Happenings

MUSIC AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: MASTER IMPROVISER SERIES @ DAP

Thanks to a grant from the City of Boston’s Opportunity Fund, MSL is continuing our series of workshops at Dorchester Art Project featuring “guest master improvisers.” Our first spring session is Tuesday, March 24, 8-10pm, with Holyoke’s experimental saxophonist and community artist, Bonnie Kane leading a session titled, “Improvisation: Why Even Do This?” Stay tuned for details about workshops in April and May featuring virtuosos Magdalena Abrego, Brittany Karlson, and Wendy Eisenberg.

XFEST 2020

For the third straight year I’ll be performing in several “improv challenges” during the XFest festival of experimental music, movement and image. This year’s event is Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8 at United Teen Equality Center (UTEC), 35 Warren St in Lowell, Massachusetts. In addition to the improv challenges, Music as a Second Language (MSL) is conducting a workshop, “XFest Etiquette: conversations and group musical experimentations related to listening, dynamics, supporting others, silence…,” at 2pm on Saturday afternoon. Less is more, so I’ve heard.

STATING THE STATE OF THE STATE OF THE ART ARTS

The mess of a title for my new monthly column in our city’s trusted alt rag, Boston Compass, where I interview the very best of artists in Boston to learn how they are able to devote time to their art practice while still surviving. For the March edition I interviewed revered weirdo Angela Sawyer. Look for the free newspaper at your local coffee, thrift, or record shop.

MUSIC AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (MSL)

MSL is embarking upon a new format featuring “guest master improvisers” as part of a music workshop series at Dorchester Art Project, 1486 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester.

• Sunday 10/27, 2-4pm, the venerable and downright frightening Andrea Pensado presents “Jumping In”

• Tuesday 11/12, 8-10pm, Boston’s maximum oddball Angela Sawyer presents “How to Listen So Hard You Ruin Your Life”

• Tuesday 11/19, 8-10pm, electric noise mastermind Stephanie Germaine presents “Exploring Joy and Meaning Within Chaos”

These workshops are exceptional learning opportunities for anyone with an inkling towards musical experimentation – plus they’re free to attend, thanks in part to a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Mass Cultural Council, and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.

SPOOKY JAMS

MSL and friends are pleased to be performing spooky improvised music for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night from the porch of First Church in Jamaica Plain as part of Kids Arts‘ “Trickle Down or Treat” Anti-Capitalist Haunted House. The event also includes costume contests for kids and adults. A donation of $6/adult and $4/kid is suggested.

6:30-9pm, 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain.

MANIFEST DISMANTLING

Also on Halloween night, our Art for Friends Sake video production Voyeuges, Episode III screens as part of “Manifest Dismantling,” an exhibition of experimental moving image works on the topic of “Climate Collapse,” curated by artists from the Mobius collective, Margaret Bellafiore and El Putnam. More works on the topic of “Borders” will be screened the following night. 

6-8pm at Boston Cyberarts Gallery, 141 Green Street in Jamaica Plain, located in the Green St T station.

WOMEN IN COMMUNITY ARTS TRADING CARDS RELEASE PARTY

Please come meet some of the artists honored in the Elma Lewis 2018 Women in Community Arts Collectors Edition Trading Cards on Saturday, April 27th from 1:30-6pm at 40 South Street vintage store in Jamaica Plain. Imbibe, chat, buy a set or two of trading cards, have them autographed by the artists themselves, and score some sweet vintage gear on sale while you’re at it – 20% off all clothes, 3rd item 50% off!

GAZZ JENRE

Our nearly impossible to pronounce experimental improv act Gazz Jenre performs a short set with movement artist Paul Kafka-Gibbons at the Salon for Experimental Sound and Image on Saturday, April 6th, 7-10pm, Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts. This event, which features musicians and sound artists performing alongside live projections by video artists and animators, is being held in conjunction with the exhibition The Skin Has Eyes: Animated Visions curated by Maya Erdelyi.

