November 29, 2009

So we have a new web address. Blogspot has been fun; it has treated us well, but it was time to move on to greener pastures. We hope you'll come and join us there. The new page doesn't have quite as much information...yet...but I can promise that over the next week, our new page will be full of links to artists, pictures of past events, hopefully some video, and lots, lots more.

Thanks for hanging with Backayrt and we're looking forward to seeing you around the new hood.

Come on by: http://backyartbrooklyn.wordpress.com/

November 24, 2009

New Mission statement for 2010?

We know its been a while...
And yes, we feel delinquent.

But exciting news is afoot.

Not only are we
co-producing an awesome event along with the CSNY Invitational

on December 17th and 18th
(more info to come very soon),
we are revamping our submission process,
creating unifying themes for our Summer Series events,
developing new ways to give back to our artists,
refurbishing our studio space,
and
updating our
MISSION STATEMENT!!!!

Here it is below:

Read it, and let us know what you think!
Feedback is welcome...for now.

"A multi-disciplinary arts event on the last Saturday of the month from January to August, Backyart provides artists with a non-traditional space which emphasizes the absence of commercial pressures and encourages collaboration, community and the development of new work among NYC artists. Originally created in the backyard of a private home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Backyart has since expanded its commitment to the arts by providing studio space and materials for participating artists, teaming up with other companies and spaces to provide Backyart artists with more opportunity for exposure and reaching out to art communities in other regions of the US and Europe. For more information you can email Backyart at backyart@gmail.com or check out our blog at http://backyartbrooklyn.blogspot.com."


please send your comments and suggestions to:
backyart@gmail.com

And share this link on your Facebooks and Twitters.
We are looking for as much feedback as people are willing to give.

Thanks!

October 27, 2009

Come start your Halloween off right with Backyart!!!!


Still don't know what to do on Halloween?


Announcing
(drum roll please...)
backyart "Sweater Series"!
Halloween Hoopla!
October 31st, 2009
5pm-7pm
music, food, drinks, costumes, tarot, art, and so much more...
649 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(L train to Lorimer)
$5.00

7pm-9pm

join us as we parade across the Williamsburg bridge!!!


A "parlor- esq" evening brought to you by art makers and booty shakers inside backyart's toasty warm studio space
Come join us in our studio space from 5pm-7 pm:

Still don't know what to be?
***Last minute costume making materials and workshops with our domestic queen and sexy seamstress Bodacious Bronwyn Flemming Jones!!!

***
Professional theatrical makeup by make-up artist Dangerous Diana Federico!!!

***Tarot Card Readings from our own Gypsy Vampire, Stephany Cardet!!!

***Music by The Hey!
(they rock out hard BTW)

***Housle, a short film directed by Tristan Love and James Longmire, winner of PBS Reel 13
(don't watch it yet!)


Plus...
creepy art installations, delicious treats, candy of course!, goodie bags (of course), warm your belly up-drinks, and other things I am sure...


Then come join us as we parade across the Williamsburg Bridge into the big City:

(leaving at 7pm)

*** "Chapter 10: "Halloween" of Belated Apocalypse
written by J. Anthony Roman
New York City author J. Anthony Roman presents the next chapter of his 12-chapter novel in this, the tenth segment of a year long Backyart reading series. (in different spots along our parade)

***Live music either by a band or by you with kazoos, pots and pans, and tambourines!

and who knows... maybe baton twirlers, cartwheels, songs, and other festivities?!?!?


We will then be walking to see our own Max in a public reading of
Beautiful, by David Anzuelo, directed by Lou Moreno, going up at The Public @ 9:30pm on October 31st as part of LAB's Live Nude Plays series.
Come join us!!

and then go party hard!
What a celebratory day you will have had!

September 22, 2009

Come on by for backyart's first Sweater Series this Saturday!

Announcing
(drum roll please...)
backyart "Sweater Series"!
September 26th, 2009
8pm-10pm
649 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(L train to Lorimer)
No Cover!!!
Donations accepted on a sliding scale from $2-100
Complementary shot of vodka or rum
Free treats and goodie bags * BYOB
A "parlor- esq" evening brought to you by art makers and booty shakers inside backyart's toasty warm studio space
FEATURING
"Chapter 9: Labor Day" of Belated Apocalypse
written by J. Anthony Roman
New York City author J. Anthony Roman presents the next chapter of his 12-chapter novel in this, the eighth segment of a year long Backyart reading series.
http://janthonyroman.com/

The Comedy of Liz Days
Comedian Liz Days will have you peeing your pants. Backyart requests you bring your own baby wipes.

