The upstairs of the Bronx Museum of Art was comparably bare to the vibrant bodies that skated around, hastily attempting to make the best out of an otherwise janky projector.
I was worried about the quality of their presentation, as the struggle to get the projector working properly was stretching into twenty minutes past the supposed start of the event. However, at the moment Decota took the mic, the entire BN team’s confidence was noticeably heightened. The technological faults failed to overshadow the spirit of every member who chose to speak. Kayla Smith shared a spoken word piece live, meticulously detailing the sensory experiences that adhere to life in the Bronx.
Dondre expressed the passion he has for rekindling a love for the city amongst Bronx residents, not without understanding the source of disinterest. This ideology is centric to the goal of Bronx Narratives, to help residents fall in love with their city, which they’ve been steered away from by society’s influences. The site offers a variety of mediums through which natives and residents can express their emotions in regards to the city.
In terms of mission, I can’t argue with what Bronx Narratives is doing. As a resident of Yonkers, I can sympathize with having one’s city overlooked for not being hip enough, a.k.a. not having enough money. However I feel as though the meeting in the museum could’ve benefited from a more interactive environment. I understand the impetus was to spread awareness of Bronx Narratives, but the willingness of the audience to participate with personal narratives during the QnA segment suggests the people present would’ve been open to sharing more overtly. I’d love to see BN hold a workshop, or something of the like.
https://vimeo.com/106185498
