Peg Johnston mines her family’s archives for images of Binghamton to create a narrative about the city’s evolution in the last half century. “Binghamton has gone through major changes, losing a significant part of our downtown and half of our population.
Binghamton: A Photographic Memoir by Peg Johnston Read More »
BINGHAMTON, NY — The Binghamton University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will offer a small business start-up training program at 222 Water St. in downtown Binghamton.
Over three consecutive Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8 and 15, participants will learn the tricks of the trade from professionals on how to assess, plan and start a business. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
Participants will discover how to predict business success, how to finance and market products and services, and how to comply with government regulations.
For a class program and to enroll, contact Ginny Thompson at the SBDC at (607) 777-4026, or e-mail Thompson@binghamton.edu. Class size is limited.
Binghamton University offers business start-up training program Read More »
The Cooperative Gallery 213 is known for breaking ground in the local art scene and the current show "Off the Wall" continues that tradition. The theme is taking art "off the wall" literally and figuratively, and the curators found a theme of "environmental art" among the 30 artists who submitted works. Most directly addressing environmental problems is Peg Johnston and Shawna Stevenson's "The Waterfall: Plastic is Forever" which is made of many hundreds of cut up water bottles to form an inside/outside "waterfall." Inspired by the work of North Carolina environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck, the piece makes the point that our dependence on plastic rather than more sustainable drinking containers is polluting the Earth. "We in the USA create more waste by far than any other country in the world," said Peg Johnston, "Art installations like this may help us raise awareness about our own impact on the environment."
Don Sharpe's delightful sculptures of found objects also use waste to create art. Sharpe finds discarded objects in his walks along the river and uses them to create fantastical creatures or elaborate tableaux such as "Mouse Trap", a re-creation of the Rube Goldberg type children's game. He has several sculptures in the show worth a visit to "Off the Wall."
Aubrey Clark and Irene Lawson also created decorative fish and birds out of scrap materials such as coat hangers, credit cards, plastic bags and scraps of fabric. Fish extended the water theme with Judy Salton's giant fish made of chicken wire and John Thomson's delicate balsa wood fish/bird hanging from the ceiling.
The artists will speak about their art and the artists that have inspired them. "Found objects and environmental art, have been used by artists since the beginning of the 20th century," commented Judy Salton, "and we will explore those antecedents at Third Thursday, July 17th at 7 pm. There is no entrance fee to the program at the Cooperative Gallery 213 State St Binghamton.
For more photos, go to Facebook.com/cooperativegallery213.
The Art and the Environment in Environmental Art Read More »
Dear Readers,
Thank you for your continued subscription to the binghamton bridge. the bridge has been a community publication for over 6 years, and has recently begun a revitalization effort to increase awareness of this resource. If you are interested in more detail, please read Peg Johnston’s article about these recent efforts to make the binghamton bridge website easier to read, access, and contribute to. (https://binghamtonbridge.org/binghamton-bridge-celebrates-six-years-revitalization-now-progress)
The current list-serv service that is used to send the weekly e-newsletters is no longer technically supported, and it has become increasingly difficult to use the service. With that said, we will be upgrading our list-serv capabilities with Constant Contact. We ask that you confirm your subscription by signing up for the e-newsletter with this form: http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=pjztkndab&p=oi&m=1103180195119&sit=cl9kwo6eb&f=91fcbaf4-722f-4784-8388-e6ec79bcdb3a or click the link on binghamtonbridge.org under “weekly newsletter and calendar” on the right side of the homepage.
Please note that the IMC-binghamton listservs will no longer be functional. Please update your address book and send announcements to binghamtonbridgeATgmailDOTcom. Or better yet, upload events, articles, and images yourself to the site!
Thank You for Your Continued Interest in Our Community!
**Please Click Here To Donate to The Bridge, made possible by the Center for Gender, Art and Culture (CGAC)**
Any donation helps support these ongoing efforts in providing accessible local community media.
If you have any questions or comments about these updates, please contact us directly at binghamtonbridgeATgmailDOTcom.
