WestFest Dance Festival 2018

Perspective – True, as told by the storyteller

April 26th – 29th
Westbeth Artists’ Residence
55 Bethune St / 155 Bank St New York, NY 10014

www.westfestdance.com

WestFest is a cutting edge, curated dance festival presenting established and emerging movement artists in the historic Westbeth Artists’ Residence in West Village, NYC. The festival includes two distinct programs: WestFest Top Floor and All Over Westbeth.

Join us April 26th – 29th, 8 PM for WestFest – Top Floor at the Martha Graham Studio

Theater as we present visionary NYC dance artists in a traditional theater setting.

Program A – Thursday, April 26th and Saturday, April 28th – includes artists Manuel Vignoulle – M/motions, Breton Follies, Chelsea Ainsworth & Doron Perk, Amos Pinhasi, Charlotte Settle & Jack Blackmon, LAJAMARTIN, Carol Nolte, and Guest Artist Claire Porter.

Program B – Friday April 27th and Sunday, April 29th – includes artists Ashley Minestrina, Madeline Kurtz, Dian Peterson Sans Limites Dance, Amanda Hameline Dance, mollymingeyprojects, Baye & Asa, and Guest Artist David Parker & The Bang Group.

Tickets: $20
Purchase Ticket Link: https://westfestdance2018.brownpapertickets.com
Time: 8 PM
Running Time: 1 hour
Location: 55 Bethune St, New York, NY 10014

All Over Westbeth

Our site-specific program, takes place the weekend of April 28-29th. Join us for guided tours of Westbeth’s unique architectural history featuring original dance creations tailored to several of the community’s most iconic spaces.

Free tours begin every 15 minutes from 2-4 PM both days.

Inspired by true stories, a lighthouse keeper’s wife struggles with her work and her sanity as she cares for her sick husband in 19th century Maine. When a mysterious stranger washes up on shore, secrets buried in deep waters come to light, and she confronts both her past and her future.

Erica Fae graduated from New York University/Tisch School. Erica creates and produces original work, often from historical research. Her recent play “Take What Is Yours” (in which she stars, and co-wrote) received a Critics’ Pick in The New York Times and Backstage (2012). She appears in Lisa Robinson’s ground breaking short “Hollow”, premiering at Tribeca Film Festival (2013). She has won awards for Best Actress and Best Short for her short films, and has performed at New York Theatre Workshop, The Kennedy Center, Walker Arts Center, American Repertory Theatre, The New Victory, A.C.T., and Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center, and Dance Theater Workshop. Erica teaches physical acting at Yale School of Drama and The New School’s MFA programs. She lives at Westbeth.

More info at: To Keep The Light.com

REVIEW from SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN: “… a gripping portrait… wonderfully mysterious… Fae’s Abbie is an entrancing blend of delicacy and strength, and the cinematography is just stunning.”

REVIEW from NASHVILLE SCENE: “women dominate this year’s NEW DIRECTORS category… TO KEEP THE LIGHT, erica fae’s slow-burning period drama, follows salt-of-the-earth abbie, who is tasked with tending to a lighthouse on a remote maine island during her husband’s illness. fae, who also stars in the film, has garnered praise for her work in theater, and it shows: she reveals her character through exacting body language that makes her situation visceral. inspired by true stories of women lighthouse keepers in the 1800s, TO KEEP THE LIGHT is beautifully shot, building tension against the harsh landscape, and fae proves to be a true new talent.”

TO KEEP THE LIGHT wins BEST OF SHOW: “… a unique film with a fascinating heroine who is as sturdy and distinctive as the maine coastline where the story takes place…”

REVIEW from the ORLANDO WEEKLY:

“first-time writer-director erica fae’s TO KEEP THE LIGHT is a quietly mesmerizing look at the lonely life of a lighthouse keeper’s wife who is struggling with her daily duties – and her sanity – while caring for her sick husband in 19th-century maine. when a mysterious stranger washes up on shore, she is forced to confront both her past and her future. shot much like a haunted-house thriller, the film takes on an ingmar bergman feel in the second half… its beauty and confidently methodical pacing – not to mention a solid performance by fae herself – make it one of the better offerings in the narrative features competition… captures the feel of the period and… features an interesting feminist theme.”

REVIEW from cinema365:

“every shot here is literally a work of art; this movie is like strolling through a museum where one great painting after another hangs on the wall… while this is her first feature film- with work like this, I sincerely hope ms. fae continues her work in the cinematic arts… fae gives the character an inner core that is stronger than steel and grabs the viewer’s attention and admiration. she may be one of the most memorable female characters you’ll see in any movie this year and you certainly won’t be forgetting any time soon after the credits roll…. an early candidate for my top films of 2016.”

