Get ready to groove to the sounds of Tony International Live Jazz! Join us on Friday, October 4th at The Community Folk Art Center for a night of musical and spoken word performances by the talent folks of our community featuring 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.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Community Folk Art Center! Join us in the Blackbox Theater October 9th – 12th at 8:00 PM for “La Vida es Sueño” Life is a Dream, A Spanish language play written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca, adapted by Brad Beckman , and directed by by José Miguel Hernández Hurtado. This enchanting production from the Spanish Golden Age of Theatre tells the story of reality, free will, and destiny. General Admission is only $5.00 and all proceeds will support La Joven Guardia del Latino Theater Inc. whose mission is committed to the enrichment and education of underprivileged children and youth in a pre-professional theater environment that stimulates artistic excellence and personal growth.
Wednesday, October 9th – Saturday, October 12th
8:00 PM –9:00 PM | Tickets available at the door $5.00
Community Folk Art Center, Black Box Theater
Happy Autumn from the Community Folk Art Center! Get inspired by the beauty of fall in Central New York with our new visual arts class : Autumn Creations Instructed by Kimberley Archer. In this fun and relaxing biweekly class participants will create their very own masks, seasonal wreathes, painted pumpkins, and sunflower mosaics.
Snaps & Taps at CFAC is back this fall for another open mic night filled with talent, creativity and entertainment. Whether you’re a poet, musician or just love to appreciate raw talent, this open mic is the place to be. This event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday, September 25th Doors Open at 6:30 PM | Community Folk Art Center : Blackbox Theater
Connect with your community through a hands-on writing workshop. Join Cedric T. Bolon and Kofi Antwi on Saturday, September 21st at 12:00 PM for Poetic Black Fusion writer’s workshop! Poetic Black Fusion is a writers’ workshop that provides access and opportunities to poets of the African diaspora living in Central New York. This program is a social outlet for community members to develop as writers, and express themselves from the page to the stage. This event is free and open to the community.
Join us at the Community Folk Art Center for a panel discussion and alumni art exhibition. This group exhibition will feature the works of London Ladd, JoAnn Onofre, Chelsea Reeves, and Cedric T. Bolton. This event is free and open to the public, a light breakfast will be provided.
Saturday, September 14th
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Community Folk Art Center, Gallery
The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) celebrates Gospel Heritage Month with an uplifting tribute to Walter Hawkins performed by Burnell Reid. With special guest vocalists :Bishop Bernard Alex, Eric T. Dickson, Evelyn Ingram, Mary Carrol, Sandra Miller & Marcia Hagan! Join us in the Blackbox Theater on Friday, September 6th for an evening of music and fellowship. Doors open at 6:30 PM, General Admission is $25.00 Pre-sale and $35.00 at the door. Tickets are available for purchase online and in person during our normal business hours.
Meet The Headliner
Syracuse, NY’s very own Burnell is a musical force to be reckoned with. A prolific singer and musician, Burnell has worked with a diverse range of artists, from local talents to world-renowned acts, in the gospel, christian, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B genres. With his newest initiative, ‘Movement,’ Burnell continues to inspire and motivate, using music as a tool to empower and uplift both the young and old.
Community Folk Art Center is elated to present Jose Miguel Hernandez Hurtado’s one-man play From Cuba to ‘Cuse, in celebration of Latine Heritage Month. From Cuba to ‘Cuse is Jose Miguel’s story of his journey from his homeland Cuba to Syracuse, New York. His one-man play will take you through his transition and culture shock in the United States. Join us on September 20th at 8:00 PM for the 14th anniversary showing of From Cuba to ‘Cuse. General admission is $25.00 additional donations are welcomed to support La Joven Guardia del Teatro.
On view from June 24th – August 30th, 2024
Artist Talk : Saturday July 27th 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The Community Folk Art Center presents “People, Please.”, a solo exhibition of 41 mixed media and photography pieces from Syracuse-based artist, Anthony Washington. This dynamic exhibition offers a unique narrative through the coming of age of a neurodivergent black man experiencing life as an artist in white suburbia. “I was recently diagnosed with severe ADHD at age 35. This gave me an entirely new perspective on my struggles during childhood, and as a young adult” says Anthony.
As a black neurodivergent artist, hip hop music, particularly elements of sampling, jazz, soul, and graffiti have shaped Washington’s identity as a black man. Throughout his upbringing, he silently found blackness in a whitewashed community through hip-hop and protected himself through his headphones, locs, camera, sketchbook, and cans of spray paint. The places he called “home” as a young adult were ultimately just environments of chaos where he stored his belongings. “There is a unique expectation that applies to being raised in an environment where the color of your skin poses a threat to the status quo. “My objective is to encourage young black men like me to express themselves freely without stigmatization and find their voices wherever they exist.” Says artist, Anthony Washington.
About the Artist: Anthony Washington is a multi-faceted artist from Syracuse, NY. Anthony creates visual music through his drawings, paintings, photography, and street art. Using a wide range of materials he finds in his environment, Anthony tells a narrative of his experience as a neurodivergent black man growing up in a predominantly white landscape.
A new summer art workshop is coming to the Community Folk Art Center. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (July 9th – August 1st) to discover the elements of drawing, color theory, mixed media arts and more. Enroll today for all eight sessions and get ready to unleash your creativity. Individual courses are $10.00 per session. All supplies and materials are included.
