ALMANAC 2019

 
RETURNHOME.html

JANUARY

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“LISTENING: MUSINGS AT THE MORRIS MUSEUM”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

Morris Museum

6 Normandy Heights Rd.

Morristown, New Jersey

www.morrismuseum.org

“If speaking is silver, then listening is gold.”

-Turkish Proverb

Is listening a lost art?

Sensory bombardment sometimes obscures

a quality listening experience.

This is on my mind while visiting three music exhibits at the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey. Particularly striking is the audio installation by John Morton, incorporating vocal sounds of the human ecstatic experience from many lands.

SCULPTURE IN VALLETTA, MALTA  PHOTO © JON H. DAVIS

AUTOMATON AT MORRIS MUSEUM  PHOTO © IRIS BROOKS

To Read the Full Article Accompanied by Original Photos

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW.

EVENT ARCHIVES 2018

To See the Video FEVER SONGS, CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW

CONCERT

“JUDSON DANCE THEATER:

A COLLECTIVE SPECULATION”

MoMA PS1

22-25 Jackson Ave.

Queens, New York

Sunday, January 27, 2-6 PM

Featuring Live Music By Philip Corner - Gongs


With

Iris Brooks - Flute

David Demnitz - Guitar

Daniel Goode - Clarinet

Phoebe Neville - Voice

Leyna Marika Papach - Violin

Philip Corner will be returning from Italy, where he resides, for this New York performance, which is taking place 35 years after he composed, Gamelan Iris. This concert of music by Philip Corner will feature his Lovely Music and Om Entrance along with a symposium honoring the historic Judson Dance Theater movement.

MoMA PS1 is the first non-profit arts center in the country devoted solely to contemporary art and is an affiliate of The Museum of Modern Art. The concert and symposium, “Judson Dance Theater: A Collective Speculation” is organized in conjunction with the MoMA exhibit, Judson Dance Theater: The Work is Never Done through February 3 at their main venue (11 West 53rd St. in Manhattan). 

CLICK POSTER for More Information and Tickets.

FEBRUARY

Celebrating Losar, or the new year in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and parts of northern India takes place annually and this seasonal festival is an opportunity to rid oneself of the old, and welcome the new. The sacred holiday pays tribute to wisdom and compassion. This year the ceremonies–coordinating with the first new moon on the Tibetan calendar–occur in early February 2019. It is the Year of the Earth Pig, symbolizing good fortune, and while the festival originally began with farmers, the scope of the Buddhist celebration has expanded.

Losar is a time to clean one’s house of unneeded items, offer incense to local spirits, and place water on the altar to ensure a good harvest. In a purification ritual, lamps are lit, a torch is used to get rid of the old (physical), and firecrackers are set off to chase away evil (metaphysical), monsters, and bad luck. Colorful prayer flags are changed and some monks create large yak butter sculptures known as tsepdro. Others celebrate the festive occasion with games of darts and archery or by singing and dancing to dispel negative forces.

Traditional roasted barley cereal, tsampa is eaten for breakfast. Other holiday foods are guthuk noodles made from nine ingredients such as mandarin oranges, dried cheese, and green bananas. Dough balls or dumplings can be tasty treats, but they have hidden treasures inside at this time, some of which are meant to be humorous, such as a chili pepper representing talking too much. A white item inside, such as salt or rice is symbolic of being a good person and having luck for the coming year, while black coal inside the dough refers to a black heart.

In China, where red is the preferred color for dress and decorations for their new year (coinciding with the new moon), food also has special meanings. In southern China, spring rolls are eaten to usher in the spring. Chinese dumplings also have significance during their new year festival, in which eating them is said to send away the old and welcome the new. If you eat the dumpling with the coin inside, it ensures good luck for the year. And rice cakes are consumed with the belief that the new year will be better than the previous one. The Chinese New Year, also related to their Spring Festival, is celebrated with lantern statues, lion dances, and parades. It is a time many Chinese journey home to celebrate with their families.