"How to Kill Your Girlfriend's Cat"
written by Alan Fair, directed by Kevin Hall
(and featuring Backyart's own Max Woertendyke)
A short film that asks, "Just how far would you go for LOVE?"

September 9, 2009

Thanks for coming out and info on artists!

Thanks to everyone who came out for Backyart's last event of the 2009 "Summer Series"!
(We dodged a hurricane and had a great time if I may say so myself!)

And a huge thanks to all the artists who made it happen!
(We couldn't have done it without you!)



***If you wanted to share your thoughts on Mike Poblete's NY Monologues, but didn't have the chance to at Backyart,
feel free to drop us an e-mail and we'll make sure to pass your thoughts on to Mike.***

***Also, congratulations to participating artist Hannah Davis for winning the free headshot/portrait session raffled off by other participating artist Caitlin Greer! We can't wait to see the shots!***

If you enjoyed what you saw you can get more information about the artists:


J. Anthony Roman
http://janthonyroman.com/
Also check out:
A Situation on the Moon: 3 Plays that shine at night by J. Anthony Roman
@ Center Stage, NY
48 W. 21st Street, 4th fl
212-929-2228
This Thursday thru Saturday, September 10th-12th @ 8:00pm.

One of the plays, "Last Chapter" is about Mikey and Gerald of Belated Apocalypse fame.
Go check it out! But close your ears for parts if you don't want any Belated Apocalypse spoilers.

Mike Poblete
If you had thoughts, compliments, criticisms or anything else about NY Monologues, you can write to us and we'll pass it along to him,
or you can write him directly at anotherwriter@gmail.com.

Hawke & Owl
Hawke & Owl are currently planning to record this fall, so please stay tuned.
Until then, check them out @ Pates & Traditions French Restaurant on N6th & Havemeyer on Sept 25th!
Live Videos to be posted on our myspace soon!

Caitlin Greer
Check out her website, www.caitlingreerphotography.com, for all your headshot/portrait needs.
Also stay tuned for an exciting interactive exhibition to be shown at Backyart later this year!

Craig Judelman
(fiddler with Alysha Shaw playing Middle Eastern and Balkan music)
Check out Craig's myspace: www.myspace.com/judelman

IF you are interested in contacting visual artists Lucien Pellegrin or Hannah Davis, or Balkan Singer Alysha Shaw drop us an e-mail and we'll put you in touch!

Next Backyart
the premier of the "Sweater Series"

September 26, 2009
4pm-7pm

Featuring:

An interactive photography presentation by Caitlin Greer
Chapter 9 of Belated Appocalypse by Anthony Roman
and...
Special Musical Guest


Make sure to follow us on twitter
!


Also - anyone interested in presenting visual or performative art during next summer's backyart events, or during our Winter Series (January-March), please contact us at this e-mail address.

We look forward to hearing from you.
See you next time!

August 23, 2009

Backyart - August 29th!!! Come on out for the last event of our 2009 Summer Series!!!

The last event of our Summer Series. And it's gonna be hot!

And now we Tweet. Follow us at:
http://twitter.com/backyart

backyart
summer series
August 29, 2009
6:30pm-11pm
649 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(L train to Lorimer)

This month, just by coming, you will have the chance to win a FREE headshot or portrait session from fantastic photographer and participating artist Caitlin Greer!!! (more info below)

Art Opening w/ complimentary hors d'oeuvres and music 6:30-7:30pm
Performances Start @ 8:00pm.

$10 entrance/$5 unltd. beverages.
Snacks and more also available.
And with our new tent, don't let bad weather deter you from coming out!


"Hot town, summer in the city..."

FEATURING

NY Monologues

written by Mike Poblete, featuring Max Woertendyke
After a highly publicized run in Dublin, Ireland, New York native Mike Poblete finally brings an excerpt from this highly successful play to his hometown.

