Bridgeport Art Trail Newsletter
June 2022 PART 1
Full Calendar of Events
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Exhibits, music, spoken word, workshops,
opportunities for artists, art news and more...
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Thurs, June 9, 2022, Puppet Village
Produced, written by Iyaba Ibo Mandingo
Free at the Bijou Theatre
6:00 PM
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Ruben Abreu, arts activist and Bridgeport native for decades, passed away Saturday June 4th. He was 74.
Ruben was active in the local arts community, beginning as a news reporter for WICC. His news stories there focused on the Hispanic community. Ruben was very proud of his Puerto Rican roots.
In the early 1980's he created a radio program, La Escena Latina, dedicated to Latin performers and culture on WPKN FM Radio. The program continues to be popular, aired today with new PKN hosts. In 1981 local artist Dan Makara and Ruben created the first iteration of Bridgeport’s CITY LIGHTS Gallery then located on downtown Fairfield Ave.
Ruben and Dan also initiated the BRIDGEPORT ARTS ALIVE Festival of outdoor arts exhibits and live music. The early CITY LIGHTS produced a popular concert series at THE MERRY WIDOW Restaurant and then the AUSTIN ST. CAFE in Bridgeport's South End. Acts included Tito Puente, Taj Mahal, James Cotton, Gato Barbieri, the Queen Ida Zydeco band, and Gatemouth Brown.
Ruben initiated the Public Access television station at the University of Bridgeport and worked with Dan Makara and independent TV producer Frank Borres on a number of independent documentaries, one being " IRWIN, a New York Story" which premiered at the Columbia Film festival. “Irwin” was created to celebrate the life and times of Irwin Hassen the creator of a popular comic strip character “DONDI”.
Ruben and Frank Borres also initiated the popular SWEETPORT summer music festival in Bridgeport, the first outdoor concerts on McLevy Green. In the late 1990's Ruben traveled to Nicaragua to use his journalism skills to work as a press secretary for Daniel Ortega, who became president of Nicaragua in 2007.
Ruben loved his culture. He believed in the power of the arts and media to nurture heal and inspire. He was a local visionary with an open heart, welcoming ideas and diverse individuals. Ruben and his sincere artistic endeavors will be greatly missed, but never forgotten by the City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail family.
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Juneteenth of Fairfield County Parade
Celebration at Seaside Park
Sat, June 11th 11 AM
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Observe this new, national and state holiday with the largest celebration in our history, including a 11 AM parade followed by the Harambee Festival from 1 PM to 5 PM. Camelia Lawrence, MD, FACS is the Grand Marshal. Facebook event here.be ofy 14 | | |
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JUNETEENTH Concert CT State Troubadour
Nekita Waller
Tuesday, June 14
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
Bridgeport Public Library
North Branch, 3455 Madison Ave
Nekita sings songs of freedom and hope . A concert of good music and good family fun. .It’s a time of jubilee More Info
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City Lights Gallery hosts 12th Annual
Greater Bridgeport Pride and OUTworks
Greater Bridgeport Pride Calendar
Fri 7/22 Screening of original LGBTQ films at the
Bridgeport Film Festival, Klein Memorial Theatre
Sat 7/23 ARTcade at the Arcade Mall
OUTwork art exhibit reception at City Lights Gallery
Pride March, Downtown Bpt
Pride Variety Show at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre
See full Call for Art info here.
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What else is happening in Bpt Art Scene? Read on... or...
Go to BAT calendar.
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Paier College
Schelfhaudt Gallery
Through June 27th
Gallery hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
84 Iranistan Avenue
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Reimagine the relationship between artistic mediums and the dynamism of global contemporary art movements. The collaboration between the Schelfhaudt Gallery and select artists from the American Fabrics Arts Building creates a conversation between a variety of mediums within the gallery's walls.
Free parking behind the building and main entrance located on University Avenue
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Bridgeport Art Trail "In The Community Programs" | |
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Bridgeport Youth to see the Lion King,
enrichment programs and workshops
City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail team has been busy working in the community to provide youth with programs that enrich the learning experience and provide work and promotion for artists and creatives. Through American Rescue Plan funds disseminated by the city of Bridgeport and a partnership with the Ralphola Taylor Community Center 50 Bridgeport youth and chaperones will go to the Minskoff Theatre to see the Lion King.
