10002 Arts Presents: LES Films from LES Filmmakers

November 10, 2024 |4pm| The Metrograph, 7 Ludlow Street, NYC (Map)

10002 ARTS is delighted to present a unique selection of films celebrating the Lower East Side’s dynamic cultural identity through visionary documentary and experimental work by seven local filmmakers. The showcase features Coleen Fitzgibbon’s LES, Janene Higgins’s Over Water, Marja Samsom’s From Amsterdam to New Amsterdam, Laura Nova’s Mendy: The Laundered Soul, Elliot Caplan's Paul Taylor Process, Harriet Hirshorn’s Greenwashed, and Painting Ecological Engineers by Alvin Tsang & Siyan Wong. Each film casts a personal, human gaze on the residents that breathe life into our corner of the city. Curated by an esteemed LES jury: Carlos A. Gutierrez, co-founding executive director of Cinema Tropical, Amanda Trokan, Senior Programming Director for North America at MUBI, and Scott Macaulay, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Filmmaker Magazine. Filmmaker and journalist Traven Rice will moderate a post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers. Join us for the 10002 ARTS Filmmakers’ Reception upstairs after the Q&A! PDF

Tree Loving Care performs at Art in Odd Places: Care Festival

October 18 - 20, 2024 | Art in Odd Places, Various locations along14th Street, NYC

Tree Loving Care performs with choreographer Sara Koller and social engagement designer Michele Kahane to transform street trees into care stations. Located at various corners of 14th Street, this performance invites participants to connect with and care for trees, highlighting their ecological and social benefits. It includes lively performances that emphasize the nurturing relationship between humans and trees. Laura Nova, Michele Kahane, and Sara Koller form part of CareLab, blending their expertise in art, design, education, and meteorology to address the crisis in care. They create projects that foster empathy and solidarity, particularly in public spaces. Join us as we care for the trees, ourselves and one another this weekend❣️Artist Announcement | Festival Announcement | Press Release

TLC locations and times:
Friday, 4–5pm at the NE corner 14th Street and 2nd Avenue
Saturday, 2-3pm in front of Chase Bank, 14th Street and Fifth Avenue
Sunday, 2-3pm in the middle of the Northside block of 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues

The Clemente Open Studios - Outdoor Activations

Saturday, September 28 from 2-4 pm | The Clemente, outdoor activations on Suffolk Street (between Rivington & Delancey) (map)

While our studios are temporarily closed for renovations, we are thrilled to take the 27th edition of The Clemente Open Studios to the street in conjunction with the Historias Launch Block Party on Saturday, September 28. Several resident artists will share their artworks and performances outside with the community. “Portals” also features resident artists in an online exhibition in partnership with Artsy. OS24 Flyer | Activation | Portals on Artsy | Featured Artwork

Participating Artists:
Maria Lupianez, Steve Ellis & Melanie Vote, Drawn Together
House of Bones
Laura Nova, Wishing Tree
Natalia de Campos in collaboration with Thiago Szmrecsanyi: Artists Against Apartheid
Stacy Mehrfar: Photo Walk
Linda Byrne & guest artist Abby Goodman: The Traveling Suitcase & The Art Cart

Inspired by Nature

September 22, 2024 | 12:00 - 4:00 PM | M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden at Rivington Street between Chrystie and Forsyth (map)

A group exhibition of artist members of the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden and the LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival.

Sounds for the Tree Hotel

June 15, 2024 | 12:30 - 1:30 PM | M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden at Rivington Street between Chrystie and Forsyth (map)

Explore the sonic world of the M’Finda Kalunga Garden! Tune your ears to the music all around us, create a listening device, and compose a concert together. PDF

Laura Nova: Creating Art Across Generations

December 5, 2023 | ALL ARTS Documentary Selects, The WNET Group, PBS Channel 13

Laura Nova is the first artist in residence for New York City’s Department of Aging. In her groundbreaking work, the multimedia artist celebrates intergenerational collaboration, while amplifying the issues of the day, including immigration, gentrification, aging and loneliness. AIRED: DECEMBER 05, 2023 | STREAMING: Apple TV | Google Play | Roku | Amazon

Dedicated Mentor at NEW INC

2023 - 2024 | NEW INC, The New Museum

Dedicated Mentor at NEW INC, a cultural incubator for people working at the intersection of art, design, and technology.

Studio Visit with Social Practice CUNY

November 27, 2023 | The Clemente, Studio #512 (map)

Laura Nova welcomed Natalia Nakazawa; ‘s class “Socially Engaged Art Through Practice and Theory” for a studio visit, artist presentation, and discussion.

Radical Pedagogy at SUNY Purchase

October 23, 2023 | The School of Film and Media Studies, SUNY Purchase

Artist presentation and discussion with “Art as Pedagogy,” MFA College Pedagogy course taught by New Media Professor Brooke Singer in the School of Film and Media Studies at SUNY Purchase.

Bird Watching and Plant Wisdom

October 15, 2023 | 12:00 - 3:00 PM | M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden at Rivington Street between Chrystie and Forsyth (map)

Join us in celebrating the flora and fauna with the reveal of our community quilt. There will be crafts, bird feeding, and bird watching. Make your own binoculars and learn about NYC birds. PDF

CEC Artslink’s Art Prospect: Collective Art Practices - Reimagining the Future

September 25 - October 10

Laura Nova travels to Almaty, Kazakhstan with CEC Artslink to lead workshops in collective and healing art practices, to reimagine the future, and participate in the Trash Festival in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. “Collective Art Practices: Reimagining the Future” brought together 25 artists from seven post-Soviet countries where we examined creative strategies to address today’s critical social, environmental, and political issues. 

