On March 24, more than 800 visitors welcomed spring at the second annual celebration of Now-ruz, the Persian New Year. They enjoyed music and dance presentations in the packed auditorium and Vanden Brul Pavilion; tours; an art talk; and the opportunity to purchase Persian tea and sweets. Many folks arrived early and stopped in at the Creative Workshop Open House. Read one visitor’s blog
Pictured: Display with Now-ruz symbols; Nursultan Kabylkas, a native of Kazakhstan, playing the dombra; performers from Montreal’s Khorsheed Khanoom Dance Company.
The Now-ruz Celebration was copresented by the Gallery and the International Culture & Arts Network.
On February 19, 955 visitors of all ages were on hand for Black History Month Family Day. Admission to the annual event was free and featured a wide variety of well-attended activities.
First row (left to right): Among the performers were members of the Ma’Frisah dance group from UR’s Pan-African Student Association. Fifth and sixth graders from the Frederick Douglass Club of Rochester gave an historical presentation. Sorority sisters from Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc., hosted a display table that featured a Black History Month Jeopardy game.
Second row (left to right): In the auditorium, visitors enjoyed storytelling by Eunice White and a dance presentation by the SUNY Geneseo Ghana Project Association. Debora McDell-Hernandez, MAG community programmer, was interviewed by WROC TV-8.
On December 27, MAG welcomed 1,070 visitors of all ages for its annual Kwanzaa Celebration. Admission was free, and the well-attended activities included storytelling by Koketso Ferreira (top center); art activities (top right); a Kwanzaa ceremony (bottom left) led by Dr. David Anderson (in blue robe); performance by the Nat Turner Drum Circle (bottom center); and a workshop led by FuturPointe Dance (bottom right).
On November 20, more than 1,600 visitors of all ages were on hand for Extreme Materials 2 Family Day. They enjoyed presentations by two longtime friends of the MAG—musician and instrument inventor Ward Hartenstein (above left) and storyteller Jay Stetzer (above center)—as well as activities led by Creative Workshop instructors Eddie Davis III, Maggie Schied and Robin Whiteman.
The finale for the day was the extreme fashion show (above right)
coordinated by another Workshop instructor, Raul Siro Ferreira. It featured nearly 30 designs, most by students from area school districts, and even a diaper vest designed by Workshop curriculum director Rachael Baldanza. Young visitors were also invited to grace the catwalk and show off hats made during the afternoon. Pictured at left: Allison Tavino, a teacher at Dake Junior High in West Irondequoit, modeled a Dunkin’ Donuts wedding dress and veil.
“It was such a pleasure to be a part of such a rich real world experience,” writes Suzanne Jacobs, K-12 art coordinator at the West Irondequoit Central School District. “The combination of learning experiences made this an incredibly valuable opportunity for kids as they learned about the intersections between art, fashion, photography, stage presence, teamwork, advertising, media and journalism.”
Photos by Brandon K. Vick.
At this year’s Hispanic Heritage Day, more than 1,300 visitors enjoyed music and dance performances, storytelling, art talks, and international cultural displays from more than a dozen Spanish-speaking countries. The October 2 event was also the occasion to honor Hector Arguinzoni, director of the City’s Thomas P. Ryan, Jr. Recreation Center, for his contributions to the arts in the community.
Pictured above are (top row) dancers from the Panamanian Group of Rochester, Arco Iris Mexicano and Borinquen Dance Theatre; (bottom row) Raquel Serrano & Marcos Santiago; storyteller Annette Ramos; and Hector Arguinzoni.
Democrat and Chronicle story about the day
Photos by Brandon K. Vick.
More than 100 members of the Gallery Council and MAG Board of Managers attended the dedication of the renovated Renaissance Gallery on April 4. Read the story
Top row: Bernard Oseroff; Emille Allen; Pamela Miller Ness; Mary Sue Jack and Joanna Grosodonia. Middle row: Teddy Carr and Jacquie Adams; Jean France and Leaf Drake; Pam Foye; Carl Carballada, Joan Feinbloom and Bob Hursh. Bottom row: Nancy Foster Gerard; Council assistant Lynda Serafine; Deanne Molinari and Vivian Pallodoro; Bev Pickering. Photos by Brandon Vick.
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