Marina Nebro: Arts and Culture

You’re so narcissistic! What’s your name, Jeff Koons?

For its closing exhibition, the Whitney Museum of American Art has dedicated almost its entire space to feature the work of Jeff Koons, an artist who has been called “one of the most important, influential, popular, and controversial artists of the postwar era” (Whitney Museum). Though I have never studied him previously, I did have some prior knowledge about Koons from visiting a gallery in Chelsea back during my History of Western Art II course in freshman year. I remember not being impressed by much with the exception of his large, modern take on the pre-historic Venus of Willendorf. This piece had caught my attention because I had learned about the original stone sculpture in AP Art History, and I didn’t realize it still had such an impact in the art world.

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Hey all! I thought it would be a nice idea, as the semester has come to a close and I am beginning to enjoy my summer months, to fill you all in on what I have been up to during the past semester. Visit my Academics page to see a bulleted list of my classes, assignments, awards, and activities! Read more »

First, note the awesome alliteration of my blog post. Before publishing each blog, I always like to think of a catchy alliteration, but not every time can I concoct one. Luckily, this time it worked!

It may appear, due to the scarcity of postings in the past six months that I haven’t been up to much. I would like to object to this notion in stating that lack of content does not mean lack of activities. But, I do admit that my calendar hasn’t been as jam-packed and full of events as last year. This blog will be dedicated to two things:

1. What I have been up to this past semester
2. How I feel being a sophomore Read more »

Far Out Isn’t Far Enough was recommended to me by my mother who thought I would enjoy a documentary about the life of an artist, illustrator, and a forward thinker. I am grateful for the suggestion, as I have become intrigued by Tomi Ungerer, a man now in his 80’s who has devoted his life to drawing. After watching the film, I rushed to my library to see if they had any of his children’s books – they did, but none in English – and I checked out a copy of The Underground Sketchbook and Fornicon, both of which I will talk about later on in this post. Read more »

Sunday, the seventeenth of November, was a jam packed day of volunteering, exploring, and fun. Having recently joined the NYC Jewish Renewal congregation Romemu, my mother has been wanting to get more involved and to meet new people in the community. Together with Muslims Against Hunger, and other initiative groups, we helped make lunches for the homeless and the hungry in NYU’s Hillel Building – the Bronfman Center. Not only was I helping a great cause, I had tons of fun as well! I worked at the salad station, mixing a cauldron sized concoction of shredded lettuce, chickpeas, mangos, raisins, olive oil, and spices. The feeling of the ingredients between my gloved fingers is indescribably amazing! Similar to the feeling of the innards of pumpkins and the mushy-ness of hamburger meat. Read more »

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are the epitome of classic musical theatre. They wrote and composed countless plays including Oklahoma, The King and I, Cinderella, and The Sound of Music. Among their most popular works is South Pacific, based on a book written by James Michener (the same author of The Source, Hawaii, Alaska, and more). Directed and staged by Charles Repole, the Queens College Drama, Theatre, & Dance Department, as well as the Aaron Copland School of Music, performed a “concert musical” adaptation.

My interpretation of a concert musical is one that puts more focus on the musical talent of the pit orchestra and actors, more so than the story and set. Sometimes, the entire production will simply be performances of important songs from the original, but very often the actors still follow the script in some manner. Starring George Dvorsky (Emile) and Siri Howard (Nellie), guests artists who also happen to be Broadway actors, the QC production was more of the latter. The set reminded one of the forested wilderness of South Pacific islands, and the costumes were ’40s and Navy inspired as the story takes place during World War II.

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I may frequent theatre and music concerts often, but dance performances are definitely a rarity in my cultural portfolio – ballets especially. In the past, I have seen Swan Lake, Sylvia, and Les Ballets Trocadero de Monte Carlo. I enjoyed all of these performances, but Matthew Bourne’s rendition of Sleeping Beauty at New York City Center was by far my favorite. Was it the costumes, the make-up, the wigs, the dancing, the dancers, the music, the set, the lighting, the puppetry, or something else that made this production so special? I believe it was the story.

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I am always one for supporting my fellow students, musicians, and artists when it comes to performances and shows. Ever since last year’s Dominant 7 concert featuring student composers, I’ve had a new found respect for music composition. Talking to my peers in the music program at the Aaron Copland School of Music, I’ve come to realize exactly how rigorous a music career is, and how complex the writing process can be. Tonight’s concert, presented by the Queens College New Music Group, featuring Talujon (a professional percussion ensemble) did not disappoint! The group mentored Queens College composition students for the past several weeks of this semester, culminating with the amazing feat of writing sixteen phenomenal works of art! I was, yet again, blown away by the talented musicians and composers that my school fosters. Read more »

LeFrak Concert Hall’s tracker organ is not merely a pretty backdrop for band and orchestra concerts, operas, and choirs. With 49 pipe groupings, each containing 56 notes, the musical giant hides 2744 pipes behind it’s decoratively elaborate exterior! Having only heard this particular instrument once, accompanying a Woman’s Choir concert, I was excited to see the American Guild of Organists‘ flier hanging around the Aaron Copland School of Music, inviting everyone to a concert dedicated to organ music composed by J.S. Bach.