Plant Wisdom Workshop

July 22, 2023 | 12:00 - 3:00 pm | M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden at Rivington Street between Chrystie and Forsyth (map)

Gather for this drop-in hands-on workshop at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden, the garden on the edge of the world, to create cyanotype images with plant wisdom from a healing habitat. Contribute to the community quilt to protect the garden's London Plane "Tree Hotel" which provides canopy, nourishment, and food for migrating birds. Together we will identify the flora and fauna, share healing memories and create cyanotypes of ingredients inspired by these stories. This photographic printing process uses a mixture of iron compounds, which when exposed to UV light and washed in water, oxidizes and creates prussian blue images. PDF

Art on Paper

September 5 - 8, 2023 | Pier 36, 299 South Street (map)

Showing the LES Citizens Parade Box and the Kick Activist Kick Cards at Art on Paper with Center for Book Arts in the book smart section. Center for Book Arts is partnering with Art on Paper to launch BOOKSMART, a new artists' book fair located at the front of this year's Art on Paper. We have invited eight institutions to take part in the inaugural edition, each of whom will bring a curated selection of artists' books that engage the form in a myriad of ways—ranging from highly tactile and physical objects to conceptual works. PDF

2023 Art Prospects Fellows

Julu 14, 2023 | The Clemente, Studio #512 (map)

Laura Nova welcomed the 2023 art prospect fellows 🔸Aynur Abutailova, Azerbaijan🔸Oksana Kapishnikova, Kyrgyzstan🔸Maria Lanko, Kyiv, Ukraine 🔸Mariam Shergelashvili, Georgia🔸Marina Slavova, Bulgaria 🔸 in my studio at The Clemente. These social practice curators are in NYC this month to research socially engaged practices and connect with their US colleagues.

Urban Design for a Healthier City

I’m thrilled to have contributed to Urban Design Forum’s Good Form: 73 Ideas for a Healthier New York City, a menu of ideas and case studies for addressing health disparities through neighborhood planning! I worked with a group of 30 Urban Design Forum Fellows to envision how the built environment can improve physical and mental health outcomes through the Spaces for Healing Working Group. Check out our working group’s ideas and download the report at bit.ly/goodformideas. PDF

Celebrate Title IX at The Hole curated by Charlotte Grüssing

June 21 – August 27, 2023 | The Hole (Tribeca and on Bowery)

Join Laura Nova and “Kick Activist” at the opening on June 21st in Tribeca and on the Bowery. Coinciding with the 51st anniversary of Title IX, the law barring sex discrimination in education widely known for its impact on expanding opportunities for women and girls in sports, The Hole presents Title IX. A sports themed group showing exploring the politics, pleasure and power of sports curated by Charlotte Grüssing. PDF

Shaping Spaces for Healing

June 21, 2023 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm | Robert A.M. Stern Architects (map)

Join me with Urban Design Forum, WIP Collaborative, Adam Freed, Principle at Bloomberg Associates, and all my working group colleagues Julie Chou, Sara Elridge, Barrett Feldman, Laura Nova, Amy Pivak, and Rachel Simpson for this thoughtful and provoking conversation about shaping spaces for healing and a discussion on integrating trauma-informed care into public space design. Careful and compassionate design requires safety, choice and community. PDF

Photodynamic Gardening with Trudi Lynn Smith in Collaboration with Mapping Meaning

June 13 – 15, 2023 | Bard College Farm and Studio Kipp in Rhinebeck

This two-day workshop will experiment with plant-based photography, a dynamic image-making process engaging everyday ecologies. Photodynamic Gardening is led by Trudi Lynn Smith in collaboration with Mapping Meaning, Bard College Farm, the Center for Experimental Humanities, and the Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities at Bard College, Annandale. Workshop Link | PDF

Plant Wisdom Workshop

June 3, 2023 | 12:00 - 3:00 pm | M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden at Rivington Street between Chrystie and Forsyth (map)

Please join for some "Plant Wisdom" this Saturday, June 3 any time between 12:30 - 3:30 at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden for a cyanotype and book-making workshop that records plant wisdom and healing remedies. Participants take home their own garden journals.This project is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. PDF

Open Studios

Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 4-8 pm and Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 12-6 pm | The Clemente (map)

Please join us for the building-wide Open Studios! All visual and performing art studios will open to the public, and will include FREE performance, dance, music and art. See you there! Each year the Clemente opens their doors at 107 Suffolk Street to the public for an intimate glimpse into the creative processes of over 40 visual artists, 11 performing arts organizations, and the residents of the LES Studio Program. Visit Laura Nova in studio 512 and the Clemente website for information on Clemente resident artists and a complete schedule of events. Presented in collaboration with LES History Month, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, and the Committee for Open Studios. PDF

Cyanotype Workshop at Center On The Square

May 5 and May 12 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Senior Center on The Square (map)

Laura Nova led “Recipe Remedy” workshops making cyanotypes with plant wisdom and our bodies at Center on the Square with Su Casa artist Roni Gross.

Storytelling with Collector Kits

April 14, 2023 | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Technology Gap: Bridge ++ Community Center, Venice Voxels Metaverse

Panelist, Storytelling with Collector Kits, satellite program during NFT NYC week at Bridge++ Community Center, Venice Voxels Metaverse, April 14, 2023. PDF

Laura Nova receives Creative Engagement Grant

January 1 - December 31, 2023

LMCC awards Laura Nova with the Creative Engagement grant to produce Plant Wisdom.

