The workshop Resurgence of Magic arrived at the precise moment in time when we needed a spiritual and social vitamin!  Offered to us by The Bronx Council on the Arts, created and led by artist Blanka Amezkua, we welcomed this class when the multiple curses of the outside world were upon us.  We were writhing under the pain of seeing Black people murdered with impunity on our cell phones.  It was also just as we were seeing statistics about the illness and death of our fellow New Yorkers going in the wrong direction.  Watching the Governor on the screen everyday gave us slim hope of a grand recovery.  Gone was the excitement and energy that always permeated the streets of our great city.  Gone were trips to museums, the theatre, movies, concerts, lunches, dinners with friends.   Instead, many of us found ourselves trapped in our apartments, alone and lonely imprisoned by an invisible virus.

How do you do art on zoom under such conditions?  It's a very real question which I'm sure we were all wondering about as we joined people who were strangers to us.   Here we were presenting as small tiles on a screen together.  We were a very diverse group, some of us were elders, others were in the middle of our lives, some were young people whose futures loomed precariously.  We were from various ethnicities and lived in different places.  We were also a group with disparate levels of experience doing art.  Some of us were experienced artists, others of us neophytes, but all of us were willing learners.  We shared a hunger for an opportunity to build community by being makers of art.  Our spirits lifted as we became comfortable together.  We talked of our lives, our work, our visits to ghost-like streets downtown to see murals on buildings empty of occupants.  We lit candles and warmed ourselves by the light cast as we engaged in various interesting and challenging projects.  Remember, we couldn't run out to the store and purchase lots of products.  We had to use what we had at hand.  We had to rely on our own ingenuity to gather materials.  For example, the more experienced among us made suggestions for how to make glue out of flour, and even how to revive the orchids who were wilting and dying in our apartments.  The joy of collaboration and the gratitude felt by our group was palpable.  Twice a week we entered into a magical world where in our two hours together, we felt encouraged to use our imagination, and tell stories about our lives as we worked on projects which you can see displayed as you walk through the AAA3A gallery.  Out of despair, we fashioned a celebratory gathering, a brief encounter with community and its power to vanquish anxiety and create a sweet relaxed reprieve.  Here's hoping you can taste the delicious essence of how we individually and collaboratively experienced a resurgence of magic in our locked down lives.

— Carol Foresta,
Workshop participant, Bronx based writer

Participants

Guidelines will be enforced to ensure the health and safety of our visitors.  Health and safety are important to us.  To ensure that AAA3A can safely remain open, we require that all visitors follow certain guidelines.

• MASKS are REQUIRED.   All visitors are required to wear a face covering upon entry. You will not be permitted inside AAA3A without a face covering or mask.  Face coverings must be worn for the duration of your visit
• MY BEDROOM USED as COAT/BAG CHECK WILL BE CLOSED.   No large bags will be allowed inside AAA3A
• MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.    Visitors should maintain a social distance of at least six feet from others
• REDUCED NUMBER of VISITORS.    No more than 8 visitors will be allowed inside the apartment at any time

Be safe and we look forward to welcoming you at AAA3A!