The ​East Village has​​ ​a unique and inspiring history​, including a long tradition of creative activity.​ ​It​'s amazing to​ ​reflect on the spectrum of ​​artists, writers, and performers ​who started out in the neighborhood before moving on to a higher level of professional activity—and, in many instances, a considerable level of fame and success.​

Although the East Village has changed over the years, the bohemian spirit persists. So too does its sense of community, a caring environment​ that supports individuals​ ​of various interests and persuasions​,​ ​whose​​ ​creative work is still in the​​ ​process of emerging, in getting to the next level.​

​Wit​h​ this dynamic in mind, we're very pleased ​​to call your attention to a project taking place at the Tompkins Square Library.​ Since September 2017​,​ we have hosted the Writing/Performance Lab, a monthly event​ ​​facilitated by Armand Ruhlman, a very grassroots​-oriented ​and devoted patron of the library.

The ​intention​​ ​of the program is to provide artists and creatively oriented community members ​the opportunity to present and develop ​their work in a workshop atmosphere.

Ruhlman shares his East Village inspirations and experiences: 

“I've been living on East 9th Street (near the corner of Ave. B) in the East Village for quite some time… since the early 1980's… right across from the former P.S. 64 school building. During the 1980s and 1990s, the school building—which had more or less been abandoned by the city—served as the location for numerous community activities, including arts and activist-related events, plays, shows, presentations, and performances.

At the same time, the surrounding neighborhood was populated by many artists and creatively oriented people. People who had moved to the area not only to seek low-cost housing (it was relatively low cost back then, at least in the early 1980s), but also to feel inspired by the creative atmosphere… the building was unofficially called Charas El Bohio, so named by the group of local artists and activists from the neighborhood who had worked to bring P.S. 64 back to life.​

​Looking back on that time period of the 1980s and 1990s, I'd say it was a more innocent and simple time in the neighborhood, where artists sought to create, rehearse, perform, and present their work to audiences. ​I remember that the P.S. 64 school building was constantly filled with artistic activities on a daily basis, as people filled the building at all hours of the day and night.

Out of that milieu came many creative and artistic efforts, including some of my own theater activities. The old school building—along with the presence of so much activity—significantly contributed to the viability of the neighborhood and surely helped create the artistic/bohemian identity of the area."

Unfortunately, the P.S. 64 school building, although still standing, is no longer available for use by the community. This loss has been deeply felt by the neighborhood. The previous era that Ruhlman describes, in which the community enjoyed access to P.S. 64, will certainly be remembered for many years to come as a special time that may never happen again (but who knows?). The story of El Bohio compelled us to create something similar and inspire our community members to share their work and make others know about them.

Upcoming Writing/Performance Lab events

The Writing/Performance Lab will take place Thursdays, 5:30 PM-7 PM on September 20, October 18, November 15 and December 20, at the Tompkins Square Library, 331 East 10th Street.

It's free and open to the public. You're invited to present excerpts of your work—written pieces, performance pieces, spoken-word texts, etc.—and receive brief feedback. Or, you can attend simply as audience members, to watch and listen.

So, tell your friends and neighbors, and we'll see you there at the Writing/Performance lab!