Foundation honors two artistic groups in Ridgewood for their contributions
Aimee La Fountain, Correspondent, The Ridgewood News,
Ridgewood Arts Foundation honors Michael Parloff and Parlance Chamber Concerts, as well as Art of Motion for their contributions to the Arts of Ridgewood, at Fish Urban Dining on Jan. 29.
Gregory Farrell, Margie Downs, Albert Pucciarelli, Linda Bradley, Michael Parloff, Inmo Parloff and members of Parlance Board.
Parlance Chamber Concerts and Art of Motion were recognized for their artistic contributions to the village at the first annual Ridgewood Arts Foundation Honors night, which was held on Jan. 29.
The purpose of the foundation is to raise awareness of and provide financial assistance to artistic programs in the village.
“We seek to support the most outstanding artistic endeavors in the Village of Ridgewood, including those that may not be widely known,” said Albert Pucciarelli, president of the Ridgewood Arts Foundation.
All of the current trustees have served on the Ridgewood Arts Council.
“We feel that just as there are foundations for sports, the library and education, artistic endeavors are also worthy of support,” Pucciarelli said. “In Ridgewood, we have so much interest in the quality of life. Our view is that art is one of the great pillars of a rewarding life.”
Host Albert Puccciarelli, president of the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, introduced the trustees to the audience . Left to right Albert Pucciarelli, Linda Bradley, Margie Downs and Gregory Farrell (not shown)
Pucciarelli hosted the event, which drew around 50 guests. He opened the evening by acknowledging those in attendance, including members of the Board of Education, council members and former mayor Paul Aronsohn.
“The notion of a suburban wasteland is put to rest when you realize how much really great art is available in our community,” Pucciarelli said. “Art adds a dimension to life that’s so enhancing and uplifting.”
The crowd listens to the speeches and presentations.
Art of Motion, Inc. is a non-profit professional studio school and home to the Art of Motion Dance Theatre. “Our philosophy focuses on developing range of movement and the expressiveness of each student,” said Lynn Needle, founder/artistic director. “We always believe we have a class to offer anyone who may walk through the door.”
Needle spoke of the studio’s history in Ridgewood and said, “We deliberately didn’t want to name the studio after ourselves. By naming it Art of Motion, we wanted to have lasting fortuity. Our goal is for it to last after we’re gone, as long as Ridgewood embraces it. It’s a gift to the Ridgewood community.”
Lynn Needle, Founder/Artistic Director of Art of Motion Dance Theatre, or Art of Motion, Inc. a conservatory and home to the AOMDT, makes a presentation.
Art of Motion’s other founder/artistic director, Olivia Galgano, mentioned the meaningfulness of the event falling on her birthday. “We’ve been here for 14 years, so it’s very nice to be recognized. We’re very touched,” she said. “We try very hard to bring the arts to Ridgewood.”
Needle gave a presentation that highlighted some of the venues where Art of Motion’s dancers have performed, including Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress and Bergen Community College.
Explaining why Art of Motion was chosen as an honoree, Pucciarelli said, “Art of Motion is a widely recognized dance studio school in Ridgewood exploring the body and mind as a creative instrument.”
“Students always come back because it’s been a home for them," Galgano said. "It’s not a competitive environment, it’s for the love of having students grow their appreciation of dance. People remember our studio with such good feelings.”
The ceremony coincided with the Parlance Chamber Concerts' 10th year in existence.
“It’s certainly an honor to be featured in the Ridgewood Arts Foundation’s inaugural event,” said Michael Parloff, artistic director for Parlance Chamber Concerts. “This event corresponds well with the history of our organization as it takes place during our celebratory 10th anniversary season.”
Parloff is a flutist who played with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 30 years. The concept of the Parlance Chamber Concerts stemmed from gatherings that he and his wife Inmo Parloff hosted at their home.
“My idea was to do what I could to break down the perceived barriers that so many people feel stand between them and the full enjoyment of classical music,” he said. “We thought it’d be worthwhile to expand the experience of informality and intimacy to a community-wide setting.”
The concerts, which primarily feature classical and jazz music, are held at the West Side Presbyterian Church. Previous performers have included soprano Susanna Phillips, flutist Sir James Galway and the Emerson String Quartet.
Parlance Chamber Concerts place a priority on ensuring that the concerts are accessible to everyone.
“Attending the performance is convenient, parking is free and tickets are reasonable,” Pucciarelli said. “You can sit within 20 feet of these performers, which you wouldn’t be able to do at the Met. This is world class art within our midst.”
The name Parlance Chamber Concerts is a reference to Parloff and his role as host. “During our concerts, I introduce the performers and tell the audience members a bit about the composers and how they came to write the music that’ll be heard,” he said.
Parloff addressed the importance of arts funding.
“The Ridgewood Arts Foundation’s mission is vitally important,” he said. “We live in a time when people who love the arts and believe in arts education often find themselves in the position of having to justify their passions. It’s gratifying to have a grassroots arts foundation here in Ridgewood that’s focusing directly on these issues.”
Each honoree received an engraved glass vase. A local artist, Sasha Robinson, contributed a painting of East Ridgewood Avenue to the foundation’s silent auction.
To learn more about these organizations, visit their websites: ridgewoodartsfoundation.org; parlancechamberconcerts.org; and artofmotion.org.