Arts for Art’s annual In Gardens series returns over five weekends, September 7-October 5, in three community gardens in Manhattan's Lower East Side.  Featuring music, poetry, and dance performances, the series is offered free of cost and open to the public.
 
In Gardens is one of AFA’s longest running programs and is hosted at home in the Lower East Side by some of our most consistent institutional partners: Children’s Magical Garden, 6BC Garden, and First Street Green Art Park.
 
In Gardens provides a unique opportunity for artists and audience to be surrounded by the extravagance of nature. Even in NYC, the bounty of our beautiful community gardens invites the dedicated, the newly initiated, and the curious to join together in an accessible and relaxed listening environment. 
 
AFA is partnering with A Gathering of the Tribes to pay tribute to the iconic Steve Cannon with poetry readings at each In Gardens event.  Steve not only supported a wide community of poets and writers, but also artists and musicians, including members of AFA and the Vision Festival.  
 
On September 29 at First Street Green, AFA will celebrate the birthday of an original member of the Vision Community, the late, great, trumpeter Roy Campbell Jr.

The Birthday Tribute to Roy Campbell Jr. will feature an afternoon of performances by Campbell’s old band mates and collaborators including Charles Downs, K.J. Holmes, and William Parker; plus an offering by rising trumpet star Jaimie Branch. Of particular note is Parker’s premiere of the piece Circulation of Celestial Triangles Leaving Imhotep Facing East, featuring a five-trumpet salute to his musical partner.
 
Schedule and Lineups
Saturday, September 7 at 6BC Garden
630 E 6th St between Ave B and C
1:30     Lisa Sokolov - voice, piano
2:30     Sheila Maldonado - poetry // Danny Shot - poetry
3:30     Patrick Holmes - clarinet / Adam Lane - bass / Ryan Sawyer - drums
4:30     Daniel Carter - woodwinds / William Parker - bass
 
Sunday, September 8 at 6BC Garden
630 E 6th St between Ave B and C
1:30    Steve Swell - trombone / Frode Gjerstad - clarinet, alto sax / William Parker - bass
2:30    Frank Perez - poetry // Mariposa - poetry
3:30    Sarah Bernstein Veer Quartet
            Sarah Bernstein - violin, composition / Sana Nagano - violin
            Leonor Falcon - viola / Nick Jozwiak - cello
4:30    Aquiles Navarro - trumpet / Tcheser Holmes - drums
 
Saturday September 14 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex
1:30     Rob Brown - alto sax / Juan Pablo Carletti - drums
2:30     Luciann Berrios - poetry // Janice Lowe - poetry
3:30     Val Jeanty - percussion / Patricia Nicholson - dance
4:30     Michael Wimberly - drums / Waldron Ricks - trumpet / Larry Roland - bass
 
Sunday September 15 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex
1:30    Nick Lyons - alto sax / Bill Payne - clarinet / Adam Lane - bass
            Michael Wimberly - percussion
2:30    Nancy Mercado - poetry // Poonam Srivastava - poetry
3:30    Karen Borca Trio
            Karen Borca - bassoon / Jackson Krall - drums / Hilliard Greene - bass
4:30    We Feel ­­Quartet
            Luke Stewart - bass / Daniel Carter - multi instruments / No Land – poetry 
            Miriam Parker – dance
 
Saturday September 21 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex
1:30     Mara Rosenbloom - synth / Sam Newsome - soprano sax / Andrew Drury - drums
2:30     Melanie Marie Goodreaux - poetry // David Henderson - poetry
3:30     Jason Kao Hwang - violin / Anders Nilsson - guitar / TA Thompson - drums
4:30     Amirtha Kidambi - voice / Mazz Swift - violin
 
Sunday September 22 at First St Green
33 E. 1st St
1:30    Dave Sewelson - baritone sax / William Parker - bass
            Steve Swell - trombone / Marvin Bugalu Smith - drums
2:30    Bob Holman - poetry, with Dave Sewelson + Friends // Papoleto Melendez - poetry
3:30    Sam Newsome Trio
            Sam Newsome - soprano sax / Hilliard Greene - bass
            Reggie Nicholson - drums
4:30    Michael Bisio - bass / Kirk Knuffke - cornet / Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello
 
Saturday September 28 at First St Green
33 E. 1st St
1:30    Matt Lavelle - trumpet / Daniel Carter - woodwinds / Tom Cabrera - drums
2:30    Latasha Diggs - poetry // No Land - poetry
3:30    Michael TA Thompson Quartet
            TA Thompson - drums / Christopher Dean Sullivan - bass
            Bill Pernice - piano / Lee Odom - clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax
4:30    Whit Dickey - drums / Brandon Lopez - bass / Rob Brown - alto sax
 