New Updates to the bridge, e-Newsletter Read More »
The Happiness Project posts vintage photographs on abandoned buildings in Binghamton and there is now a new edition. Susan, a local artist, found photos of her father as a boy and the two new posters will appear around town. This one is on Lewis St. Can you find it?
New Edition of Happiness Project Read More »
Kady Perry has posted the following query:
I am writing to you to include you on a small project I am working on to document the history of murals in Binghamton/Broome County. I am asking for the who, what, where, when, why and how of your mural project(s) in an effort to build on the rich history of murals in Binghamton. Please see attached. The information that you provide will be included in the timeline that is being created. I will be adding this information to mural publications for the Greater Binghamton area and national websites.
As you may know I entered the scene in 2008, when I conducted research at BU on space and place making. I painted my first mural that year, launched a creative collective in 2010 (QuarterYellow), helped organize 4 mural projects in 2011, started to manage a gallery in 2012 and then helped to launch the Dept of Public Art (DPA) in 2013. In 2014 the community worked to pass ordinance RL-13-193 establishing an advisory board for public art. In addition, this year I am working with the Director of the Philly Mural Arts program to build up the DPA, am managing 4 public art projects in downtown Binghamton, partnering with reBOLD Binghamotn to have a May Mural Arts Festival, hosting a mural jam in August and will be teaching ARTS 230 Producing Public Murals this June at BCC. In 2015 I hope to launch a mural arts company with my partner Bruce Greig.
I am not fully aware of past projects and find it very important to include information on them. Also, please let me know if you are engaged in any future projects, so that they can be documented as well. QuarterYellow@gmail.com.
Looking for Mural History in Binghamton Read More »
Six years ago this month in 2009, the website binghamtonbridge.org was created by Stephen Schweitzer and Peg Johnston as a news site and calendar for the local progressive community. The newspaper called the bridge had been published for 3 or 4 years prior to that with decreasing frequency. Known for excellent political analysis and local coverage of progressive issues, the bridge finally could not afford the high cost of printing a newspaper.
Both venues were part of the Binghamton Independent Media Center, which is part of a global network of IMC’s. In some places, where freedom of speech is limited, the IMC’s are the only places where it is possible to speak out and organize.
Articles have been posted continuously on the bridge and a calendar has been sent out every week for all six years of its existence. Sometimes the bridge has been critical in getting the word out: when City Hall installed a digital “Cost of War” clock and critics dominated the mainstream media coverage, progressives were able to read posts from those who opposed the Iraq War. Another example was when Michael Libous, Senator Libous’ nephew, wrote an open letter about gay marriage. The Press would not print it, but when posted on the binghamton bridge site it became an issue that was covered by the media.
In the past two months, Peg Johnston and Shawna Stevenson have spearheaded a revitalization of the site. “It is our vision to have a place where progressives can communicate in an in-depth way about their activities and ideas,” said Johnston. “Grassroots activists can broaden their reach and deepen people’s understanding of their issues.” So far, Stevenson has changed the look of the site with a new banner of the many bridges in Binghamton, made the site more user friendly, and sorted out numerous technical issues. She has also streamlined the weekly e-calendar/newsletter to be more readable.
Next, the pair plan to recruit more “community reporters” to keep up the current rate of posts. Posting articles on the site can provide the “back story” for local organizing and provide history, background, national significance, as well as local initiatives. This is useful for folks who are not conversant in an issue, but want to understand it or possibly get involved. Groups can also advertise events and campaigns. Once an article is posted, a link or url is generated that can be shared with contacts via Facebook, Twitter, emails, or other outlets. These articles will last for years and can be found with the new search function on the site. “We want to build community through communication,” said Stevenson, “and help local projects increase their exposure.”
Registration to post on the bridge is simple with a valid email address, and posting articles and events easy to figure out. Click on the newsletter link on the right hand side of the site to sign up for the weekly e-calendar/newsletter. The site is managed by the Center for Gender, Art, and Culture, an umbrella organization for progressive projects. Donations are most welcome!
