Audio Portrait: Gowanus Activist by Jamie Courville

Audio portrait of F.R.O.G.G member Linda Mariano. Listen here.

 

 Audio portrait artist Jamie Courville says that "I like to record the voices and faces of people who are seldom heard and strive to get them to places where they will be."

 

She recently  produced a piece focusing on one of F.R.O.G.G founders Linda Mariano.

 

What is F.R.O.G.G you ask? F.R.O.G.G stands for Friends and Residents of the Greater Gowanus, a Brooklyn community activist group who act as a watch dog for environmental issues in the Gowanus Corridor. A few years back F.R.O.G.G led a huge campaign to helped in part to get the Gowanus Superfunded. In the past month most of FROGGs prophesies have come true with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. FROGG uses science as a barometer and has been talking about sea levels, climate change, flooding and water contamination in response to future development plans on the shores of the Gowanus for years. Developers like to depict them as "environmental crazies" but I think that they are the sanest people around.  

 

Please click here to listen.

 

 Jamie has other audio portraits of people that you can listen to on her website. Go to it here.

"Bang A Gong" Paintings by Nancy Drew Opening Saturday in Freddy's "Silver Room"

Artichoke - 2010

Freddy's Bar is extremely proud to announce the launch of its art space "The Silver Room" with an exhibition of paintings by Brooklyn-based artist Nancy Drew, entitled "Bang A Gong".

I have to personally add to this official press release that Nancy's glitter fabulous paintings are a beautiful sight to behold in Freddy's new silver backroom. Nancy Drew's medium is GLITTER and FLOCKING. What is flocking, you may ask? Flocking is soft and fuzzy, sort of like velvet but more like the stuff that carnival prizes are made of. Ms. Drew has also has contributed much to the allover design of the new Freddy's, in addition to this exhibit, she has done a glittering "erotic" wallpaper installation in the back vestibule of the bar as well as many other flourishes in different areas allover the bar and backroom.

Anyway read on about this show from Freddy's press release.

"A group of paintings from both her "Artists Series" and "Porn Series" will be included in this mini-retrospective. Spanning the last ten years of Nancy Drew's production, each year is represented by a single painting. Painted in her signature materials of flock and glitter, imagery culled from 20th Century Ab-Ex masterpieces and contemporary video porn boxes is feminized and beautified beyond easy recognition, into levels of high camp and cultural relevance. The resulting artistic transpositions can't help but turn the aims of their sources on their ear. Rendered in plush flocking and sparkly glitter, the original meanings have been entirely recast and transformed in Drew's works, with equal doses of humor and reverence. Ms. Drew is a veteran of the NY art scene, as well as a few controversies concerning her highly-regarded 'cover versions' of abstract expressionist masterworks.

Drew's artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at many venues both locally and internationally, including the Brooklyn Museum, the Chelsea Museum of Art, Artists Space, Exit Art, Roebling Hall, White Box, NYC; as well as Real Art Ways, Hartford CT; Albright College, Reading, PA; and the Kyrgyzstan National Fine Arts Museum, Kyrgyzstan Republic."

Opening: Saturday, February 12th, 7 to 9 pm
Show will be upFebruary 12th thru March 28th

WHERE: The Silver Room at Freddy's Bar
627 Fifth Avenue (between 17th & 18th Streets)
South Slope, Brooklyn

Freddy's Bar Opens Tonite!

Since today is F.I.B's birthday I am tooting my own horn and showing a bit of my contribution to Freddy's. This is just a portion of one of the 2 bathroom doors.

I don't think there is anyone who loved the old Freddy's that doesn't know this at this point but tonite is the big par-tay. I expect it to be a madhouse but in a good way! The bar actually quietly opened LAST night with The John Pinamonti Band being the first performers to play the backroom. I don't think the new location and newish decor will change the heart of Freddy's. All the love and attention put into the bar to make it unlike any other by staff and friends of Freddy's shines through and I believe will bring them great success. Besides isn't it good luck to open on Chinese New Year? I guess Freddy's horoscope sign is the White Rabbit. Makes sense because the place sort of has an "Alice in Wonderland" vibe, you have to go to see what I mean, I am having trouble verbalizing what I mean!

