Control
Z to Take the Floor!
“Our collective, Control Z, is a place for those
who want to break out of bounds. For those that go to
bed with a thousand thoughts in their head, drifting in
and out of consciousness, sifting through wild mazes of
creation. We’ve found a direction. We’ve captured
the scent of our path, seen the color beyond the rainbow-no
one can tame our passion. Through the arts, visual and
performed, we bring you a peek at the fire ablaze in our
bellies. We seek to provide the much needed exposure for
those artists young and old who dare to express their
inner vision”-Venus Barbaro, and Omar Soliman.
Late one warm December night while walking uptown along
Manhattan’s First Avenue, talking about art and
life, two community college students had an epiphany.
They realized that they needed to finally step up and
put their heads together and start something big. Thus
the foundation for our collective.
The new year came and we began to organize. We quickly
realized that we did not want find an art gallery to work
out of. We wanted a space that would allow us the freedom
to experiment with our ideas under our own terms. “The
first time I walked into the University of the Streets
and heard my friend Gitesha sing, I loved the energy of
the space; I knew that this was the spot for us.”
University of the Streets, is a venue that has served
as a performance space for avant garde musicians and artists
for decades. Located at 130 East 7th Street between Avenue
A and First Avenue, it serves up late night jazz jam sessions,
hosts open mics and serves as a martial arts dojo among
other things.
Our debut show, Innovation, will be held on the 21st
of April from 7pm-12 am. We are fortunate to have the
culinary talents of Rich Green, the support of our friends
and an enthusiastic network of artists coming together
to make this first show happen.
Victor Vasquez, a recent Weseleyan graduate will be illustrating
the Book of Revelations. We also have some curious entertainment
in store such as an erotic fiction reading by Go-Go dancer
and writer Karen Moulding, her writing is currently featured
on www.nerve.com/fiction. There will also be a short documentary
by performer and DJ Debbie D of the band Avenue D, about
growing up in New York City. As well as a performance
by Rock and Roll, rhythm and blues band Jim Indell and
the Indellibles featuring legendary drummer Billy Mare.
