Public Speaking Online: A Practical Workshop | Episode 72

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

Does public speaking make you nervous? Are you developing video content but unsure how to speak to a camera? Does presenting to colleagues and clients through virtual meeting platforms feel like talking to a blank wall? In this online workshop with guide, actor, and public speaking coach Doug Chapman, we will teach practical skills to help you gain ease and comfort communicating in virtual settings. We will address both technical issues like lighting and camera set-up as well as vocal and performance techniques gathered from Doug’s ten years of experience helping hundreds of corporate and creative clients improve their communication skills.

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The Carousels of Brooklyn | Episode 69

A close-up of a carved black stallion with lolling tongue and wind-blown mane at the Prospect Park Carousel

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

From Coney Island to DUMBO, this virtual program will look at Brooklyn’s surviving historic carousels. We will delve into the history of the art form of carousel design, discuss Brooklyn’s own unique style of carousels, and we will have a special focus on the 1912 carousel in Prospect Park, created by master carver Charles Carmel, and the restoration work done to this masterpiece of carousel design over the years.

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Chaos and Control: On Painting and Toys with Paul Campbell | Episode 67

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

Brooklyn Navy Yard-based artist Paul Campbell started to experiment with painting with his children’s toys in 1998 and has since explored the tension and balance between chaos and control. His abstract paintings that start with unpredictable patterns on the canvas created by the movements of toys, including remote control cars, tiny motorcycles, and koosh balls. Paul will share his work from his recent exhibitions in Wuhan, China and Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island, and share techniques for how people can draw inspiration from his creative process and use toys and other household objects to create their own paintings at home.

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Inside Industry: Jewelry Maker Carrie Bilbo | Episode 62

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

Inspired by travel and her Kentucky roots, Brooklyn Navy Yard-based jewelry maker Carrie Bilbo creates collections combine inspiration from the natural world with carefully-crafted porcelains and precious metals. On this virtual program, Carrie will showcase her work and creative process, discuss building her business, and share some of her newest work, including custom-made pieces and her sister brand Sweet Caroline Wedding Adornment. A graduate of nearby Pratt Institute, Carrie launched her company in 2010, and her work has since appeared in magazines, fashion runways, movies and TV shows, and on celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg and Isabelle Fuhrman.

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Knot Tying 101 with Frank Hanavan | Episode 61

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

Knots and ropework have held civilization together for millennia. While they can seem arcane in a world of zippers and zip ties, knotted rope remains an adaptable and resilient technology. Join artist and ship modeler Frank Hanavan for some history of rope and knots and learn to do a few knots you may find really useful in daily life.

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Up Close and Personal with Food Photographer Clay Williams | Episode 51

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

Get a snapshot of the life of a food photographer. Brooklynite Clay Williams will join us to discuss his experience working on cookbooks, at the James Beard Foundation, on projects for the New York Times, and being the official food photographer of the Vendy Awards. In addition to sharing his stories and mouth-watering photos, he’ll give us some tips on how to get great food photos from our phones for Instagram or just your own personal memories.

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Art of Street Vending: From Colonial New York to the New Deal | Virtual Program

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

In this virtual program, Turnstile Tours founder Cindy VandenBosch examines how children’s books, novels, paintings, and postcards have depicted New York City’s street vendors, and the foods and merchandise they sell over time. From hot corn and baked pears to knishes and sweet potatoes, she will dive into vendor stories depicted in works including the 1808 book “Cries of New York,” documentation from the Works Progress Administration, and images by William Chappel (pictured), Lou Barlow, and Raymond Ewer, among others.

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Places New Yorkers Love: In Conversation with Author and Artist John Tebeau | Episode 48

PAST PROGRAM | Virtual Programs

Join our conversation with artist and author John Tebeau, who’s book “Bars, Taverns, and Dives New Yorkers Love” features beautiful portraits and loving tributes to some of the best gathering places in neighborhoods across this great city. John will share his artwork and his favorite neighborhood spots that bring people together, and we will invite everyone to share their favorite place that they’re missing during this time of pandemic.

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