Demystifying NFTs: The Award Exhibition

December 15 - December 31, 2022| Technology Gap: Bridge ++ Community Center.and ChaShaMa’s 266 W. 37 Street space (map)

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), in partnership with artist and technologist Laura Ó Reilly, is pleased to present "Demystifying NFTs: The Award Exhibition, on view from December 15-31, 2022 in the Voxels metaverse at Technology Gap: Bridge ++ Community Center. The exhibition also features a public art installation inside the windows of ChaShaMa’s 266 W. 37 Street space in Manhattan, where a camera will be streaming the public into the Voxels metaverse exhibition 24/7. Exhibition Curation & Voxel Game Design by Laura Ó Reilly ( L Ó R ) Check out Laura Nova’s first NFT collection on OpenSea https://opensea.io/collection/kickactivist and RSVP to the Opening Online Event: Thursday, December 15th from 6-9 PM EST, inside Voxels Metaverse, digital wine will be served. PDF | Invite | Evite

Delicious Memories presented at the 27th International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA)

June 10 – 16, 2022 | Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Spain

Using craft and interactive technology, the installation stitches intergenerational stories together into a sonic multisensory communal tablecloth embroidered with cotton and conductive thread. When touched, the tablecloth amplifies recorded audio stories. Conference Link | PDF

Bloomfield College answers the call and brings stories of Newark to life

June 9, 2022

Stories of Newark is a collaborative, community-based project intended to shed much-needed light on the city of Newark and its environs during this unprecedented time by creating a multi-modal, digital repository of histories and stories of Newarkers that focus on racial justice for African Americans, Latinos and other communities of color. Using storytelling, photography, and public art, project support and production assistance provided by New Jersey Council for the Humanities with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan Act, Newark Public Library, WBGO Public Radio and Photoville. Learn more about Stories of Newark. PDF

The Municipal Arts Society of New York presents Moving Stories: Janes Walk

May 6-8, 2022

Moving Stories is a Senior-Led Walking Tour that provides access to a neighborhood online and/or in person. The website shares the walking tours in the form of fold-out guides and location-based documentary stories. This walk has been organized by Laura Nova.

Combining movement and memory, character and persona, Moving Stories provides visibility and engagement in a changing neighborhood. These stories are especially important because we will eventually lose these seniors due to aging and the encroaching developments that may displace them. PDF

Laura Nova receives 2021 MAAF Individual Artist Grant

September 22, 2021

Laura Nova was awarded a grant from the 2021 Media Arts Assistance Fund (MAAF), a regrant partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. PDF

Life-Line

September 18- December 1, 2021 | Exhibition

Life-line is a series of 26 augmented full-bodied portraits with audible voices of multigenerational members, reflecting the diversity of the Lower East Side community that memorializes people waiting in line. In collaboration with Karina Skvirsky, this project was featured in the Photoville 2021 festival and was exhibited along the fence at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center Inc.. Audience members can pass by the line of photographs and choose to look and listen to the people represented via QR codes on their mobile phone-lines. PDF | Poster

Seamless Stories presents Delicious Memories

May - June 2021 | Exhibition

"Delicious Memories" is an intergenerational storytelling workshop and media art installation that brings together older and younger New Yorkers to tell and connect stories utilizing craft and interactive technology. The installation and the performance stitches delicious stories together into a sonic multi-sensory communal tablecloth. While the project employs traditional craft techniques, it integrates them into contemporary digital technologies. Poster

Laura Nova becomes a 2021 NY State Council on the Art / NY Foundation for the Arts Artist Fellow

July 2021

NYSCA and NYFA selects Laura Nova to be a 2021 fellow in Interdisciplinary Arts.

Laura Nova receives City Artist Corps Grant

July 1, 2021

Laura Nova was awarded the City Artist Corps Grant by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Laura Nova is awarded a Su Casa art residency for Seamless Stories

May 21- June 18, 2021 | 12 PM | Dial-in or Zoom

Su Casa artist at large, funded by DCLA, LMCC, DFTA.

New Book Art: Discussion with the 2019 Workspace Residents

February 18, 2021 | 6:30 PM | Virtual Event

Join the discussion for an evening with the 2019 Workspace Residents as they each discuss the work that they produced during their residency, and the projects they’ve been working on since finishing the program in 2019.

The Artists’ Grief Deck , Virtual Release Event

January 28, 2021 | 8 PM | Virtual Release Event

Introducing the Artists’ Grief Deck produced by the Artists’ Literacies Institute and Adriene Jenik. We will be joined by dozens of artists from the Grief Deck collection, and introduce some of our critical partners in the disaster relief and caregiving communities. There will also be music! Plus, like any good art opening, plenty of time to mingle (virtually) and connect directly to the artists and producers. PDF

Open Studios

January 28 - 31, 2021| The Clemente Virtual Event

Join us for a calendar of virtual events including artist talks, studio tours, live workshops & performances. Open Studios is a program of The Clemente & Artists Alliance, Inc. OS is a platform for local arts that builds, sustains & supports the community of the L.E.S. PDF

“New Book Art: 2019 Artist in Residence,” Exhibition Catalog, Center for Book Arts, 2021

January 28, 2021

“The Artists’ Grief Deck,” the Artists’ Literacies Institute (producer) and Adriene Jenik (creative producer), and was made possible by The Ohio’s Hospice/ National Hospice Cooperative (executive producer), Daniel Abary (Deck and Web Design), the artists and grief workers who contributed their talent and wisdom, and Kickstarter donors. Site by Connor Hubeny, launched January 28, 2021.

Laura Nova receives Creative Engagement Grant

January 1 - December 31, 2021

LMCC awards Laura Nova with the Creative Engagement grant to produce Life-Line.

Laura Nova becomes an Encore Public Voice Fellow with the Op Ed Project

September 2020 - July 2021

The Encore Public Voices Fellowship is a collaboration among The OpEd Project (OEP), a think tank and leadership organization that accelerates the ideas and public impact of underrepresented voices, including women; Encore.org, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging generational divides; and Ann MacDougall (Senior Advisor, Encore.org). The fellowship is part of The OpEd Project’s national Public Voices Fellowship initiative to change who writes history.

The fellowship is a prestigious initiative to accelerate the ideas and impact of new and necessary thought leaders, all working at the intersection of aging, longevity, intergenerational connection and social justice.