John A. Wolfe
Prelude and Fugue in A Major, BWV 536
Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

Janet Chung
Trio Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 530
Vivace
Lento
Allegro

Joyce Chen
Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 879
From the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547

Eric Birk
Trio Sonata No. 5 in C Major, BWV 529
Allegro
Largo
Allegro

Noriko Kumada
Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, BWV 552
From the Claveir-Übung III Read more »

It was to be a classy night out in the city. Two young ladies (me and my mother) making their way to 88th Street and 5th, the National Academy Museum, for a VIP opening night event. Not too shabby, eh? I’ve never been to an opening of an art exhibit, let alone been invited to one by the art patron, in this case, Henry Justin! I was quite honored to be among those in attendance, all fancily dressed, nibbling on finger food and sipping on champagne. Some of the artists were even in attendance! See It Loud, the exhibition, features seven post-war American painters, who all brought something different to the art world of the time. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked most of the work, since I still claim I’m not a fan of modern art – when will I stop saying this and acknowledge the fact that I enjoy too many modern exhibits for this to be true? There were two artists in particular, though, that caught my eye: Stanley Lewis (1941- ) and Neil Welliver (1929-2005). Read more »

I first want to apologize for the lack of content as of late on Marina Nebro: Arts and Culture. My second year of college is off to a slow start in terms of my cultural endeavors, but I’m sure it will start picking up in no time! Let’s get on to the good stuff, shall we?!?!

Mostly drawn to the Roundabout Theatre Company’s play by its title, Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews pleasantly surprised me as a moving and meaningful piece of theatre. With the death of Poppy, the patriarch of the Feygenbaum family, his grandchildren come together to celebrate his life and mourn his death. Diana/Daphna (Tracee Chimo) has returned home from college at Vassar for the funeral and is staying with her cousin Jonah (Philip Ettinger) for the time being at his New York City apartment. It seems like these cousins are complete opposites. As Jonah plays video games and keeps to himself, Daphna just doesn’t stop talking! She reflects on her life at Vassar, and her relationship with her family, especially her late grandfather. All she wants, she says, is his chai necklace – an important family heirloom with a lot of religious and sentimental significance. Will Liam let me have it, she asks? Jonah’s brother Liam (Michael Zegen) neglected to make his way to the funeral due to a ski trip he was on with his (non-Jewish, shicksa) girlfriend. An absolute disgrace, according to Daphna! This only proves that the chai truly belongs to her. For a translation, chai means “life” in Hebrew. Read more »

If you asked me about Romeo and Juliet prior to this summer, I would have told you all that I know about it: the play is by Shakespeare and I haven’t looked at it or thought about it since 9th grade when I read it for English class. But now, nearing the end of the summer, I have tons more to say! For one thing, I worked run-crew at Flushing Town Hall for Ralph Carhart’s Queens College production of the play. I interacted with the actors, the people back stage, and the audience throughout my week-long experience. Many of the lines, repeated over and over through rehearsals, got stuck in my head. I was so very used to the way the actors portrayed their characters, how Romeo (Thomas Stagnitta) was so gloomy and love struck, how the nurse (Nikki Daddiego) was impossibly funny with her accent and mannerisms (in this production, the Montagues and Capulets were distinguished by being Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims respectively). This all changed when I went to see Romeo and Juliet on Broadway, featuring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad (a racial take on the star-crossed lovers).

There is absolutely no need for a synopsis of the play. Even those who have never seen a production of it have seen an adaptation of some sort – West Side Story being a popular one. Any tale of two lovers from feuding families or social circles originates from R and J! But how did this production, directed by David Leveaux, differ from all of these other adaptations? Let’s find out! Read more »

It’s been a long summer and a long time since I’ve last posted any content on my blog. I’m so glad that school is starting, because I really become a lot more motivated under a strict and busy schedule. This specific post is long overdue, as I visited the Morgan Library back on August 15th (the same day I went to see The Human Fruit Bowl). I will be focusing on the Library’s current exhibit entitled Illuminating Faith: The Eucharist in Medieval Life and Art. Read more »

A model is to an artist as an actor is to an audience. Is this an accurate analogy? Through her monologue, nude model Beth (Harmony Stempel) explores the relationship between artist and muse – and perhaps in connection, the relationship between audience and performer. Are the latter of each pair undervalued, or are they admired and appreciated for what they bring to theatre and art? Read more »

Having lived close to New York City my entire life, I’ve never ventured past 112th Street (the Church of St. John the Divine). To be honest, there are still more places in the city that I haven’t visited than those that I have. Recently, I made my way all the way up to the 190’s to Fort Tryon Park and The Cloisters – a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to reliquary and medieval art. The museum is located in the New York City neighborhood of Inwood. The walk from the 181st Street subway (I got off at the wrong stop) up to the park was gorgeous, with tons of trees, greenery, and beautiful Tudor style apartment buildings. The park, overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades in New Jersey, contained a myriad of pathways, outlooks, art installations, and open expanses of grass. There could have been better signage, though, because it took a while to find the Cloisters, and everyone else in the park seemed to be searching for the museum as well. Read more »