News
Snaps & Taps Open Mic – Celebrating Women
Join us on Wednesday, March 27th at 6:30 PM for Snaps & Taps Open Mic Night in celebration of Women’s History Month. Hosted by the one and only Sofia Rodriguez with music by DJ Shy Guy! Whether you’re a poet or musician this open mic is the place to be. So grab your friends, bring your snaps and taps, and let’s make some magic together.
CommuniVersity – Financial Planning
It’s never too late to start your financial planning journey. Join us on Saturday, March 23rd at 12:00 PM for an informative conversation on college education funding, retirement planning, long term care, and more with Beatrice Oduor, Dr. Dorothy Rombo and Jecinter Otieno. This event is free and open to everyone.
‘Unveiled Echoes’ An Artist Conversation with Jalen Law
Join Jalen Law, artist of ‘Unveiled Echoes’ for an open discussion with the community as he reflects on his artistic journey and the power of technology within the arts. Take an interactive look into the rich history of The Erie Canal with an exhibition that brings narratives to life. This event is free and open to community. This event is free and open to the public.
Saturday, March 16th, 3:00 PM
Community Folk Art Center, Gallery
Tony International Live Jazz Under Spoken Word
Get ready to groove to the sounds of Tony International Live Jazz!
Join us on Friday, March 1st at The Community Folk Art Center for a night of musical performances and spoken word with house band SMX Shawn Seals. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show will begin at 7:00 PM. General admission for this event is $20.00
To purchase tickets please get in touch with event headliner, Tony Eiland at 315-876-2284.
A Celebration of Black Icons In Dance
Get ready for a night of inspirational dance performances with Charles Haislah, The Creative Arts Academy, and CFAC-DanceLab as we pay tribute to dance trailblazers through history. This event is free and open to the community!
Saturday, February 24th, 5:30 PM
Community Folk Art Center, Black Box Theater
The Right To Read Film Screening & Discussion
Join the Syracuse Onondaga County NAACP and Community Folk Art Center for a special screening and panel discussion of The Right To Read. This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, February 22nd, 5:30 PM
Community Folk Art Center, Black Box Theater & Gallery
Guest panelists for the evening include, Dr. Katrina Allen-White, Principal, Syracuse City School District; Courtney Mauldin, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the Teaching and Leadership Department at the Syracuse University School of Education; Carin Reeve, Director of Literacy for the Oswego City School District; and Mary Curcio, New York State Representative for “Read to Them,” Vice President of the Literacy Coalition of Oswego County, member of the advisory board for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for Oswego County, Executive Director of Victory Transformation, a men’s homeless shelter and former Superintendent, McGraw Central School District, The panel discussion and Q & A session will be moderated by Tanisha M. Jackson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Executive Director of the Community Folk Art Center.
About The Film: The Right To Read, shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most powerful foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.
CommuniVersity : The Art of Generational Wealth
It’s never too late to start your financial planning journey. Join us at the Community Folk Art Center on , February 13th at 6:30 PM for tips on how to preserve your legacy through investing. Financial literacy is the cornerstone of empowerment and success in today’s complex world. Understanding how money works, from budgeting and saving to investing and planning for the future, is not just a skill; it’s a key that unlocks doors to financial freedom. Join the dynamic discussion led by CFAC Education Outreach Coordinator, Cedric T. Bolton, alongside special guest, Emad Rahim, Ph.D., Syracuse Surge Entrepreneurship Manager at CenterState CEO. Topic include: cryptocurrency, real estate investing, and entrepreneurship.
“Unveiled Echoes” by Jalen Law- History Brought to life through Augmented Reality
Community Folk Art Center Presents : “Unveiled Echoes” by Jalen A. Law
On view from January 22nd, 2024 – March 16th 2024
“Unveiled Echoes” offers an immersive journey that transcends time, seamlessly blending history, culture, and art into a mesmerizing tapestry. This visionary exhibition harmonizes traditional art, digital innovation, and augmented reality (AR) to resurrect the forgotten narratives of Buffalo and the Erie Canal. Comprising 22 artworks in total, each piece is a meticulously reconstructed portrait providing social, cultural, and political context of this time period.
About The Artist
Jalen has been an artist since the age of four. He’s always been interested in different forms of creation, including painting, drawing, and sculpting. In his sophomore year of college, he decided to create his own business around his artistic talent. Since, his path has expanded into many different directions, in particular with creating murals. His first mural was a City of Buffalo initiative to honor essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic — the piece was a 5’X10’ aluminum panel honoring doctors and nurses. Then, the Niagara Falls Heritage Center approached him about creating a portrait for their Niagara Falls Murals initiative, leading him to create his Calvin “Pop” Porter mural. Common themes in Jalen’s work include utilizing technology and digital arts, including audio and video stimulation, to allow all types of people to engage with his pieces. Currently, he is working on a research-based art program called the Emotional Intelligence Program to equip students with social and emotional tools that will assist them inside and outside of the classroom.
CommuniVersity : Black-Arab Solidarities: A Brief And Interactive History
Wednesday, February, 7th
6:30 PM
Community Folk Art Center, Gallery
| This Event is FREE and Open to the Community
Discussing issues that impact our community – join us for a roundtable discussion hosted as part of CFAC’s CommuniVersity series. This open forum will provide an overview of the history of Black and Arab solidarities in both US national and transnational contexts. Speakers will present research they have conducted on archival resources that showcase a long history of struggle for liberation and justice shared across Black and Arab liberation movements. This event is generously funded by a three-year Mellon Foundation Higher Learning Open Grant.