Neighborhood Group PLG Arts to Add Literature to Its Many Arts Events

PLG Arts, a community arts organization that started in 2005, is adding literature to its varied lineup of cultural programming. On Sunday, we attended a PLG Arts recital by cello and guitar duo Duo Anova in the home of PLG Arts Vice President and frequent Brownstoner commenter Bob Marvin.

The neighborhood is full of artists, and PLG Arts has helped welcome them as well as others who simply appreciate art to the neighborhood, said PLG Arts Co-President and musician Rina Kleege at the event. Two buildings at 75 and 99 Ocean Avenue are fondly known in the area as the “jazzy dorms” because of the large number of musicians living there.

In addition to its recently added series of chamber music events in members’ houses, PLG Arts has produced outdoor art such as murals, theater, an ongoing series of exhibitions of paintings and other visual arts at Tugboat Cafe, regular jazz performances at The Inkwell, plantings at the Lincoln road bridge fence over the Q train, an outdoor arts and crafts market, and many other projects. A large group show in an empty restaurant space in 2011 attracted crowds of 300 to 400 people on the weekends and no fewer than 80 people on the weekdays, said Marvin, a photographer. Literary readings will start in June.

Duo Anova, which has performed at Carnegie Hall, played three chamber pieces by contemporary composers. One by composer Atanas Ourkouzounov used the instruments in unusual ways. At one point, the cello sounded like a jet engine taking off.

Photo above by Bob Marvin