"Brooklyn Utopias?" Art Show Opens this Thursday.

This subway plaza and entrance at 360 Smith Street (F train, Carroll Street) is now closed for the next couple years due to the construction of Billy Stein's "Oliver House" condominiums. This was the site of the above art which will be featured in "Brooklyn Utopias?"

I received this press release from particiapting artist Triada Samaras:

Brooklyn Utopias? is a series of group art exhibitions and public programs organized for this fall. Brooklyn Utopias? engages artists, youth, and community groups in considering differing visions of an ideal Brooklyn.

The “Democracy Wall” featured paintings, photographs, newspaper clippings, blog excerpts, personal comments, drawings and more. It became a symbol of my neighborhood’s strong opposition to large-scale, luxury development in our low-rise, brownstone community, threatening the original planning of Carroll Gardens by the urban planner Richard Butts in the 19th century. In an on-going dialogue and protest, my neighbors and I were able to express themselves freely in public on the “Democracy Wall” for a period of time.

A partner exhibit with even more artists and artworks will open at Brooklyn Historical Society on Thursday, October 1. Two public events in October will engage community organizations in dialogue with the artists, exploring what it would take to build a "Utopian" Brooklyn. Both exhibits also provide opportunities for you as visitor to reflect on your experiences living/working in Brooklyn, and express your own ideas about a more ideal Brooklyn. More details on that later this month.


The opening is this Thursday from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at the th Old Stone House at 3rd Street and 5th Avenue.

Click here for more details.

Rally for Down Zoning with Bill DeBlasio Tomorrow at 16 Court Street at 11 am.

Art Dog did not write on the sign with all the info you need if you are interested in going to this rally that Councilman Bill DeBlasio has organized it. Hmmm.... I wonder why?

Personally, I can't get past his pro-Atlantic Yards stance and view that an $80,000 income makes one qualify for "affordable" housing.

Oh and by the way Art Dog will be participating in F.I.B's Group Art Show on February 2nd. I am not complaining but the complicated way that I have been instructed to pick up the work, something to do with a blindfold and a map and a text message better be worth it!

360 Smith Street and C.O.R.D on the News

In case you don't get Channel 12 as I do, check out the recent interview with representatives from C.O.R.D with coverage of the "Democracy Wall" (I do believe The Gowanus Lounge coined that name). The interview takes place at the Carroll Street subway plaza in front of 360 Smith Street where members of the community have not given up the fight to stop architect Robert Scarano from constructing another building which is out of character and out of scale with the existing neighborhood. Please note that at the end of the broadcast it is said that Councilman Bill DeBlasio's office says that Robert Scarano will be "submitting a revised plan for 360 Smith Street in the New Year that will work more with the community".

Let's hope so, but it seems nothing stops this man from doing what he wants. Will C.O.R.D be the first?

Meanwhile the community in Carroll Gardens and also in Kensington are well aware that Councilman Bill DeBlasio has been more unavailable than usual as he is in Ohio with Hilary Clinton rather than answering his constituents questions.