Permutations

POET CONNIE ROBERTS: PERMUTATIONS, TRANSFORMATION and AWoW–ALL IN ONE NIGHT

Permutations, Transformation and AWoW

by Connie Roberts*

Kathleen Bennett Bastis' Concerto #1 — **Kathleen Bennett Bastis’ Concerto #1**

In this week’s New York Times Style Magazine there is a piece about the 78-year-old experimental performance artist Joan Jonas, who lives in a loft in SoHo and who, since the late-60s, has been practicing her own unique art form: “Jonas has pursued a category-defying, perpetually exploratory practice that melds performance, drawing, film, video, sculpture, installation, sound and literature.” Jonas is a woman not constrained by any discipline. She would have fit in well with the sisterhood of artists—visual, performance, and musical—at the Artists Without Walls: Gallery Series, featuring Kathleen Bennett Bastis’ Permutations at the First Street Gallery, NYC this past Friday night. Mixed media artist Kathleen Bennett Bastis, singer-songwriter Martina Fišerova, violinist Annette Homann and performance artist Allison Sylvia, like Jonas, do not fit neatly into a pre-packaged brand: all are difficult—in the best way possible—to pin down. The aptly named exhibition Permutations served them all well. There was alteration and transformation in spades on the night!

The “art gallery etiquette” was thrown out the (second floor) window: no need to speak in hushed tones as you observed the marvelous surrounding art work in the white on white space. Laughter and conviviality abounded. Kathleen set the tone when she, in addressing the crowd, held up an AARP magazine with an image of Bob Dylan on the cover. Yes, indeed the times are a changin’. Kathleen beautifully (and magnificently) harnesses that sense of flux in her work, transforming and reimagining all kinds of detritus. “She’s the real deal,” someone leaned over and whispered to me. And we AWoWers that night had the best deal in town.

**Niamh Hyland introducing Martina Fiserova**

Martina Fišerova was the first of the evening’s entertainers. And boy did she entertain. In her green, tulle pixie dress and black boots, with guitar in hand, she worked her magic, opening with one of her classic quieter pieces, but, with encouragement from the crowd, embraced her wilder side toward the end, with a dazzling display of guitar work and what can only be described as supernatural vocals. It was riveting to watch and hear.

Allison Sylvia followed on Martina’s heels. Allison, a recent graduate of NYU, is a thinking young woman who melds song, dance, poetry, and chant (for now) in her work—I’ve a feeling she’ll push the envelope even further in future performances—also had the crowd on the edge of their seats. A year or more ago, I’d read snippets from journal entries Allison had written—character sketches she committed to paper as she rode the subway between Manhattan and Brooklyn. And lo and behold, there she was Friday night dramatizing these characters—cello players and unrequited lovers—for an enthralled audience. Just as Kathleen had done in her multi-media pieces, Allison transformed her scraps into art.It’s exciting to watch her perform. And mark my words, she’s only coming into her own.

Annette Homann, our very own lady-in-red, violinist extraordinaire, rounded out the evening’s entertainment. Over the past few years, I’ve seen Annette perform numerous times. She is an amazing musician, a powerhouse of talent. And when she steps on stage, not only are we captivated by her beautiful music, but we are held in the palm of her hand by her beautiful (and beautifully authentic) personality. Her mischievous wit (watch out for that twinkle in the eye!) and hearty laugh wins us over every time. Barefoot and resplendent in a flowing red dress, Annette, segued flawlessly from classical music to pop; in the latter, impishly gyrating exaggeratedly to the swells of Adele’s Skyfall, all to the sheer delight of the audience. This joie de vivre is trademark Annette: a consummate performer. She’s having a damn good time on stage; consequently, so do we.

AWoW co-founders, Niamh Hyland and Charles Hale, did an amazing job as always co-hosting. Their job is very important, as they create the space—literally and figuratively—for artists of all stripes to be their best selves, to push boundaries, to experiment, to collaborate in a safe, nurturing environment. They are also the glorious pied pipers whose charm keeps bringing us back again and again to these marvelous events.

I think Friday night we all left the Permutations exhibition more than a little transformed. Thank you Kathleen, Charles, Niamh, Martina, Allison and Annette.