"Poblete is full of sharp one liners - it's a play alive with laughter, but also has the power to provoke reflection."
- Irish Theater Magazine
about NY Monologues

Hawk & Owl
The collaborative musical stylings of John Dyer and Hilary Hawke, with fellow musicians Mike Brown and Brian Geltner.
This alt-bluegrass, oldtime, Americana rock band was recently featured at the Roosevelt Live Festival, NYC.
http://www.myspace.com/hawkeandowl

Chapter 8: Mikey's Birthday of Belated Apocalypse
written by J. Anthony Roman
New York City author J. Anthony Roman presents the next chapter of his 12-chapter novel in this, the eighth segment of a year long Backyart reading series.
http://janthonyroman.com/

"Meeting Bernard"
written and directed by Joonas Rutanen
A short film from Finnish director Joonas Rutanen. A romantically odd comedy about a New Yorker who travels to Finland to meet the girl of his dreams.


Art Installations by:

Caitlin Greer
NYC photographer Caitlin Greer has been published in NY Magazine and will be exhibiting selected works from her ongoing series, "In My Backyard."
http://www.caitlingreerphotography.com/

***Caitlin has generously donated a FREE headshot/portrait session to Backyart. Everyone attending our August event will receive a raffle at the door, which if they fill out with their name, number and e-mail, will automatically enter them into the drawing. Extra chances will also be available for $1 each. And the winner will be announced over the course of the night!!!***

Hannah Davis
Visual artists and musician Hannah Davis combines two passions in her "Painted Guitar" series. Meant not only to be looked at, but to be played as well.

Lucien Pellegrin
Seattle based multi-disciplinary art works - 2 dimensional and tactile.

Steve Pavlovsky
Psychedelic light show to live music.


and more.

Click on backyartbrooklyn.blogspot.com for more info on this month's exciting artists


And now we Tweet. Follow us at:
http://twitter.com/backyart


backyart "Sweater Series" events:
September 26, 2009
October 31, 2009 (spooky!)


Want to be part of backyart?

If you're a filmmaker, a painter, a playwright, a musician, a poet, a dancer, an actor, a comedian, a photographer, a mime, a puppeteer, an acrobat, a carnie or anything else under the sun and you're interested in presenting some work at an upcoming backyart summer event, drop us an e-mail and we'll be in touch.

August 6, 2009

To find out more about July artists and upcoming event info


If you wrote something inspired by Mike's workshop, 
"Beating the Blank Page"
please send it to us so we can read it at a future Backyart!


If you enjoyed what you saw you can get more information about the artists:

J. Anthony Roman
August 5th-15th
(more details below)

Mike Poblete
Check out his group, The Attic (who we teamed up with for our 1st Intl. Film Fest)

Mauricio Alexander
Check him out in all his full online glory: 

GJ Lee (fish and insects)
Take a look at more of GJ's stark and stunning work at: http://neonjelly.net 

Grace Jung (poet)
Make sure to friend her at http://www.facebook.com/aechjay
  
KMBS
Hear, and watch, Kate, Matt, Ben and Sara play some killer tunes and make some killer art:

"Thru"
Check out all the exciting news surrounding this incredible film:
www.wastedpotentialproductions.com
www.myspace.com/thrufilm

Also check out Thru's upcoming screenings:
The SoCal Film Festival sometime in September 2009


Next backyart
the Summer Series continues
August 29, 2009

Featuring: 

Chapter 8 of Belated Apocalypse by Anthony Roman
The New York premier of excerpts from "NY Monologues", by Mike Poblete, featuring Max Woertendyke
The musical stylings of Hawk & Owl
A new one act from NYC playwright, Maya Macdonald
A live, interactive light show created by Steve Pavlosky
and much much more. 

 Stay tuned and check out our blog (http://backyartbrooklyn.blogspot.com/for more details!


Also - anyone interested in presenting visual or performative art during the backyart summer events, please contact us at this e-mail address.  

We look forward to hearing from you.
See you next time!

photos- more and better to come!




Mike, Jesse, Maya and rando street crew sporting their 'staches in good spirit!
not sure who this is but boy oh boy do I love this pic!
Mike inspiring us to write and hitting a baseball?
Maria and Coryn looking summery and happy
Elizabeth Murray (writer, producer and actor in past backyart screened films)
Maddie writing away...
Douglas Ljungkvist photo
GrillMaster Flash!
GJ picking a mustache
GJ Lee's surreal installation
crowd(plus nana and gramps!)
Anthony and crew

belated Thanks for coming to July!!!

Hey all!

A belated Thank you to everyone who came out to July's backyart!  

Some highlights:

-It was our longest event yet 

-Mike Poblete led a witty, dark and yet oh so inspiring writer's workshop.  Send us your stories...I already secretly know of some people who were so inspired they went home and wrote whole stories! (Mike's play will be going up next month starring our own Max Woertendyke!), 

-more wonderful poetry by Grace Jung(get ready for a backyart published poetry book with pictures by me!)

