I forget why I headed into the Bronx Museum of the Arts seven weeks ago. But when I got there and ended up at the opening for a media tour (yup, I was lucky!) of the Martin Wong exhibit I felt like I was meant to be there. Among what I’ve seen at the museum, which is not nearly sufficient for a Bronxite former newspaper editor who has lived in the borough for 24 years, Wong’s work is the most significant. It’s the art of a proud, gay, artisitic urbanite (he spent some time here but was more of San Franciscan) obsessed with … well … his art and the influence of the diverse, difficult and delectable world around him. Here are a few photos I took of paintings that grabbed me, but they insufficiently document my experience there, which is why you should go! The exhibit closes on Feb. 14.
A bunch of years ago at the Norwood News (and the now-defunct Bronx News Network) I, and James Fergusson, launched Bronx Youth Heard, a free after-school journalism program for Bronx teens that takes place at Hostos Community College. I’m thrilled that David Cruz & Co. at the Norwood News are still making it happen. Bronx Youth Heard is an actual newspaper that’s published along with the Norwood News.
The application for the next session is due on Jan. 22. Click here for all the info. And spread the word to all the Bronx teens, teachers, and parents you know. There’s no other program and newspaper like this in the entire Bronx — and probably the entire city!
A few weeks ago I ordered 10 copies of the poster above for the front door of our house in Kingsbridge Heights and for some friends and neighbors sharing our feeling. It’s a bit of a wish as the U.S. has barely opened the nation’s doors yet, with only 2,290 allowed in since 2011. Canada, a much smaller nation population-wise, has opened its doors for more than 9,000 people.
No one has said anything much to us. Our neighbors either share the same views, or respect our right to make them known. We’ll leave it up until the U.S. speeds up and expands its policy.
But in the Norwood neighborhood, where we lived for many years, our pals Jarrett Murphy and Eileen Markey did get a written response taped to their door. Little did that person know it was a letter to an editor.
Oh, by the way, I have like 4 posters left, so if you want one for your front door, just e-mail me at bronxmatters@gmail.com and we’ll make it happen! They’re $18 each.
What should be a parking lot at Fort Independence Houses in Kingsbridge Heights is now a virtual dumping ground that NYCHA is ignoring. Photo by Jordan Moss
For months NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) has ignored this enormous mess at at Fort Independence Houses in Kingsbridge Heights. It’s essentially an unused parking lot on Heath Avenue that has been filled with all kinds of garbage over the last several months.
This shouldn’t be a costly fix. NYCHA should just be paying attention to land that it owns and is responsible for.
If you know of similar problems at other Bronx NYCHA sites and can send Bronx Matters photos, we’d be happy to spread the word and hopefully get NYCHA on its toes. Just email bronxmatters@gmail.com.
Ron Terner, long-time owner of Focal Point Gallery on City Island, at his first virtual outdoor exhibit of passed residents on a part of Ambrosini Field last year. Photo by Jordan Moss.
A little more than a year ago, photographer, artist and gallery owner Ron Terner on City Island, began creating an unusual, yet stunning and meaningful, memorial at Ambrosini Field, a city park. Using an acrylic mate medium paste he laid down photos he’s taken over the past 40 years on solid rock to honor City Islanders who have since passed away.
Terner’s pooch posed behind two of his photos on what is essentially an inaccessible section of the park by the water. Photo by Jordan Moss.
He had to sneak through literally locked gates at that park which keep you away from what is essentially a little beach, but he got his work done anyway. Unfortunately, it is still inaccessible. Here’s what Terner had to say at that time:
The area is still behind a locked gate, but that hasn’t changed Terner’s self-assigned mission to honor many former residents he took photos of for many years. Just over the bridge from Pelham Bay Park (the largest in the city by the way) onto the island, to your right, there is a wooden fence around a vacant lot. Last spring, with the OK from its owner, Terner created this more accessible outdoor gallery for the same purpose. City Island is already worth visiting, exploring and dining at, but this informal, outdoor exhibit should draw you there on its own. (And go see Focal Point Gallery). Here are just a few of those Ron Terner photos at their new location. (Photos of these photos by me, Jordan Moss)
Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo will resign from office at the end of the year, according to press reports. She cites “pressing family needs,” which could very well be the case. But the mere possibility of more corruption accusations headed toward a Bronx elected official (a few issues were raised during Arroyo’s last campaign, as I reported in City Limits) made me think of how depressingly common this is in our beautiful borough and beyond. Following is a list of 10 convicted Bronx elected officials I know of. Each name is linked to an article on their particular situation. (Some are articles from the Norwood News which I was editor of between 1994 and 2011.) If there are any I’m forgetting — and, unfortunately, that wouldn’t surprise me — please add your comments or email me at bronxmatters@gmail.com and I’ll include them in a future post.
Bronx Matters 