CAC@SJB's "Momentz of Noize" Open-mic Holiday Jam.. What A Blessed Event!!

Wonderful Black Angel soars on the open-mic

Something truly special happend on Saturday, Dec. 13th in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.. CAC@SJB opened its doors to the community for our "Momentz of Noize" Open-mic Holiday Jam 2008.. and what resulted was an experience so profound and inspiring, that it leads us to ask, "Could it get any better?"

Guest Comments:  

"This is a great place that nurtures the soul, and enhances the spirit with positive energy, faith, and positive messages.  These are desperately needed by all people and our communities.  I am proud of receiving the opportunity to contribute and share. Much success!" - Jaime "The Maestro" Emeric

CAC@SJB fam members, community organizers, poet, Luis Bernard 

& artist, Glenn Angel, hosted the event at the Center

Poets take turns on the open-mic

This afternoon gathering of wonderful community artists, poets, and activists was one of the best events at the Center to date!  All our invited guests unanimously agree.. when we gather together at the Center to celebrate our art, our music, our culture, and most of all, ourselves with one another for the sake of community, magical things happen in our humble little center that truly feeds the soul.  On this day, the Center was more than just a hidden gem.. it was truly a brilliant jewel on a cold December afternoon that will not soon be forgotten.

Guest Comments:  

"What a beautiful space and a blessing.  I had a wonderful time.  Thank you for this place, and healing of spirit."  - Tachelle Wilkes 

 

Educator and amazing poet, Charan P, 

wowed the crowd with her deep poetry

Soulful Tachelle sings and moves the crowd 

at the Center with her beautiful voice

The group art exhibition that was beautifully displayed at the Center was both the backdrop and a great enhancement to what took place as poet after amazing poet and special performers took turns on the open-mic. Poetry of all kinds just dazzled the mind and inspired the soul in such a way.. in other words.. the Center was totally transformed into a safe haven of peace, love, and wonderful artistry by the community for the community.  In a parish where not too much is being offered to teens and adults in the greater community as far as art, poetry, and freedom of expression, this event helped fill a great void in a quiet parish building on a cold Saturday afternoon in December where so much more can be done to bring the outside community inside to this historic building at St. John the Baptist parish.

Enjoying the vibe at the event

Richie Robles played his guitar and sang his heart out 

for the guests at the Center

This special "Momentz of Noize" event gathering was an opportunity to celebrate the gift of creativity, and to meet new artists, poets, musicians, and community activists who have never visited the Center nor this side of Brooklyn before.  It was a great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals with one main shared vision.. to utilize our God-given abilities to make a positive impact in young people's lives, and to enhance the quality of life in our inner-city communities through the gift of art.

Guest Comments:  

"This place is AWESOME!" - Kris Echevarria

Guests enjoy the art displayed in the Center

Guest were blessed to see the wonderful paintings and artwork of Glenn Angel, Iandry Randriamandroso, Chantal Smith, Jai Cruz, Kris Echevarria.. and special guest artists, John Aguilar Marrero and Reina Miranda (Taino Spirit), who showed only a sample of their amazing creations.  We look forward to having Aguilar and Reina back at the Center for their own art exhibition.. because their art is truly a treasure to behold, and the community would be blessed to see it first hand. 

Amazing artist, Aguilar, explains his beautiful 

paintings to a group of guests at the Center..

..while Reina did her thing on the open-mic

We also had a special appearance by a unique brother / sister art team, Marthalicia & Tomas (M Squared Art Productions) come by and do some live painting with Marthalicia's son, Wesly, taking to the canvas as well while the poets took turns on the microphone. We thank Marthalicia, Tomas, and lil' Wesly for blessing us with their presence.. and also look forward to showcasing them at the Center in 2009.  They are wonderful young artists with a world of talent, passion, and stories to share with the community.

