Community

Celebrating Brooklyn

By Emily J. Weitz

When I was dancing in the cool moonlight, at the tail end of a steamy day in June, I wasn’t thinking about all the years of thought and effort that went into making evenings like this possible. All my friends were set up around a barbecue grill in Prospect Park, the whole of Brooklyn was wandering the meadows, and none other than Isaac Hayes was swooning onstage. For free.

But Celebrate Brooklyn, which honors its 30th year this summer, is a massive creative endeavor fueled by the love and commitment of its organizers and participants. As I bit into a slice of watermelon and Hayes busted out the familiar score of Shaft, I couldn’t help but think, “This is what life is supposed to be like. Casual times with friends, enjoying fabulous music in the great outdoors.” Celebrate Brooklyn brings that to our backyards, without asking more than a $3 suggested donation in return.

I caught up with Jack Walsh, an old-school Brooklynite who has been working for Celebrate Brooklyn for the past 27 years. He recalls a time when the idea of walking around in Prospect Park at night was not only undesirable; it was radical. Prospect Park in the late 70s was perceived as unsafe. Graffiti was scribbled across every cement structure, lights didn’t work, and the bandshell was a haunting reminder of what the park could have been. It’s hard to imagine now, but back then, Walsh says, “The cultural landscape was pretty bare.” So, then commissioner Gordon David and Borough President Howard Golden got together to create a “Brooklyn Renaissance.” Celebrate Brooklyn played a leading role.

The performances were free and of such high quality that Brooklynites could not stay away. Early audiences were graced by the legendary sounds of such vocalists as the late Betty Carter, who Jack Walsh calls “A jazz vocalist I will never forget.” The Persuasions, an a cappella doo wop group, employed the brilliant structure of the bandshell to maximize their vocals. Walsh recalls a show in the 90s when Tito Puente played in the pouring rain. “Everyone just kept dancing. His timbales filled up with water and he kept playing, the water splashing off him.”

Celebrate Brooklyn is deeply embedded in the fabric of this brilliant borough. It truly is a celebration of the collision of worlds that takes place at the hub of Atlantic/Pacific Terminal. The distinct heritages of six continents converge in one borough.

Today, with so much outdoor music infusing our summers, we may take these free offerings for granted. But in the 80s and 90s, Celebrate Brooklyn was a pioneering movement, bringing music to the people, from the people. This is a significant point, Walsh emphasizes, because “we were out there doing shows with 80 or 100 artists giving local artists a platform, and giving audiences a show.” Bringing local and worldwide artists to the stage, to perform in front of large and enthusiastic crowds, is a primary goal of Celebrate Brooklyn. It’s not just about giving the audiences a show. It’s about raising the profile of artists.

For example, the Mark Mars dance group, an internationally renowned contemporary dance company, enjoyed some of its first performances as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn series. Their first performance in 1985 was one of Mark Mars’ first major shows. Celebrate Brooklyn supported Mark Mars before they had reached the level of prominence they enjoy today — now any venue would be happy to showcase such a well-respected dance group.

The Brooklyn community embraced the music festival pretty quickly. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful landscaping of Prospect Park to the tune of free, high-quality music? In just the first few years, the festival quickly grew from about 10,000 attendees to 30,000. But in the past ten years, the festival has gained worldwide appeal. Now, people come from Manhattan and from the world over to listen to the eclectic talent that Celebrate Brooklyn brings to the stage.

“Our core audience is still Brooklynites,” Walsh explains. “We have repeat audiences who come again and again. Even if you don’t know who’s performing, you can stop by and see a great show... We want to present a diversity of talents that is both from around the world and from around the block, always with a focus on quality and diversity.”

Raizes Do Brasil Capoeira

The idea for an outdoor concert venue in Prospect Park is much older than this festival. The bandshell was originally built in 1939 for the purpose of bringing music to the many neighborhoods that converge in the park. But it was long neglected, and by the 60s and 70s it was a derelict structure covered in graffiti and unused. When the idea for the Brooklyn Renaissance arose in the late 70s, the bandshell was an integral part. Now, the success of the festival has attracted enough positive attention that the city has funded two renovations of the band shell. Audiences and performers alike appreciate the high caliber of the construction, which allows for remarkable acoustics.

“Our presentations are done with world class quality,” says Walsh. “The lighting, the sound, the beautiful lawn, the shade: it’s all part of our goal to make Prospect Park comfortable and welcoming.”

This summer the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival will be bringing such a wide variety of talents to the stage that it will be difficult to stay home. Movies will be showing on the largest outdoor screen in New York City, and performances from hip hop to ballet to opera will grace the stage. Walsh hesitated to name a highlight, because he emphasized that “Our goal was to make each and every performance extraordinary. I honestly think that each performance will be a highlight. Each one has its own profile.” But it was hard for him to resist mentioning the jaw dropping name of Bob Dylan (!) performing August 12. Feist, Beth Orton, the Alvin Ailey dance group, and the Brave New World Repertory Theatre are just a few live acts. Screenings of Charlie Chaplin and Kung Fu movies will also take the screen, accompanied by live music. And these are just a few of the major players this summer’s series will feature.

When I asked Jack Walsh if he had anything to add, he paused for a moment, as if in deep thought. “I was born and raised in Park Slope,” he said slowly. “I’ve been there since day one. And running this program I think it’s very important to know that [the rejuvenation of Prospect Park] has had to do with the renaissance of Park Slope as a neighborhood to raise a family in. I live and work in the community,” he said. “Celebrate Brooklyn is a part of that.”

Community Extra!

Brooklyn Kids Take the Mic

“I start googling things like ‘Brooklyn Youth Music Scene,’ I am led to MySpace page after MySpace page of accomplished young musicians who can’t get in to PG-13 movies, much less get their braces removed or operate a vehicle.”
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