-Chapter 7 from Anthony Roman where we heard about the debauchery of a 4th of July pool party where Marcy and Gerald made out for a hot minute - some kid in the pool stared Gerald down and Mikey might have hooked up with one of the young-uns. Also, uncle showed up and got the boys coked up.

-Mauricio Alexander, a backyart vet, came and performed some awesome jams about love, ladies, NYC, and music (and led sing a longs- boy oh boy do i love sing a longs!)

-KMBS came and knocked our socks off with their interdisciplinary music/art shenanigans.  It was amazing to watch both Sarah draw and Kate's singing faces!  And that cover of one minute man- you serious!?!?! AMAZING! And backyart bought Sarah's drawing- it will be up next month.  

- Christopher Ewing's film Thru was shown with lovely actor and audience member Lila Green, who gave a really awesome and unexpected "support backyart" speech.  Once again, this was not prompted, just awesome.  Beautifully shot, Thru explored love, death, and art- we can all relate huh?

-Julia made homemade veggie burgers!  Yes!!

-Janine Wallach's mustache extravaganza brought tons of spirit and mustache-ness as people sported their 'staches on their arms, necks, foreheads, upper lips of course, and probably other parts too... And we got randos to wear 'staches too bringing the party to the street!

- Stephany Cardet got our eyes and minds going with her beautiful inkblot paintings.  And we all stood around saying what we saw- Rorschach got it right (oh and she is a Psychology and Art major- way to combine it girl!) And she also showed her awesome handmade jewelry- I got a beautiful stone necklace that matched my dress perfectly!

- Douglas Ljungkvist reminded us of the beauty in the trash with his series of photographs depicting found and lost objects in international cities.

- GJ Lee gave us our first multi level installation, installing her colorful fish and insects on the ground(how do you cut these girl?  it's impressive!)

- We displayed our birthday quilt!

- Max's computer broke which kinda sucks but like the silver lining in every cloud... that meant he had to get a new one...which means his old now fixed lap top is an OFFICIAL backyart computer.  Woop Woop!

Pictures coming soon. 

Love to you all!
Lia

July 21, 2009

Come join us on Saturday for July's backyart! (and info about participating artists)

 
backyart 
summer series
July 25, 2009 
6:30pm-11pm
649 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(L train to Lorimer)
 
Art Opening w/ complimentary hors d'oeuvres and music 6:30-7:30pm
Performances Start @ 8:00pm.  

$10 entrance/$5 unltd. beverages.
Snacks and more also available.
And with our new 
tent, don't let bad weather deter you from coming out!
 

FEATURING:


"Thru", a short film written and directed by award winning Christopher J. Ewing 

An agoraphobic musician cures his fears via a relationship with a conceptual artist, until she creates an art piece out of his past tragedies.
Christopher J Ewing is a director and screenwriter living in Los Angeles with a girl and a 13-pound dog. In addition to his film work, Christopher is a published author and journalist
For more info, go onto the film's official website:www.wastedpotentialproductions.com


“Beating the Blank Pagean interactive writing workshop presented by Int’l playwright Mike Poblete 

New York bred and Dublin based playwright Mike Poblete takes his celebrated crash course in writing across the pond to Backyart. Within minutes he will surprise you with the volume and complexity of writing any person can generate. Bring pen, paper and something hard to write on: this is art at its most interactive. 

The cross-disciplinary musical stylings of KMBS 

Kate Logan, Matt Logan, Ben Deibert and Sarah Valeri are "kate, Matt, Ben & Sarah," or “KMBS” in short.  Joining forces over the course of 2005-06 the group began blending poetic lyricism, acoustic guitar, cello and visual art into their own brand of independent expression.  

Drawing inspiration from such diverse subjects as Greek drama, nervousness, and leukocytes, singer, lyricist, and guitarist Kate Logan approaches songwriting in a way that is at once uniquely complex and poignantly straightforward. 

Cellist Matt Logan adds classical sensibility with a modern twist to the material.  His cello is not merely a pretty background, but a driving force, fueled by the wide scope of Kate's songwriting.  At times, it sings; and at others, it growls and rasps.  

Rounding out the high end is guitarist Ben Deibert, whose intuitive simplicity complements the melodic nature of the backing instruments.  

In addition to the world of aural expression, KMBS also encompasses visual art.  At all live performances and in rehearsals, NYC artist Sarah Valeri draws and paints her unique artwork, a process in which the two art forms are mutually inspired. 


