News in Brief

Film Center Relaunches Series in Memory of Jonathan Demme

Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) has announced the relaunch and re-imagining of its “Rarely Seen Cinema” series. For twelve years, Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme hosted the series at Jacob Burns Film Center, which ended with Demme’s death in April 2017. In the series, the director of classic films such as Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia presented lesser-known films that inspired his passion for cinema. This fall, JBFC, along with Demme’s family, have kicked off a new season in the filmmaker’s honor. This October, the series’ new host, actress and screenwriter Jenny Lumet, will present Cabin in the Sky (10/7), Death of a Gunfighter (10/14) and The Wiz (10/21). For more info, visit burnsfilmcenter.org.

Hudson River Museum Wins Excellence Award

Greater Hudson Heritage Network announced the Hudson River Museum (HRM) as its recipient for the 2018 Award for Excellence. The award recognizes the Museum’s “Museum Studies Partnership for Learning” program. During this project, HRM partnered with Yonkers Public School District’s Museum School 25 during the 2017-2018 school year to engage students in Pre-K through second grade with multiple onsite and in-school visits. The students participated in projects that enhance critical thinking while connecting concepts in art, science, history and more. It also integrated professional development for teaching staff and classroom aides that will enable them to integrate new creative strategies in their classrooms.

A Free Week of Dance Classes in White Plains and Chappaqua

Steffi Nossen School of Dance will offer a free week of dance classes at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains and the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua on October 15-20. The School will highlight its program of classes for people of all levels, ages and abilities. Core classes are available in modern, ballet, tap, hip-hop and more, while other classes give special attention to dancers as young as one to three years old, creative movement for pre-K children and an expanded boys program. Adaptive dance programs include classes for people with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities, as well as people with Parkinson’s disease, which focuses on balance and flexibility. For more info, visit steffinossen.org.

 Announces “Innovator Award” Honoree

ArtsWestchester will celebrate “innovation,” as it relates to the connection between art and science, during its annual gala on November 17 at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester. With this theme, the organization emphasizes that creativity fuels new ideas and innovation. The event’s Innovator Award, which recognizes a visionary leader who seizes the power of an idea to make the world a better place, will be awarded to George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Yancopoulos has been driven by science his entire life. His belief that breakthroughs are possible when creative ideas and science are combined has powered discovery at Regeneron for 30 years. Yancopoulos has led Regeneron alongside Len Schleifer, MD, PhD, since 1989. Together with key members of his team, Dr. Yancopoulos is a principal inventor and developer of Regeneron’s six FDA-approved drugs, as well as its foundational technologies.

The gala event will include dinner, which will be preceded by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, as well as live entertainment and dancing. The Dinner Chair will be Thomas R. Manisero, partner at Wilson Elser and ArtsWestchester board member. During the evening, guests can also bid at silent and live auctions on items such as a South African photo safari, a stay at St. Martin and more. Proceeds from the event and its auctions will benefit the programs and services offered by ArtsWestchester throughout the year. A preview of the silent auction, which opens on October 1, is available online at biddingforgood.com/artswauction. For gala tickets and info, visit artsw.org/gala2018.

New Monthly Series Brings Happy Hour to the Art Gallery

ArtsWestchester recently announced the launch of a late-night gallery series to take place from 6-8:30pm on the first Thursday of every month. “Gallery Nite Out” aims to attract an engaged, art-loving audience to gather for a “new kind of happy hour.” The events will vary, but will always feature activities inspired by ArtsWestchester’s current contemporary art exhibitions. Additional offerings include live DJs, specialty tastings by local restaurants, wine and beer, and more. A full season of six “Gallery Nite Out” events includes an artist talk, exhibition tour and reception two days after ArtsWestchester’s Brick by Brick exhibition opens, with TOMA Bloody Mary cocktails (10/4); a team Jenga tournament (11/1); a holiday networking mixer with music by DJ CLAFFMATIC, cocktails by KAS Spirits and a gift-making table (12/6); a Drink and Paint event with a professional teaching artist (1/3); a photoshoot with artist and photographer Barry Mason (3/7) and a group yoga session (4/4). All events take place in ArtsWestchester’s gallery in White Plains. For more info, visit artsw.org/galleryniteout and follow #GalleryNiteOut.

Upcoming Workshop Discusses Art Copyright Protection

On October 16, ArtsWestchester, the New York State Bar Association and Wilson Elser will present a panel of attorneys who will discuss copyright law as it relates to working artists. Topics will include copyright application and registration, as well as strategies that will help to protect artwork from infringement. Nisa Ojalvo, Vice President of Legal Affairs at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Inc., will moderate the panel, which includes Betsy Dale, Esq. (Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller), Jana S. Farmer, Esq. (Wilson Elser) and Julie A. Hopkins, Esq. (Hopkins IP). To RSVP to the workshop, which will take place at ArtsWestchester, contact Sydney Joy at sjoy@nysba.org or 518-487-5630.

A version of this article first appeared in the October issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.