Also! I just realized today is the 4th Anniversary of F.I.B! I held my first anniversary party at the old Freddy's and Les Sans Cullotes played that too as well as The Susquehanna Tool & Die Co. & the Anabolics! And an "Found in Brooklyn" themed art show on top of it all. Honestly I don't think there was any other place where I could of pulled that off so easily, Freddy's gave me the date and allowed me to run with it. Thanks Donald!

See you there!
Freddy's Bar: 627 5th Ave,between 17th and 18th Street in the South Slope.

Doors open at 5pm. Bands start at 9pm. The Magpie, Brute Force, Les Sans Cullotes.

RETROFUTUROLOGY @ the Observatory

RETROFUTUROLOGY:
How the Past Saw the Present // How the Present Sees the Future

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, January 28, 8 PM

"Observatory is pleased to announce our new exhibition, RETROFUTUROLOGY, a group show of visual art, curated by the Hollow Earth Society (Ethan Gould & Wythe Marschall, Founding Colonels).

About the show: To have an imagined future, you must simultaneously have an imagined present and an imagined past…

A DeLorean decked out in flashing lights and wires: A modest-budget promise that, yes, the technologies of our age can puncture the time barrier! Where to go? A rowdy 1950s? A steampunk 1890s?

Our visions of the future are nested. Our conception of time is hyper-real.

This is the process on which the present runs.

Come see contemporary art that investigates futures-past, futures-possible, and other nestings."

Featuring paintings, sculptures, and other works by many artists, including: Adrian Agredo, Tracey Atkinson, Emi Brady, bunny M, Jon Burgerman, Chiezo, Devon Clapp, Jesse Corinella, Rachel Debuque, Derrick Dent, Matt Duffin, Ethan Gould, Andrea Hendrickson, Richard Herzog, Andy Hunter, Patti Jordan, John Lee, Haydex Li, Benjamin Mayock, Marianne McCarthy, Megan Murtha, George Pfau, Nick Raynolds, Matthew Robinson, Sean Star Wars, Tom Sarmo, Rachel Schragis, Joelle Shallon, Greg Shelnutt, Niko Silvester, Melissa Stern, Lisa Temple-Cox, and Robin Treadwell.
In addition to this show Observatory is constantly hosting all sorts of interesting events with emphasis on the what some might think bizarre (you know taxidermy, skull collecting, Aquatic Ape Theories.. stuff like that)many sell out quickly so try and reserve if you can!

For instance on Friday, February 4th it's "The Secret History of the Ouija Board": A talk and visual presentation by Mitch Horowitz.

Click here for the schedule.

Observatory
543 Union Street at Nevins
Brooklyn, NY 11215
observatoryroom.org
observatoryroom [at] gmail.com

ON VIEW: Friday, January 28 – Friday, March 5, 2011
HOURS: Thursdays & Fridays 3–6 PM, Saturdays & Sundays 12–6 PM

If you go, be sure to check out the Paradise 2 Show in the Proteus Gowanus space while you are there!

"Paradise 2" Opens at Proteus Gowanus - Saturday

Proteus Gowanus is a jewel of a spot residing in an alley on Nevins Street off of Union Street. I happen to have a drawing in this show and hope you guys check it out sometime!

The details....

Please join us at Proteus Gowanus as our investigation into Paradise,

in all its infinite variety,continues to unfold through art, artifacts and books.

Saturday, January 15 at 7 pm
Proteus Gowanus presents the opening reception of the 2nd Paradise exhibition,
featuring the work of 15 artists, designers and architects.
Some of these works examine the inward aspect of Paradise,
evoking states of happiness, exaltation or -- less heavenly --
the struggle to achieve perfect inner harmony.
Others have turned toward the future, imagining urban utopias,
culinary perfection and even the rendering of heaven itself.