SOUNDCRAFTING WITH WES BUCKLEY

I made a special guest appearance on the latest episode of “Soundcrafting with Wes Buckley,” toting my collection of ambiguous objects (of Home Schlocking fame). Watch the 13-minute episode and experience some of the most radicool entertainment on YouTube!

XFEST 2019

I spent the weekend of February 22-24 at XFest, a “festival of improvised music, movement, and visuals” in Worcester, MA. On Saturday afternoon Music as a Second Language facilitated an improv music workshop with an enthusiastic group of about a dozen participants. We explored using our voice in an ensemble to create harmony, dissonance, melody, texture and mood. We also experimented with incorporating movement into the improvisation, observing how relative location of sound sources can change our overall auditory experience.

As a percussionist I participated in several “improv challenges” where musicians and other performing artists are joined in an ensemble to perform for 15-20-minute improvised sets. Listen to a recording here by Craig Lewis of my “improv challenge” set from Friday night accompanied by Id M Theft Able of Portland, ME and Martin Freeman of Rochester, NY.

The photo above by Rob Kopki is from Sunday afternoon, an ensemble piece curated by Philadelphia-based choreographer Asimina Chremos featuring her dancing alongside my percussion and upright bass by Ian Kovac.

STREET SWEEPER TALISMANS

Many thanks to Dan Shea of the Boston Hassle blog for profiling my stick-it-to-the-Man cheap art product, the Street Sweeper Talisman. Read all about it here.

A PEOPLE’S ART HISTORY OF BOSTON

My 24 This Month in Boston Counter-Cultural History articles, and accompanying illustrations by a variety of talented artists, were reformatted as posters for an exhibition at Boston Latin School in the Seevak Room from October 29th to November 2nd. I spent a day at the school in the Seevak room presenting the project and answering questions from students and teachers in History, Art and English classes.

BOSTON ART BOOK FAIR

I tabled under the moniker The Egleston Art Factory Outlet at this annual event at the Cyclorama from October 12th-14th, selling my zines and other printed matter, including works such as Bad Idea and Rockwellian Dystopia.

PEACE & JUSTICE

My freshly-framed artwork Constitution Found Poetry was in a group exhibition on the subject of “Peace & Justice,” which opened October 4th at The Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University.

MAKE REALITY MAGIC AGAIN

The Art for Friends Sake experimental video series Voyeuges was the subject of a retrospective exhibition this August at The Distillery Gallery.  The show included a theatre-style premiere screening of Episode III, a TV video loop of older episodes, a display of various artifacts and behind-the-scenes photos, and an artist statement booklet featuring testimonial quotes from crew members.

HOME SCHLOCKING

Our latest Art for Friends Sake production, the video artwork Home Schlocking, is making its public Boston premiere on July 30th on the evening harbor art cruise Upstream Downstream sponsored by Boston Harbor Now’s Boston Harbor [Re]creation project.

Home Schlocking’s public premiere was held at UnchARTed Gallery in Lowell, MA on July 20th as part of the Anti-Procrastination Festival presented by the Deadline Variety Hour.

STREET SWEEPER TALISMANS @ DEEP THOUGHTS JP

Need some new vinyl?  Why not get some spiritual protection for your car while you’re at it?  A choice selection of Street Sweeper Talismans are for sale at Deep Thoughts JP, the most psychedelic record store in Boston!

XFEST 2018

Music as a Second Language is pleased to present a special workshop at XFest 2018: a festival of improvised music, visuals and movement, 1pm Saturday afternoon, February 24th at Dorchester Art Project, 1486 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA.

All three MSL facilitators are also participating in Performances at the festival on Friday and Saturday nights.

SHHH… EXHIBITION IN MADISON, WISCONSIN

I have three pieces – a poster and two zines – in an upcoming group show accompanying a collection of World War II era propaganda posters.  “Shhh…” opens February 3rd, 2018 at Arts + Literature Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.

