Coordinating, Communicating and Advocating for the Arts in Allentown
Art Around Every Corner
CCA Supports Sarah Carlson's 'The Body Keeps the Score'
The Cultural Coalition of Allentown and Upside Allentown presented “The Body Keeps the Score: Dancing with Trauma and Recovery”, a choreographer/ composer collaboration at William Allen High School on November 20 and at the Samuel Theater at Cedar Crest College on December 5. Sarah Carlson, the Artistic Director of DanceLink, teamd up with composer Vernon J. Mobley to explore the universal spectrum of trauma in a program inspired by Bessel van der Kolk’s well-known text of the same name. More than 100 students attended a public performance at William Allen High School on November 20 with 14 dance students from William Allen High School dance program. 140 people attended a public performance at Cedar Crest College on December 5. 15 audience members shared their feelings about the show and how it affected them personally.“The Body Keeps the Score” uses movement, music and text to unpack the idea that trauma must be addressed on an individual body level first before greater communal (or “big body”) change can follow. “The impact of trauma affects the lives of so many of us,” states Carlson. “It interrupts our ability to be present, to function and most tragically, to connect authentically with others. Most of us aren’t even aware of how this traumatic residue is affecting our lives.” The creative process invited cast members to draw from personal experience to fuel movement invention. In his text, Van Der Kolk explains that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can fragment a holistic sense of self connected to the here and now. Everyday sensory input can trigger flashbacks or emotional outbursts that disturb normal functioning and healthy relationships. As such, disassociation can be born out of simple survival techniques. Reclaiming an awareness of the breath and physical sensations can be powerful forms of healing. These dynamics will be explored onstage. For the performances, a section of the program the will be performed by 14 talented dance students from William Allen High. Carlson conducted a 6-week residency with these students during which they were led through a process similar to that which created the original work. Carlson and Mobley previously worked together on “What Lies Within”, a project about racial injustice, and hence they are particularly interested in the cycle of trauma caused by oppression. “Trauma caused by oppression is the most insidious,” muses Mobley. “Belittlement or abuse at the hands of another is never justified, but when you consider the perpetrator can often be acting out from a foundation of trauma sometimes generations in the making, it makes you think.”Understanding the dynamics of this cycle can be the first step towards awareness and healing. A panel discussion led by Rebecca Glassman, a Therapist for the Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley, will be held following the performance to discuss the major themes of the show and promote awareness of community resources. Long term effects expected from the project:• Expanded awareness of young minds as to the power and poignancy of the moving body.• Increased understanding of the nature of trauma and how it affects the body and mind• Exposure to dance as a means of promoting social consciousness and social justice• Connecting participants with available resources and community support for trauma sufferers.
India heritage Day August 19, 2018
CCA and the Allentown Art Museum Co-Hosts Celebration of Indian Culture at Allentown Arts Park
The Fences Project: An Urban Gallery
The Cultural Coalition of Allentown, working alongside City Center and the Allentown Art Commission, lives into it's goal of "Art Around Every Corner" once again with the posting of seven artists' work along Hamilton Street between 9th & 10th Streets in Downtown Allentown.The Artists selected were:Nina Boodhansingh - The ClearingRosemary Geseck - Pretty Birds AllentownMatt Halm - Struggle in BoxesFemi J. Johnson - West StreetTara Santoro - The Moments That MatterAnthony Smith - The Hotness in Concert No. 1Charles Stonewall - The Confidence to SoarAn Artists Celebration was held on Third Thursday, June 21 at the site on Hamilton Street between 9th & 10th Streets, to officially introduce the Fences installation and a few of the artists whose work adorns the "Urban Gallery." Following afterward will be a "Meet the Artists" event at The Dime located on the third floor of the Renaissance Hotel.
CCA Kids Activities at Annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue
CCA was on hand along the Arts Walk on June 9 during the 11th Annual Blues, Brews and Barbecue Festival giving the event's youngest attendees a chance to show off their creativity in a series of arts and crafts activities. Thank you to artists Pedro DeLee, Rosemary Geseck and Ann Schlegel for sharing their talents with us!
