A. Brian McDonald, Wood Panel , 2013 Collage, Gouache, Pastel (8.5 inches x 11 inches)
This week we’re spotlighting two neighborhood artists participating in Greenpoint Open Studios this weekend: A. Brian McDonald and Sara C. Sun. Their styles may be different, but their work is equally captivating.
Sara C Sun, Night, 2012. Single-Channel video, 2:37
LA-based DJ Nosaj Thing (Jason Chung; “Nosaj” is “Jason” spelled backwards), and Japanese artist and VJ Daito Manabe threw down an intense collaborative set at Music Hall of Williamsburg this Monday night. I’ve been a peripheral fan of Nosaj Thing for years, seeing him at a festival or two, and been an occasional listener. But this show was proof that he’s an artist with some diverse musical chops. Continue reading →
In “Places of Residence,” Julie Reiters smartly animates each of her New York apartments, the last and best of which just so happens to be in Greenpoint. The video perfectly encapsulates the little oddities that make renting in NYC such a singular experience, i.e. the joys of paranoid neighborhoods, illogical floor plans, and 6 floor walk-ups.
Julie left her Franklin St. abode to study Media Design at Savannah College of Art & Design. See more of her work here
Makes you think about your own apartment history, doesn’t it?
Did you or does your child have an imaginary friend?
We are doing a documentary about imaginary friends and are looking for people interested in sharing their stories, experiences, drawings, etc. We are particularly excited to talk to kids who have imaginary friends now, as we are hoping to really bring to life the magical and slightly baffling experience that is such a strong part of childhood, but disappears as we get older.
If you have a story, or if your child has an imaginary friend, please get in touch with Hannah Jayanti (our NEON documentary editor!) at frecklessinbrooklyn (at) gmail [dot] com.
This awesome 1 Minute Meals video about Peter Pan Doughnuts from Serious Eats NY stars co-owner Donna Siafakas who says that hipsters are wonderful people and before they settled in Greenpoint it was black and white, but now it is more colorful. The doughnut shots are spectacular, too.
Greenpointer and Comedy Filmmaker Heather Fink sent in this music video she directed and shot in Greenpoint called “Parking Space, I Want You, A Love Song” starring Jack Mulcahy. Heather also wrote the lyrics to this gem.
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.
These doors may be shut–but there are plenty that are wide open! Photo courtesy of 3rdward.com.
3rd Ward may have had its faults (more of them than we imagined, it seems), but there was something deeply inspiring about a huge workspace and resource center designed especially for Brooklyn’s many talented creators, and we’d be lying if we told you its presence won’t be missed. However, in the wake of the spot’s closure, we’ve found ourselves reminded time and again that 3rd Ward wasn’t the only game in town–so many of our friends and neighbors have other studios, class centers, coworking quarters and event spaces with their own amazing offerings. Bushwick Daily and Greenpointers reached out to some of our favorite such institutions, and it’s with great pride that we present our readers with our official guide to ten of this borough’s greatest places to take your creativity when making is your job. Take a look through–you can thank us when you get settled in at a place that hooks it up and makes it happen!
LA-based DJ 