-Iris Brooks

ALL PHOTOS FROM BHUTAN  © JON  H. DAVIS  & IRIS BROOKS

CONCERT REHEARSAL

SOHO, NEW YORK

“Before the Dome at MoMA PS1”

Photo Montage By Jon H. Davis

MUSICIANS: Philip Corner - Composer, Gong, and Voice

Iris Brooks - Flute

David Demnitz - Electric Guitar

Daniel Goode - Clarinet

Phoebe Neville - Voice and Gong

Leyna Marika Papach - Violin

VALENTINE’S DAY

CELEBRATING THE DAY OF THE HEART


WITH LOVE POETRY BY PETRARCH,

Italian Renaissance Poet & Father of Humanism

MARCH

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

“THE CENTENNIAL”

Article By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis

“In the Grand Canyon,  Arizona has a natural wonder

which is in kind absolutely unparalleled

throughout the rest of the world.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

Mail delivered by mule? This is not a scene from a movie, but a reality along the 277-mile long Grand Canyon, which has one of the last mail-by-mule routes. In addition to postcards and letters, the mule service delivers food, medicine, and small appliances in loads of up to 200 pounds.  This is not the only connection of the post office with the Grand Canyon. The U.S. Postal system–which has honored the Grand Canyon in 1919, 1934, 1969, and 2012–issued a stamp featuring a painting of the Grand Canyon by Thomas Moran (1837-1926) when the National Park Service turned 100 in 2016. Now, the park itself is 100 years old.

The Grand Canyon National Park, an icon of America in Arizona and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has just turned 100. The splendor of the Grand Canyon has left multitudes (about 6 million annually) in awe of its natural and majestic beauty on a truly grand scale. It’s a place to hike and raft or ride a mule, train, or plane for scenic panoramic views, with rocks on its floor dating back 2 million years.

Before the Grand Canyon was on everyone’s bucket list, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill proclaiming it a National Park without much fanfare. That has changed today as many gatherings are scheduled throughout the year to commemorate this important anniversary with conferences, concerts, and ceremonies. Others programs involve map-based storytelling, stargazing, historic homages, and cultural demonstrations featuring the diversity of the area with Native American heritage days.

And without any special events, the rock formations are staggering and the wildlife in the park is in full force with over 355 bird species, 89 types of mammals, 47 reptiles, 9 amphibians, and 17 species of fish. Naturalist John Muir, known as the “Father of the National Parks,” reminds us not to get bogged down in the separate details of nature. “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”


-Iris Brooks

ART EXHIBITION:

COLOR.COLOUR

With 9 Blue Artworks by Iris Brooks

BLUE HILL ART & CULTURAL CENTER

One Blue Hill Plaza

Pearl River, New York

LAST WEEK FOR VIEWING 

EXHIBITION CLOSES FRIDAY,  APRIL 5, 2019

Viewing Hours Are Monday - Friday, 8AM - 6PM

This show was curated by Barbara Sussman for viewers and art collectors to experience a palette of different hues while walking through the expansive environment of this corporate venue.  Among the exhibited works are blue metal planography by Iris Brooks including her ice images from Norway, sapphire waters from North America’s West coast, turquoise seas from the Caribbean, and the contemplative painting, BLUE MEDITATION.

BLUE MEDITATION                                                                                                       ©  IRIS BROOKS

ART EXHIBIT

HIDDEN WONDERS:

Mandala Art by Jon H. Davis

APRIL

Roost

623 Main Street

Sparkill, New York

FINAL MONTH,

Show Closes April 28, 2019

Firebird is an iconic musical composition and ballet by composer Igor Stravinsky, a Czech fairytale about a mystical, flaming bird eating the king’s golden apples, and an artwork created by Jon H. Davis, inspired by the intertwining rhythms of the rainforest echoing tribal wisdom, where elders believe spirit lives in everything. This featured piece, on exhibit at Roost, reminds us of the biodiversity of nature and its power to transform as this fiery blossom takes flight.


-Iris Brooks

FIREBIRD - 30” x 30” Limited-Edition, Canvas Giclée.  © JON H. DAVIS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“GREENING OUR PLANET:

EARTH DAY ALTERNATIVES”

By Iris Brooks

ART FOR EARTH DAY

“WOODLAND WONDERMENT”

“ROOTED PATH”

Original Art by Jon H. Davis

WOODLAND WONDERMENT                                                         © JON H. DAVIS

Examining delicate forest treasures with symmetry at the root of its small, but important parts, “Woodland Wonderment” is a multi-layered, contemplative work reminding us of beauty and connection in the natural world.

ROOTED PATH                                                                                                      © JON H. DAVIS

“Rooted Path” is both a literal and figurative path to keep you in balance by connecting with nature. This artwork was created from images captured at the Hammond Museum Stroll Garden in North Salem, New York.