City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail Outreach
To culminate months of enrichment workshops, the City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail teaching artists treated students of the Multicultural Magnet school to an inspirational concert to emphasize the social/emotional learning goals and to offer the school body a fun, rejuvenating music party to end the school year.
Executive Director Suzanne Kachmar remarks, "as we rebound from Covid fears and conditions and contend with the chilling shock of violence committed on our young students, we wanted to offer the youth and school community a moment of joy to forget their cares and express friendship to their fellow students and colleagues."
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Inspirational music party to end the school year at Multicultural Magnet School | |
The ensemble of musicians included Asher Delerme, Fuzz Sangiovanni, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Gabrielle Lashkmi and Ricardo Reyes. | |
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Bridgeport Film Fest
Movie Trivia Night
Early Bird Festival Tickets Now on Sale!
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SAVE THE DATE!
Movie Trivia Night
Saturday, June 11 | 6-9 PM
Calling ALL MOVIE LOVERS! The Bridgeport Film Fest will hold an in-person Movie Trivia Night at The Nest Arts Factory. All are welcome and there will be complimentary snacks, drinks and prizes!
Email us at Info@BridgeportFilmFest.org if you have any questions.
Suggested Donation of $10 will be accepted.
RSVP HERE
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SAVE THE DATE!
Coming July 22-24
Various Times
The Bridgeport Film Fest is excited to announce that early-bird tickets are now on sale for this summer's hottest event coming to the historic Klein Memorial Auditorium for its second year in a row and will also feature virtual screening options.
There will be nine programming blocks of short film highlighting the diversity of our greater communities including Asian American and Pacific Islander stories, ‘Hometown Glory’ celebrating films made by local Connecticut filmmakers and ‘The Future is Female’, highlighting films written and directed by female identifying creators. Plus we are kicking off Greater Bridgeport Pride with a celebration of LGBTQ+ Filmmakers and stories!
Email us at Info@BridgeportFilmFest.org if you have any questions.
Early Bird Tickets Available Here!
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18 Artists
City Lights Gallery
265 Golden Hill Street
To recognize the 18th anniversary of their downtown arts venue in Bridgeport, City Lights presents select works of 18 artists that have exhibited and participated in programs over the years.
Gallery hrs W-F 12-5, Sat 12-4 or by appointment
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Exhibiting artists: Maralyn Adlin, Carlos Bautista Biernnay, Claude Desir, Karen Loprete, Looketha (Marcella Cavalliere), Dan Makara, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Shanna Melton, Brad Noble, Francis Pressley, Mark Rich, Gerald Saladyga, David Sepulveda, Scott Schuldt, Liz Squillace, Rita Valley, Amanda Walker, Joan Wheeler. | |
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lionheArt Studios
Free Paint Sundays
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Free Paint on Sundays
Come on Down:
Sun, June 12
Sun, June 19
Sun, June 26
Sun, July 3
Join curator Evan Bieder and friends at the lionheART gallery! Come view the current show and/or make your own small painting.
All materials provided!
More info here
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The lionheART Gallery Open Call for Artists
if you or someone you know would like to be part of a lionheART Bridgeport group show in 2022, please send a link to your website, social media account or
5-7 images of recent work to lionheartbpt@gmail.com
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City Lights Vintage
Create your own style, find that unique gift.
265 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport CT (by the painted stairs)
Shop hrs: Th-Sat 12-5 pm, or by appointment
Sales support City Lights Gallery's community events and education programs.
Contact us here Shop online on Etsy
@citylightsvintage on Facebook/Instagram
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SAVE THE DATE
Reader's Block: Poets on Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder
Sun, June 12 | 2:00-3:30pm
Be sure to come to Reader's Block bookstore in Stratford, owned by Bridgeport Indie Author T. Ashley for this Poets on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Discussion!
Check out www.readersblockbookstore.com for more info!
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Bridgeport Public Library
Black Rock Branch
2705 Fairfield Ave
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Thurs, Jun 16, 2022, 6:30 PM
Book Discussion of Annette Gordon
Reed’s Pulitzer Prize Winner “On Juneteen" Free
More info
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Bridgeport wins big in the annual ACE Awards
Three of the six award recipients of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County's Sixth Annual Daniel E. Offutt III Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) Awards are based in Bridgeport.