Creativity Doesn't Age Speaker Series

December 2020 | 4:00 – 5:30 PM | Zoom Webinar

The world of work and meaningful connection for people over 50 is challenged by a number of factors at any time, but never as dramatically as during Covid-19. The Career Center's Creativity Doesn't Age Speaker Series invites guest speakers who have knowledge and commitment to addressing strategies for our community to connect and engage in creative ways during this time of physical distancing, and beyond. Of course, topics highlighted by our speakers are relevant to arts professionals at all ages and stages of their lives and careers.

Thanksgiving Edition at Essex Street Market: Feed Me A Story with Turnstile Tours, Episode 164

November 19, 2020| Virtual Program

In preparation for Thanksgiving, join us for this interactive virtual program that will include live visits with vendors at the Lower East Side’s Essex Market and Thanksgiving-themed trivia We will learn about the best places to get all the fixings for your Thanksgiving meal, and how different communities celebrate the holiday and infuse their own culture’s flavors and traditions into the holiday meal. We’ll also be joined by artists Theresa Loong and Laura Nova from Feed Me a Story who will share audio clips of vendors and shoppers from their project documenting Thanksgiving traditions in the market. We will also share how the market is supporting the local community and helping those in need during the holidays. This program is offered in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Center For Book Arts Online Art Auction

November 8 – 21, 2020| Virtual Program, New York, NY.

Laura Nova’s artwork, #18 Penne Bolognese with carrots and string beans, was a featured piece and sold at the auction.

Performance of Stair Masters

October 11, 2020| 7:00 PM | Telephone Play

Stair Masters is a telephone play performed over a Sunday evening call between a young woman and her auntie, living in separate New York City tower blocks. The conversation charts their journey with isolation, NYC life in a pandemic, and of course, what both women are cooking. In both process and performance, Stair Masters is an intergenerational collaboration with elder and teenage New Yorkers, bringing together theatre, oral history, and immersive storytelling to build bridges and create listening spaces for both intergenerational collaborators and audiences in isolation. Part of the performances at Reimagine: Creating Space Festival: October 9 – December 9.

Life Line - Art From the Futures

August 29, 2020| 2:30 - 4:30 PM | Virtual Event

Art From The Futures is a virtual event dedicated to the exploration of this new medium. For this first edition, the From the Futures team will invite 20 international artists to experiment with intimate and participatory experiences using video meeting platforms. PDF

Arte Pa’Mi Gente 2020

August 27, 2020| 11:00 - 11:00 AM | Virtual Event

Under the theme “Cultura que cura/Culture that cures” composed of various artistic mediums and workshops, the festival highlights Puerto Rican and Latin American culture and identity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers, Teatro SEA and The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center have decided to broadcast a virtual version of the festival, filled with ambitious family oriented programming

The Future We Choose

August 25, 2020| 2:00 – 3:30 PM | Virtual Event

A discussion on 2045, Convening co-lead by Laura Nova and Eve Mosher, for the Artists’ Literacies Institute and UN75 (the UN’s 100th anniversary).

Resiliency Moments: Art and Healthcare During a Time of Crisis

August 18, October 23, 30 and November 6, 13 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM | Virtual Event

Co-led by Tara Rynders,

Hear, Here! from Phipps Plaza NORC, SU-CASA 2020 Virtual Open House

June 26, 2020 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Virtual Event

This virtual Open House event is part of the 2020 SU-CASA program at Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), a day-long showcase on June 26 from 9AM to 4PM featuring the artists and older adults' work with follow along, instructional activities.

Tune-in Tuesday with Adrienne Eller and Corey Mosello

May 26, 2020 | 3:00 - 3:30 PM | Dial-in or Zoom

Dial-in for a musical concert and conversation with Broadway performers Adrienne Eller and Corey Mosello. “Tune-in Tuesday” is a weekly, 30-minute dial-in concert featuring jazz, classic guitar, fiddling, and folk songs from NYC performing artists. Call-in requests, ask questions and even sing along in the finale! Past musicians include Monet Sabel, Matt Stoke, Douglas Waterbury-Tienen, Laura Dadap, Emily Walton, Graham Forst and Pablo Helguera. Creative Coordination by Jessica Kahkoska. Led by Laura Nova, Public Artist in Residence with the NYC Department for the Aging and Su Casa artist at Phipps Plaza Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. PDF

Voices of Essex Street Market with Feed Me a Story

May 23, 2020 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Virtual Program

In celebration of Lower East Side History Month, join Turnstile Tours for a conversation with Theresa Loong, Laura Nova, and Sarah Kramer about Feed Me a Story’s video and audio documentation of Essex Market that explores what it means to be an American through questions like, “What is your favorite childhood food?” or “What was the first recipe you learned to cook?” We’ll be listening together to clips from their recently launched audio walk of the market, watching videos that feature stories and family recipes from vendors and customers alike, and inviting viewers to share the ingredients and dishes that spark their own stories and memories of family and community. PDF | FB LIVE VIDEO

Finally Friday: Joy Potluck

May 22, 2020 I 12:00 - 12:30 PM | Dial-in or Zoom

"Finally Friday" is a weekly dial-in offering conversation, interactive activities, and company with some "older" New Yorkers who will share expert advice. Essentially, what's worth knowing? This week on "Finally Friday" the members of Phipps Plaza's Naturally Occurring Retirement Community in Kips Bay will share their joy potluck. What brings you joy? Connect with these soothsayers to share your own joy potluck and get a storied prediction and play extra-AUDIOnary! PDF

