MY FIRST TIME DOING KARAOKE

The song "California Girls" by The Beach Boys is pretty sexist, but I had fun singing it with my husband Mike Sorgatz last Friday in front of a group of people.

We had zipped through a little Red Hook Gallery exhibit and wanted a bite to eat.  "How about Hope and Anchor?" I suggested.  It was a small, fun, neighborhood-y diner-like joint in Red Hook with super decent prices and stuff we normally do not have at home.  (Mac 'n' cheese fritters, anyone? Definitely a sometimes treat!)

We sat down to order, and eventually a family with two young daughters came in.  They both looked super excited to be there, and they were definitely there on a mission.  That mission was to sing as many songs as they could on Karaoke Night.

 Every Friday and Saturday evening, the owner Pete gets into drag, hands out huge books with thousands of song choices, and tells folks who want to sing to write down the name and number of the song on a post-it before handing it to him.

Pete - a/k/a Stella Dora - is a great host.  S/he has a great sense of humor and a pleasant singing voice, but lets the guest singers shine, too.  The two aforementioned sisters, around 12 and 7, sang about 8 songs together.  Some of the wait staff sang, and one young man boisterously belted out the theme song to Sesame Street. I couldn't help but high-five him when he was done; his enthusiasm was contagious!   The songs ranged from Daft Punk's "Lucky" to Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife" to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'".   Ah, memories!

I was one of those children who was always making up songs, dances, plays, musicals, and radio shows, so karaoke was right up my alley.  It was so great  to sit there and sing along to songs from a variety of decades.  And even more fun to do it in a small and cozy neighborhood setting with an expert host.

Was I nervous getting up in front of the group?  Yes!  But no one cared what your voice sounded like.  It was all about fun and participation.

We will definitely be back!

YOU ARE INVITED: OPENING RECEPTION FOR MIKE SORGATZ SOLO SHOW "SIX BRIDGES" THIS FRIDAY AT URBAN FOLK ART GALLERY 7-10 PM

Six Bridges at Urban Folk Art Gallery - Work in Progress

Six Bridges at Urban Folk Art Gallery Believe it or not spring is almost here and so is Mike Sorgatz's new solo art exhibit at Urban Folk Art Gallery. Mike will be showing a combination of paintings and prints - including a series of six paintings of the Brooklyn Bridge.    You can view the event page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1426904957556186/ Hope to see you there! Opening Reception March 21st from 7-10pm 101 Smith Street, Brooklyn http://www.urbanfolkart.com/

SEE YOU THIS SUNDAY AT 4 PM AT MMMM...I WANT TO EAT THAT ART!

I am psyched to announce that the pie paintings of Mike Sorgatz, my husband and curator of Art In Brooklyn, will be featured in MMmm...I Want to Eat That Art.

The venue for this Sunday's art reception is part of Rush Arts Gallery, a nonprofit arts organization run by Danny Simmons, Russell Simmons' brother.

Hope to see you there! Here's the info:


MMmm...I Want to Eat that Art

Opening Reception: Sunday March 27th from 4-6 pm.

Corridor Gallery, 334 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11238


On view at Corridor Gallery from March 25th to May 21st 2011 is a collection of delicious works of by Robin Antar, Lisa Diller, Edie Nadelhaft, Douglas Newton, Michael Sorgatz, and Tony Toscani. This works were created using a range of media including carved marble, pastel, and oil painting. Each artist draws from a different inspiration within similar subjects.

Robin Antar is commenting on the current packaging and production of food items in relation to Contemporary Pop Art. By making these temporary edible forms into permanent forms carved from stone.

Lisa Diller’s subject is the works of art that are delicately constructed by French pastry chefs, documented in a Thiebaud style of composition. The luscious colors of fresh confections and honey glazes are documented the same way French Masters explored the plein aire traditions.

Edie Nadelhaft is fascinated by the ideas of magnification and the sense of taste that can be derived through observations of the mouth. Her cherry biter series explores the way luscious cherries are sensuously devoured.

Douglas Newton has been exploring the compositions of food items for some time. He finds delight in the reflective wrappings of candy and rises to the challenge of painting the nuances coming together.

Michael Sorgatz started painting pies for a school fundraiser pie social. The explorations reminded him of family ties to his grandmother’s farm life. The comfort and nostalgia is translated though visceral acrylic paint on canvas.

