WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES OCTOBER 26, 2017 19
BUZZ
Local pub to feature “Exhibit of Last Summer” at art exhibit in November
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@A_GIUDICEREPORT
Two local artists are bringing
a trifecta of work that they
completed throughout the
summer of 2017, titled “Exhibition of
Last Summer,” to a Ridgewood pub for
a month-long showing starting next
month.
Photographer Bela Kolozsvari and
director Flannery Spring-Robinson
teamed up during this past summer
to create a pair of projects that will
be on display at Café Monk, located at
68-67 Fresh Pond Rd. — along with a
solo project by Kolozsvari — starting
with the opening night on Nov. 4, at 7
p.m., and lasting until Nov. 30.
The duo will showcase their
photography series “Americana” as
well as photos from the pilot episode
of “Safe House,” a science-fi ction/
political thriller series which they
have submitted to several national
and international festivals. Kolozsvari
will also be displaying his solo
photography series “City on Canvas.”
As a special treat for those who
attend the opening night festivities,
Kolozsvari and Spring-Robinson will
be premiering the trailer for “Safe
House” and the actors and models
from the photo series will be on hand
as well.
Kolozsvari is originally from Hungary,
but moved to Ridgewood in 2015
and created his own company, Studio
BK New York, where he creates his
works.
“It was my childhood dream to
move to New York City,” he said.
“Since I was with my mom when I was
really, really small, we would watch
the American movies, and I saw the
buildings and I was like, ‘I’m going to
take pictures of these buildings.’”
Those buildings he dreamed of
photographing as a child are now the
subject of Kolozsvari’s “City on Canvas”
series, a collection of 10 photographs of
buildings from across New York City.
Spring-Robinson, a New York native,
met Kolozsvari while they were
working at the same café. Since then,
they have collaborated on several
projects, including the “Americana”
photo series, which will be on display
at “Exhibition of Last Summer.
“So far, it’s featuring just portraits
of women in this one, same space
wearing similar outfi ts with a similar
atmosphere, but it’s capturing the differences
of each woman in this same
atmosphere,” Spring-Robinson said
of the “Americana” series.
“This is going to be my fi rst exhibition
ever,” Kolozsvari said. “I am so
excited about it and looking forward
to it. I have lots of friends here in
Ridgewood who are coming.”
Selected pieces at “Exhibition of Last
Summer” will be up for sale during
the showing at Café Monk, with 10
percent of proceeds going to hurricane
relief for Puerto Rico, Kolozsvari said.
For more information about “Exhibition
of Last Summer” and all the
works that will be on display, visit
www.studiobknewyork.com.
Photo by Anthony Giudice/Ridgewood Times
Flannery Spring-Robinson (left) and Bela Kolozsvari (right) will have
their work on display at Cafe Monk.
Director of M.V. dance studio honored with Italian-American award
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@A_GIUDICEREPORT
Queens native Salvatore LaRussa,
artistic director of Salvatore
LaRussa Dance Theatre (SLDT)
in Middle Village, was honored by
The Italian Heritage and Culture
Committee of New York and Borough
President Melinda Katz for his years
of work in theater.
LaRussa was presented the Italian
Heritage Theater/Community Award
during the 2017 Italian Experience,
Celebrating Italian Americans in Cinema
and Theater: A Salute to Actors and
Directors event on Tuesday, Oct. 24,
at Marillac Hall Terrace, at St. John’s
University.
“It’s a huge honor, being an Italian
American, and also being a native
New Yorker,” LaRussa said. “This
award is given out for achievement
in theater, and I’ve been the director
of Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theater,
our nonprofi t dance company. This
is our home in Middle Village. We
are really honored to receive that
acknowledgement from the Queens
borough president.”
LaRussa is a graduate of Hofstra
University, under the direction of
Lance Westergard. He premiered his
fi rst New York City season in 2005
which was also the start of SLDT.
His company has performed extensively
across New York City in both traditional
and non-traditional spaces, including
Dixon Place, Merce Cunningham Studio,
the Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Auditorium,
DEEP, Knitting Factory and more, and
has been part of numerous festivals and
symposiums across the country.
In 2009, LaRussa founded Salvatore
LaRussa Dance Theatre-The Academy,
an extension to his SLDT company.
SLDT-The Academy’s offers professional
dance instruction and arts
education to a diverse community
that is lacking in arts, cultural and
community activity.
The Academy is a long-term, innovative,
exploratory learning center
for children, parents and adults alike
that looks to bring the art dance to the
community by teaching the art of ballet,
modern dance and other art forms.
Salvatore LaRussa (center) with his family at the 2017 Italian Experience
award ceremony at St. John's.
In addition, it will foster opportunities
for active and healthier lifestyles by
Photo courtesy of Salvatore LaRussa
engaging the community with alternative
recreational activities.