Josh Miller & CCA at the ASD Science Fair & Arts Walk
The Cultural Coalition of Allentown recently partnered with artist Josh Miller for an interactive exhibit at the Allentown School District Science Fair on May 31 at Allen High School. Josh's work will now be part of a month long installation at the RE: find Gallery on the Arts Walk in Downtown Allentown. Miller's art creates a variation of the Wave Form piece http://josh-miller.com/portfolio/waveform/. The piece is displayed on large screen, and the visuals manipulated with bicycle tires. The piece is participatory, so the speed and combination of people spinning the tires generate unique particles trails that cannot be possibly be recreated by any other means. Users manipulate the flow of particle, the coloration of the particles, and how excitedly the particle moves. Josh Miller is a designer and college professor living in eastern Pennsylvania. Josh has an undergraduate degree and graduate degree in Computer Science and a MFA in New Media Design. His collaborative public art pieces have been exhibited internationally, most recently in Malmo Sweden as part of the Agrikultura exhibition. Josh’s true interests lie in the intersection between design, programming, and innovate user experiences. For full biography and work samples, please visit www.josh-miller.com.
Working Together Gallery
The Allentown Arts Commission, Cultural Coalition of Allentown and City Center Allentown arepleased to announce the artists selected in “The Best of Allentown: 2017,” the first in acontinuing series of programs to shine the spotlight on Allentown’s most talented, creative anddynamic artists in a variety of genres.The Artists selected were:Nina Boodhansingh - The ClearingRosemary Geseck - Pretty Birds AllentownMatt Halm - Struggle in BoxesFemi Johnson - West EndTara Santoro - The Moments That MatterAnthony Smith - The Hotness in Concert No. 1Charles Stonewall - The Confidence to SoarThe theme of this year’s project was “Working Together: Art Around Every Corner” and willfeature the selected artist’s work displayed in the Hamilton District on construction fencesbetween Ninth and Tenth Streets on Hamilton Street.Deborah Rabinsky, member of the Allentown Arts Commission and Artistic Operations Directorfor the Cultural Coalition of Allentown said of the project, “We are thankful to all of the artistswho submitted their work. In total, the artist call resulted in 71 entries. An outstanding numberthat shows the vibrancy and vitality of the arts scene here in Allentown.” Rabinsky added, “Wehad so many fine submissions, we will be looking at ways to showcase those pieces and artist inthe coming months.”Click on the thumbnails below to enjoy the artwork in it's full size.
Thomas Mann Trajectory Heart
CCA was honored to partner with Ann Lalik and the Penn State University - Lehigh Valley campus, the Baum School of Art, Allentown Art Museum and RE:find Gallery to bring world-renowned artist Thomas Mann to Allentown and the Lehigh Valley this July.THOMAS MANN'S Trajectory Heart Lehigh Valley is a community project that will occur during the month of July 2017. Students and artists will work with Mann to create the Trajectory Heart sculpture, document the project, assist in the gallery, and travel the Heart around the Lehigh Valley. The maker space will be located in RE:find Gallery on the Arts Walk in downtown Allentown.Follow along with image from volunteer photographer Patrick Vance who is chronicling the work.
Peter Pan Workshop
CCA and Allentown Public Theatre came together to provide an interactive experience for children in the Jordan Heights neighborhood during the Summer of 2017 as part of the "Authentically Allentown" Artist-in-Residence program.
Free workshops took place at several churches throughout the Jordan Heights neighborhood and capped off with a performance in August at Allentown Art Museum
Allentown Public Theatre presented “Peter Pan: Wendy – An Adventure in Neverland” as an interactive experience for children throughout the Jordan Heights community of Allentown. The workshops consisted of different elements including acting, set design and costume making while preparing for a performance before an audience of parents, friends and community and church members.
Participation was open to any child 5-12 years old from the Jordan Heights community and presented in a bilingual format.
The “Authentically Allentown” Artist-in-Residence program is the initial signature initiative from CCA’s 20:21 Arts Plan. Working in collaboration with the Jordan Heights’ Neighborhood Revitalization program, two-hour workshops were held each day for three days with 10-20 neighborhood children, culminating in a free weekend performance of the play. Workshops were held in Grace Episcopal Church in June, Sacred Heart Church in July and Union Baptist Church in August. The entire series capped off with a performance of Wendy in Downtown Allentown in August as part of the Third Thursday on August 17 at the Allentown Art Museum.
The Cultural Coalition of Allentown is supported by the Community Action Development Corporation (CADCA) and the Upside Allentown Neighborhood Partnership Program and the Dexter F. and Dorothy H. Baker Foundation. The Upside Allentown neighborhoods consist of the Hamilton District, Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds, Jordan Heights, Promise Neighborhood and Seventh Street.