Tune-in Tuesday with Garrett Bell and Emily Walton

May 19, 2020 | 3:00 - 3:30 PM | Dial-in or Zoom

Dial-in for a musical concert and conversation with singer Emily Walton and composer/storyteller Garrett Bell. “Tune-in Tuesday” is a weekly, 30-minute dial-in concert featuring jazz, classic guitar, fiddling, and folk songs from NYC performing artists. Call-in requests, ask questions and even sing along in the finale! Past musicians include Monet Sabel, Matt Stoke, Douglas Waterbury-Tienen, Laura Dadap, and Pablo Helguera. Creative Coordination by Jessica Kahkoska. Led by Laura Nova, Public Artist in Residence with the NYC Department for the Aging and Su Casa artist at Phipps Plaza Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. PDF

Finally Friday: at home fortunes told

May 15, 2020 I 12:00 - 12:30 PM | Dial-in or Zoom

"Finally Friday" is a weekly dial-in offering conversation, interactive activities, and company with some "older" New Yorkers who will share expert advice. Essentially, what's worth knowing? This week on "Finally Friday" the members of Phipps Plaza's Naturally Occurring Retirement Community in Kips Bay will share essential ingredients for the future. Gather up a belonging that has been essential during your time at home, something you can't live without, or something that you would take with you into the future. Connect with these soothsayers to share your own personal objects and get a storied prediction. What meaning does your object hold for the future? PDF

Local Voices Network Community Resiliency Conversation

May 2, 2020 |12:30 PM | Virtual Event

Working professionals discuss personal experiences with COVID-19The mission of LVN is to bring under-heard community voices, perspectives and stories to the center of a healthier public dialogue.

Reimagine: Life, Loss & Love

May 1 – July 9, 2020 | Worldwide Virtual Festival

In this unprecedented moment of illness, death, and isolation, let's come together and embrace life. Reimagine is proud to announce a worldwide virtual festival on embracing life, facing death, and loving fully in the face of COVID-19. Change makers in the arts, spirituality, healthcare, and design have come together to provide offerings that will transform our approach to life and death as we all navigate this global pandemic. PDF

Finally Friday

April 17 - May 29, 2020 | Dial-in or Zoom

"Finally Friday" is a weekly dial-in offering conversation, interactive activities, and company with some "older" New Yorkers from Phipps Plaza’s Naturally Occurring Retirement Community who will share expert advice. Essentially, what's worth knowing? PDF

Visiting Artist, Advanced Photography, Karina Aguilera Skvirsky, Lafayette College

April 15, 2020 | 5:00 - 6:00 PM | Zoom

Tune-in Tuesday

April 14 - May 26, 2020 | Dial-in or Zoom

“Tune-in Tuesday” is a weekly, 30-minute dial-in concert featuring jazz, classic guitar, fiddling, and folk songs from NYC performing artists. Call-in requests, ask questions and even sing along in the finale! Past musicians include Monet Sabel, Matt Stoke, Douglas Waterbury-Tienen, Laura Dadap, Emily Walton, Graham Forst, Adrienne Eller, Corey Mosello and Pablo Helguera. Creative Coordination by Jessica Kahkoska. Led by Laura Nova, Public Artist in Residence with the NYC Department for the Aging and Su Casa artist at Phipps Plaza Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. PDF

Visiting Artist, Photography II, Delphine Adama Fawundu, Columbia University

April 7, 2020 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Zoom

Visiting Artist, Seminar in Contemporary Art, Dannielle Tegeder, Lehman College, CUNY

March 28, 2020 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Zoom

Peace by Piece (with pie)

January 14, 2020 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | NYC Department for the Aging (map)

A creative problem solving puzzle workshop co-led with artist Sarah Jane Lapp with staff at the NYC Department for the Aging. PDF

Visiting Artist, Live Art, Jillian McDonald, Pace University

December 10, 2019 |12:00 - 1:00 PM | Pace University (map)

Hear, Here! Laura Nova receives Su Casa Residency at Phipps Plaza Naturally Occurring Retirement Community to create a variety radio show with its members.

January 1 - June 30, 2020 | Phipps Plaza NORC (map)

Laura Nova is awarded Creative Engagement Grant

January 1 - December 30, 2020

LMCC awards Laura Nova with the Creative Engagement grant to produce a storied public even showcasing older New Yorkers as Stair Masters. PDF

Feed Me A Story Launches Audio Guide of the New Essex Street Market

November 16, 2019 | 11am - 1pm | Essex Street Market, mezzanine level (map)

Join Sarah Kramer, Theresa Loong and Laura Nova as Feed Me a Story launches its audio tour celebrating the new Essex Market! Personalize a grocery tote bag with your food stories and memories - the bag is yours to keep! This event is FREE and no advanced registration necessary. |PDF| Poster

Fall Broadside Reading Series at Center for Book Arts

November 14, 2019 | 6:30 - 8:30pm | Center for Book Arts (map)

Attend the reading and receive a limited edition letterpress printed broadside of Joseph Legaspi's poem "V-Neck T-Shirt Sonnet" designed and printed by Laura Nova. With works that have appeared in POETRY, New England Review, Massachusetts Review, World Literature Today, and Best of the Net; we look forward to welcoming poet Joseph Legaspi for the second of our fall broadside reading series at Center for Book Arts. | PDF

“Spiels on Wheels” Delivers at the Art in Odd Places 2019: Invisible

October 17 - 20, 2019 | along 14th Street from Avenue C to the Hudson River

Laura Nova in collaboration with Cheryl Moch, a playwright and social worker in DFTA’s elderly crime victim resource center, deliver “Spiels on Wheels” at the Art in Odd Places along 14th Street, distributing “story boxes” that replicate actual home-delivered meals. Included in the boxes are postcards providing an invitation to write messages to homebound older New Yorkers, as well as a link to a radio drama, “Hear, Here” — that brings listeners into the lives of those regular recipients of the meals. | PDF

Count Your Steps at the Hall of Records

October 7, 2019 | 12:30 - 1:30pm | 33 Chambers Street (map)

I counted my steps at the Hall of Records was performed on Monday, October 7, from 12:30 -1:30 at 31 Chambers Street. | PDF

