First Wednesdays Bronx Culture Trolley
Hop on the trolley and enjoy attractions at some of the hottest cultural spots along the lower Grand Concourse. Visit BCA's website regularly to find out more about each month’s trolley attractions as well as other BCA programs and events. Trolley riders meet at Hostos Community College on the first Wednesday of each month (except January & September).

Directions to Hostos: Hostos Community College is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street in the Bronx. Transportation: IRT 4 & 5, Bx1, Bx19 to Grand Concourse and 149 Street. Click here for directions. Click here for map of the Hostos area.

Information: Call 718-931-9500 x33 or e-mail trolley@bronxarts.org.

Click here for a map of First Wednesdays Bronx Culture Trolley Venues.

BCA's Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos
450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street
5:00 – 8:30pm / 718-518-6728

Congos, Guloyas y Altares: Afro-Dominican Images
Organized and co-curated by the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture and the Longwood Arts Project, this multi-media exhibition celebrates Afro-Domincan Culture and features documentary photographs, drawings by Nadal Walcot, an installation by Juan Fernando Morales, and videography by Michael Max Knobbe. Congos, Guloyas y Altares: Afro-Dominican Images is part of a wider celebration of Dominican History Week.

Cultural Connections
Cultural Connections is an exhibition of works by members of BCA's Artisans Initiative. The Bronx Council on the Arts, as Event Partners with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, celebrates Immigrant Heritage Week with the exhibit Cultural Connections at Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos. A showcase of craft based art and objects that express our cultural connections as immigrant artists/artisans. The featured artists are members of the Artisans Initiative and the local Bronx artisan community. Join us in the celebration! Discover talented local makers of traditional ethnic art and contemporary craft forms.

Both shows will be view thru May 10th.

In the Hostos Lobby
5:00 – 8:30pm / 718-931-9500 x21

The Artisans Boutique
While you’re at Hostos, don’t forget to visit the Artisans Boutique and check out the bronxArtworks® creations in all price ranges that are yours for the browsing and for the buying. Items included are Korean knot tying novelties by Karen Ahn, Orisha art & crafts by Luis Pagan, hand-cast jewelry by Hector Menendez, art cards and prints by Francisco Vallejo and Stephanie Chisholm, original ceramics by Toby Liederman, and silver jewelry by Liz Ortiz, and much more. View the work of our talented team of Bronx Artisans in a quaint, charming atmosphere.

In the Gallery
Performance by the NuyoRican School Original Poetry Jazz Ensemble
6:00pm & 7:00pm

Performance by the NuyoRican School Original Poetry Jazz Ensemble
The NuyoRican School Original Poetry Jazz Ensemble is a theater ensemble that presents literary works of Puerto Rican authors through performance. Featured performers are actors Luis Enrique Flores and Amauris Munoz; with Desmar Guevara (keyboard), Andy Gonzalez (bass), Abe Rodriguez (congas & vocals), Gene Golden (congas), Wendy Fernandez-Rossi (vocals) and group founder, director, and recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts’ 2003 Poetry Fellowship Americo Casiano Jr. The ensemble has performed at venues throughout the tri-state. Among them, Aaron Davis Performing Arts Center, Hostos Center Art and Culture, the Nuyorican Poets Café, and the Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center.

In the Gallery
Literary Reading
6:30pm

Reading by Author and Bronx Native Abraham Rodriguez
Bronx native Abraham Rodriguez unleashes a poetic, urban, Hitchcock-riff with a new literary thriller SOUTH BY SOUTH BRONX. When Puerto Rican ladies' man Alex awakes one morning to find a mysterious woman in his bed, he assumes he's suffered another embarrassing blackout. He soon learns, however, that Ava is no one-night stand – in fact, he's never met her before. As her story begins to unfold, and her reason for appearing in his bed emerges, it is not just Alex's life that she risks, nor her own, but the entire character of the South Bronx…

Abraham Rodriguez was born and raised in the South Bronx. His first book, The Boy without a Flag, was a 1993 New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His novel Spidertown won a 1995 American Book Award and was optioned by Columbia Pictures. His next novel, The Buddha Book, was published by Picador in 2001. 

Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street
5:30– 7:45pm / 718-681-6000

Making It Together
Making It Together explores an important chapter in recent history when women artists, inspired by the 1970s Feminist Movement, worked collectively in new ways to engage communities and address social issues. Guest-curator: Carey Lovelace.

Photographs by Jamel Shabazz
The Bronx Museum’s Teen Council class of 2007-2008 organizes a small exhibition of photographs by Jamel Shabazz based on the theme of community. During their tenure, the Teen Council conducted an interview with Shabazz for the education department’s DVD series. The teens worked in collaboration with Shabazz and assistant curator Erin Riley-Lopez to put the exhibition together.