Sunday September 29 at First St Green | Tribute to Roy Campbell
33 E. 1st St
1:30    Charles Downs - drums / Will Greene - tenor sax
            Jonah Rosenberg - keyboard / Henry Fraser - bass
2:30    L.I.P.
            K.J. Holmes - dance / Matt Lavelle - trumpet / Jeremy Carlstedt - drums
3:30    Jaimie Branch Trio
            Jaimie Branch - trumpet / Luke Stewart - bass / Mike Pride - drums
4:30    For Roy: “Circulation of Celestial Triangles Leaving Imhotep Facing the East"
            Lewis Barnes - trumpet / Jaimie Branch - trumpet / Ryan Fraiser - trumpet
            Matt Lavelle - trumpet / Kirk Knuffke - trumpet / Dave Hofstra - tuba
            Dave Sewelson - baritone sax / TA Thompson - drums / Michael Wimberly - percussion
            William Parker - composition, bass
 
Saturday October 5 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex
1:30    The Rasslers 
            Mark Ehrhardt - drums / Chet Mazur - vocals / Tim Mullins - guitar
            Nick Romanenko - bass
2:30    Patricia Spears Jones - poetry // Nicole Wallace - poetry
3:30    Ava Mendoza - guitar / James Brandon Lewis - tenor sax
            Shayna Dulberger - bass / Daniel Carter - woodwinds
4:30    Welf Dorr Unit
            Welf Dorr - alto sax / Keisuke Matsuno - guitar / Dmitry Ishenko - bass
            Kevin Shea – drums

Arts for Art, in partnership with A Gathering of the Tribes, presents a special evening of performances in tribute to Poet Laureate of the Lower East Side, Steve Cannon.

An iconoclastic mainstay in the Lower East Side, Cannon was known for opening his apartment as a gathering space for poets, artists, musicians, and people from all walks of life. He served as a mentor to many young artists and provided space and visibility for all generations of creatives. His impact as a literary publisher and artistic incubator elevated the Lower East Side as a cultural haven. He helped nurture many careers through the founding of his multi-disciplinary arts and culture non-profit, A Gathering of the Tribes, which he started in 1990 with help from visual artist David Hammons and writer Ishmael Reed. 
​
Cannon was a consistent supporter of Arts for Art, and was a featured performer at the first Vision Festival in 1996 as well as subsequent years. Steve also helped curate the poetry programming at the festival in the early 2000s.

The Sun Ra Arkestra, who will perform a full set on September 6, performed in Cannon’s backyard. Sun Ra used to seek Cannon out to tell him stories about flying around in space. (“If he says he flew into space, then I guess he flew into space,” Cannon said.)

William Parker who will also perform, was presented by Steve Cannon as early as 1985. Over the years, Patricia and William Parker kept in touch with Steve to support each other’s work.
​
A Gathering of the Tribes has curated a group of poets with close ties to Cannon for this event. These include Yuko Otomo, Lydia Cortes, Edwin Torres, Steve Dalachinsky, Anne Waldman, Tracie Morris and Julie Ezelle Patton.  They, like so many of us, owe a debt of gratitude to Steve Cannon.  The City of New York and especially the Lower East Side, has lost a cultural icon.  

Schedule

6:30     Opening by Melanie Goodreaux and Patricia Nicholson
6:45     Poetry Readings
Yuko Otomo // Lydia Cortes // Edwin Torres // Steve Dalachinsky 
7:30     What It Is
William Parker - bass / Patricia Nicholson Parker - dance / James Brandon Lewis - tenor sax
Devin Brahja Waldman - alto sax / Melanie Dyer - viola / Val Jeanty - percussion, electronics
8:30     Poetry Readings
Julie Ezelle Patton // Anne Waldman // Tracie Morris w/ Graham Haynes and Elliott Sharp
9:00     Sun Ra Arkestra

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at stevecannon.brownpapertickets.com, or when event doors open at 6pm.

The 2019-2020 season marks the 25th year of Arts for Art

Steve Cannon Tribute Performances 
September 6, 6pm at the Clemente
A special evening of tribute performances to Steve Cannon - community leader, poet, and founder of A Gathering of the Tribes.  Cannon deeply supported AFA and the wider jazz scene, including a number of appearances at the Vision Festival starting with its inception in 1996. Organized jointly with Tribes, this evening features poets and musicians closely connected to Cannon and the LES including Anne Waldman, William Parker, and the Sun Ra Arkestra (which used to perform in Cannon’s backyard). ​

In Gardens
September 7 - October 5 at 6BC Garden, Children’s Magical Garden, First St. Green
Continuing a 14 year annual tradition, In Gardens brings free outdoor concerts to three Lower East Side community gardens, featuring world class performances in an accessible, relaxed environment.  Poetry readings continue to pay tribute to Steve Cannon.   ​