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Kids Arts Zone at Blues Brews & BBQ
The Cultural Coalition joined with our partners from the Allentown Art Museum, Baum School of Art plus special guests from Book & Puppet at the Blues, Brews & BBQ Event on Saturday, June 8. Activities included creating a Street Mural with chalk and an inside mural on paper, button making and drawing with the Allentown Art Museum, coloring books and stickers, water color paints with the Baum School of Art, modeling clay and a puppet show with Book and Puppet Co.
India Heritage Day 2019 A Success
For the second year, the India Heritage Festival, turning the Allentown Arts Park into an Indian Village. The Cultural Coalition of Allentown joined with Saara Arts and the Allentown Art Museum to present the rich culture and heritage of India as part of India Heritage Day celebrations. The event was hosted on Saturday, August 17 at the Arts Park in front of the Allentown Art Museum and will feature interactive activities, high energy and colorful dance performances, art displays, music, yoga, delicious food, henna, colorful clothes/jewelry/fabric sales and free access to the Allentown Art Museum. "We welcome this event and the Indian community into the Museum in the spirit of exploring our world through art--together," said Art Museum president and CEO David Mickenberg. The success of India Heritage Day resulted in a call from the Consul General of India who congratulated Saara Arts and was very happy to see that we are sharing art forms and heritage in the Lehigh Valley.As a result, Event Organizer Vindya Raghavachari received an invitation to visit the Prime Minister of India in Houston on September 22 at a private luncheon. At Houston, Vindya looked forward to sharing Saara Arts’ vision and speak about the support we have received with leaders of the world! Congresswoman Susan Wild and Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell inaugurated the event by lighting a beautiful Indian oil lamp at the Park entrance. The Indian community has been a vibrant community in the Lehigh Valley proud of its rich traditions and culture. India Heritage Day is a unique social event and is bringing various communities in the city together. The ambience was further accentuated by a village themed and traditional Indian decor which will welcome all guests to the Allentown Arts Park with internationally renowned DJ playing super hit movie tunes that set the mood and stage for the event. Guests participated in Indian dance lessons, rangoli sand art creations, yoga sessions, art workshops hosted by the Allentown Art Museum, an Indian art exhibit set up inside the Baum School of Art, to name a few of the many features of the day. There were many interactive sessions planned throughout the day by various local artists for guests to immerse themselves in the rich traditions and heritage of India. Also on August 15, as part of its free Third Thursday program the Allentown Art Museum hosted a preview night of the India Heritage Festival that included a dance ensemble and an Indian classical instrumental flute recital.
CCA celebrateS Hispanic Heritage Month
through Tango
Allentown residents of all ages engaged in the rhythmic excitement of tango throughout September and October as the Cultural Coalition of Allentown brought the talents of Urszula Abolik and her troupe of dancers and DJs to the monthlong celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month throughout the city of Allentown.
Urszula created five performances throughout the month and worked alongside the CCA and Hispanic Heritage Month committee to engage the community in special events including the kick-off day at Allentown City Hall on September 15. Additionally, performances were held to coincide with September Third Thursday on the Arts Walk all ending with the ultimate event on Sunday October 20 at the Allentown Art Museum.
Urszula commented, "The Allentown community connected in a very upbeat way where people interrelated within this elegant experience of the Tango. The program connected all ages, with young people spending quality time with their parents and grandparents."
• September 15th - Kick off at the City Hall - Tango class from 4-4:30, and the performance after, dancing till 5pm with Malgorzata Rokicki and Pierre.
• September 19th - Opening art show - Art and tango at the Baum School. DJ Urszula and tango community social dancing between 6-8pm.
• September 29th - Sunday - Allentown Art Fest at the Cedar Beach - 2-2:30 - Tango class with Elly Liz and Graham. Tango dancing till 3:30pm. DJ - Urszula and Elly Liz. Tango Nuevo, Modern Vibes.
• October 13th - Sunday - Short performance at the Allentown Art Museum between 2-2:30pm. with Jacklyn Shapiro and Roberto Pena. Short talk and performance.
• October 17th - Third Thursday at Symphony Hall. 6-8pm. Opening guitar tango with Jim Steager. Class by Svetlana Howell from 6:15-6:45pm. Beat boxing tango tunes with Yancarlos Sanchez. Tango social dancing from 7-9pm.
