News in Brief
In Memoriam: George Newlin
George Newlin, the first president of ArtsWestchester, has passed away. An accomplished musician as well as a businessman, Newlin had a passion for the arts that remained strong throughout his life. At one point, he moved to Vienna to study piano and sing opera. He also compiled and published a large collection of anthological works, including casebooks about the people and places in the works of Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope and George Eliot. Newlin majored in music at Princeton University and then attended Yale Law School. In addition to these accolades, he served in the U.S. Army, was a legal associate and worked in business management. Newlin was instrumental in building support for ArtsWestchester and laid the foundation for the organization’s 53-year success.
Music Conservatory of Westchester to “Go Digital”
Music Conservatory of Westchester (MCW) aims to “go digital” by the end of 2020 with the addition of five lower-level studios that will allow the school to put more emphasis on technology-focused instruction. The project will tackle about 4,000 square-feet of undeveloped space on the school’s third floor. According to Joel Breitkopf, president of MCW’s board, the learning and rehearsing of music has evolved. He added “[MCW] too must evolve to meet the music education demands of Westchester community.” A recording studio, for instance, will provide the ability to record music and teach recording engineering. In addition, networked pianos will allow instructors to listen in on a student’s progress even in a group setting. The expansion will also allow for rooms for percussion, jazz, ensembles and music therapy.
ArtsWestchester Appoints George G. King as Senior Deputy Director
ArtsWestchester has announced the appointment of George G. King as its Senior Deputy Director. In his capacity, King will assist in developing and guiding the countywide arts organization with strategic planning, development, external affairs and government relations. CEO Janet Langsam states: “With the addition of George King to ArtsWestchester’s senior management, we are well poised to continue growing arts audiences in the County and strengthening the cultural infrastructure of Westchester for the future.” King comes to the position with more than 20 years of nonprofit museum experience, having served as the first Executive Director of both the Katonah Museum of Art and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Most recently, he directed the American Federation of Arts in New York.
ArtsWestchester Expands Teen Tuesdays Workshop Series
ArtsWestchester has continued to expand its Teen Tuesday program. After being positively received by the community, the workshop series, geared toward teens aged 12-16, will now also take place on selected Thursdays. A different ArtsWestchester teaching artist, who works with students to each create their own masterpiece, will lead each session. December workshops include Anime Drawing with illustrator Alan Reingold (12/4), Mural-Making with artist Ann Ladd (12/11), and Finding Your Voice: R&B and Pop Music, with vocalist Clayton Bryant (12/20). Workshops continue after the holiday season in January, with bucket drumming (1/8) and the Art of Brick Masonry (1/15). For more info on upcoming workshops, visit artsw.org/teentuesdays.
Request For Qualifications: Public Sculpture Commissions for Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
ArtsWestchester, in partnership with the New York State Thruway Authority and the Arts Council of Rockland, seeks qualifications from New York State artists for a permanent site-responsive public sculpture. Commissions are available for both the Rockland County and Westchester County landings on either side of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge shared bicycle and walking path. Sculptures may include remnant steel from the decommissioned Tappan Zee Bridge, which will be provided by the Authority. A selection committee will identify up to four artists for each landing to submit proposals, for which the artists will be awarded a stipend. Final commissions must be completed by July 31, 2019 in preparation for an August 15, 2019 on-site installation. Qualifications must be submitted by January 11, 2019 via the online portal, where additional information is also available: artsw.org/mariocuomobridge.
A version of this article first appeared in the December/January issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.