I have cool music videos to share and show recommendations for the remainder of the week, often overlapping from the very same band.
Workout shot the video for “Life is a Nightmare” on India Street, among other locations in Greenpoint and North Brooklyn. The song struts along with crunchy guitar riffs, giving the titular chorus a contradictory feel-good sentiment. You can check the band out tonight at the Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher Street). A party bus will pick up at Bia in South Williamsburg. More details here. Continue reading →
Tristan Fitch & Katie Hartsough of Rekover Projects
While real estate snooping, I spotted a 2500 sq. ft. space on Franklin St, sandwiched between the newly opened People of 2Morrow and the half block of scaffolding that will soon become even more prime retail space on one of Greenpoint’s most booming blocks.
I thought to myself this spot would be perfect for an art gallery and a few weeks later POOF! - Rekover Projects (77 Franklin St) opened – just like that. The first show titled “Before Intersections” is a solo exhibition by space lessee and artist Tristan Fitch, who runs the project space with his partner and women’s accessories designer Katie Hartsough.Continue reading →
Your home could use some lovin’. Enter the latest pop-up shop, Home of the Brave, on 67th West St, #416 (and our HQ). The new store is run by Wolves Within owners, Max and Bethany Vogel, with careful selections by Brooklyn artisans. If Wolves Within is the ultimate dream closet, then Home of the Brave would be the dream home.
The pop-up shop will officially open this Thursday, March 6th.
* Handmade Treasures Pop Up @ Daddy’s (435 Graham Ave) Saturday 3/8 at 1pm, Free, shop knits, jewelry, ceramics, and scarves, plus get a custom Tim Harrington (of Les Savy Fav) illustration of your spirit animal, there will also be custom pet portraits and custom knit patches (bring your fav digital image to be converted into a knit), with wares from Glitterlimes (real fruit and candy jewelry!) / Muffy brandt (hand-printed leggings, tops, and bags) / Andrew Almone (a.k.a the KNIT MASTER) / Juniortown Knits (hand-dyed yarn) / Jule Van Such (digital prints on silk scarves) / Jena Derman (Executive Sous Chef at Momofuku Milk Bar who creates amazing pastry-like ceramics) / Wowch, with DJ Knife Fight spinning 45s, RSVP
There are more events in our weekly calendar. Submit your own Greenpoint events, too!
WEDNESDAY 3/5
♦Illustration Workshop @ The Living Gallery (1094 Broadway, Bushwick) 4-6pm, Free, Learn the core basics of buildling shapes, images and characters, this week the theme is the classic Greek tale, RSVP
* Steampunk Tea Party @ Word (126 Franklin St) 7pm, $15 suggested donation, Join author Gail Carriger for a reading, discussion and book signing from her Protectorate literature series, prizes awarded to best steampunk costume, RSVP
♦ Artists’ Reception and Ash Wednesday Worship @ Lutheran Church of the Messiah (129 Russell St) 7-10pm, Free, Explore this local collection of artwork modeled on the Stations of the Cross, RSVP
* Seasonal Home Store Pop-Up @ Home of the Brave (67 West St, #416) 6pm, Free, Have a drink while previewing the home store of independent designers, curated by Wolves Within, RSVP
♦ 60, The Collective Part 2 Art Show @ The Walk Way, Rebar (147 Front St, Dumbo) 7pm, Curators Frankie Velez and Craig Anthony Miller gather 60 artists to create 12” x 12” works, DJ’d by AnaMated, More Info
I love the way music and film can come together to create indelible moments, so I am very excited that Nitehawk Cinema is doing an installment of The Works on film composer Angelo Badalamenti. Perhaps best known for his collaborations with David Lynch, he has provided music for a diverse range of films.
Nitehawk will be showing five of them throughout March, starting with a screening tonight of Lost Highway with a live sound accompaniment by local band a place both wonderful and strange.
If that isn’t awesome enough, I spoke with Nitehawk Senior Film Programmer Caryn Coleman plus Russ Marshalek and Lucy Swope of the band about the film, Badalamenti’s music, and more.
Lutheran Church of the Messiah hosts sacred art show
Last night, I met with Pastor Amy Kienzle at Lutheran Church of the Messiah (129 Russell St) mid installation of an art show that opens tonight at 7pm. For all you heathens, today is also Ash Wednesday.
The show titled Via Delorosa: Meditation on Mortality is a “sacred exhibit” – a take on The Stations of the Cross, which are different scenes of Jesus’ crucifixion from his arrest and conviction through his entombment.
Half of the show takes place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Williamsburg (334 So. 5th St) and was co-curated by the Pastor there – Ben McKelahan, along with Pastor Amy and Baxter Alexander – a local musician and artist.
On Saturday 3/8, venture over to Daddy’s (435 Graham Avenue) for a pop-up shop curated by Debbie Tuch, creator of the jewelry line Glitterlimes. Shoppers can find artisanal goods such as Muffy Brandt printed leggings and tops, Tim Harrington (of Les Savy Fav) illustrations, Andrew Salome knits, Jena Derman ceramics, Julie Van Such digital print scarves, Junior Town Knits hand-dyed yarn straight from Los Angeles, Wowch clothing, and of course, Glitterlimes.
DJ Knife Fight will be spinning pre-Beatles rock and there will be drinks on hand.
In our age of digital hyper connectivity, we often feel isolated – our smartphones a barrier rather than a bridge to “the real thing.” Our viewing experience of art is distorted by online renditions of works, too – after all they are physical objects meant to be seen in person.
Similarly, in a world of mass consumerism that leaves our closets filled with “stuff” we feel empty – even paralyzed by our belongings with no connection to what these items mean, if they have meaning at all. Can an appreciation for artwork undo this affliction? Or is art just more stuff?
The portraits of Williamsburg artist Pilita Garcia, whose faces are perhaps turned away from, but lit by, artificial lights from digital devices – seem to call back to a time before social media, selfies and online advertising. Perhaps they long for “the real world” – but a different world where the value of objects – how they are made and where they come from - is important, a reflection of the artist’s own world view.
Pilita’s painting exhibition titled Rowan’s Sphere will open at Picture Farm (338 Wythe Ave) this Friday March 7th, from 6-9pm.
Watch the below video, produced by the show’s curator Todd Stewart and read our interview with Pilita – then put your computer to sleep (don’t worry it can be alone for a little while) and go see some artwork in real life.
We chatted with Pilita about her work and why making artwork is more important than making “stuff.” Continue reading →
One of the most thought-provoking art shows I’ve seen this season is Wangechi Mutu’s “A Fantastic Journey,” housed in the phenomenal Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum. Sunday March 9th, is the last day to see it, so get moving!
Mutu’s swarming, contorted collages create alien female forms from found images, magazine cutouts, and paint. Mutu was born in Nairobi and her concern with transnationalism has a strong presence in her collages, as does her view of American culture and mass consumerism from a place of outsiderness. There is a definite ode to African dance in the work, fused with American gender-based images like polished lips from fashion magazines, body parts from porn stills, and even war photographs. The result are post-apocalyptic portraits of mutilation, consumerism, rebirth, and womanhood that are shocking and fascinating to see up close. Continue reading →
I have cool music videos to share and show recommendations for the remainder of the week, often overlapping from the very same band.
* Handmade Treasures Pop Up @ Daddy’s (435 Graham Ave) Saturday 3/8 at 1pm, Free, shop knits, jewelry, ceramics, and scarves, plus get a custom 
