Open for Business
BX Artist Residency launches in Soundview
BY STEVEN GOODSTEIN
Soundview has a new performing
arts hub — thanks in large
part to an innovative performing
arts educator.
The Bronx Artist Residency,
a 3,000 square-foot outdoor performing
arts space, located at
1434 Harrod Avenue, officially
opened at the beginning of the
year.
The space houses six dancers,
who both work and live in the
building for three months at a
time during the year.
On Saturday, April 17, the
Bronx Artist Residency program
co-hosted an outdoor film festival
along with the residents at
Bronx River Community Center.
The virtual film festival showcase
featured visual works by Ariel
Pang, Aspen Nell, Helen Samuel
and Kiara Benejan-Curry,
among others.
The Bronx Artist Residency
program was created by Pizarts’
executive director and founder
Dominique Robinson.
“Unfortunately, we (Pizarts)
had to cancel all of our travel
programs because of the pandemic,
but the silver living was
that it gave me the time to look
at what was in front and me and
focus on more domestic projects
- such as the Bronx Artist Residency,”
Robinson said.
Robinson, who earned a Master
of Arts in Dance Education
from NYU, started Pizarts in
2013 in attempts to provide dancers
with affordable space for
rentals and classes as well as international
performances and
workshops.
She is also the founder and
director of operations for Dance
Gap Year, another program
within Pizarts that helps assist
teenagers who are pursuing a career
in the performing arts.
“Our aim is to bring artists
from outside the Bronx to collaborate
with local artists,” Robinson
added.
“These amazing performers
create dance films and photo
shoots that highlight the beautiful
landscapes and people here in
the Bronx.”
Any visual or performance artists
who would like to apply to the
Bronx Artist Residency can visit
pizarts.com/copy-of-bronx-artistresidency.
Let’s end this
pandemic for good
#VaxUpCUNY
so I can inspire others, especially
communities of color
!"
cuny.edu/vaxupcuny
BRONX TIMES R 22 EPORTER, MAY 21-27, 2021 BTR
/vaxupcuny