 Lineups and Schedules

Tributes to Steve Cannon
Friday, September 6 at the Clemente
Flamboyan Theater, 107 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002

6:45     Poetry Readings
             Yuko Otomo // Lydia Cortes // Edwin Torres // Steve Dalachinsky 
7:30     What It Is
             William Parker - bass / Patricia Nicholson Parker - dance / James Brandon Lewis - tenor sax
             Devin Brahja Waldman - alto sax / Melanie Dyer - viola / Val Jeanty - percussion, electronics
8:30     Poetry Readings
             Anne Waldman // Tracie Morris w/ Graham Haynes and Elliott Sharp
9:00     Sun Ra Arkestra
 
In Gardens
Saturday, September 7 at 6BC Garden
630 E 6th St between Ave B and C

1:30     Lisa Sokolov - voice, piano
2:30     Sheila Maldonado - poetry // Danny Shot - poetry
3:30     Patrick Holmes - clarinet / Adam Lane - bass / Ryan Sawyer - drums
4:30     Daniel Carter - woodwinds / William Parker - bass
 
Sunday, September 8 at 6BC Garden
630 E 6th St between Ave B and C

1:30     Steve Swell - trombone / Frode Gjerstad - clarinet, alto sax / William Parker - bass
2:30     Frank Perez - poetry // Mariposa - poetry
3:30     Sarah Bernstein Veer Quartet
            Sarah Bernstein - violin, composition / Sana Nagano - violin
            Leonor Falcon - viola / Nick Jozwiak - cello
4:30    Aquiles Navarro - trumpet / Tcheser Holmes - drums
 
Saturday September 14 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex

1:30     Rob Brown - alto sax / Juan Pablo Carletti - drums
2:30     Luciann Berrios - poetry // Janice Lowe - poetry
3:30     Val Jeanty - percussion / Patricia Nicholson - dance
4:30     Michael Wimberly - drums / Waldron Ricks - trumpet / Larry Roland - bass
 
Sunday September 15 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex

1:30     Nick Lyons - alto sax / Bill Payne - clarinet / Adam Lane - bass
            Michael Wimberly - percussion
2:30     Nancy Mercado - poetry // Poonam Srivastava - poetry
3:30     Karen Borca Trio
            Karen Borca - bassoon / Jackson Krall - drums / Hilliard Greene - bass
4:30     We Feel ­­Quartet
             Luke Stewart - bass / Daniel Carter - multi instruments / No Land – poetry 
             Miriam Parker – dance
 
Saturday September 21 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex

1:30     Mara Rosenbloom - synth / Sam Newsome - soprano sax
2:30     Poets TBA
3:30     Jason Kao Hwang - violin / Anders Nilsson - guitar / TA Thompson - drums
4:30     Amirtha Kidambi - voice
 
Sunday September 22 at First St Green
33 E. 1st St

1:30     Dave Sewelson - baritone sax / William Parker - bass
             Steve Swell - trombone / Marvin Bugalu Smith - drums
2:30     Papoleto Melendez - poetry // Melanie Maria Goodreaux - poetry
3:30     Sam Newsome Trio
             Sam Newsome - soprano sax / Hilliard Greene - bass
             Reggie Nicholson - drums
4:30     Michael Bisio - bass / Kirk Knuffke - cornet / Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello
 
Saturday September 28 at First St Green
33 E. 1st St

1:30     Matt Lavelle - trumpet / Daniel Carter - woodwinds / Tom Cabrera - drums
2:30     Latasha Diggs - poetry // No Land - poetry
3:30     Michael TA Thompson Quartet
            TA Thompson - drums / Christopher Dean Sullivan - bass
            Bill Pernice - piano / Lee Odom - clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax
4:30    Whit Dickey - drums / Brandon Lopez - bass / Rob Brown - alto sax
 
Sunday September 29 at First St Green. Tribute to Roy Campbell
33 E. 1st St

1:30    Charles Downs - drums / Will Greene - tenor sax
            Jonah Rosenberg - keyboard / Henry Fraser - bass
2:30    K.J. Holmes - dance / Matt Lavelle - trumpet
3:30    Jaimie Branch Trio
            Jaimie Branch - trumpet / Luke Stewart - bass / Mike Pride - drums
4:30    For Roy: “Circulation of Celestial Triangles Leaving Imhotep facing the East"
            Matt Lavelle, Lewis Barnes, Ryan Fraiser, Jaimie Branch, Kirk Knuffke, Daniel Carter, Dave Hofstra,
            TA Thompson, led by William Parker
​
Saturday October 5 at Children's Magical Garden
129 Stanton St, just east of Essex

