchcock, Chris Bacchus, Joe Sap and Marshal, Sunny Gang is a four-man punk rap band from Newark, NJ based around a love for partying and performing.

Wordspit The Illist
March 16, 7:30pm
BRIC TV Studio
FREE with RSVP

If you've heard him, you've felt him! WordSpit was born and bred in East New York, Brooklyn to a young mother and a hustling musician for a father. With humble beginnings as his inspiration, WordSpit realized his gift for lyrics in the third grade and has been honing his craft ever since. Having been dubbed "WordSpit" by his brother, he set out to insure that the verses that flew from his lips were nothing short of potent. From corners to lunchrooms, from Youtube to your television set, WordSpit'sword play has become an inescapable force that one can't help but succumb to. Having Cannibus, Nas, and Rakim as influences, combined with an energetic yet charismatic stage presence, WordSpit is the representation of everything that has been great about hip-hop in the past and takes it to the next level.

Inyang Bassey
March 30, 7:30pm
BRIC TV Studio
FREE with RSVP
You hear Inyang Bassey's soulfulness before she speaks yet alone sings. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother Inyang Bassey has been making her presence felt on stages internationally.

INTERSECTIONS
BRIC presents programming that crosses the borders of art, performance and media.

The Stoop Series
Illuminating the arts and life around us, BRIC's Stoop Series explores music, theater, visual art, media, literature, comedy, and other creative fields, through performances, presentations, participatory activities and dynamic conversations. There's something different every week. Tuesdays at 7pm on the BRIC House Stoop; all events are Free with RSVP

This spring the Stoop Series includes a special mini-series of How To evenings speaking directly to BRIC's artist community. These panel discussions bring artists and cultural workers together to share stories about exciting successes and instructive failures in the process of finding resources, collaborating and engaging community around their work.

February 7
Black Actress Magic: Black Female Diversity in Film & TVEven as the Film and TV industries, long known for being diversity-challenged, become more inclusive, Black Women continue to be underrepresented in front of the camera. Acclaimed Brooklyn-based actress Cassandra Freeman (The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story, Blue Caprice, Atlanta, Single Ladies) will lead a lively discussion including Toni Belafonte (Cope TV, Last Lost Love, What Would You Do?, The O2, Supermodel), Andrea Lewis (Black Actress web series), as well as Santana Caress Benitez (She's Gotta Have It) about obstacles Black Women face in the industry, while posing some concrete solutions for inclusion.

February 21
How To Do Social Practice
The art of social practice involves strategies of dialogue, intervention, partnerships with individuals and communities, and participation by individuals outside the usual art audience. Artists engaged in social practice act as collaborators, devising projects that can act as catalysts for social change. This panel discussion will consider how do artists develop projects, secure sponsorship and funding, follow best practices, and make a true impact on a community. Moderated by Elizabeth Grady, Programs Director, A Blade of Grass, and including visual artists Tomie Arai, the collective Black Quantum Futurism, Miguel Luciano, whose work will be on view in BRIC's gallery.

February 28
La Mecánica Popular
La Mecánica Popular is a Brooklyn-based psychedelic afro-Latin group steeped in the roots of 1970's-era Salsa Dura, yet they incorporate a heavy dose of modern gadgets including a unique blend of processed Peruvian-style guitar licks, experimental synths and ambient sounds and textures. Along with their set, members of the band will discuss their shared influences with visual artist Miguel Luciano, whose solo exhibition is on view in the BRIC gallery and examines the relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, along with cultural identity, politics, and popular Nuyorican culture.

March 7
How To Be Artist Run
Artist run spaces, organizations and collectives create unique environments to support diverse artistic work. Hear from several artists who lead these efforts about the why and how of their work including what leadership and decision models best support collaboration, and how they work with and against other players in their field.

March 21
Even in Paradise: A Conversation with Elizabeth Nunez
An evening of stories - in reading and conversation - of dysfunctional families, sibling rivalries, immigrant dreams, ambitious women and finding home in a program celebrating Elizabeth Nunez's tenth novel and three-decade career of telling stories of the Caribbean beyond tales of sand, sea and sun. Additional readers to be announced. Presented in collaboration with Caribbean Cultural Theater and Akashic Books.

March 28
How To Make Participatory Theater
Hear from practitioners whose daily practice involves creating the relationships and structures necessary to developing socially-engaged theater.