STEPtember: Taking Flight One Step at a Time…

September 29 - October 8, 2019 | 12:00 - 2:00 pm | NYC Department for the Aging (map)

During the month of September, over 8,000 City employees participate in STEPtember, a fun, month-long walking challenge with a goal to reach a billion steps collectively. Participants challenge themselves to increase their physical activity while meeting new co-workers and exploring NYC! At the NYC Department for the Aging, STEPtember launches on September 9th with Young at Heart Yvonne Puckett dancing through life to the tune of Motown. PAIR artist Laura Nova leads a stair workout at the halls of justice with the DFTA super heroes on September 24th and counts final steps at the Hall of Records on October 7th. FLYER | POSTER | SCORE CARD

Pride Stories

June 21, 2019 | 12:00 - 2:00 pm | 22 Reade Street (map)

The NYC Department for the Aging presents Pride Stories: What Stonewall Means to Me in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots and June Pride. Welcome remarks by Kim Hernandez, Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Active Aging and EEO Officer and by Commissioner Lorraine A. Cortés-Vázquez, followed by a program of storytellers from GRIOT Circle, Encore Community Services, Sage Harlem and readings from Jill Johnston’s chapter: FIRESTORM ON CHRISTOPHER STREET: Photographs After Stonewall and Cheryl Moch’s Cinderella: The Real True Story. Attendees are invited to reflect on pride, prompted by questions on postcards that are tied to their box lunches. The responses collected from the event and throughout the month of June are included in an exhibition at the NYC Department for the Aging. POSTCARDS | SIGN

Activ/ist exhibition at Women’s Studio Workshop

May 14 - May 31, 2019 | Women’s Studio Workshop (map)

From May 14 through the 31st, Laura Nova’s solo exhibition runs at the end of her residency funded by the Sustainable Arts Foundation. We hope you’ll join us there! PDF

Laura Nova is awarded a parent residency at Women’s Studio Workshop

January 1 - December 30, 2019

Women’s Studio Workshop awards Laura Nova a parent residency for Activ/ist exhibition. PDF

Open Studios

May 31, 6 - 9 PM and June 1, 4 - 8 PM | The Clemente (map)

Please join us for the 23rd annual building-wide Open Studios! All visual and performing art studios will open to the public, and will include FREE performance, dance, music and art. See you there! Each year the Clemente opens their doors at 107 Suffolk Street to the public for an intimate glimpse into the creative processes of over 40 visual artists, 11 performing arts organizations, and the residents of the LES Studio Program. Visit Laura Nova in studio 512 and the Clemente website for information on Clemente resident artists and a complete schedule of events. Presented in collaboration with LES History Month, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, and the Committee for Open Studios. PDF

Spring Broadside Reading Series at Center for Book Arts

May 30, 2019 | 6:30 - 8:30pm | Center for Book Arts (map)

Attend the reading and receive a limited edition letterpress printed broadside of Brenda Hillman’s poem "In Some Senses of the Word" designed and printed by Laura Nova. This is the third and final in the Spring Broadside Reading Series with Poets Marwar Helal and Brenda Hillman, Artists Keith Graham and Laura Nova. The Center’s Broadside Reading Series produces 12 limited-edition letterpress-printed broadsides each year, featuring the works from poets of diverse backgrounds. The Spring 2019 series is organized by Stephen Motika. PDF

Age is a Piece of Cake

May 22, 2019 | 1:00 pm | NYC Department for the Aging (map)

Please meet Laura Nova at the NYC Department for the Aging for an ice cream social and the launch of her Public Artist in Residence at the city agency. PDF

Book Talk: Walk Talk

April 11, 2019 | Center for Book Arts (map)

Please join Laura Nova at The Center For Book Arts for a walk and talk around the block with expert eyes and view a selection of artist books from the center’s archive. PDF

2019 Public Artist in Residence

April 5, 2019 | New York City Department of the Aging (map)

Laura Nova is proud to be part of New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Public Artists in Residence Program (PAIR) with the Department of the Aging. Nova’s PAIR collaboration with DFTA will deepen the City’s understanding of ageism and its impact on older New Yorkers. She will challenge societal misconceptions around age and discrimination embedded in language, social practices, policies, and institutions. Her creative solutions will help DFTA further its mission of eliminating ageism and ensuring the dignity and quality of life of NYC’s diverse older adults. “The Public Artists in Residence program is grounded in the recognition that our city’s artists can offer fresh insights and strategies for tackling the challenges at the heart of local government services,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. PDF

Laura Nova Selected as 2019 Artist-in-Residence at Center For Book Arts

January 1 - December 31, 2019 | Center for Book Arts (map)

Laura Nova is selected as 2019 Center For Book Arts workspace artist-in-residence. The residency offers space, time and support to explore the production and exhibition of artists’ books and related work in a year-long residency. The purpose of this program is to promote experimentation in making book art – thus artists from all disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. PDF

Feed Me A Story Receives Creative Engagement Grant

January 1, 2019

With thanks to The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, “Feed Me A Story” will produce a social engagement project in the new Essex Street Market opening TBA. PDF

Silver Sirens receives honorable mention at the 2nd Annual New York Women In Film and Television Online Shorts Festival on Go Indie TV and Roku

January 1 - February 28, 2019 | 2-6 PM | NYWIFT Short Film Festival

New York Women in Film & Television and Go Indie TV announce "Silver Sirens" as winning the Honorable Mention in the 2nd Online Annual Shorts Festival in the Documentary/Narrative/Experimental Category. "Silver Sirens" is a cheerleading squad of senior citizens that shouts about healthcare and age discrimination directed by NYWIFT Laura Nova. PDF

Feed Me A Story Performs Candy Exchange at Round Robin Trilingual Newspaper Launch

October 27th, 2018 | 2-6 PM | Seward Park Library (map)

