57 • TIMES, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 Local Artist Debuts Film -CONTINUED FROM PG. 19- His inspirations range from Steven Spielberg to John Sayles, but his foundation “will always be Indiana Jones,” he said. “As those who have bene following my film career can attest, I have a long list of people who have inspired my canvas,” he said. “This time I’m giving a nod to many others, such as Louis Malles, whose interview-based film “My Dinner Wirth Andre,” was so engaging; Ron Howard, who helmed “Frost/Nixon,” which was also highly regarded; and Bob Fosse, whose “Lenny,” used ultra realistic on-camera interviews so effectively. It’s a fascinating method of visual storytelling, and I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to try it out on my own.” Ridgewood Writers And Artists Gather Together For Roundtable Talk -CONTINUED FROM PG. 19- Heinz explained. “The persistence of the community, the pride that so many residents seem to have in their history, the support felt by our neighbors; all of these things is sort of a rare mix anywhere ... but especially to have it so close to the center of New York City is very rare.” Heinz chose to base her group here in Ridgewood out of genuine love and appreciation for the neighborhood and its residents. “Ultimately, it’s the people that make me feel so at home here,” she added, “and I think Cody would say the same thing. People in Ridgewood seem to genuinely care about everything having to do with the neighborhood, and they like to talk ... they want to share their stories, and I love that.” After moving to Ridgewood, Heinz quickly recognized the need for an organized, formal group in which artists could meet, hold discussions and exchange ideas. “I started realizing that not only were there more and more artists moving to Ridgewood,” she explained, “but there was a pretty strong presence of people who had been here for many years or their whole lives who were also artists, and yet there seemed to be no epicenter for any of it, near as I could tell—and if there was, it was a formalized setting such as a classroom or committee format.” Heinz founded RAC in an effort to create such a forum. One creative roundtable Saturday’s meeting of RAC was a veritable roundtable of Ridgewood-based artists and writers of all ages and backgrounds working in a variety of media. Multi-media sculptor and artist Liana Pom recently moved to Ridgewood after living in Bushwick for nearly a decade. Pom works with a variety of materials and media, including fiberglass, fabric, paper and sound, to create unique sculptural installations. Ridgewood artist and musician Gabriela Rassi explained how she strives to incorporate visual art, such as slide projections and drawing, with live music performances. Rassi and her husband Bill Bartholomew formed the local indie band Silverteeth. A native of Brazil, Rassi counts folk music and rock and roll as two of her major influences. “I’ve been a rock and roll person since I was a kid,” she explained. Silverteeth was chosen to perform as a part of CMJ, a large local music festival for music industry insiders. The duo will perform at the CMJ Day Party on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Williamsburg. They also hope to release a new album next year. Costume and prop designer Richard Callender also joined the group. Callender moved to New York from Pittsburgh two decades ago to attend college and fell in love with the city. He has lived in Ridgewood for the past eight years and runs Cowardly Lot Costumes and Props, a small costuming business which handles custom orders from a wide list of clients. Callender works in a variety of media, including fabric, electronics, wood, plastics, 3-D foam sculpture and prop fabrication. Also in attendance were two Ridgewood-based writers, Tadeusz “Thad” Zielichowski and Ridgewood Writers’ Group founder Amy Wilson. Zielichowski described his intensive, ongoing process of documenting New York’s literary monuments and landmarks. As part of this project, Zielichowski photographs commemorative plaques from landmarks throughout the city honoring writers. He then combines those images in a bricolage format with excerpts from the respective writers’ original texts, translated into his native language of Polish. Penning Ridgewood’s future Fellow writer Amy Wilson recently created the Ridgewood Writers’ Group as a place for local writers to congregate, workshop pieces and engage in literary discussions. “Ridgewood Writers is a welcoming group for selfidentified writers living in Ridgewood and surrounding neighborhoods,” Wilson explained. “We aim to support each other creatively by gathering together to discuss our individual work, and to learn from and enrich the Ridgewood community at large.” Like Heinz, Wilson recently moved to Ridgewood and formed her group as a way to stay connected and inspired within her new community. “I recently moved to New York City to pursue my long-held dream of being a writer but found myself struggling to stay motivated,” she explained. “I thought that having a supportive network of people in the neighborhood would help me keep accountable and stay on track and looked around for a writers group to join. When I didn’t find one, I put out some feelers about establishing a new one and was totally astonished at the immediate, enthusiastic, and positive response I received from Ridgewood residents.” Like many artists, Wilson was initially drawn to Ridgewood for the prospect of affordable rent. “It was basically a complete coincidence that I came here, but in other ways it really feels like fate,” she explained, “After coming here I found out that, completely unbeknownst to me, I had actually moved to a place that was two miles away from where my great-grandparents are buried. So it kind of feels like