Hidden Talents

Everyone has a hidden talent. In fact, to the surprise of their students, many BMCC faculty members and staffers have a wonderfully artistic hidden talent.

BMCC educators and staffers do much more than just lecture, answer phones and assign homework—outside of the classroom and office, they sing, they take pictures, they dance, they draw…and recently, they had a chance to tap into their “left-brain” and showcase their hidden talents at Creative Arts and Crafts Day held recently in Richard Harris Terrace.

The event was sponsored by the Teaching Learning Center (TLC) and co-chaired by committee members Zhanna Yablokova, assistant professor of the English department and Simon Carr, associate professor of the Music and Art department.

More than 150 members of the BMCC community stopped by the afternoon event to scope out the talent.

On one side of the room, tables displayed framed artwork, needlepoint, sketches, photographs and more, created by BMCC staffers.

On the other side of the room, chairs were arranged so an audience could watch musical performances, slideshows, digital performances and more.

Who knew?

Eva Kolbusz-Kijne, Co-Director of the TLC, gave some opening remarks at the event. “We are very excited to find out new things about our colleagues, especially on the creative side,” she said.

Simon Carr echoed her sentiments, saying that Creative Arts and Crafts Day, held every two years on campus, “gives us an opportunity to look at the names of people we work with and learn about all the secret things they do.”

More than 25 BMCC staff and faculty members presented their hidden talents. In order to generate some “buzz” for the event, and to gather the participants, Co-chair Zhanna Yablokova spread the word by contacting faculty department chairs, advertising on the BMCC Web site and sending out emails.

Initially, Creative Arts and Crafts Day just showcased works from members of the Visual and Media Arts department. This year, the committee opened the event up to the entire college.

“This event gives us an opportunity to know more about the college from a different perspective,” said Yablokova.

It’s…showtime

Professor Hilario Barrero of the Modern Languages department is more than just a poet—he’s also an illustrator. At the event, he brought in some colorful pictures he drew with pastels, arranging them neatly on a table.

“I wear a lot of artist hats,” he said. “I draw so much and have so many drawings around my home my family said, ‘No more! Don’t put up anymore pictures!’”

One of Barrero’s illustrations was of a colorful “comedy” clown mask. “This is one of my favorites because it reminds me of myself—kind of a joker; a clown,” he said.

When asked if his BMCC students knew about his passion for drawing, he laughed and replied, “Yes! Oh, yes.”

The program opened with a musical performance. Howard Meltzer, Joyce Moorman—both of the Music and Arts department—and David Waldman of the Science department, performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Barcarolle Op. 11. No I on the piano and trumpet, respectively.

Page Delano of the English department and Margaret Carson of Modern Languages read poetry, and Music and Arts adjunct professor Dikko Faust highlighted his talent for “Trombone Painting.”

Faust placed a paintbrush at the end of his trombone, playing the instrument while painting against a large wooden board.

“The trombone is like a third arm with joints—it’s one of the few instruments you could possibly do this with,” he explained.

Tribeca PAC joined in the fun

Members of BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (Tribeca PAC) were also invited to showcase their hidden talents at Creative Arts Day. Tribeca PAC’s Program Director Mario Giacalone sung songs he wrote about the recession—and even healthcare!—while strumming a guitar.

Announcing to the audience it was his birthday, Giacalone performed a song he wrote cleverly titled, “The Old Man Song.”

The rest of the afternoon consisted of dramatic readings, piano playing, photography slideshows, flamenco dancing and much more.

Faculty is “unbelievably creative”

Michael Gillespie, Dean of Academic Affairs at BMCC, who spoke at Creative Arts and Crafts Day, called the BMCC faculty and staff, “unbelievably creative.”

“Lately, it just seems like there is a creative explosion at BMCC,” he said, after reciting a quote about creativity by John Lennon. “I work with a large group of people who are talented, and it’s evident that these talents spill into their classrooms.”