*Connie Roberts debut collection of poems “Little Witness” is available here: Click on “Buy” on the right hand side of the page

ART UNLOCKS THE SOUL: JOHN MORAN on AWoW's GALLERY SERIES

ART UNLOCKS THE SOUL

by John Moran

I was driving a limousine at the time; It was a late night pick-up, Christie’s auction house to the Upper West Side. An art dealer sat in the back.

“What is art?” I asked.

“Art is the tool which unlocks your soul,” he replied.

“Then what is good art?” I said.

**Kathleen Bennett Bastis-Slate Study #2**

“If your soul needs a hammer to release it and your art hits your soul like a hammer, it’s good,” he answered.

“What if your art twists your soul like a wrench?” I challenged.

“Then it is good for the man who needs the wrench.”

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On Friday night Artists Without Walls celebrated the work of Kathleen Bennett Bastis at Chelsea’s First Street Gallery. Her mixed media art works are truly tools to unlock the soul.

Surrounded by Kathleen’s stunning and beautiful creations with names such as Sentinel, Concerto #1, Copper Spirit and Scattered Geometry, the equally evocative and eclectic artists Martina Fiserova, Allison Sylvia, and Annette Homann captivated the crowd with their own forms of highly skilled and entertaining art.

Martina’s accompanied vocals playfully and intensely reverberated through what seemed like near perfect acoustics in Kathleen’s First Street Gallery space. Martina’s sonority so total, so brilliant, so penetrating was a perfect prelude to Allison Sylvia’s attention grabbing, fast paced, stay focused so you don’t miss a thought, hey, I think just learned something about myself, spoken word brand of poetry. Allison is not a rapper, but if Socrates were a rap artist you might think of Allison. Brilliant.

Annette Homann wrapped up the evening’s entertainment by bringing us on a musical theme park ride: Soothing us with the classical, Massenet’s “Meditation on Thais;” moving us with the contemporary, “If I Aint Got You;” thrilling us with her fiddling in Mark O’Connor’s “Caprice for Unaccompanied Violin #2,” and making us smile with a sexy, funny, acrobatic interpretation of Adele’s “Skyfall,” complete with gypsie like dance moves and back bends while never missing a note. She is a profound talent.

Great art on every level for a warm and welcoming crowd.

Annette Homann’s Skyfall below:

PREMIERING AWoW's GALLERY SERIES: "BRILLIANT ACROSS THE BOARD…KATHLEEN, MARTINA, ALLISON and ANNETTE"

There were so many wonderful comments about Friday night’s premier of Artists Without Walls’ Gallery Series, featuring Kathleen Bennett Bastis’ solo exhibition “Permutations,” that we are presenting a number of the comments here, which will be followed by others over the next few days. As you’ll, read and as you’ll see in the photos, it was an incredible night.

“In speaking about the materials that go into her artistic constructs that are on stunning display in her solo exhibition, “Permutations” (at the First Street Gallery in Chelsea), Kathleen Bennett Bastis has said: “Their unique shape, texture and hue guide my creative process.” The same might be said of the collaborative evening Artist Without Walls created at that gallery last night.

In bringing together a trio of performers, guitarist/vocalist Martina Fiserova, violinist Annette Homann and poet/spoken word artist Allison Sylvia— whose talents are perfectly in synch with Kathleen’s vision— it made for an event the likes of which you will rarely, if ever, experience. A melding of artists within the walls adorned by Kathleen’s masterful works… it was a memorable night. Yes, it was that good.” Ron Vazzano

“Visual and performing arts converged at First Street Gallery in Chelsea for a fabulously entertaining evening. The gallery walls were lined with Kathleen Bennett Bastis’ artistic sculptures. Sallie Benton aptly described Kathleen’s work on Facebook: ‘Bastis works primarily in metal; but there are stone & tile pieces, glass and mirrored pieces, cardboard, wire, string, etc. The pieces are quite varied but all have one very strong, exceptional and true artist’s voice.’

