Topaz Arts, 5503 39th Avenue, Woodside, NY (2026)

05/31/2026

✨️ Thanks all for a stellar Saturday at TOPAZ ARTS, celebrating Judith Sánchez Ruíz and the NYC launch of her book debut,“A Fat Thought – Notes on improvisation and sketches of process”.

Judith opened with a solo improvisation in the gallery within the exhibition of sculptural works by An Ngoc Pham and paintings by Todd B. Richmond, to the sounds of birds from her garden in Cuba.

We continued into the studio for an insightful conversation where legendary artists Ishmael Houston-Jones and Wendy Perron - in dialogue sharing relationships to each other and in knowing Judith, uncovering details in the book, and some historical gems each had within the Trisha Brown legacy.

For TOPAZARTS, we supported Judith early on as one of our first dance artists in residence in the partnership program we initiated with the Queens Museum back in 2003. We reconnected in Berlin last Fall 2025 (when Paz did the Berlin Marathon:), witnessing Judith's PCDCP intensive and her new book - resulting in discussions to bringing the event to you on Saturday. We are fascinated by the trajectory of artists and continue our support when stars align! ✨️

Brava Judith! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 "A Fat Thought" is an amazing read, especially for artists and dance educators - articulating her creative process and choreographic thinking - generously sharing methods through her words and drawings.

Limited edition - get your copy! DM directly or
✉️ [email protected]

📸 photos by: / /

Many thanks to all!!!
.pcdcp

05/28/2026

✨️ TOPAZ ARTS is thrilled to present Judith Sánchez Ruíz: solo performance and dialogue with guests Ishmael Houston-Jones and Wendy Perron in celebration of the NYC launch of her new book “A Fat Thought – Notes on improvisation and sketches of process” / “Um Pensamento Encorpado – Notas sobre improvisação e desenhos de processos” (bilingual publication in English and Portuguese).

🥂 Join us for a reception!
✨️ Saturday, May 30, 2026, 4-6pm
📍 TOPAZ ARTS, 55-03 39th Ave, Woodside, NY
🔗 Free: RSVP - link in bio

Curated by Paz Tanjuaquio, we are honored to have legendary guests, dance writer Wendy Perron, and performer & improviser Ishmael Houston-Jones to be in conversation with Judith. Through dialogue and performance, Sánchez Ruíz offers a rare glimpse into her choreographic thinking and improvisational structures that define her work.

📚 Books will be available for purchase and signed by the author.

📸 Photo credits: JSR by Arnaud Beleen; book photo by Mayra Azzi; Ishmael Houston-Jones by Mark Poucher; Wendy Perron by Da Ping Luo

.pcdcp

05/22/2026

✨️ TOPAZ ARTS is thrilled to present choreographer Judith Sánchez Ruíz for the launch of her new book, “A Fat Thought – Notes on improvisation and sketches of process”.

Join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 4-6pm, for a reception with a solo performance and reading by Sánchez Ruíz, along with a conversation with guests, including choreographer/writer Wendy Perron. ✨️

Get your hands on limited copies - books will be available and signed by Judith!

✨️ Saturday, May 30, 2026, 4-6pm
📍 TOPAZ ARTS, 55-03 39th Ave, Woodside, NY
🔗 Free: RSVP - link in bio

Book Credits:
Writing and drawings: Judith Sánchez Ruíz
Editorial coordination: Joana Ferraz & Marina Matheus ‭
Foreword: Joaquín Badajoz
English copy editing: Anna Barbosa
Portuguese editing: Ana Godoy
Proofreading: Joana Ferraz
Graphic design: Érico Peretta
Production: Associação Corpo Rastreado‬

📸 book photos by Mayra Azzi
.pcdcp

05/08/2026

✨️ TOPAZ ARTS welcomes choregrapher Judith Sánchez Ruíz for the New York launch of her new book: “A Fat Thought – Notes on improvisation and sketches of process” / “Um Pensamento Encorpado – Notas sobre improvisação e desenhos de processos”

✨️ Saturday, May 30, 2026, 4-6pm
📍 TOPAZ ARTS, 55-03 39th Ave, Woodside, NY
🔗 Free: RSVP - link in bio

Join us for an intimate performative forum celebrating the launch of A Fat Thought, a bilingual publication (in English and Portuguese) that explores improvisation as both artistic method and embodied inquiry through notes, drawings, reflections, and evolving creative processes developed throughout Sánchez Ruíz’s international career in contemporary dance and performance.

Blending performance, conversation, and dialogue with guests, Sánchez Ruíz offers a rare glimpse into her choreographic thinking and improvisational structures that define her work. 🔗 Details at www.topazarts.org

📚 Get your signed copy! Books will be available for purchase and signed by the author.

