Monroe Center: A Rocking Experience

The new Open Studio Day, January 13^th, at the Monroe Center got off to a great start with The Julio Fernandez Band playing startling Jazz in Shades. Monroe’s very own tenants, Monroe Street Movement Space put on a great dance performance, while Urban Arts held a fantastic workshop for kids. Monroe Center’s artists had their studio doors open, so people could view the artists creating fantastic works of art. Outside visiting artists displayed their creations in the Lobby, inside Shades and on the Third Floor. Attendance to the Open Studio was one of the largest seen at the Monroe Center. 

Shades was packed when The Julio Fernandez Band began playing. Julio, who plays with the internationally famous Jazz Band Spyro Gyra, rocked the house. Sitting in the audience was a quiet reflective man at a corner table. Mid-way through his set, Julio walked over to him and asked him if he would like to jam with the Band. The quiet reflective man turned out to be, Gerardo Velez, the percussionist who had played with non other than Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and other legendary shows. The performance after that was a thundering musical experience. The band was scheduled to play till five pm, but the crowd refused to leave and so the band played on for another hour. Great jazz, cheese, wine and an appreciative audience. It was an experience that will be remembered for those fortunate enough to be there. There are bigger thrills planned for the Next Open Studio day. The Open Studio at the Monro Center is now held quarterly.

Stay tuned. The Monroe Center Wavelength is where it’s at. 

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