Martina Fiserova began the performances with an experimental number, displaying her unique talent on the guitar. Allison Sylvia followed with a ten minute thoughtful and humorous soliloquy on life, a well-written monologue with each word carefully chosen and placed. The inimitable violinist Annette Homan finished the night with pieces ranging from classical to pop. The joy exuded from Annette, particularly during one number when she provocatively engaged the audience with her violin music and playful dance. ” Tom Myles

**Annette Homann, Kathleen Bennett Bastis, Martina Fiserova and Allison Sylvia**

“Lovely and talented! Brilliant across the board; Martina, Allison, Kathleen, and Annette. Happy I was able to attend; super sounds, sights and words – magical evening it was!” Michael Muller

“An extraordinary evening. Unequivocally original. Martina ended her set with a song that was amazing and daring. Equally daring was Allison’s poetry; her words seem to come from the deepest parts of her energetic psyche. And violinist Annette Homann’s performance of “Skyfall” brought the audience to their feet. In a perfect world Annette would team up with Niamh Hyland to do the title track for the next Bond movie.” Sam Adelman

**Ron Vazzano, Kathleen Bennett Bastis and Jenai Huff**

“Thank you for a night that brought back memories of New York City “Happenings” of bygone days.” Joanna Migdal

Last three photos by Vincent Nauheimer

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' MEMBERS: "ON THE TOWN"

Jack O'Connell in The Biscuit Club — **Jack O’Connell in The Biscuit Club**

Running through April 25th, Jack O’Connell, will be starring in the World Premiere of The BISCUIT CLUB, Marianne Driscoll’s canine comedy inspired by The Breakfast Club. Directed by Kira Simring. For ticket info click here Use the code awow for discounted tickets.

Ever wonder what goes on in a kennel when people aren’t around? THE BISCUIT CLUB gives audiences a behind-the-bars peek into Bradley’s Bed & Biscuit, a boarding house for dogs. When an aging Bulldog, a jumpy Beagle, a glamorous Shih Tzu, a grumpy Pit Bull, a champion Airedale Terrier and a wide-eyed Labrador pup are locked together for the night, a doggone good time is in store for all.

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AWOW
Artists Without Walls: Gallery Series
Kathleen Bennett Bastis: “Permutations”

Join Kathleen Bennett Bastis and Artists Without Walls on April 10th, 6;30pm at First Street Gallery, 526, W26th St, Suite 209 when Kathleen, in conjunction with AWow, will be celebrating the arts–including Kathleen’s mixed-media art and live entertainment. Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks will be served. Entertainment during the evening provided by Annette Homann, Martina Fiserova and Allison Syliva.

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Soprano Ashley Galvani Bell will be performing in SEÑORA/SIGNORA ROSSINI: A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF ISABELLA COLBRAN on April 10th and 11th, 2015 at 8 pm at the Loretto Theater at the Sheen Center in NoHo, located on the corner of Elizabeth and Bleecker Street in New York City. The show will be presented as a multi-disciplinary concert for classical singers, piano, harp and actor/narrator.

For more information and to order tickets click here. Tickets are $10 for the balcony and $30 for the orchestra. Please note there is $10 discount for orchestra seats using a SPECIAL AWOW DISCOUNT CODE…Divaria1 (Be sure to use a cap D. Case sensitive.)

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Musician, storyteller & actor Richard Stillman be playing Irish music at the Verona Inn with guitarist Paul Byrne on Sundays, 6-9pm (April 12 & 19). The music will include vocals, guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, pennywhistle, concertina, bones, harmonica and bagpipes. The address is: 624 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ. For info. call 973 239 0544.

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS: MEMBERS AROUND TOWN

Musician, storyteller & actor Richard Stillman be playing Irish music at the Verona Inn with guitarist Paul Byrne on Sundays, 6-9pm (March 29, April 5, 12 & 19). The music will include vocals, guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, pennywhistle, concertina, bones, harmonica and bagpipes. The address is: 624 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ. For info. call 973 239 0544.