"Chapter 7: Independence Day," the seventh segment of Backyart's year-long reading of Belated Apocalypse by NYC author Anthony Roman

Previously on Belated Apocalypse: Father's Day

Mikey visits Aunt, who shocks him with their opinion that their lifestyle is not going to last forever. She also recounts the day his father Michael dies, we travel back to 1988 where we follow Michael on his deliveries, trouble with Leah, and ultimately, his assassination at the hands of a local crack head.  On his way home, Mikey attempts to write down everything he can remember from his aunts story.  

To learn more about Anthony, you can click on www.janthonyroman.com


The poetry of Grace Jung

“Poetry for me is like journaling. It whittles down or expands my day then melds fiction in certain areas with or without my knowing.”

Lives in New York City. Will be researching abroad for a year in South Korea on a Fulbright Grant starting this fall. Hopes to continue being a part of backyart.

The audience revving music of backyart vetMauricio Alexander

Mauricio Alexander is a Brooklyn-based producer, director, writer and performing artist whose work has been featured at Southpaw, the US Social Forum, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Studio Theater,
Theater J, Young Playwrights' Theater, Arts on Foot, D.C. Hip-Hop Theatre Festival, Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Symphony Space, Center Stage, and the Joseph Papp Public Theater. He has appeared on stage with performance artists Rebel Diaz, Tahani Salah, Climing Poetree, SOUL Purpose, DAM (Palestine), K Salaam, Hassan Salaam, Open Thought, Akim Funk Buddha, Mental Notes, Red Clay, Mind Spray, and Caridad de la Luz (La Bruja) and also continues to work as a commercial, voice-over and film talent, most recently with John Leguizamo, Edgar Ramierez, John Ortiz and Rick Gonzalez. Mauricio is a graduate of Oberlin College, and a former student at the School for Film & Television and the LAByrinth Theatre Company.  For more about Mauricio, click on: www.mauricioalexander.com


Art Installations by:

Stephany Cardet 

“ink blot”, paintings and photographic slideshows

California native Stephany Cardet currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where she pursues her love of adornments. Whether you hang it on your wall or wear it around your neck, Stephany finds her inspiration in the organic and abstract to create unique inkblot paintings and natural gemstone jewelry. Launching in September 2009, you'll be able to find her at scardet.etsy.com

GJ Lee

"Reconstructing the natural landscape with large scale outdoor imagery"

gj lives in jersey city. animation and comics are her main sources of inspiration. in her work, bits and pieces of shapes come together and form environments to reflect in or escape to. she doesn't like referring to herself in third person but finds that it makes writing a bio a little bit easier.

Janine Wallach

Mustache extravaganza interactive installation


Steve Paylovsky 

live projected light show

Steve Pavlovsky is a musician and visual artist from Queens, NY. He first began doing liquid light shows for bands after finding digital projection equipment to be too costly and the results unsatisfactory. "Digital projections look cheap" he says, "you almost always end up seeing pixels, and the images lack the variation and fluidity you'd want to go along with live music". He decided to begin experimenting with old-school overhead projector and colored oil techniques used in the 1960's during the psychedelic era. With little information available as to how to put together these types of light shows, Steve has developed his own style, absent of any mentorship, which provides a stunning level of organic brilliance rarely found in today's hyper-technological world.


Douglas Ljungkvist 

urban photography

I’m a self-taught Brooklyn based photographer, originally from Sweden.  Photography for me is all about self expression.  My personal work is more about feeling and mood than a decisive moment.  I strive to make the ugly beautiful through my appreciation for the ordinary and keen sensitivity to natural light.  


My color photography studies the urban landscape.  I search for scenes that appeal to my eye or invoke certain feelings, including, familiarity, alienation, or eeriness.  My work is mostly void of people.  Attributes to describe my photographic voice include intuitive, urban, graphic, vernacular, and quiet.  


Lara Goetzl

self portrait series

Lara Goetzl was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY where she currently resides, pursuing photography. She graduated from the Institute of Collaborative Education in 2007 and headed for art school at The Fashion Institute of Technology. In 2009 she received her Associates Degree in Arts and Science and decided to continue her educational pursuits and is now currently enrolled in the BFA program. Lara works with many NYC based artists, and, has had her worked published and shown all over NYC. She is currently a contributor at Chief Magazine. She is proud to be a part of Backyart.