Artist collective, Art Parley, and NYPL will be hosting a launch party event with performances, an open mic & forum, and gathering around the second issue of the Round Robin Trilingual Community Newspaper. Laura Nova is one of the featured artists to be published in the paper for her work this last summer that took place in Seward Park Library Plaza. The paper highlights themes of immigration, gentrification, and neighborhood, and cultural heritage. See you there! PDF

Westbeth Gallery Hosts Art in Odd Places Festival Exhibition

October 4-27, 2018 | Westbeth Gallery (map)

From October 4th through the 27th, the Westbeth Gallery in Chelsea will be showcasing several artists from this year’s Art in Odd Places festival including Laura Nova, whose video installation piece features The Silver Sirens. We hope you’ll join us there! PDF | Poster

The Silver Sirens perform at the Art in Odd Places Festival

October 12-14, 2018 | 3-4 PM | 14th Street Y (map)

This year’s Art in Odd Places festival is themed around notions of the body, its various forms, and how it is perceived and presented in contemporary, urban society. Come see The Silver Sirens explore and analyze this theme as they perform in front of the 14th Street Y October 12th though the 14th from 3-4 PM. PDF | Poster

Marble House Hosts 2018 “Art Seed” Event

July 28, 2018 | Dorset, Vermont

Each residency session at the Marble House culminated with an event known as ”Art Seed”, where members were able to present work in the form of open studios, readings, or performance. Take a look at the work Laura Nova presented here. | PDF

Laura Nova Invited to Participate in the 2018 Marble House Project

July 2018 | Dorset, Vermont

Laura Nova, along with over 50 other individuals, were selected as this years’ Marble House resident artists, where collaboration and sharing of ideas took place as each member pursued their artistic goals within an environmentally conscious and sustainable community | PDF

The Silver Sirens Rally Against Ageism 

June 6, 2018 | 6-8 PM | New York Society for Ethical Culture (map)

The Radical Age Movement and their allies are confronting ageism in the first ever Rally for Age Justice. Please join the Silver Sirens May 15th at Union Square Park at 4:30 for a rally against ageism. We hope to see you there! PDF PROGRAM

The Clemente: Open Studios 2018

May 17 - 18, 2018 | 6 - 9 PM | The Clemente (map)

Please join Laura Nova May 17 &18th from 6 - 9PM at the 2018 Clemente Open Studios, located at 107 Suffolk Street. All visual and performing art studios will open to the public, and will include FREE performance, dance, music and art. See you there! PDF

The Jumping Janes perform "The Power Move" at the Open Engagement Conference

May 11 - 13, 2018 | Queens Museum (map)

The Jumping Janes is proud to announce it will be performing The Power Move at the 2018 Open Engagement Conference at the Queens Museum! Open Engagement (OE) is an annual artist-led conference dedicated to expanding the dialogue around and creating a site of care for the field of socially engaged art. The conference highlights the work of transdisciplinary artists, activists, students, scholars, community members, and organizations working within the complex social issues and struggles of our time. PDF

"The Kung Fu Master" selected for Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories Series 2018

May 10, 2018 | 6:30 pm | RSVP | Museum of the Moving Image (map)

Please join us for the screening of The Kung Fu Master, selected for the 2018 Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories Series. The Kung Fu Master follows Poa Shen Wong, a 92-year-old immigrant from Hong Kong as she teaches martial arts at the Little Flower Park Basketball Court in the Lower East Side neighborhood. Screening followed by a short Q&A and reception. To attend the event please RSVP here. PDF

Feed Me A Story Featured in MIT Docubase

April 1, 2018

Laura Nova and Theresa Loong's transmedia project, Feed Me a Story, which goes on a community-based multicultural journey through food has been featured in MIT's Docubase, an interactive curated database of the people, projects, and technologies transforming documentary in the digital age. PDF

LES Citizens Parade ALL Community Rehearsals

ALL community Rehearsals for the LES Citizens Parade are now posted! The LES Citizens Parade is also proud to announce its Guest Artist Bernard Dove, Yehuda Hyman, and Margaret Yuen will be leading individual workshops with LES community members. Poster (Bernard Dove), Poster (Yehuda Hyman), Poster (Margaret Yuen)

Curating Experience as a Work of Art, College Art Association, Los Angeles

Feb 24, 2018

On Saturday Feb 24, 2018 Laura Nova will be participating in the CAA panel "Curating Experience as a Work of Art" and presented "Experience as Everyday Life" which discusses how participants can explore performance-related practices to enhance well-being in an era of unwelcome dislocation, and how active engagement can impact people’s cultural, familial, and political lives in a meaningful way. PDF

Silver Sirens Receives Creative Engagement Grant

Feb 16, 2018

With thanks to The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council the "Silver Sirens", a cheeleading squad for Adults 65+ based in Lower Manhattan, will be given the chance to produce and publish a printed field guide!

LES Citizens Parade at Seward Park

June 22 - 24, 2018 | Seward Park (map)

Join DVP's artistic director Naomi Golderberg Haas and visual artist Laura Nova with guest artists Yehuda Hyman, Bernard Dove and Margaret Yuen and neighborhood seniors creating  the LES Citizens Parade, a moving, visual, activist procession and performance created to connect the LES community in a celebratory journey that honors the experience of long-term residents and marks the opening of a new eco-park at Pier 35 on the East River. Poster (English) / Poster (Chinese) / Poster (Spanish)

Silver Sirens Cheer for Dental Hygiene

December 4 -11, 2017 | 9:30 -11am | 14th St Y (map)

Come cheer for healthy oral hygiene on Monday, December 11th at the 14th Street Y! Free oral health screenings will be provided by NYU Dental. Cheering starts at 9:30am  and Dental Screenings begin at 10:00am. The Silver Sirens, a cheerleading video, will also premiere in the lobby of the 14th Street Y! starting December 4, 2017. Poster

Silver Sirens Cheer at La Casita Verde!