April 4
Asian American Creatives
At a time when the multitude of Asian American narratives are left out of mainstream media, hear the personal and professional stories of Asian American creatives who, rather than be hemmed in by what others expected of them, chose the unbeaten path and pursued careers in media, entertainment, and art.

April 11
AMERICAN CANDY
AMERICAN CANDY celebrates the deliciousness and diversity of American pop culture by combining the sass and edge of In Living Color and the intelligence and heart of The Carol Burnett Show. The vision of Hollie Harper and Michael Pauley, and created with a team of 10 writer-directors and a rotating cast of 40 actors, the show combines smart humor with cheeky songs and dance routines, to hone in on the pulse of American idiosyncrasies and wring humor form the most unlikely situations.

April 18
Decarcerated: What Justice Looks Like
There are 70 million people living in the US with a criminal conviction. These people are experts of their own experiences and are transforming our understanding of justice and community. Hear from them directly in a series of first hand personal accounts, along with a town hall style conversation moderated by national social and criminal justice advocate, writer, organizational trainer, educator and Ebony Power 100 honoree Marlon Peterson. Co-presented with Decarcerated Podcast, a production of BePrecedential.

Brooklyn Poetry Slam
Hosted by poet, activist, and educator Mahogany L Browne, with beats by DJ Jive Poetic, the Brooklyn Poetry Slam and Open Mic brings together Brooklyn's best slam poets for a monthly gathering of words and wisdom. As Mahogany Browne says, "These poets will make you feel things." Mondays (January 16, February 13, March 13, April 24) at 7pm on the BRIC House Stoop; all events are Free with RSVP.

BRIC FLIX Film Series
BRIC FLIX is a free conversation and screening series that revolves around shorts, works-in-progress and web series that reflect the excitement, diversity and creativity of film and media in Brooklyn. Wednesdays at 7pm on the BRIC House Stoop (except where noted); all events are Free with RSVP.

Film Restoration & Preservation
February 15
Learn about the latest innovations and trends in film restoration and archiving and discuss the how and why of rescuing classic cinema in the digital age. Moderated by Adam Schartoff, host of the podcast Filmwax Radio, with Ben Crossley-Marra, Theatrical & Non-Theatrical Distribution at Janus Films/The Criterion Collection, and Katie Trainor, Film Collections Manager at The Museum of Modern Art. Presented in partnership with Filmwax Radio.

Celebrating the Culture of Disability through Filmmaking
March 8
BRIC House Ballroom
Celebrate the diversity of human experience and discuss issues around the portrayal of the disabled community in media and film. Films with varied perspectives showcase the lives and stories of people with different abilities. The evening will include a discussion with filmmakers and audience Q&A. People of all abilities and from all communities are encouraged to attend. The BRIC Ballroom is wheelchair accessible and films will be captioned. Presented in partnership with ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival.

Ethnographic Documentary
April 19
Investigate the representational, methodological, and ethical issues in approaching and working through a documentary project about a culture other than your own through five ethnographic documentary shorts produced in the Program in Culture & Media at New York University. Followed by a Q&A with Brooklyn-based filmmakers and Dr. Pegi Vail, documentary professor, the Program in Culture & Mediaat New York University. Presented in partnership with the Program in Culture & Mediaat New York University.

The Craft of Cinematography: An Exploration of Artistic and Technical Perspectives
May 10
Locations, landscapes and lighting! Talented cinematographers hailing from Brooklyn and beyond will gather to share perspectives on their craft. From artistic wisdom around creating imagery and emotion, to the technical aspects of lighting and shooting a film, panelists will engage in a dialogue that illustrates various filmmaking approaches and techniques. The collaborative filmmaking process and integral role of the DP will be explored, while audiences also gain insights on how the cinematography field is evolving. Presented in partnership with Urbanworld Film Festival.

FAMILY PROGRAMS

BRIC House Parties
Brooklyn's best daytime family parties continue with inclusive and welcoming programs that encourage creativity and discovery. Join us for dance classes, gaming, art-making and other participatory activities, culminating in a raucous all-ages dance party. Saturdays from 12-5pmthroughout BRIC House; all events are Free with RSVP.

January 28
Free Radicals
A day of unbound exploration, action and reaction - from science projects to political expression.

March 11
Moonwalk
Inspired by astronauts and the King of Pop, an action-packed day of moving backwards and forwards through time and space.

