Visual and Performing Arts
Artist-in-Residence wanted! We are seeking an experienced artist for a special 12-week residency to work with clients at our Women’s Mental Health Shelter and Older Adult Centers. Click here to learn more and apply.
Our Visual and Performing Arts Department integrates arts instruction, including visual art, creative movement, music, drama, dance and performance, into programs throughout the Neighborhood House. Our team consists of professional full-time Teaching Artists who work with clients from our Early Childhood Center, two Older Adult Centers, Casa Mutua supportive housing residence, Women’s Mental Health Shelter and CARE and Caregiver programs. Through our classes, our clients learn and develop skills which excite and motivate them, and beauty which gives them respite and comfort. Through uncertain times, the Arts help us all to navigate, cope and work together powerfully to move towards a more inclusive future.
Please see below for some of the many Visual and Performing Arts programs within our Neighborhood House community. For more information, please contact Sarah Walko, Director of Visual and Performing Arts, at 212-218-0526 or swalko@lenoxhill.org.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts are explored through many mediums each day by our members and clients of all ages who enjoy exploring different art-making processes and showing off their beautiful work.
Art Galleries and Art Shows
Our growing Virtual Art Gallery shows off wonderful pieces by talented participants from around the Neighborhood House! These beautiful artworks are created in a variety of mediums, such as watercolor, oil pastels, photography and collage.
Click here to view our stunning collection.
In addition to our online gallery, frequent Art Shows are held to celebrate the artwork created in groups and classes in our programs.
Artist-in-Residence
Clients from our Women’s Mental Health Shelter and Older Adult Centers were overjoyed to work with Karrolyn Belkis, our summer Artist-in-Residence. Karrolyn is a collage artist and nurse practitioner who led weekly workshops with our clients while also working on her own pieces in our Art Room. Karrolyn skillfully guided the groups as they developed series of art pieces influenced by their experiences. “I love how collage inspires people to see things they haven’t seen before and try things they haven’t tried before,” shared Karrolyn. At the end of the residency, we were excited to present two art shows presenting finished works to our Neighborhood House community.
Performing Arts
We celebrate the performing arts every day at the Neighborhood House with Music, Dance and Drama classes and performance opportunities throughout our programs.
Early Childhood Center Celebrations
Our Harvest Festival, Winter Celebration and Spring Celebration, annual performances for our youngest community members , provide special opportunities for students to celebrate the seasons and show off the music and dance skills they have been working on all year with our Visual and Performing Arts team. Click the thumbnail to watch one of our classroom’s Winter Celebration performances.
Writing for Performance Workshop
Members of our Older Adult Centers worked together with our Teaching Artists to write and film their own comedic and dramatic scenes, which were performed virtually for our Neighborhood House community. Click the thumbnail to watch a scene by Older Adult Center member Rebecca Marks, performed by Rebecca Marks and Arthur Douse.
Special Projects
Encores! Production of Into the Woods
Nearly two dozen of our Older Adult Center members participated in the community chorus of the Encores! production of Into the Woods in 2022. This special production brought together Broadway’s brightest stars with a multigenerational group of community members to celebrate an iconic musical and inspire New Yorkers to find their own way into the work through community workshops and performances on the City Center stage.
Our members are certainly familiar with this Broadway classic—just a few years ago we presented Into the Woods SR., a pilot production of the classic Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical adapted for older adult theater groups. Click here to learn more about our production of Into the Woods SR., which was featured in The New York Times and even prompted a visit to our rehearsals from Sondheim and Lapine!
Resiliency Project
The Resiliency Project featured members of our Older Adult Centers expressing their experiences from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic through song, dance and text. The project was conceptualized by Dance Teacher Hannah Swanson, Drama Teacher Kerri Evans and Music Teacher Kelsey Logan. Click here to view the project.
Athena String Quartet Visits Shelter Clients
Our Women’s Mental Health Shelter at the Park Avenue Armory enjoyed a performance and workshop from The Athena String Quartet, a group of Juilliard-trained musicians, in early 2020. The group subsequently continued to produce virtual video performances for our clients during the pandemic.
Sing for Hope Piano
Sing for Hope, one of our community partners, dedicated a special piano to our Women’s Mental Health Shelter created by visual artist and Sing for Hope Artist Partner Lady JDay. We continue to use this beautiful instrument and art piece in weekly Music and Art programs for the women at our shelter.
For more information about our Visual and Performing Arts programs, please contact:
Sarah Walko
Director of Visual and Performing Arts
212-218-0526
swalko@lenoxhill.org