“Like all journeys, this one is first and foremost an exploratory rite of passage inside your mind, a perspective refocusing and mental switch reading (…). Sánchez’s contribution may be roughly summarized as developing a method to give structure to improvisational choreography, freeing mind and body from the tyranny of iteration.”— Joaquín Badajoz‬, Cuban writer and journalist (El País, People magazine) NYC

Book Credits:
Writing and drawings: Judith Sánchez Ruíz
Editorial coordination: Joana Ferraz & Marina Matheus ‭
Foreword: Joaquín Badajoz
English copy editing: Anna Barbosa
Portuguese editing: Ana Godoy
Proofreading: Joana Ferraz
Graphic design: Érico Peretta
Production: Associação Corpo Rastreado‬

📸: JSR Portrait by Arnaud Beleen; book photo by Mayra Azzi

.pcdcp

04/15/2026

Thanks for joining us at TOPAZ ARTS last Saturday for the screening of Batang West Side. Viewing the 5-hour film by Lav Diaz was deeply engaging and so meaningful to experience it together. The 2001 film in Tagalog with English subtitles, follows a detective’s investigation into the death of a Filipino teen, revealing within the crime story, the alienation, cultural displacement, and struggles of the Fil-Am community amidst the myth of the American dream.

We especially want to thank our guest speakers who gave profound context to the film.

Gil Quito, Filipino film scholar and curator - shared an insightful introduction and perspective on the work of Lav Diaz. Highlighting its relevance as a groundbreaking film, and how much it resonates today. Gil described, “Batang West Side remains a classic that doesn’t seem to have aged but at the same time it was a crucial turning point in Lav’s evolution as an artist.”

Ramon Prado Mappala, Filipino producer and political activist - shared the challenges of the original production 25 years ago. From describing the technical difficulties of guerrilla-style filming in the winter, to sharing his personal history as a political prisoner during the Marcos martial law era, which was a key reason Lav Diaz cast him in the film.

Many thanks to those who made this screening possible:
Maraming salamat releasing .e.hunt

This program is part of TOPAZ ARTS’ 25th Year Celebration, supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department Of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

03/30/2026

Join us and get comfy for this five-hour epic film! TOPAZ ARTS proudly presents a free screening of Batang West Side, a Lav Diaz film - Sat, April 11, 4pm - please RSVP > link in bio
TOPAZ ARTS, 55-03 39th Ave, Woodside, NY

A groundbreaking film in Tagalog with English subtitles, Batang West Side (2001) follows a detective’s investigation into the death of a Filipino teen, revealing within the crime story, the alienation, cultural displacement, and struggles of the Fil-Am community amidst the myth of the American dream.

TOPAZ ARTS is honored to host an informal screening, with an introduction by Gil Quito, and several cast & crew members from the original production, including Ged Merino and Ramon Prado Mappala. Hear about the process of filming with Lav Diaz in the cold of winter, shot 25 years ago in New Jersey and locations nearby.

Part of TOPAZ ARTS’ 25th Year Celebration, this event is free, with light merienda, refreshments and cocktails available continuously throughout the evening.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

03/23/2026

✨️ What an amazing gathering this weekend —thanks all for coming to TOPAZ ARTS!

Congrats to Artists-in-Residence An Ngoc Pham and Nami Yamamoto for sharing new work with such a supportive audience. 👏🏽👏🏽

Events like this remind us why we started TOPAZ ARTS 25+ years ago - to support the creative process and provide a space to gather and connect. In these challenging times, gathering together is much-needed inspiration. Wonderful to reconnect with folks, welcome new faces, and we look toward a "future memory" together. ✨

We'll continue to celebrate TOPAZ ARTS' 25th with more upcoming events - stay tuned! Follow and support with 🔗 in bio.

03/21/2026

We're thrilled to host Artists-in-Residence, An Ngoc Pham in the gallery, and Nami Yamamoto in dance with performers in Future Memory. Opening today Sat 3/21, 3-5pm with an informal showing at 3pm. Details 🔗 in bio

📷 by

03/18/2026

Here's our latest e-news! Join us this Sat at Topaz Arts, March 21, 3-5pm, with an informal showing at 3pm of Future Memory by Nami Yamamoto, AAPI Dance Artist in Residence; and in the gallery, opening of a Studio Exhibition by An Ngoc Pham, Visual Artist in Residence.

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/378829/3c52d86478/TEST/TEST/

02/08/2026

TOPAZ ARTS in Manila! with a new work
“Volver (To Return)” - a solo dance by Paz Tanjuaquio with music by Todd B. Richmond, presented within the exhibition “The Journey Is Home” by Ged Merino.
Sunday, Feb 8 at 6:30pm, 6th Floor
Art Fair Philippines 2026, Circuit Makati

Ged Merino's exhibition “The Journey Is Home” is activated through live performance in collaboration with New York-based choreographer and dancer Paz Tanjuaquio and artist and composer Todd B. Richmond. Their performance, “Volver (To Return)”, unfolds within Merino’s installations, introducing time, sound, and embodied movement into the work’s evolving structure.

Richmond’s original music establishes an aural landscape, while Tanjuaquio’s site-specific choreography traces pathways within and around the installations. In this moment, the presentation becomes fully inhabitable: space is measured by the body, and the journey is made visible through motion.

Like the larger project, the performance is a return rather than a conclusion, a fleeting convergence of movement, material, and sound that expands the work beyond the visual and into lived experience.

design by
📸 1) by Todd B. Richmond 2) by 3) by

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