Brooklyn Museum’s Target First Saturday explores cross-cultural connections on June 7. The Brooklyn Museum’s Target First Saturdays event attracts thousands of visitors to free programs of art and entertainment each month. Thos month’s event features a rich cultural mix that melds traditional and modern influences from Bali, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Benin, Ghana, South Africa, and America.
The night kicks off from 5-7 p.m. with Akoya Afrobeat, with members from Benin, South Africa, the U.S., and Japan, globalizes Nigerian dance music. At 6 p.m., feminist artist Ghada Amer discusses her exhibition “Love Has No End” (free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.).
Gamelan Dharma Swara presents traditional Balinese music and stunning dances from 6:30-8 p.m. (free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.) and during the same time period participants are invited to design a piece of jewelry using special materials (free timed tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5:30 p.m.).
At 7 p.m., Joan Cummins, curator of Asian Art, gives a talk on South Asian art in the Museum’s collection (sign language-interpreted; free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.).
From 7-9 p.m., Bora Yoon and Samita Sinha present their unique fusions of electronic, jazz, and hip-hop in a concert. At 8 p.m., enjoy a “Young Voices Gallery Talk,” with student Guides giving a talk on Utagawa and its connections to the exhibition ©MURAKAMI.
From 8-9:30 p.m., there is a panel discussion. South Asian Women’s Creative Collective member Mariam Bhani moderates a panel including artists Sadia Rahman, Mareena Daredia, and Sara Rahbar. A spoken word performance by Sarah Husain and a question and answer session with the audience follow the discussion (free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 7 p.m.).
At 8:30 p.m., attend a film screening of “Akira’s Hip Hop Shop” (Joseph Doughrity, 2007, 15 min., NR), a romantic short about a rap-loving Japanese guy and a young black culinary student. This is followed by “Singapore Dreaming” (Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen, 2006, 105 min., NR), one family’s darkly humorous tale of loss, ambition, and the search for what really matters in life. The directors of the latter film will be on hand to take questions from the audience (free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 7 p.m.).
The evening closes out from 9-11 p.m. with a dance party. DJ Spinna plays all eighties music.
Throughout the evening, a cash bar will offer beer and wine, and the Museum Café will serve a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, and beverages. The Museum Shop will remain open until 11 p.m. Some Target First Saturday programs have limited space available and are ticketed on a first-come, first-served basis. Lines for free tickets often form 30 minutes in advance.
Museum galleries are open until 11 p.m. Parking is a flat rate of $4 from 5-11 p.m. For more, call 718-638-5000 or visit www.brooklynmuseum.org.
