Fourth Arts Block Presents 'Small Voices' Series Beginning May 4

Fourth Arts Block (FAB) will present "Small Voices" by young artists from Community Word Project (CWP). Part of FAB's ArtUp program, the exhibit will display excerpts from poems and murals on six panels mounted on the scaffolding bridge at the 70 East 4th Street Cultural Center. Whole Foods Market Bowery will host an opening reception on May 4 from 6-8pm, which is free and open to the public. The opening will include performances by young poets and an informal collaborative poetry workshop.

"Small Voices" is the first ArtUp exhibition that displays the work of bi-lingual student artists, connecting the exhibit to the East Village's rich Latino artistic heritage. Starting with small communities - a classroom, a block - CWP and FAB are using the power of art to bring children's imagination and dreams to the attention of the greater world.

CWP is a New York City based arts-in-education organization founded in 1997 that seeks to increase the literacy and leadership of at-risk public school youth by integrating creative expression and community-building into their classroom curricula. In the current school year, more than 1,100 children are participating in CWP collaborative arts residencies, bringing their ideas to life, learning to work as a team, and developing the skills they must have to succeed in school and in life.

FAB is working to improve and promote the East 4th Street Cultural District as a center for creative diversity and experimentation. With the renovation of almost 100,000 square feet of arts space, ArtUp is helping to transform unsightly scaffolding into a space for public art and a forum for artistic exchange. ArtUp is generously supported by the 70 East 4th Street Cultural Center, future home of Downtown Art and Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance.

FAB is working with ArtForward to produce this public art program. ArtForward facilitates collaborations within the art community and businesses and organizations outside the visual arts. This exhibit is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Generous support for the exhibit and reception has also been provided by Whole Foods Market and the New York Community Trust/LuEsther T. Mertz Advised Fund.

"Small Voices" is on view at the 70 East 4th Street Cultural Center, the future home of Downtown Art and Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company.

For more information visit http://www.fabnyc.org/index.php