We hope this eclectic gathering ignites your curiosity, and
instigates further investigation!
In the coming months, we will host more events exploring Paradise
through music, food, philosophy, architecture, religion, nostalgia and technology.
We invite you to attend and contribute your own thoughts and ideas
to our yearlong project.

Contributors to Paradise 2
Diane Bertolo

Micheline Gingras
Marcia Hillis
Leslie Kerby
Peter Ketcham
Tom Klinkowstein
Patricia McDonough
Lisanne McTernan
Eva Melas
Joseph Motroni
Adine Sagalyn
Erik Schurink
Theo Stewart Stand
Terreform One
Kit Warren

Proteus Gowanus is located at 543 Union, between Nevins Street and the Union Street Bridge, entrance is on Nevins.

Shop Proteus Gowanus for Cool Gifts this Sunday

Tired of the usual schlock? Want some thought provoking and also utilitarian gifts? Get away from the maddening crowds to the serenity of Nevins Street in Gowanus. Check out the art in the galleries while your at it...dig the list of examples below to get an idea of what the aesthetic of Proteus Gowanus is all about!

From their press release:

You are cordially invited to the Proteus Gowanus All Day Holiday Shopping Party!Sunday, December 19, 12-6 pm

"Are you searching for unusual, offbeat, unique or peculiar gifts to give for the holidays?

Are you dreading the slog through mall and mayhem with the accompanying auditory torture of repetitious holiday music?

May we suggest you attend our all day (12-6 pm) Holiday Shopping Party and solve your shopping problem while drinking grog and listening to unusual, offbeat and peculiar holiday music.

Shopping at Proteus Gowanus is intellectually stimulating, likely to result in conversation and often amusing.

Among the many gifts you might find here are:

Umbrella Bags made by the Fixers Collective - $25
Reflective Vests for Uninsured Bikers - $20
10 Postcards of the Gowanus from the past 100 years - $25
A Pocket Cloud, complete with silver lining - $18
Felted Angels- $25, Enameled Jewelry - $40 - $85, and Knitted Slippers - $35
from the Republic of Georgia
Taxidermy Mice adorned with wings and costumes - $70
Fone Art Figures - $50-$150
Miniature Library Furniture made from library catalogue cards - $20-$35
Songs of Lewis and Clark, a CD - $18
Colored Blocks from the Learning Materials Workshop - $30 and up
Handmade Book Brooches - $30
A wide assortment of new and rare books
Plus books published by Proteotypes, our publishing arm,
including the newly released:
A Little Common Place Book - $15.00
The perfect gift for the itinerant thinker"

www.proteusgowanus.com
Where: 543 Union Street down the alley off Nevins

Reminder: Serious Whimsy Group Show Opening this Sunday 6 to 9pm at Littlefield in Gowanus

"The artists in this show are driven --these objects are the inevitable manifestation of their unique, often obsessive drives. "

I would also like to add that I am in this show and I invite you all to come to the opening!

This show is curated by Cat Weaver of the Art Machine blog. Artists in the show include: Gail Rothschild, Justin Gignac, Kit Warren, Mark DiBattista, Stephanie Homa and Sztuka Fabryka.

When: Sunday, December 5th from 6 to 9pm.
Where: Littlefield Art & Performance Space - 622 DeGraw Street, between 3rd & 4th Avenues.
A Free Event
Click here for more information.

"Serious Whimsy: Group Show Opening Sunday at Littlefield in Gowanus.

"The artists in this show are driven --these objects are the inevitable manifestation of their unique, often obsessive drives. "

I would also like to add that I am in this show and I invite you all to come to the opening!

This show is curated by Cat Weaver of the Art Machine blog. Artists in the show include: Gail Rothschild, Justin Gignac, Kit Warren, Mark DiBattista, Stephanie Homa and Sztuka Fabryka.