BRIC FamJam
Hands-on workshops for families to complete a creative art project together. Come as a motley crew, leave as a unified team with a cool product to show for it! For families with school aged children (ages 7+). Saturdays from 11am - 2pm on the BRIC House Stoop; all events are Free with RSVP.

February 11
Public Display: Art of the T-Shirt
Create expressive T-shirt designs through fabric printing and painting.

April 8
Family Tales
Capture a family story through video storytelling.

BRIC Media Talks
Media Talks features professional television producers, directors, documentary filmmakers, video editors, and new media producers sharing their perspectives and stories with the Brooklyn community. These lively and inspiring discussions are held throughout the borough and air on our Brooklyn Free Speech channels. Media Talks are always free and open to the public.

Comedy in Podcasting
February 18, 4-6pm
Dweck Cultural Center @ Brooklyn Public Library's Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza
FREE w/ RSVP
Join Mark Pagán of Brooklyn Free Speech Radio and members of The Soul Glo Project for a conversation on comedy in podcasting. In addition to The Soul Glo Project, Mark Will be joined on the panel by producers, hosts, and content creators of some of the most engaging comedy podcasts produced in New York.

"Getting Started in Independent Film" with New Voices in Black Cinema, featuring Dui Jarrod
May 2, 6:30-8:30pm
BRIC House Media Center - Studio A
FREE with RSVP
Dui Jarrod is a screenwriter, director, playwright and essayist residing in Brooklyn, NY. His work focuses on the power of human connection in the landscape of modern America. As a screenwriter, Jarrod found acclaim with his most recent screenplay Lesson Before Love, which he directed as well. Jarrod has also found success as a director, working for BET, MTV Voices and several other production companies, where he served as the creative visionary for some high-profile projects.

BScene Events
Black TV Matter: Capturing the Pursuit of Freedom
February 11, 2pm
The Weeksville Heritage Center (158 Buffalo Avenue, Brooklyn)
FREE with RSVP
Joins us at Weeksville for a screening and discussion of community produced Theater, Film and Television projects that Journey us through the African-American Pursuit of Liberty, Freedom, and Happiness in these United States of America.

A Night at the Movies
May 3, 7pm
BRIC Stoop
FREE with RSVP
Joins us at BRIC House for a night at the movies where the small screen celebrates the big screen with movie reviews and a very special Indy film screening.

About BRIC

BRIC is the leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn, and one of the largest in New York City. We present and incubate work by artists and media-makers who reflect the diversity that surrounds us. BRIC programs reach hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Our main venue, BRIC Arts | Media House, offers a public media center, a major contemporary art exhibition space, two performance spaces, a glass-walled TV studio, and artist work spaces.

Some of BRIC's most acclaimed programs include the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival in Prospect Park, several path-breaking public access media initiatives, including BRIC TV, and a renowned contemporary art exhibition series. BRIC also offers education and other vital programs at BRIC House and throughout Brooklyn.

In addition to making cultural programming genuinely accessible, BRIC is dedicated to providing substantial support to artists and media makers in their efforts to develop work and reach new audiences.

BRIC is unusual in both presenting exceptional cultural experiences and nurturing individual expression. This dual commitment enables us to most effectively reflect New York City's innate cultural richness and diversity.

Learn more at BRICartsmedia.org.

Support for BRIC

BRIC's programs benefit from generous public funding from the National Endowment for the Arts; The Institute of Museum and Library Services; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; Mayor Bill de Blasio, Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; New York State Assembly Members James F. Brennan, Walter Mosley, Annette Robinson, and Jo Anne Simon; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Brooklyn Delegation of the New York City Council, and New York City Council Members Inez Barron, Robert Cornegy, Laurie Cumbo, Rafael Espinal, Mathieu Eugene, Vincent Gentile, Brad Lander, Stephen Levin, Darlene Mealy, Mark Treyger, and Jumaane Williams.

Additional private support is provided by American Express, Astoria Bank, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Bay and Paul Foundations, Bloomingdale's, Con Edison, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, The Educational Foundation of America, Ford Foundation, Forest City Ratner Companies, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Hearst Foundations, Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, Lambent Foundation, Laurence W. Levine Foundation, The New York Community Trust, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Oppenheim Family Foundation, Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The Shubert Organization, TD Bank, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, as well as numerous individual supporters. BRIC's media programs are made possible by generous funding from Verizon, Cablevision, and Time Warner Cable.