Guest Comments:

"I am glad.. more like.. ecstatic to be able to participate in something that gives back to the community, especially children.  I look forward to work with your group in all future endeavors." - Black Angel

Wesly paints live in the Center during the event

while mommy, Marthalicia, proudly watches on

Tired Wesly takes a well-deserved break during the event

We truly want to thank all our special guests, our great poets, wonderful artists, and especially our CAC@SJB family members, Richie Robles, Howard & Dorothy Folk, Jeorlaine Hill, Lucia Totoya, and Luis Bernard for making this event a great success and a blessed experience for all who attended.  This type of community gathering in celebration of our diverse cultures and our great array of gifted artists of all genres is what our parish community greatly lacks and needs much more of.  We are hopeful to continue presenting more opportunities for our community residents (especially our very own youth and young adults of St. John's parish and our Bed-Stuy community) to be exposed to the many gifted and dedicated individuals in our very own inner-city communities and neighborhoods that have so much to offer and share with us all.  This is what makes a community more real, more relevant, and more colorful.. and inspires us all to dream big and make important things happen for the betterment of our quality of life in our under-served communities.  Because if we don't do it, who will?  

We look forward to having all our special guests back, and to have new visitors experience the Center in 2009 at one of our special art and poetry events!  Until then.. may we all have a great and very prosperous New Year!!

For more great pictures of our Momentz of Noize Holiday Jam (courtesy of Jaime "The Maestro"), link into the Center's myspace webpage and click on pics at www.myspace.com/CACSJB

A Special "Momentz of Noize" Gathering at CAC@SJB: Holiday Jam 2008

(left to right) Rich Robles, Greg Mills, Jeorlaine Hill, Luis Bernard, 

Jacqueline Cordova, Kris Echevarria, and Glenn Angel invite you to the Center

The family members of CAC@SJB invite you to a very special community gathering on Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 12 noon - 4 pm.. our "Momentz of Noize" Holiday Jam 2008.  This special event is dedicated to our beloved sister, Danielle Locario, who returned home to the Lord this past September.

Our beloved sister, Danielle Locario, blesses the mic 

at the Center in 2007

Blessings,

 

On Dec 13th, CAC@SJB and The In Progress Group are presenting a very special Art exhibition/Spoken word Community networking gathering, announcing another year of creative writing /performance workshops.. and more.

 

The event will be from 12 - 4 PM (the bldg closes at 4:30PM.. so no CP or PR time)

 

We again will be re-establishing our position,  that the buck stops with us in order to take back our youth one mind at a time,  and our communities one block at a time. 

 

Come and support yourself.  All we have is each other.

 

If you are a visual artist, spoken wordsmith or a motivational speaker that would like to take part, please contact us by Dec 8.

 

Too many instances occur in this society where parents outlive their children. Then we have family reunions in funeral palors asking for a moment of silence.

 

Well, NO MORE !  It's time to reverse this process with.. 

"Momentz of Noize"!

This special afternoon event will feature an ope-mic, a wonderful group art exhibition, and music in celebration of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's.. and it promises to be yet another blessed, joyous, and memorable event in the history of the Center.  To date, we have had over 20 events and special presentations at CAC@SJB since 2004, and they have all been very special in their own right.  If you have never been to the Center, or haven't visited the Center in some time, we invite you to experience the magic and all the blessings.. and find out why we consider the Center one of the "hidden gems" this side of Brooklyn.

CAC@SJB Director, Curator, and Community Artist, Glenn Angel, 

invites you to experience the Center at our "Momentz of Noize" Holiday Jam

The first part of the event (12 noon - 2 pm) will showcase the group art exhibition and time for artists and guests to introduce themselves to one another and network. The artwork on display is beautiful and is available for sale in original form, or in small prints.  Part of the proceeds from the art on sale is being donated in support of the Center to continue our efforts, to help support our projects in the future, and to support our community artists.

The Word Bird, Malik Canty, takes flight at one of his 

many appearances at the Center

The second part of the event (2 pm - 4 pm) will feature the open-mic where special guest poets and others will have the opportunity to share their poetic talent and verses with everyone.  All are welcome to attend and step up to the mic to share their poetry, music, and thoughts throughout the afternoon.

Our brother and friend, amazing poet, "Word Bird" Malik Canty,

 invites you to bring a friend or two with you to the Center.. and break the chains!

All the artists are donating a percentage from sales of the artwork to the Center for the further development of CAC@SJB, and to support all our future endeavors.  We greatly appreciate all your generous contributions, and thank you for your continued support.  We couldn't do it without you.. the community.  We look forward to seeing all of you at the Center!

For more info.. feel free to contact Glenn at (646)763-4260, 

or Luis Bernard (347)623-2547

For Directions to the Center.. click on Directions to CAC@SJB in the links area on the top right side of the blog.