When: Sunday, December 5th from 6 to 9pm.
Where: Littlefield Art & Performance Space - 622 DeGraw Street, between 3rd & 4th Avenues.
A Free Event
Click here for more information.

It's Official. Freddy's Bar & Backroom Is Rising Again!

This will most likely be where the performance area will be.
Bruce Ratner and his Atlantic Yards boondoggle may of physically squashed Freddy's Bar & Backroom in the end but they did not extinguish the will to keep Freddy's Bar going.

I was happy to hear about the new lease signing last week and to also visit the NEW location of Freddy's Bar this past Saturday. It is located in the old Ellis restaurant space at 627 Fifth Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets in the south slope.

Former Manager of the old Freddy's,Donald O'Finn, now part owner of the NEW Freddy's released this statement:

"The lease has been signed, We signed on the evening of Oct. 21, 2010. The opening of the doors is contingent on the speed and accuracy of both the State Liquor Authority and the Department of Buildings, as well as the embrace of Community Board 7.

The inmates now run the asylum."

The space is quite large and plans include a music/performance area with a stage and space for art exhibits. It also has a small backyard and a fully functioning kitchen. The former owner of the original Freddy's is out of the picture and the new Freddy's is a joint partnership between Donald O'Finn, Matt Khun and Matt Kimmett, the two former being previous Freddy’s bartenders.

As Donald O'Finn said before the closing of the old Freddy's, "Freddy's is not an address, it is an idea." And it was my impression on Saturday that the new Freddy's has every intention in continuing to present that idea with free live music and events every night of the week in the same uniquely open and collective manner as the old Freddys. Ideas were being thrown around about how to eradicate the quite hideous metalesque Ellis exterior, where to put the stage and where to have art exhibits. Hopefully the next steps will go quickly as the new owners are antsy to open up and get back behind the bar A.S.A.P!

Stay Tuned!

"Portraits" Opens at Brooklynite Gallery featuring NYC artist Gaia plus Sten & Lex from Italy this Saturday

The Brooklynite Gallery has a new show called Portraits which will be featuring work from local NYC street artist Gaia and an Italian duo called Sten & Lex who do street art in Italy. You may of seen Gaia's stuff around the city, he likes to do animal imagery and he initially does them in woodcut but then paints in details with a brush. Anyway, I have always admired his work and I think it will be a good looking show. You are all invited to the opening which is happening on Saturday night.

Check out the Brooklynite Gallery's website for more information on the artists and all that.

Brooklynite Gallery is located in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn at 334 Malcolm X Blvd.
Located 2 blocks from the A or C subway to Utica Ave. stop.
Hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 7pm.

Fantastically Creative Obsessive Compulsive

Crocheted bike by Olek.
And speaking of bikes, many of you out there may have seen these crocheted bikes around town. I spotted this one Wooster Street near Canal in Manhattan, I found out via a photo someone posted on facebook that these are done by a Brooklyn based Polish born artist named Olek. It says on her website that "Olek can be found in her Brooklyn studio with a bottle of spiced Polish vodka and a hand rolled cigarette aggressively re-weaving the world as she sees fit." Love it. Her work is friggin' wild! These bikes ain't the half of her work and I am happy to see that she has an insane looking show going on that I am most definitely going to be checking out this week.

The show is at: Christopher Henry Gallery, 127 Elizabeth Street, NYC
Closes October 17th.

Click here for her website for details and to see all sorts of documentation of her work.

Art , Commerce & the Gowanus Open Studios (AGAST)

The poor dear....trapped inside the BO Concept Store window during the Dumbo Arts Festival.
Cocooning? Pod people? What's it all about? Probably brought people into the store, that's what!