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Kathleen Bennett Bastis’ solo art show opens on March 31-April 25th at First Street Gallery, 526, W26th, Suite 209 in Manhattan. Opening reception is April 2, 6-8pm. “I am inspired by the distinctive character, energy and form found in the fragments of discarded, washed up, broken or otherwise overlooked materials which I salvage from the street, river bank and scrap yards. Their unique shape, texture and hue guide my creative process as I reinterpret the history of this detritus and construct a contemporary visual narrative.” Kathleen Bennet Bastis

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Artists Without Walls: Performance Series

“The Musical History of the Lower East Side”

Join members of Artists Without Walls on April 2nd, 7pm, as it journeys through the music of the Lower East Side. Celtic music, Minelstry, Yiddish music and humor, Italian opera and Neapolitan song, Jazz and Rock presented by a talent cast including, Ashley Galvani Bell, Deni Bonet, Maritri Garrett, Niamh Hyland, Noah Hoffeld and Baysa Schecther. And some Yiddish humor from Nancy Redman. Narrated by Charles R. Hale. Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3, 185 Orchard St, NYC. Tickets $15 and $20. For ticket info click here. Use the code AWWMEMBER for an AWoW discount.

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Opening on April 4th and running through April 25th, Jack O’Connell, will be starring in the World Premiere of The BISCUIT CLUB, Marianne Driscoll’s canine comedy inspired by The Breakfast Club. Directed by Kira Simring. For ticket info click here Use the code awow for discounted tickets.

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Artists Without Walls: Gallery Series

Kathleen Bennett Bastis: “Permutations”

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Soprano Ashley Galvani Bell will be performing in SEÑORA/SIGNORA ROSSINI: A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF ISABELLA COLBRAN on April 10th and 11th, 2015 at 8 pm at the Loretto Theater at the Sheen Center in NoHo, located on the corner of Elizabeth and Bleecker Street in New York City. The show will be presented as a multi-disciplinary concert for classical singers, piano, harp and actor/narrator.

KATHLEEN BENNETT BASTIS: MIXED MEDIA ARTIST at the FIRST STREET GALLERY

“I get great satisfaction from combining materials in unintended ways, which reinterpret their history and origins into a modern visual story.” Kathleen Bennett Bastis. Kathleen’s show “Permutations” will be opening in New York City on March 31. See the end of the article for details.

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Mixed media artist Kathleen Bennett Bastis’ work is influenced by the energy and character found in the shape, texture and color of reclaimed materials. Essentially, all of her work starts with a “find” – material that has visual interest in either the shape, color or markings made by nature or an industrial process.

“The character of the scrap is what starts and guides my creative process,” says Kathleen. “Because of the unique nature of the materials in my work, I would say that it is nearly impossible for me to repeat myself. The shapes, texture and hue guide my creative process as I reinterpret the history of this detritus and construct a contemporary visual narrative. Although the materials and the finished pieces are very distinct – I have been told there is a thread throughout that identifies me as the storyteller.”

Here are two of Kathleen’s work with her thoughts on each:

Concerto #1

One day, a few years ago, I was walking to the 14th St subway when I spotted a old upright piano on the corner of W 12th and 8th Ave. In my head, I heard my son Nick’s voice saying “Mom, do NOT pick that up.” So, I kept walking. I made it to 13th Street before I turned around to take a closer look…it had ivory and ebony keys. Needless to say, I went home, grabbed some tools and proceeded to extract the entire keyboard from the piano. I filled several bags with all the keys, felted hammers and some other interesting parts.

As was I was gathering up my haul I looked up to see a silent, clapping ovation coming from the patrons and employees of the bank on that corner who, apparently, had been observing my labors from behind the plate glass windows.

Slate Study #2

For many years, I have had the pleasure of spending time in a summer cottage set on a wooded ridge in Northfield, MA. On the main street of town, which is about a half-mile stretch of Route 16, there is an antique shop located in a barn at the back of a large white, early 1800”s home.

“Antiques” is perhaps not the word I would use to describe the majority of the contents of this barn, which is perfect for me. Dave the proprietor/owner runs the place from a stool in the front just inside the door. Piles of interesting bits and pieces that reflect the rural, agricultural setting and life style of the area surround him. Leaning up against the outside wall of the barn in the sun were a bunch of beautiful, beaten up pieces of slate roofing tiles. Seen in the sunlight, the depth of color and geometric markings became irresistible. It turns out that the slate was from Dave’s own roof and was at least 200 years old. The bleached out quadrants, globs of tar, holes and fractures created an appealing abstract composition. I just took it from there.

Kathleen’s show, “Permutations,” will be at the First Street Gallery from March 31-April 25. There is an opening reception on April 2, 6-8pm. The gallery is located at 526 West 26th Street, Suite 209.