Permanent Collection: Women Artists
Conceived as a counterpart to Making It Together, The Bronx Museum features Highlights of the Permanent Collection: Women Artists, a special exhibition from its permanent collection of women artists whose works comment on social and political situations. Artists include Tania Bruguera, Ana Mendieta, Adrian Piper, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Graciela Sacco, Gary Simmons and Rachel Lachowicz, and Carrie Mae Weems.

These exhibits are on view thru Aug 4, 2008.

5:30-7:30pm / May 7th Only

Jamel Shabazz Book Signing
The Bronx Museum of the Arts proudly presents its monthly First Wednesday book signings featuring Bronx–based writers and/or books about the Bronx. The series kicks off with a book signing for famed photographer Jamel Shabazz, who is currently being honored with an exhibition by The Bronx Museum’s Teen Council. Shabazz will be signing his three publications Back in the Days, A Time Before Crack, and Seconds of My Life from 5:30-7:30pm.

Pregones Theater
571-575 Waltom Avenue (between 149th & 150th Streets)
Time TBD / 718-585-1202

Staged Reading ­– Information on this reading is forthcoming. Pregones Theater is located at 571-575 Walton Avenue, between 149th & 150 Streets. For information on this performance or about Pregones Theater and its upcoming performances, call 718-585-1202 or visit www.pregones.org. This is a free segment of BCA's First Wednesdays Bronx Culture Trolley.

A Visit to the Alexander Avenue Art & Antiques District
5:30-8:30pm / 718-401-7866

Including Thrift World Antique at 122 Alexander Avenue, Custom Design Studio at 49 Bruckner Blvd., Alexander’s Café at 129 Alexander Avenue, and Books, Notes & News at 137 Alexander Avenue, and a group show LR Studio upstairs at 137 Alexander Avenue. For information about the Alexander Avenue Antiques District, contact Laura at 718-401-7866 or LauraN@bronxarts.org.

Bruckner Gallery at the Bruckner Bar & Grill
1 Bruckner Blvd.
5:30-8:30pm / 718-665-2001

Urban Studio
A special exhibition by the collective artists known as Urban Studio. Urban Studio was founded on the observation that the art world has rapidly changed from the traditional route of museums and galleries. Success is now based on artists courageous enough to seize their own destiny, create, and foster relationships with their audience. Making art about the unconventional, the interactive and redefining what it means rather than the manufacturing of a commodity. Urban Studio creates and nourishes professional development through emphasizing participation and collaboration. Artists are engaged in a broad range of issues and topics, and are encouraged to find new and diverse venues for their work. For information on this show, visit the Bruckner Gallery website at www.brucknergallery.com or contact Gallery Director Assa Bigger at 718-665-2001 or info@brucknerartgallery.com.

Bronx Museum of the Arts Project Space
11 Bruckner Blvd. at the corner of Lincoln Avenue
5:30– 8:00pm / 718-681-6000

Dream: An Installation By Skowmon Hastanan
For Dream, found texts and images from the Village Voice classified ads are transformed into bright and colorful neon signage and works on paper. The installation combines abstract and figurative images to create narrative involving immigrant experience, labor, sex industry, humor, horror movie and religion.

Skowmon Hastanan moved from Bangkok to New York at the end of the Vietnam War. Her works derive from memories of the American military presence in Thailand and her experience growing up in New York City. She explores feminine identity by examining the media’s use of cliché Asian mystiques to sell sexual fantasy. This past year she participated in the “Global Feminisms” exhibition at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center For Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum, and Davis Museum, Wellesley College, MA, as well as group exhibitions at Wave Hill, The Bronx. Hastanan is a 2007-09 recipient of The Lambent Fellowships in the Arts at Tides Foundation.

This show will be on view through June 18th with an opening reception on Saturday, May 10th, from 2:00-4:00pm.

Haven Arts Gallery
50 Bruckner Blvd., Building A
5:30-8:00pm / 718-585-5753

Solos
An exhibition of new works by 15 artists who previously had solo exhibitions in Haven’s original location. Works in painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture and video will showcase how these artists have developed, revisited or expanded upon the various themes and styles explored in their previous exhibitions. Participating artists: Jaq Belcher, Tim Blum, Chris Bors, Brent Crothers, Linda Cunningham, Darcy Dahl, Steve Fishman, David Gimbel, Anne Humanfeld, Aristides Logothetis, John Mascaro, Luis Pagan, Kurt Perschke, J.C. Rice, and Alison Ward. This show will be on view thru May 10th.