Next Saturday is the unfortunately named but excellent A.G.A.S.T open studios in Gowanus, a bit more casual and less slick, it's a great way to actually go inside the studios of the many artists who are inhabit the Gowanus and actually SMELL the paint (that is, if they paint). I love the voyeuristic aspect of it. It's a fab opportunity to be able to go into the great buildings in the area such as the one on Union & Nevins and the big warehouse on 9th Street by the canal amongst many others. Some of the studios are even in people's row house apartments as well. As an artist, I really enjoy seeing the process part of art making, there is more to a work of art than just the finished piece and I find that checking out the vibe in the artist's studio and seeing what is hanging on their walls, hearing what they listen to and perhaps seeing sketches and stuff like that really gives you so much more of a window into just what drives an artist to make something.

It is usually 2 days long, this year it is just on Saturday, October 3rd, from noon to 6pm.

Click here for more details.

Inside Gleason's Gym

The Dumbo Arts Festival brought loads of people to Dumbo over the weekend. I have to say even though I went into a bunch of the galleries and studio's, it was a bit too "slick" and organized for me. I guess I just crave grit because the high point of the checking out the Dumbo Art Festival was having the opportunity to go inside of Gleason's Gym.

Gleason's is world famous for training the World Champion boxers. From Cassius Clay to Jerry Cooney to Mike Tyson and all the greats before, in between and after, they all have passed through Gleason's doors at some point. And guess what? Many of the boxers are artist's too. It really doesn't surprise me.

No one was was working out that afternoon and the open space's walls were covered with photos of boxers and newspaper clippings of boxers who have trained at Gleason's.

The rings had art displayed along the ropes. Hardly anyone wandering around Dumbo that crowded afternoon seemed to notice the piece of paper taped to the front of Gleason's that they were also a part of it.

Snack bar inside Gleason's. If this was in a gallery, this would be called an "installation", yawn. Sorry artsy people, this is real. It actually functions. Imagine that?!

This is the third incarnation of Gleason's, they started in the Bronx, then to Manhattan and then in moved to this location on 77 Front Street in D.U.M.B.O in the early 80's. Long before it before West Elm and the like.

Back when it was "dangerous", I recall traveling from Astoria to attend some art thing in a warehouse down there in about 1987 and walking the streets alone trying to find it and as the subway roared over the Manhattan Bridge over my head, I thought, "If something happens to me around here, no one would hear me scream!" Obviously things have changed, there was an abundance of well heeled people toting fancy designer shopping bags yesterday. I guess that's progress?

Click here to read about the history of Gleason's gym.

Click here to find out how you too can work out there.

P.S- Excuse the wonky layout, blogger has been out of whack lately....



So many festivals, so little time!! All happening NOW!

The amazing Angelica performing last night at the Coney Island Film Festival kick off party.

I know, I know, I am talking about the weekend AS it is happening but whatever...F.I.B once again attended the fab kickoff for the Coney Island Film Festival and if the opening films were any indication of what else to come on the programs, it would be worth your while to check the festival out. It goes until Sunday night so there is still time. Get some sun and catch a flick!

Schedule and info here!

So hard to pick what to do because this weekend not only is the film festival happening but the Dumbo Arts Festival and also the Atlantic Antic!

Dumbo Arts festival goes until Sunday. It has all sorts of art and music happenings. The schedule and all info is here.

Atlantic Antic runs the length of Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street to 4th Avenue. F.I.B tends to hang out around the Last Exit bar where Les Sans Culottes perform every year as they do this year with sets at 2 & 4pm.

"Paradise" Show opens Friday @ Proteus Gowanus

This image is not in the show! Just looked Paradise-like to me...

Proteus Gowanus is unique in that they pick a theme and go with it all year; curating three shows within the theme. I really like the theme they have this year....Paradise!

From the gallery's press release:

"Whether a garden of innocence or a heaven that only the chosen few can enter, the concept of paradise has entranced us across cultures and eras. In stark contrast with the daily grind, Paradise calls to us and we respond with our imaginations. Pliny the Great added to his idyllic description of the Islands of the Gods:

"These islands, however, are greatly annoyed by the putrefying bodies of monsters,
which are constantly thrown up by the sea."

And this is, indeed, the paradox of paradise: for every heaven, there must be a hell.

