FLUSHING TOWN HALL SUMMER SNEAK PREVIEW

from left to right (as closely as possible):

Flushing Town Hall Chinese Cultural Committee member Minwen Yang, Chinese Theatre Works’ co-artistic director Kuang-Yu Fong, NY Epicurean Events Vice President Joe DiStefano, Yumcha Yoga Founder Dr. Yen Yen Woo, Skip LaPlante, Bobby Gonzalez,  Chinese Theatre Works’ co-artistic director Stephen Kaplin, Flushing Town Hall Executive & Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall Teaching Artist April Armstrong, Mario Sprouse,  Korean Traditional Performing Arts Association's Senior Artist  Song-Hee Lee,  Napoleon Revels-Bey, and  Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts Teaching Artist Steve Palermo.

Drumming under the moon, a “puppet slam” and a fine arts workshop are just a few of the events still to come in an exciting lineup of summer events at Flushing Town Hall.
“The hallmark of our programming at Flushing Town Hall is to present a cross-cultural focus,” said Flushing Town Hall’s executive and artistic director, Ellen Kodadek, at the announcement of the summer’s remaining events last week. There will be “works of art coming from different disciplines sometimes coming from different cultures.”
Here are some of the highlights. Beginning July 9, Queens artist Steve Palermo will be giving a Saturday morning five-week workshop on painting and collage. This series is for those who either want to renew their love of art or just have a desire to bring out their creativity. This program culminates by having the artwork made by the students displayed in the Visual Arts members’ exhibition, “World Within a World”, opening on Aug. 7. The course’s final session is Aug. 9. Cost is $160/$125 for members and includes all materials.
On Aug. 12, Yuhan Su Jazz Quintet will be taking the stage. “Yuhan Su is a native of Taiwan and a New York-based vibraphonist who has written a new series of compositions inspired by a Chinese mythology known as Kua Fu, who I learned is a giant who decided to chase and catch the sun,” Kodadek said. “Yuhan will be bringing both her Taiwanese experiences as well as influences of American jazz.”
You can celebrate the full moon at a drumming workshop in the garden July 19 with Korean drumming and another that features Chinese drumming Aug. 18. Song-Hee Lee, senior artist at the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Association, and Nan Bao, director of the East Wind Percussion Music Academy, will jam with the entire group at both events. Drums are provided and all are welcome.
The ancient art form of shadow puppetry will be on display in a first-ever in New York City event as Chinese Theatre Works Co-artist Directors Kuang Yu Fong and Stephen Kaplin present a Shadow Puppet Slam. Multiple puppeteers will bring together luminous and shady digital images. The July 30 show is meant for adult audiences.
Also on July 30 is a show aimed at kids—“The Cat Came Back: Stories and Songs with a Jazz Twist.” Teaching artist and singer April Armstrong presents music and storytelling with her friends Mario Sprouse on piano and Napoleon Revels-Bey on the drums.
Create your own musical wind chimes from found objects on Aug. 14. Wind Chime artist Skip LaPlante, Con Edison/Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts Composer-in-Residence, will provide the materials. Participants are encouraged to bring something special from home to attach to their individual wind chimes.
In addition, audiences at Flushing Town Hall will be able to share their memories of Queens, as family photos get digitized at no cost. This event is part of an initiative by the Queens Public Library system called “Queens Memory.” Bring your photos, postcards and other memorabilia on July 19 and Aug. 6, 7 and 18.
For further information on these events, as well as other programs scheduled for the rest of the summer, go to www.flushingtownhall.org.

©2016 Community News Group