they’re watching over me.” Both Heinz and Wilson hope to work together on collaborations between their two groups in the near future. “We should work toward something as a collective project,” Wilson explained. “I’m picturing some sort of reading or performance as well as a publication of Ridgewood-centric writing. That’s all a few months down the line but it’s definitely one of my ambitions for the group.” “I’m hoping that the group will grow in a really healthy way, and become a very strong, supportive network,” Heinz added. “I’m hoping that the members of the group will find a sense of comfort and camaraderie, but also that they can use the group to help push them on their artistic and creative projects, and that they can exchange skills and knowledge.” They explained that Ridgewood offers artists and writers a much-welcomed sense of community that is both comforting and inspiring to them. “I have fallen in love with Ridgewood very quickly and am so happy I came here,” Wilson explained. “I love the mix of lively business districts like Fresh Pond Road with quiet, beautiful side streets. I’ve spent a lot of time just walking around and observing. I love the community feeling, particularly the cafe culture. It’s convenient to most places in the city where I want to go, but also feels like a total oasis from the madness. But most importantly, I love the people. I can’t wait to meet and work together with more Ridgewood residents and learn more about the history of this wonderful place.” The Ridgewood Writers’ Group meets the first Saturday and third Tuesday of the month at The Spot café, 61-05 Madison St. Their next meeting is on Tuesday, Oct. 21. For more information on joining, contact Amy at ridgewoodwriters@gmail.com. The Ridgewood Artists Coalition (RAC) will meet once per month. Their next meeting is on Saturday, Nov. 8, at a location to be announced. For more information, follow the group online at www.facebook.com/groups/ridge woodartistscoalition. p.m.M ASPETH KIWANIS will meet at O’Neill’s Restaurant, 64-21 53rd Dr., Maspeth at 12:15 p.m. RIDGEWOOD OLDER ADULT CENTER, 59-14 70th Ave., welcomes new members 60 years of age or older. Weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Many programs and meals daily. For more information, call 1-718- 456-2000. REGO PARK SENIOR CENTER, 93-29 Queens Blvd., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-896-8751. RIDGEWOOD-BUSHWICK SENIOR CENTER, 319 Stanhope St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718- 366-3038. PETER CARDELLA SENIOR CENTER, 68-52 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-497-2908. SUNNYSIDE SENIOR CENTER, 43-31 39th St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-392-6944. SELF-HELP MASPETH Senior Center, 69-61 Grand Ave., will hold beading, jewelry and bingo. Hot lunch at noon. Transportation available. For more information, call 1-718-429-3636. MIDDLE VILLAGE Adult Center, 69-10 75th St., will hold arts and crafts at 10 a.m., sit and be fit at 1 p.m., Tai-Chi-Chuan at 10:15 a.m. For more information, call 1-718-894-3441. THE WOODSIDE CLINIC, 61- 20 Woodside Ave., provides support groups, human services, day activity program, food pantry, meals-on-wheels and senior assistance program. For more information, call 1-718-779-1234. SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES, 43-31 39th St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-784-6173, ext. 112. FOREST HILLS SENIOR CENTER, 108-25 62nd Dr., will hold various programs, plus hot lunch. For more information, call 1-718-699-1010. FFRRIIDDAAYY, OOCCTTOOBBEERR 2244 RIDGEWOOD DEMOCRATIC CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. at headquarters, 60-70 Putnam Ave., Ridgewood. Friends and neighbors welcome, refreshments will be served. BOY SCOUT TROOP 28 meets every Friday at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 86-20 114th St. in Richmond Hill. All boys age 10-1/2 to 17 are welcome. For more information, call 1-718-478-5747. GIRL SCOUTS K to 3rd grade meet from 5 to 6 p.m. Grades 4 and up meet from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Andrews United Methodist Church, 91 Richmond St., between Etna St. and Ridgewood Ave., Cypress Hills. BOY SCOUTS Troop and Pack 233 meet at 7 p.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Academy, 438 Grove St, near St. Nicholas Ave., Brooklyn. All boys in grades 1 and up are welcome. For information call 1- 718-827-7377. GIRL SCOUTS meet at 7 p.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Academy, 438 Grove St., near St. Nicholas Ave., Brooklyn. RIDGEWOOD OLDER ADULT CENTER, 59-14 70th Ave., welcomes new members 60 years of age or older. Weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Meals daily. For more information, call 1-718-456-2000. REGO PARK SENIOR CENTER, 93-29 Queens Blvd., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-896-8751. RIDGEWOOD-BUSHWICK SENIOR CENTER, 319 Stanhope St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718- 366-3038. PETER CARDELLA SENIOR CENTER, 68-52 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-497-2908. MIDDLE VILLAGE Adult Center, 69-10 75th St., will hold aerobics to music at 9 a.m., watercolor painting at 9 a.m. For more information, call 1-718-894- 3441. THE WOODSIDE CLINIC, 61- 20 Woodside Ave., provides support groups, human services, day activity program, food pantry, meals-on-wheels and senior assistance program. For more information, call 1-718-779-1234. FOREST HILLS SENIOR CENTER, 108-25 62nd Dr., will hold various programs, plus hot lunch. For more information, call 1-718-699-1010. MASPETH SELF-HELP SENIOR CENTER, 69-61 Grand Ave., Maspeth will hold exercise and bingo. Hot lunch at noon. Transportation available. Call 1- 718-429-3636 for information.
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