JAMESON & THOMPSON ALUMNI EXHIBITION

My Selections From a Symbology of Struggle posters are included in a group show of artwork by current and former employees of Jameson & Thompson Fine Art Services, 15 Greenview Ave in Jamaica Plain.

LUXURY CONDOS: COMING SOON

My piece titled BARF is now in the front window of Aviary Gallery, 48 South Street in Jamaica Plain, as part of a group show on displacement and gentrification.  Opening reception is from 7-10pm, Thursday, 2 November.

PRIVATE SCREENING @ BU

Our experimental video project Voyeuges: Episode II has been selected for inclusion in the exhibition Private Screening at Boston University Art Gallery Annex, 855 Commonwealth Ave.  Opening reception is October 19 from 6-8pm.  The exhibition runs until December 10.

URBANO ENCOUNTERS

On view until November 11 at Urbano Project, 29 Germania Street in Jamaica Plain, is the retrospective exhibition Urbano Encounters.  See inspirational and informative documentation of many past projects including my Freedom Trail on Trial and Mapping Exclusion projects.

NEW ZINELAND, 2017

The Egleston Art Factory Outlet will be open for business at the New Zineland fair on Sunday, 20 August, noon-6pm at the Cambridge Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Drive.  Come get your art on – on the cheap!

NYC EXHIBITION

My 2016 project Selections From a Symbology of Struggle is being exhibited in New York as part of TREMORS: “a multidisciplinary group show in response to recent political and social upheaval,” curated by Monika Lidia.

The opening reception is Thursday, 17 August, 8pm, at Point Green, 260 Java Street in Brooklyn.  The show runs until 6 September.

MAKE SHIFT BOSTON WINDOWS

My 6-foot tall Selections From a Symbology of Struggle posters that were installed in the CityPOP Egleston windows are now at Make Shift Boston: “an affordable coworking space and event venue supporting social justice and creative community,” at 549 Columbus Avenue in the South End.  Thanks to Benji Mauer for the opportunity.

ANTIFAC

The inaugural interactive public performance by Ascending Neighbors Togetherness Improvisational Freedom Arts Collaborative (ANTIFAC) will occur at the Egleston Square Peace Garden on Thursday, 10 August 2017, at 8pm.

Experience the magic of making movies, live and in person, with lights, cameras and action!

This is an experimental, improvised performance event, complete with projections, a live band, lights – the works! – and you can become a creative partner in the moment if you are moved to do so.

Come be inspired and entertained by a diverse set of artists improvising with their many talents and gizmos.

FUTURE-A-OKE

The second edition of Future-a-oke, a collaboration between Music as a Second Language and community artist Tim Devin, will be held at the Somerville Arts at the Armory on Thursday, 29 June 2017, 7-9pm.

Bust out your crystal balls and weave some yarns of life-moments to come at this open stage event.  Sing us a song of your future, read us a poem of what’s up next.  Channel your inner Nostradamus — the path ahead is yours for the taking!

CITY POP EGLESTON CLOSES

My yearlong residency at CityPOP Egleston ends on 31 May 2017.  The residency supported much creative productivity, fruitful collaborations and community engagement with my artistic practice.  Stay tuned for a more in-depth reflection upon the year of working in a shared studio and performance space in Egleston Square.

MARMION FILM FESTIVAL

The Marmion Film Festival was held at Marmion Center for the Arts on 27 May 2017, where Voyeuges Episodes I & II screened along with videos and animations by Kyle Browne, PJ Goodwin, Frank Hegyi, Carly Lieberman, and Rene Dongo.  The festival was a smashing success!

OPPORTUNITY FUND

I received a City of Boston grant from their new Opportunity Fund to support my community engagement work at CityPOP Egleston, specifically my Games to Cultivate a Creative Attitude monthly workshop series.  In addition to a general audience of community members and artist peers, I held a workshop with fellows and faculty from the nearby Urbano Project to help generate ideas for their Spring semester work involving a Civic Nomadic Sculpture and addressing the programming theme: The Commons / The Other.