By Tanyanika Samuels / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
The art world will once again train its eye on the Bronx on Thursday as part of Armory Show 2013, which draws thousands of visitors from across the world.
More than two dozen borough artists will showcase works in the 2nd annual Bronx Day event.
“What we’re aiming to do is to get people to see the value of the Bronx and the kind of artists we have here,” said Jeanine Alfieri of Fountainhead Gallery.
Alfieri is guest curating “We Are Still Here: Art IN the Bronx,” a group exhibition show sponsored by the Bronx Arts Alliance at the Andrew Freedman Home, 1125 Grand Concourse.
The free exhibit features paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations and live performances by 25 artists from 20 different Bronx arts groups such as Bronx Council on the Arts, El Fogon Center for the Arts and Wave Hill.
Artists Nancy Saleme and Patricia Cazorla, with Lehman College Art Gallery, are collaborating on a mural inspired by textiles from around the world.
“The Armory Show brings people from so many countries. Hopefully people will be inspired by the different styles,” Cazorla said.
For Bronx Day, Bartow-Pell will debut “Organic Abstracts,” two large-scale sculptures made of repurposed materials by artist Dianne Smith of the West Harlem Art Fund.
“The Couple,” two 10-feet tall androgynous heads resting on one another, is made of such materials as fabric and magazines all bound together with rope and other materials. The sculpture, Smith said, represents community, family and the environment.
“Flying High” is a soaring display of brown butcher paper that has been crumpled, twisted and woven into an arch. The creases of the paper are meant to be metaphorical, calling into question issues of African American ancestry and family.
“Thinking metaphorically, even the tone of the paper itself can represent brown skin,” said Smith, who grew up in Belmont. “And when you think of this idea of imprints, one could think about your own grandparents and the wrinkles in their skin. What are those stories that have not been verbally articulated but are part of who we are? All of these things get infused into the work.”
“Bronx Day” also features existing exhibits at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, BronxArtSpace and Longwood Gallery; and a BxArts Happy Hour with live music and spoken word performances by Nuyorican Poets Café.
To learn more, visit armoryartsweek.com
tsamuels@nydailynews.com