What’s Coming Up
The Jeweler’s Shop by Karol Wojtyła
For two weekends in June, Arthouse2B presented Karol Wojtyła’s ”The Jeweler’s Shop” at St. Vincent Ferrer Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Artistic Associate James Majewski directed this original adaptation of the most well-known play by the man who would become Pope Saint John Paul II. Featuring Lydia Brinkmann, Vincenzo Hinckley, Karina Majewski, Peter Murphy, and Anna Wulfekuhle, with assistant direction by Dylan Gervais and music direction by Christa Dalmazio.
Photos by Elena Castello.
Gallery Night @ Catholic Underground
On February 3rd, 2024, Arthouse2B partnered with the Fransican Friars of the Renewal to present a night of art, music, and performances after their monthly Catholic Underground Holy Hour at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in New York City. Artist featured: Salem Farmand, Lorena Reis, Alfonse Borysewicz, Molly Lewis, James Majewski, Anna Wulfekuhle Gervais, Br. François Fontaine, CFR, and Dana Schein.
A Ceremony of Carols: Pilgrimage to the Ballet
Arthouse2B took carpools of pilgrims from New York City to Hartford, CT to view “A Ceremony of Carols" - a new ballet choreographed by Claire Kretzschmar, set to music by Benjamin Britten.
Arranged: A New Play by Karina Pooran Majewski
In collaboration with Theatre 71, Arthouse2B presented three performances of Karina’s Pooran Majewski’s play, Arranged - a drama that examines the joy and angst of marriage, refracted through the prism of a dystopian world in which arranged pairs must either agree to marry - or else. The play was directed by James T. Majewski, and it starred Vincenzo Hinckley and Courtney Talty. Additional performance credits include: lighting design by Lydia Brinkmann, sound design by Linda Mukherjee, and costume design by Veronica Marrinan.
The Psalmist’s Heart
In the first book of Samuel we read about David’s music bringing peace to King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). Basilio Perez, a singer-song writer and worship leader based in New Jersey, felt the Lord calling him to create something that would bring peace to our everyday lives by making Jesus our daily bread through prayer. He partnered with other creatives to make artwork that initiates and deepens a relationship with God among its participants. Through this collaborative process, The Psalmist’s Heart, a devotional on the theme of trust, was created.
Arthouse2B partnered with Basilio Perez and Elisa Torres to celebrate the official release of The Psalmist’s Heart. Participants were guided through an immersive experience including live music, reflections, and Visio Divina from this multimedia devotional.
Contemplative Realism: An Evening of Fiction Readings
Josef Pieper said of modern civilization that our “ability to see is in decline”. We are blinded by ideologies and technologies that deny or distract from spiritual realities, and these affect the stories we tell, including much of what is presented under the name of "realism". Recognizing the poverty of a realism accounting only for the visible, a number of contemporary Catholic fiction authors have united under the banner of “contemplative realism”. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, they seek to “ask rather more carefully what ‘the real’ actually is”.
This event was in collaboration with Wiseblood Books, and included fiction readings and discussion with Katy Carl (Fragile Objects, editor-in-chief of Dappled Things) and Trevor Cribben Merrill (Minor Indignities) in a cozy apartment setting.
Poster: JP Talty
Ruah: Breath of Life
About the Event
Arthouse2B presented an immersive art performance featuring artwork by Erin K. McAtee and performances of poetry, music, dance and drama by Fr. Joseph Michael Fino, CFR, Christa Dalmazio, Claire Kretzschmar, and James and Karina Majewski. Each night also included a social with refreshments and homemade beer brewed by Fr. Joseph Michael Fino, CFR.
Behold this Heart
About the Event
An immersive art and poetry experience of Mary’s Heart was performed on two consecutive evenings and featured artworks by Erin K. McAtee, with live music and poetry performed by Fr. Sam Bellafiore, Sr. Jordan Rose, SV, and Jenny Kibrick.
Meditation on the Meaning of Birth
About the Event
An immersive art and poetry experience by Erin K. McAtee and Fr. Joseph Michael, CFR was performed in the Gabriel Gallery at Annunciation Church in West Harlem. Against the backdrop of artwork by Erin K. McAttee exploring the theme of motherhood, Fr. Joseph Michael, CFR read original poems inspired by the theme of birth. The performance was followed by an outdoor urban courtyard social.
Arranged
About the Event
On two consecutive evenings, James and Karina Majewski performed in Arranged, a new original play written by Karina, directed by James, and produced with support from Arthouse2B. Arranged examines the joy and angst of marriage, refracted through the prism of a dystopian world in which arranged pairs must either agree to marry — or else.