Bronx Blue Bedroom Project
309 Alexander Avenue
5:30-9:00 / 347-776-7504

The Art of Matthew Burcaw
Aggressive, serpentine creatures creep about private pockets of cityscapes. Symbiotic relationships range between parasitic and mutual. Within a volatile environment, everything is left to chance. As a whole, all appears united. Further inspection reveals disjointed vignettes: The eye wanders back and forth, disoriented by the skewed perspective and scale. There is constant bounce between macro and micro, drawn and sculpted:  The drawn images are a mix of observed and subconscious free form. The sculpture is created through manipulation of organic materials. Click here for information about  the artist. This show will be on view through June 2nd.

The Bronx Blue Bedroom Project is an artist-run project by artist and 2007 BRIO winner Blanka Amezkua. She has turned her bedroom into an intimate art space where contemporary artists can exhibit their work for one month in a setting that differs radically from the already established art venues. Blanka is inspired by traditional art forms that allow her to articulate ideas about culture, gender, and notions of identity. Although she was trained as a painter, for the past seven years, she has adopted crochet, embroidery, and comic book visual vernacular as techniques to interpret these ideas.

J. Maxson’s Bar & Grill
2576 Third Avenue at 139th Street
8:30pm / 718-665-1416

Jazz Performance featuring the Ethereal Jazz Quartet
Led by Richard Fells on tenor sax, they are a very present force in the jazz scene of New York City’s jazz clubs and restaurants that feature live music. The repertoire consists of jazz standards, performed in a way that satisfies everyone, from the most astute jazz fan, to the casual listener. For information on J. Maxson’s and/or this performance, call J.B. Reed at 718-665-1416.

For trolley reservations and information, call 718-931-9500 x33 or e-mail trolley@bronxarts.org.

Visit BCA's website at www.bronxarts.org for updated information on the Bronx Culture Trolley as well as other BCA's programs & events.

The Bronx Culture Trolley runs on First Wednesdays, but trolley venues have a lot of activities that happen between trolley nights. Call or check their web sites to see what they have to offer!

Artisans Marketplace
Hostos Community College Atrium
450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451
718-401-9558
www.bronxarts.org
lisa@bronxarts.org

Bronx Acadmey of Arts & Dance
842 Barretto Street (between Garrison & Lafayette Avenues), Bronx, NY 10474
718-842-5223
www.bronxacademyofartsanddance.org
rice-gonzalez@usa.net

Bronx Blue Bedroom Project
309 Alexander Avenue #3A, Bronx, NY 10454
347-776-7504
www.blankaamezkua.com/bbbp
bronxbbp@yahoo.com

Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse at 165 Street, Bronx, NY 10456
718-681-6000 x120
www.bronxmuseum.org
CWanliss@bronxmuseum.org

Bronx Museum of the Arts Project Space
11 Bruckner Blvd. at the corner of Lincoln Avenue, Bronx, NY 10454
718-681-6000 x120
www.bronxmuseum.org
CWanliss@bronxmuseum.org

Bruckner Gallery at the Bruckner Bar & Grill
1 Bruckner Blvd., Bronx, NY 10454
718-665-2001
www.brucknergallery.com
www.brucknerbar.com
info@brucknerartgallery.com

Hagan Saint Philip Gallery
112 Lincoln Ave.#514, Bronx, NY,
718-877-1176
hagansaintphilip@yahoo.com

Haven Arts Gallery
50 Bruckner Blvd., Building A, Bronx, NY 10454
5:30-8:00pm / 718-585-5753
info@havenarts.org

Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse at 149 Street, Bronx, NY 10451
718-518-4455
www.hostos.cuny.edu/culturearts/default.htm
webmaster@hostos.cuny.edu

J. Maxson's Bar & Grill
2576 Third Avenue at 139th Street, Bronx, NY 10454
718-665-1416
radio@radio.cnc.net
mrrlreed@aol.com

Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos
Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451
718-518-6728
www.longwoodcyber.org
juanita@bronxarts.org
kim@bronxarts.org

Mud/Bone Studio 889
889 Hunts Point Avenue, Bronx, NY 10474
718-620-2824
www.mudbone.com
info@mudbone.org

The POINT
940 Garrison Avenue (at Manida Avenue), Bronx, NY 10474
718-542-4139
www.thepoint.org
thepointcdc@hotmail.com

Pregones Theater
571 Walton Avenue, Bronx NY 10451
(between 149th & 150th Streets)
718-585-1202
www.pregones.org
info@pregones.org

Spanic Attack's Bronx Salon
271 Alexander Avenue, Bronx, NY 10454
646-388-1857
www.bronxsalon.com
spanicattack@optonline.net

Yankee Tavern
72 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451
718-292-6130
www.yankeetavern.com