Arts Gowanus has teamed up with the Atlantic Avenue BID and the Atlantic Avenue LDC for a fabulous weekend featuring Gowanus artists displaying paintings, drawings, prints, photography, installations and sculptures in Arts Gowanus ArtWalk! The event will be displayed on storefronts, roll down gates, and dining fences of sixty-five Atlantic Avenue businesses.
The Event is a 1.5 mile, self-guided, socially distanced ArtWalk through Brooklyn neighborhoods Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, and Downtown Brooklyn. Rediscover your merchants.
“Atlantic Avenue businesses reflect the diversity of the City and an innovative creative approach to small business. Our local merchants have survived financial crisis, weather, and other challenges, but the novel coronavirus pandemic is threatening their survival. We’re hoping that ArtWalk will help to bring people back to our local merchants, confident of the safety protocols in place, and bring to focus the passion, originality and the contribution that each business on the Avenue makes to NYC, “ said Kate Chura, Executive Director, Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District.
Curated by Arts Gowanus Executive Director Johnny Thornton, guest curators Clémence Mailly, Yvena Despagne and the Imagination Collective, the socially distanced exhibit features the works of renowned Brooklyn artists including Swoon, A.V. Ryan, Miguel Ayuso and Natale Adgnot
“As an artist, I’m extremely excited for the opportunity this event gives artists and visitors to engage in arts and culture in a safe way and for the public to see the amazing depth of creativity and talent we have locally in Brooklyn,” said Johnny Thornton, executive director, Arts Gowanus.
Opening the weekend of October 17 and 18, and running through November 1, ArtWalk will offer visitors an extraordinary experience. Here are a few highlights:
• More than 65 pieces of art and large installations created by local artists along a 1.5 mile stretch
• Eye Smile, You Smile, a photo wall installation by artist Michael Ayuso that installation speaks to what we’ve missed during the pandemic — seeing each other’s smiles. To be a part of this installation, New Yorkers are invited to submit a photo of themselves wearing a mask (and smiling with their eyes) and not wearing mask (and smiling with their full face), to remind us what lies beneath. Submit photos here before October 12 at 11:59pm
• A crowd funded installation, “Neighborhood Reflections,” will tie the exhibit together and lend community voice to the ArtWalk through a display of eco-friendly graphic banners around the tree beds along the Avenue. The banners will showcase personal reflections from local artists and community members on issues of importance to them and the current state of affairs.
• Specials, discounts and promotions at local businesses
• Pop up music and dance performances and live art.
• Smart signage created by Verbate, to use with phones to enable a contactless, safe experience. Guests can tap their phones to discover the participating artists, explore each block of Atlantic Ave, and engage with merchants. And, of course, masks are mandatory
According to Howard Kolins, acting director, Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corp., “ArtWalk is an opportunity for all of us to discover the pleasures of the Avenue when our merchants need us most. Many artists are residents of this area so it’s only natural that we showcase their work here. We hope that New Yorkers and visitors to the City take an opportunity to stroll, imbibe, shop and celebrate the small town vibe we enjoy every day on Atlantic Ave.” Kolins added ”I invite you come out and say “hello” to our many friendly merchants and artists and SHOP LOCAL!”
This event is free and open to the public. Masks are required.