November 5, 2017 | 12 -1pm | 451 Bedford Avenue (map)

Come celebrate the end of the season by cheering the runners of the NYC Marathon with the Silver Sirens at La Casita Verde. The Silver Sirens is a cheerleading squad made up of senior citizens that champion healthcare issues in public performances. They will be at La Casita Verde in Brooklyn from 12-1pm. Coffee and donuts will be served early. Music and cheering will happen throughout the day! PDF | Press Release | Poster 

Join the LES Citizens Parade

June 22, 2017 |12:00 - 2:00 pm | Seward Park Public Library (map)

In collaboration with Naomi Goldberg Haas, join us for the first activity working towards the Pier 35 Festival's LES Citizens Parade—a moving, visual, activist procession and performance created to connect community members of the Lower East Side. In this workshop participants will explore varied movement forms while using visual props. PDF

Shout with the Silver Sirens

June 11, 2017 |12:30 - 4:00 pm | 14th Street Y! (map)

Join the Silver Sirens, a senior citizen cheerleading squad, this Sunday to shout about healthcare from the rooftop of the 14th Street Y! This one time performance hopes to create community by encouraging participation between residents of New York City who care and are concerned about healthcare today. PDF

LES Citizen Parade Wins 2017 MAP Fund

May 23, 2017

The 2017 MAP Fund Grant for the development of a series of Lower East Side Performances featuring senior citizens has been awarded to the LES Citizen Parade. This project is in collaboration between choreographer Naomi Goldberg Haas and artist Laura Nova. PDF

Place Your Bid at the 2017 LMCC Art Auction

May 4, 2017 | 6 -10:30pm | Conrad New York (map)

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's 2017 Art Auction celebrates the work of established and emerging artists, many of which have participated in our residency, grants, professional development, and public programs. Proceeds support LMCC, an independent non-profit dedicated to empowering artists by providing them with resources, networks, and support to create more vibrant and sustainable communities in Lower Manhattan and beyond. PDF

Cheerleading Tryouts

April 21, 2017 | 12 -1pm

Join Artist Laura Nova and Julie Gayer Kris as they create the Silver Sirens Cheerleading Squad! Learn basic routines and create moves culminating in a choreographed cheer that will highlight what we, as a group, decide we would like to shout about! No cheerleading experience required. You do not need to attend Zumba Gold to attend the cheerleading sessions. This event is free and requires no registration! PDF

Silver Sirens Receives Creative Engagement Grant

April 12, 2017

With thanks to The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council the "Silver Sirens", a cheeleading squad for Adults 65+ based in Lower Manhattan, will be given the chance to voice their experiences and beliefs on healthcare from the roof of the 14th Street Y! in a one time participatory performance open to the public. Critical to this project is increasing the visibility of those who are often unseen and ignored by the general population, such as senior citizens. PDF

You're Invited to "Brunch" at Essex Street Market

April 9, 2017 | 12 - 2pm | Essex St. Market (map)

Brunch is the new protest!

Feed Me A Story's final performance "Brunch" will be held this Sunday at the Essex Street Market this Sunday at noon. Thank you to Artists Alliance Inc and Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space for hosting us! PDF

Studio Visit: Issues in Contemporary Art

February 18, 2017 | Essex St. Market (map)

Studio visit with Lehman College, CUNY in New York, NY to discuss issues in contemporary art on Sunday, February 18th. PDF

Vice Features 92-Year-Old Kung Fu Master

January 20, 2017

Broadly/Vice and Laura Nova sit down to discuss the development of her photo series "Six Circulations Fist" (Luk Tung Kuen) and her relationship with 92-year-old Kung Fu Master, Poa Shen. PDF

Nasty Women Unite

January 12, 2017 | 7-10pm | Knockdown Center (map)

"Nasty Women" will not be silent as their rights and the rights of others are attacked. Join us at the Knockdown Center (52-19 Flushing Avenue, Maspeth, Queens) for a group exhibition in response to the new administration and its implications. 100% of the proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood and help to protect the incredible work they do everyday. Press Release | Poster

"Eat and Run" at Hobart William Smith College

October 27, 2016 | Hobart William Smith College (map)

“Eat and Run” will be hosted at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. This event is designed to help students learn how a multidisciplinary art practice can tackle real-world problems, particularly through the lense of consumption, cardio and comedy. PDF

Feed Me A Story At Essex Street Market

May 21, 2016 | Opening reception: Saturday from 1 - 3 pm (map)

The next installment of Feed Me a Story will open at the Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space in The Essex Street Market, during the Essex Street Market Block Party! You can find us located across from Luis' Meat Market. Come listen to the stories we've collected! PDF | Press Release

2016 LMCC President's Award in Visual Art

May 6, 2016 | 6 -10:30pm | Conrad New York (map)

Laura Nova received the President's award in visual arts at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Downtown Dinner. She was honored to be in the presence of the other awardees Frank Sciame and Laurie Anderson for their leadership and inspiring contributions to our community. I am grateful for the continued support of the LMCC. PDF

Moving Stories Opens at Manny Cantor

December 13, 2016 | 12:30 - 2pm | Manny Cantor (map)

We are pleased to invite you to the opening of Moving Stories this December 15th at The Weinberg Center for Balanced Living in The Manny Cantor Center. Come explore the documentation of these story based, senior led walking tours, and discover the unseen history of the Lower East Side. PDF | Press Release | Poster 

Moving Stories Receives Creative Engagement Grant

January 1 - December 30, 2016

LMCC awards Laura Nova with the Creative Engagement grant to create the online platform and public exhibition of Moving Stories. This interactive walking tour will showcase the personal stories of the senior tour guides of the Lower East Side in an exhibition at the Educational Alliance. PDF