Binghamton Bridge Celebrates Six Years: Revitalization Now In Progress Read More »
from imc-Rochester
Hancock 17 Drone War Crimes Resisters to Continue
The first day of the trial of the Hancock 17 Drone War Crime Resisters began Friday, January 3 to a packed courtroom of over 75 supporters.and ended just after midnight early Saturday morning, January 4. The trial continues Monday, January 6 at 5 pm at the Town of Dewitt Court, 5400 Butternut Drive, East Syracuse, NY.
The first day included powerful opening statements for the group by Ed Kinane and Clare Grady, which began with a moment of silence for people killed by drone attacks. Ed powerfully stated that the defense was the convergence of two paths – the paths of legalism and of justice and conscience – and that the activists came not to break laws, but to uphold International Law.
Hancock 17 Drone War Crimes Resisters Read More »
Judges Kirk and Lesli Van Zandbergen were so impressed with the entries to the Bob Johnston Photography Competition that they found it hard to choose. So they awarded a Best of Show, 4 Judge’s Choice, and 19 Honorable Mentions. The winning photo is “Long Way Down” by Bill Baburchak. The two Judge’s Choice awards in Black & White go to “Notes on Hard Times” (pictured) by Nancy Basmann and “Southern Belle” by Sandra Kirker. Judge’s Choice awards in Color Photography go to “Tree of Life” by Mike Ricciardi and “Caught It” by Barry Biddle.
The Bob Johnston Photography Competition runs from January 3th to January 18th, 2014 when the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the Closing Reception. Visitors to the Show will be able to vote for their favorite photo among the 110 entries. Forty seven photographers entered this competition, “which is a sign of how many quality photographers there are in the area,” according to William Bay, of the Two Rivers Photo Club which is co-sponsoring the event with the Cooperative Gallery 213 State St in Binghamton.
The Honorable Mention Awards go to the following photos: “Awakening” by Fred Schum; “In the Eyes of Storm” by Scott Michael Anderson; “All Alone” by John Mullen; “Peaceful Bird” by Jeanne Van Buren; “Rooftops of Prague” by John Rehak; “Death of an Oak Leaf” by Dan Harendza; “Anxiety’s Sunrise” by Scott M. Anderson; “Stairwell of the Press Building” by Bill Bay; “Flaming Hair” by Karissa Salton; “In the Garden” by Mary Lou Shapinas; “Clarity” by Troy Townsend; “Golden” by Sandra Kirker; “White Birch Dreams” by John Mullen; “Untitled” by John Fabiano; “Hip Hop Man” by Nancy Basmann; “Park at Your Own Risk” by Debra Rockefeller; “The Gatekeeper” by Pete Kofira; “Eye of the Beholder” by Bernice Lewis; “The Wonder of the Sea” Fr. Jim Dutko.
Photography Contest Winners Announced Read More »
Today, the Center for Technology & Innovation honors Robert B. Garner, IBM Almaden Research Center, and Donald P. Seraphim, IBM Fellow, retired, as recipients of the inaugural 2013 F. V. “Fritz” Johnson Leadership Award for their work to demonstrate a mid-20th c. IBM Endicott computer system in action to TechWorks! visitors. See the IBM 1440 team’s progress at http://ctandi.org/ibm%201440.html
See attachment for more info.
With 2014 just hours away, many of us will be making resolutions to enrich our lives and legacies in the coming year. With your help, TechWorks! visitors of all ages will experience innovation in action – past, present, and future.
The Center is the only institution actively preserving upstate New York high tech advances in avionics, computing, energy, flight simulation, and vehicles – technologies that changed the way the world does business and won the race to the moon. Without your help, these advances will become at best a footnote in history. With your help, they can inspire future generations of inventors and entrepreneurs. All gifts will be recognized in the TechWorks! dynamic donor wall – a terrific way to honor your colleagues, your parents, and your own efforts to make better, safer, smarter world.
For a tax-deductible gift that leverages a 200% match from New York State and qualifies for the IBM and other corporate Matching Grant programs, you can
make a secure on-line donation at http://ctandi.org/donate.html or
send a check to the Center for Technology & Innovation, 321 Water Street, Binghamton, NY 13901.
Thank you for your consideration and very best wishes for the New Year,
Susan Sherwood, Executive Director & Roger Westgate, Board President
Computer Pioneer Honored by Tech Works Read More »