REVIEW from THE MANEATER: “…a work of art and surreal beauty, this film is a must-watch because it throws light on obscured aspects of our history and imparts a valuable lesson of taking a stand for what is ours.”

FROM THE COLUMBIA TRIBUNE: ”… weds stunning visuals to the compelling story of a lighthouse keeper’s wife trying to care for her husband, their hime and herself…”

FIPRECI PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT IN GERMAN PRESS

REVIEW from WILLAMETTE WEEK:

seven new movies to see this week: what to watch in portland (oregon) cinemas

“abbie is the wife of an ailing lighthouse keeper on an isolated island off the coast of 1867 maine. when a stranger washes up on her shore, she’s forced to confront her life and desires. based on the approximately 300 women who served as lighthouse attendants in the 1800s, this film offers a glimpse into the lives of often forgotten heroines…”

from WOMEN IN FILM & TV VANCOUVER:

“fae’s film displays a gift for both masterful composition and mesmerizing drama as she imparts this involving story of an embattled woman relegated to the fringes of society but determined to be respected.”

Our world seems to be in upheaval. People are looking for some way to express their concerns and hope for the future. “WRITE NOW” will give them the opportunity to express those feelings in the Westbeth Gallery.

How the show works: Upon entry into the gallery, the participant is asked to donate a $1 or more to canisters representing 5 locally-based New York charities
Planned Parenthood NY •Ali Forney Center • God’s Love We Deliver • Cabrini Immigrant Services • The Alliance for Greater NY

Visitors will use as many post- it notes as they want to express their thoughts about 2016 and their hopes for 2017.

You can draw, collage, paint, write, and sculpt.

Main Room : What Do You Want the World to Bring into 2017?

Rear Room: What Do You Want the World to Leave in 2016?

Side Room 1 : What Do You Want to Bring into 2017?

Small Side 2 Want to Leave in 2016?

We will have a “Westbeth Only Preview Night” on Dec 9th. All Westbeth residents will be invited to post their notes that evening. The Public Opening will occur on Dec 10th. The show will run through Dec 31st.

The Portrait Project: Artists Portraying Artists
A group exhibition of 17 painters and sculptors. Each artist will include in their exhibited body of work, at least one portrait of another artist in the show.

Exhibition Dates:
May 6 – May 20, 2017

Opening Reception:
Saturday May 6, 5 – 8 PM

Gallery Hours:
Wednesdays – Sundays,
1PM – 6PM

Westbeth Gallery presents the Portrait Project, an association of artists using direct observation, who exchange modeling time with one another. The modeling exchange provides a creative stimulus and exposes each artist to divergent points of view about portraiture and different working practices, avoiding many compromises associated with commissions. The show will highlight a body of work from each of the members. At least one of the pieces from each artist will be a portrait of a fellow Portrait Project member. Media include painting, drawing and sculpture.

Participating artists:
Alix Bailey, Robert Bunkin, Susanna Coffey, ColleenFranca, Leonid Gervits, Valerie Gillett, Howard Gladstone, Yuka Imata, Karen Kaapcke, Eric March,Frances Middendorf,J. William Middendorf, Sharon Moreau,Dena Schutzer, Orly Shiv,Donna Skebo, and Clarissa Payne Uvegi.

Special Evvents:
Drawing Room: An on-going feature of the exhibition will be the Drawing Room, which will display member’s drawings, as well as provide an opportunity for visitors to draw themselves or another visitor, in a space furnished with pencil and paper, chairs and a mirror. Visitor drawings can be displayed in the room until the conclusion of the exhibition, and retrieved on the closing day (May 20 no later than 6PM).

Panel discussion: “Artists Portraying Artists” on Saturday, May 13, 4 – 5:30 PM
Panel includes David Cohen, Mel Leipzig, Gail Levin, and Jennifer Samet.

“Roundtable” conversation on Saturday, May 20 (closing day), 3 – 5 PM. Attendees are invited to participate in an open discussion about issues in contemporary portraiture with Portrait Project members.

Westbeth Gallery
55 Bethune Street, Atrium
New York, NY 10014
westbethgallery@gmail.com
Contact: Howard Gladstone, 646-391-4821

Curated by Peter Colquhoun, an exhibition focusing on contemporary still life painting.

Continue reading →

Featuring the work of Westbeth artists Christina Maile, Paul Binnerts, Nancy Gabor, Penny Jones and Stephen Hall, along with the Metaverses team, and the Media Center of the Met Museum.

A Multi-Media Augemented Reality Tour

Created in collaboration with the Metaverses team of interdisciplinary artists/technologists Patricia Faolli, Vanessa Gilbert, Jason Schuler, and Justine Wiliams of the MFA Media Program at Brooklyn College, and Westbeth artists in partnership with the Media Lab at the Metropolitan Museum.

The tour will include use of IPads which will be provided.