1:30     The Rasslers 
             Mark Ehrhardt - drums / Chet Mazur - vocals / Tim Mullins - guitar
             Nick Romanenko - bass
2:30     Patricia Spears Jones - poetry // Nicole Wallace - poetry
3:30     Ava Mendoza - guitar / James Brandon Lewis - tenor sax
            Shayna Dulberger - bass / Daniel Carter - woodwinds
4:30     Welf Dorr Unit
             Welf Dorr - alto sax / Keisuke Matsuno - guitar / Dmitry Ishenko - bass
             Kevin Shea – drums

Arts for Art at El Taller
215 E. 99th St., NYC 10029

Friday October 11
7:00    TBA
8:00    Melanie Dyer Trio
9:00    Angelica Sanchez Trio
            Angelica Sanchez - piano / William Parker – bass
            Randy Peterson - drums
 
Saturday October 12
7:00    Brandon Lopez – bass / Ingrid Laubrock - tenor, soprano sax 
            Brandon Seabrook – guitar / Tom Rainey - drums
8:00    Tony Malaby Quartet
            Tony Malaby – tenor sax / Leo Genovese – piano / William Parker – bass 
            Billy Mintz - drums
9:00    James Brandon Lewis Trio
            James Brandon Lewis - tenor sax / Luke Stewart - bass / Warren Trae Crudup - drums
 
Sunday October 13
4:00    TBA
5:00    Aruan Ortiz Trio
6:00    Ingrid Laubrock - tenor, soprano sax / Nick Dunston - bass / Francisco Mela - drums
 
Arts for Art at Weeksville
158 Buffalo Ave, Brooklyn NY 11213
 
Friday October 18
7:30    David Mills - poetry
8:30    Gerald Cleaver Trio
            Brandon Lopez - bass / Brandon Seabrook - guitar / Gerald Cleaver - drums
            
Saturday October 19
7:30    Fred Moten - poetry
8:30    William Parker 
 
Sunday October 20
4:00    Tracie Morris - poetry
5:00    TBA
            

About Arts for Art
 
Founded in 1996, Arts For Art (AFA) is a New York City based tax-exempt organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of Free Jazz - an American indigenous art form in which improvisation is principle. Free Jazz embodies music, dance, poetry, and visual arts. It is recognized for its variety of highly developed and personalized improvisational languages. AFA works not only to preserve the legacy of Free Jazz, but to ensure a vital future through its re-imagination by new generations of artists. Spearheaded by the internationally renowned Vision Festival, AFA's programming brings together multiple generations of vibrant, diverse and highly skilled artists. To further our goals of diversity and accessibility, we foster education initiatives and produce events that build community amongst artists and audiences.

Facebook: facebook.com/artsforart
Twitter: twitter.com/artsforart
Instagram: instagram.com/artsforart

A Gathering of the Tribes

Located on the Lower East Side of New York City, Tribes has been in existence since 1991. In that year, Steve Cannon, poet, playwright, novelist, and retired professor from the City University of New York, converted a portion of his apartment into an informal salon. Despite his loss of eyesight to glaucoma, he encouraged the exchange of alternative points of view traditionally overlooked by mainstream media. The ideas raised in the discussions served as inspiration to the pieces later published in A Gathering of the Tribes Magazine.
In 1993, a further transformation of the space by Dora Espinoza, a Peruvian photographer, produced Tribes Gallery. Since then, Tribes has evolved into a performance venue and meeting place for artists and audiences to come together across all artistic disciplines, all levels of complexity, and all definitions of difference. In this pan-disciplinary, multi-cultural environment, artists exchange ideas, create peer relationships and find mentorship. Through Tribes’ publications, readers encounter a unique synthesis of literature, visual art, criticism and interviews with promising artists of all kinds.

El Taller Latino Americano (The Latin American Workshop) is a 501(c)(3) community-based non-profit arts and education institution founded in New York City in 1979 to bridge the gap between Latin Americans and North Americans through the language of art, dance and music. 

Weeksville Heritage Center

Weeksville Heritage Center is a one-of-a-kind 21st-century cultural institution with a 180-year history. The organization’s mission is to document, preserve and interpret the history of the 19th century African American community of Weeksville, Brooklyn—one of America’s many free black communities—and to create and inspire innovative, contemporary uses of African American history through education, the arts, and civic engagement. Using a contemporary lens, Weeksville activates this unique history through the presentation of innovative, vanguard and experimental programs.

Funding Credits

Funding for In Gardens is provided by Council Members Carlina Rivera and Margaret Chin
Funding for El Taller and Weeksville is provided by NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the Tinker Foundation
General Operating support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts