Our very own talented Libby VanderPloeg is having an art show titled “Hard To Get” that is opening TONIGHT December 11, 2014 at 7pm at Brouwerij Lane (78 Greenpoint Ave). This will be a great show with great people! See you tonight, Greenpoint!
Greenpoint has a new and HUGE art gallery – Succulent Studios, occupying a 3,000 square foot space on the coveted 5th floor of 67 West St – a landmarked former rope factory on the waterfront. A freight elevator up from our third floor HQ, past Greenpoint Loft and around the bend, I opened the door into a construction zone – a vast, high ceilinged and sun drenched construction zone with a view of the East River, lower Manhattan and a granite store yard below – the kind of space many of us would dream to work or live in.
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 →
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.
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 →
When I am not glued to the blog, I draw – ALOT. I draw tiaras and landscapes and dogs (just this one) and birds and other things.
Come and check out my drawings (which would make very sweet and inexpensive but original Valentine’s gifts!), drink wine and hang with the great folks at Dandelion Wine (153 Franklin St) as part of Greenpoint Gallery Night on Friday, February 7, 2014 from 6-9pm. Please RSVP.
Did you know that our amazing Terrarium Workshop teacher Claire Typaldos is also an accomplished printmaker?
Work from her recent residency at Anderson Ranch in Colorado is on display at EAT (124 Meserole Ave). The opening reception for PRINTS is this evening, Thursday December 5th, 2013 from 7-9pm.
We talked with Claire about her printmaking process and this particular body of work.
Tonight a crew of Brooklyn and Greenpoint “solo” artists are participating in a “regroup” show at Williamsburg hair salon HeadChop (86 Berry St) from 8-11pm. Ken Butler, Daniel Hodkinson, Amanda LaMarco, Chelsey Pettijohn, Paul Richard, Will Star, Clinton Van Gemert plus more will be exhibiting work. Plus you can bring your own vinyl to play.
Duke Riley’s Show See You At The Finish Line is opening tonight from 6-8pm at Magnan Metz Gallery (521 West 26th St) all the way in Manhattan – all the way between 10th and 11th St. The incredible journey documented in this solo show will make the measly trip across the East River and hike to the west side well worth it.
The US governement spends billions of tax payer dollars on high tech surveillance of the waters between the US and Cuba, but one thing their fancy balloons don’t detect – pigeons. As a sort of “FU” to the ridiculous “Trading with the Enemy Act,” Duke trained 50 homing pigeons in Key West to make the 100 mile journey from Cuba to smuggle cigars. Mission accomplished.
In a recent NY Times article Duke said, “I wanted to subvert this billions-of-dollars high-tech system with things that were being used in ancient Sumeria.”
Not only did 11 birds successfully return with cigars, others strapped with cameras filmed the journey. The shaky but unbelievable footage below will be shown in its entirety tonight, as well as the actual birds in their loft, their smuggling “bras,” the cigars and other objects. Plus, a pair of birds is for sale for $100,000 – live pigeons sold as artwork.
See You At The Finish Line is on view through January 14th, 2014.
Our very own talented Libby VanderPloeg is having an art show titled “Hard To Get” that is opening TONIGHT December 11, 2014 at 7pm at Brouwerij Lane (78 Greenpoint Ave). This will be a great show with great people! See you tonight, Greenpoint!