This year, Proteus Gowanus will explore the theme Paradise, examining the light and
the dark sides of this alluring word and inviting our friends and visitors to join us as we roam with irony, sensuality and longing in search of paradise."

Paradise Artists:
Angelo Bellfatto, Diane Bertolo, Svetlana Boym, Dominique Cooper, Ernst Haeckel, John Hudak, Okay Karadiyalar, KC Lack, Eva Melas, Lado Pochkua, Lance Rutledge, Adine Sagalyn, Erik Schurink, Suzan Shutan, Suzanne Silver, Josh Stern, Robert The, Friese Undine, Kit Warren, Audra Wolowiec

When: Friday, September 10, 6:30-8:30 pm
543 Union Street down the alley off Nevins Street

Click here for the gallery's website.

Found in Red Hook

Red Hook Lane is one of the loveliest blocks in the neighborhood. After a row of beautifully maintained houses, this unmaintained house featured some beautiful art.
Anyone know who the responsible party is? Is it Elbow Toe?

Joseph Mariano Paintings on view at The Fall Cafe

The Gowanus Canal

Joseph Mariano, a local Gowanus artist will have his work hanging at the Fall Cafe starting Friday. The show will be up until September 28th. Joseph likes to paint en plein air , meaning in the open air and I often see him riding his bike near the canal on route to paint. Although he is a Gowanus resident, I know that he also ventures to other urban natural spots like the Jamaica Bay area. Anyway, Mr. Mariano's paintings are quite delightful, so go check them out at Smith's Street only non commercial coffee house.

The Fall Cafe is located at 307 Smith Street between President & Union.

Closing Party at We-Are-Familia Pop Up Gallery * Friday

I received this from the people at We-Are-Famila who have been holding art shows in a pop-up gallery on Atlantic Avenue for the past few months. What is a pop-up gallery? Its a gallery in an unused store front, that's what! Anyway, they are holding a closing party for their latest exhibit showing the art of Jacob Williams.

From the press release:

Please join us for the closing of a solo exhibition featuring sculpture and collage by Jacob Williams. Williams, who has exhibited with Deitch Projects and the former Diesel Denim Gallery lives and works in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Using traditional figures, iconic imagery, anime and cartoon characters; his work reflects and celebrates the strangeness and extremes of the human spirit.

We-Are-Familia POP UP! Gallery and Event Space
539 Atlantic Avenue (between 3rd & 4th Ave)

Friday the 13th

7 to 10 PM

White Lies on Union Street

Lucky Gallery Closing Party * Friday * Red Hook

Sad to hear that Lucky Gallery in Red Hook is closing it's doors. They are having a closing party blowout on Friday night.

Here's what they have planned:

On July 30th, 7-12pm is the closing party for the final exhibition “Arc Angle” and for Lucky Gallery. “Arc Angle”, is a full scale (floor-to-ceiling), atmospheric installation featuring 13 New York City based artists.

Curated and directed by Yagil in collaboration with Amy Weng, the installation includes sculpture, video, music, painting, poetry, and photography, from thirteen artists, including Benjamin Ayers, Jeremy Holmes, Michael Kondel, Emily Gosweiler, Timothy Shipman, Andrew Rowley, A.M. Breakups, Krystal Kaler, Claire Dickinson, Patrick Lamothe, Ani Sevag, Kelsey Bozler and Kipton Hinsdale.

This is a celebration of more than a year of Lucky exhibitions and events and includes musical performances by Yagil, Mighty Alpacas, Comadante Zero in collaboration with visual artist 0h10M1ke and from Boston, the Gondoliers. In between sets enjoy the sounds of DJ Spacey Sissick who will end the evening with sweaty dance party and with ongoing performance by Boston peformance artist Heidi Jane.

Beer and wine will be provided with special drink specials over the course of the night. Come and say goodbye, buy a Lucky Gallery t-shirt, and enjoy an evening of some of the best entertainment South of Brooklyn in the tropics of Red Hook!

You can check out more details about the artists involved here.