Tony Toscani finds solace and comfort in dining at diners. The relaxed atmosphere brings him heart-felt conversations enjoyed over edible sustenance. Toscani’s paintings document the table and the piles of food as seen in A Hungry Mans Breakfast.

PAINTER MICHAEL SORGATZ MAKES PARK SLOPE 100 LIST

Painter and Brooklyn blogger Michael Sorgatz deservedly made the Park Slope 100, "an annual list of 100 people, places and things that make Park Slope Park Slope. 100 Stories, 100 ways of looking at the world."

Here's what Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn had so say about Mr. Sorgatz:

Michael Sorgatz because your site "Art in Brooklyn" promotes the work of local artists, and that’s a positive and generous thing to do (especially in these times). You are also a talented artist in your own right and a really great guy.

RED HORSE CAFE

This is Brent, one of the owners of The Red Horse Cafe.

Since June of 2006, he and his wife, Carolina, have been running this low-key, homey Park Slope hangout. Their joint features coffee, espresso, a wide assortment of teas, pastries and bagels, sandwiches, soups, Dub pies and more.

Red Horse features movie screenings, art showings, and live music by local talent.

Matter of fact, Mike Sorgatz will be showing his paintings there in April. His art reception takes place on Saturday, April 18th so mark your calendars!

Red Horse Cafe
497 6th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 499-4973

PAINTING FOR SALE: UNION SQUARE FARMERS MARKET

Union Square Farmers Market

Acrylic on Canvas, 16"x20"

$500

For more paintings by Michael Sorgatz: http://www.michaelsorgatz.com/

WISE WORDS FROM PAUL HAGEN

"If something lives inside you - be it fashion, music, words or pictures - what's ultimately more important than whether you are able to sell it is whether you choose to share it."

-- Paul Hagen, Editor-In-Chief of Metrosource Magazine, Aug/Sept 2008 Issue

Photograph by Michael Sorgatz

SOME INTERESTING EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY-BUILDING

It Takes a Village to Raise an Artist
Painter Mike Sorgatz has started an online community of artists in Brooklyn.
At http://www.artinbrooklyn.com/, Mike is creating an online gallery showcasing the work of Brooklyn Artists.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Neighborhood
Petra Symister, creator of Bed-Stuy Blog, uses words and images to highlight goings on in her neighborhood in terms of real estate, local business, politics, transportation, and the art and culture scene. One of Petra’s neighbors is now contributing a regular feature on the blog called Meet Your Neighbors. For the record: People have moved to Bed-Stuy because of what they’ve read on Petra’s blog.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Family
My friend Susan was asked to be the Social Action Committee Chair at her synagogue. She now pulls together synagogue members (many of them elderly adults) and her own family members, including a teen and pre-teen, to do all sorts of projects. Now, her children have a whole slew of other adults who care about and watch over them.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Community Garden
In 1986, Lily Yeh collaborated with the residents of an underserved North Philadelphia neighborhood to build a community park. Her Village of Arts and Humanities has grown since then to encompass several parks, gardens, a community center and regular performances and events. (Portrait of Lily above by Rob Shetterly, creator of Americans Who Tell the Truth.)

It Takes a Village to Raise a Grocery Store
At the Park Slope Food Coop, more than 10,000 members take turns working at jobs there so that all of us can buy locally-grown, pesticide-free or minimally treated produce; pasture-raised and grass-fed meat; free-range, organic and kosher poultry; fair-traded chocolate and coffee; wild and sustainably farmed fish; supplements and vitamins; imported and artisan cheese; freshly baked bread; bulk grains and spices; environmentally safe cleaning supplies for 20-40% less than we’d spend in a regular grocery store.

SOME SPRING INSPIRATION

If you've fallen off the wagon

can't get up from the couch

If living has lost its zing

and the simple thing comes hard

Remember the shift from one season to the next

the interlude when animals shed their coats

leaving tufts of fur

caught in the yet dry weeds

when the birds are spending their last reserves

flying to warmer climes

when the turtle and frog stir

in their muddy dens but wait

for the ice to ease

These cold winds bring advance news

here and there we hear the home birds

sing a different song

the light strikes with new vigor

Ease out of your rut: get to bed a little early

rise and greet the sun

or bike to a point and watch it set

get somewhere you haven't been:

a few blocks away

talk to a stranger about deep things

stop, breathe and listen

to the beat of your own heart

- Written by Myra Klockenbrink, reprinted from The Linewater Gazette

- Painting by Mike Sorgatz