The purpose of the ACE awards is to celebrate the passion for, and impact of, arts and culture across coastal Fairfield County, and to raise awareness of the quality and diversity of our region's arts and cultural offerings. These awards recognize the energy and commitment to arts and culture in the region's largest and most diverse city. Read more.
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Congratulations to Bridgeport ACE Awardees
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Pam Lewis:
ACE Educator Award
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Suzanne Kachmar:
ACE NonProfit Award
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Alicia Cobb:
ACE Artist Award
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BIJOU THEATRE
275 Fairfield Ave
Live Music & Film: In-Person & Streaming
Bijoutheatrect.net
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The Klein Auditorium
Sun, June 26 3:45 PM
910 Fairfield Ave
New York Fashion Week fundraiser for homeless families featuring
Hope Wade, Special Guest Bria Holmes and special performance by Rpper Codeclife
Tickets $30-35
Ticket link
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The Dude of Life Band with Luna Ticks
Sat, June 11, 2022 | 9 PM
Tickets $18.50
Ages 21+
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Funky Dawgz Band
Fri, June 17, 2022 9:00 PM
Tickets $10
Ages 21+
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Steve Kimoch & Friends
Sat June 18th 9 PM
Tickets $41
Ages 21+
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Godfrey
Standup Comedy
FOX, BET, VH1,
Comedy Central
Thurs, June 9 - Sun, June 12
Various Times|$25 Tickets
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Vince Philips & Friends Taco Tuesday Comedy Carnival
Standup Comedy
Tues, June 14th
7:00 PM $20 Tickets
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Joe Matarese
Remember When
World Tour 2022
Standup Comedy
Thurs, June 16 - Sat, June 18
Various Times|$20 Tickets
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The Arcade Mall
1001 Main Stree
Art & Soul
Juneteenth Event
Sat, June 18th | noon - 4 PM
Facebook event
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Bridgeport Art Trail
Storytelling Exchange
Thursday, July 7th at 7 PM
To recognize the art of storytelling, City Lights Gallery sponsors a monthly story gathering for adults on Zoom.
The emphasis is personal stories to share the human experience. Participants with fictional or historical stories are welcome too! We encourage professional tellers, amateurs, and listeners to join us. During the exchange, participants share a story, a part of a story, a story idea, or attend just to listen.
Test out a piece, receive help developing it if you wish, and listen to the stories of others. Discover what makes a story compelling.
Zoom Registration Link here.
For more information, about the Storytelling Exchange please contact City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail clgallerybpt@gmail.com
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Big Time Rush Live
Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Friday, June 24 | 7:30 PM
Big Time Rush is an American pop music boy band formed in 2009. The group starred in Nickelodeon's television series of the same name, Big Time Rush. The show ran from November 28, 2009, to July 25, 2013. The pilot episode featured the group's first promotional single, "Big Time Rush".
The group has released three studio albums: BTR in 2010, Elevate in 2011, and 24/Seven in 2013. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2014 that lasted until 2021 when the group resumed live performances and released the single "Call It Like I See It
Tickets Available here
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SAVE THE DATE
Bpt Creates: Moon Cruise
Tues, June 14 | 8pm
Be sure to come to downtown Bridgeport and join us for the return of our monthly ride to enjoy the many phases of the moon in the city of Bridgeport.
For info on moon phases and other cool stuff visit https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/usa/time
Contact us
Use 1042 Broad St to access the meeting point at the rear entrance o the Arcade Mall.
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Evening Lecture Series
RED PANDA NETWORK
Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Ave
Wed, June 15,
7pm – 8pm Online
Tickets $10
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The Red Panda Network conservation programs extend to over one million acres of forest and 50% of Nepal’s red panda range! The Red Panda Network involves community partners in 10 districts in Nepal with over 75 Community Forest User Groups in adopting sustainable forest management practices. More info | |
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WORKSHOPS + OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ARTISTS
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Figure Drawing
the First 2 Tuesdays of the Month
at the NEST Arts Factory
1720 Fairfield Ave Bpt, CT
RSVP clgallerybpt@gmail.com
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Figure Drawing
Open Sketch
at the NEST Arts Factory
On the 1st and 2nd Tuesday of the month. Bring your own drawing materials. $15 model fee.
Please RSVP to clgallerybpt@gmail.com
This is an open sketch studio workshop moderated by Ellie Mesa, sponsored by City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail.
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