                                                    CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGEPhoto_Details.html

MAY

FILM SCREENING

LANGUAGES LOST AND FOUND: 

Speaking & Whistling the Mamma Tongue

Written, Directed, and Produced by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

Narration by William Hurt

Music Composed by John McDowell

Distributed by Alexander Street/ProQuest

With Post-Screening Discussion and Interactive DVD

AWAKENING LANGUAGES: 

A Personal Exploration, Sharing, and Questioning

By Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

Albert Wisner Library

1 McFarland Drive

Warwick, New York


Friday, May 17 at 7:00 PM

Program is free; registration is encouraged.
Click HERE to register. http://www.albertwisnerlibrary.org/FORMS/register1.php?eventID=9641

Celebrate languages around the world and global sounds.

Join in armchair travels while exploring linguistic and cultural diversity.

Consider name identity and borrowed words.

JUNE

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“BANTERING ABOUT BANNERMAN”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

ARTICLE  AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“GARDEN ESCAPE”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

http://www.bannermancastle.org

SUMMER

VIDEO

CURRENTLY FEATURED ON GOOD NEWS PLANET

“TRAVELER: 5 Continents in 5 Minutes”

Written, Directed, and Produced by Jon H. Davis & Iris Brooks

Watch it on Good News Planet

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“BHUTAN:

LAND OF GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks


Summer Feature on Good News Planet

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“DUSKLIT 2019:

ART AND THE EPHEMERAL”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

SEPTEMBER

FILM SCREENING

LANGUAGES LOST AND FOUND:

SPEAKING & WHISTLING  THE MAMMA TONGUE

Written, Produced, and Directed by Iris Brooks and Jon H. Davis

Narration by William Hurt

Featuring Music by John McDowell

Tuxedo Park Library

227 Route 17

Tuxedo Park, New York

Tel. 845 351 2207


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th AT 2 PM

Free Film Screening is Followed by a Q & A with the Filmmakers.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“OLANA: A GEM ON THE HUDSON RIVER”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.ARTS_%26_CULTURE_ARTICLES.html

OCTOBER

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“THE HUDSON EYE:

CREATIVE PLACEMAKING AT AN INAUGURAL ARTS FESTIVAL”

Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

Click to Read the Full Story IN WHITEHOT MAGAZINE OF CONTEMPORARY ART 
About this Multidisciplinary Arts Festivalhttps://whitehotmagazine.com/

VIDEO STILLS CAPTURED AT THE HUDSON EYE ARTS FESTIVAL

BASILICA HUDSON, A REPURPOSED PERFORMANCE VENUE

AT THE HUDSON EYE ARTS FESTIVAL

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“BELOVED BEE BELIEFS:

I’M A BELIEVER”

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

“ART TELLS STORIES:

THE MARGARET MEAD FILM FESTIVAL”

Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art

By Iris Brooks

Photographs by Jon H. Davis and Iris Brooks

NOVEMBER

Do colors have personalities?

It was this stimulating question, which lured me to the Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History. Some artists are concerned with pigment opacity, the chemical properties of a color, or its solubility in water. Others dwell on tactile responses or psychological profiles of color, pairing them with types of humans as an aid to improved functioning. But it is the personality of colors standing on their own that drew me in. The concept is thought-provoking, and I am interested to hear about eggshell white described as a “shy” pigment; dark, opaque colors considered “bullies,” and how colors can be characterized as “wimps” depending on how they absorb light or decompose. While these ideas are tantalizing, more depth on the personality of color was absent in the 20-minute movie, Color, which I still found engaging.

In another film screened at the Mead, we learn about the multi-disciplinary, Australian Aboriginal artist Maree Clarke. “My work is about regenerating cultural practices, making people aware of our culture, and that we are really strong in our culture, identity, and knowledge. We haven’t lost anything: some of these practices have just been laying dormant for a while,” says Clarke.

All text and photographs © Iris Brooks and Jon H. Davis

Click to Read the Full Story in Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Arthttps://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/stories-margaret-mead-film-festival/4427

Kangaroo Teeth Necklace By Maree Clarke

ART

MANDALA - “EARTHLY DELIGHTS”

By Jon H. Davis

Inspired by the Art Exhibition, Madness In Vegetables

At the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art

New Paltz, New York

EARTHLY DELIGHTS

© Jon H. Davis

“The amber hues of autumn herald a change of color in this transitional season.”

-Jon H. Davis

MEMORIAL CONCERT

AND PROGRAM ESSAY

“BARBARA BENARY: MUSICAL MAVERICK”

December 8

With Gamelan Son of Lion

Loft of Dan Goode

167 Spring Street

New York City

BOOK EXCERPT

AMBER: LITHUANIAN GOLD

Text by Iris Brooks

Photo by Jon H. Davis

DECEMBER

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

December 21, 2019

“7 Ways To Relieve Holiday Stress”