Art in the Parks

The youth photographers who contributed their work to this exhibition were a part of a 12-week youth photography program organized by the Red Hook Community Justice Center. Students learned about photography basics and techniques and how to document their lives, interests, and the world around them. The students went out into Red Hook and surrounding areas to photograph the various elements of what they believe make up a neighborhood. The resulting images are about friendships, how new neighborhood residents make a living in an unfamiliar and faraway place, what it means to care for elders within our families, and the personal and communal histories within our communities.

This exhibition is presented by the Red Hook Community Justice Center and Photoville.

A sonic sculpture inspired by and dedicated to the art, life, and legacy of this Brooklyn Hip Hop legend, the form and structure of Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings challenges the traditions of western public sculpture by representing his African American artistry, lineage, and evolution as the “King of New York.” The crowned bust is traditionally sculpted, sitting atop an angular steel frame and supported by panels that highlight Wallace’s achievements and contemporaries. It invites the viewer to experience the larger-than-life artistry of B.I.G.’s contributions to and love of Brooklyn, hip-hop culture and community.

This exhibition is made possible by a grant from the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund, led by Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Dumbo Improvement District as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

Having recently moved to Brooklyn, artist Dan Petersen was inspired to create a mural design that would convey the fun, colorful, and dynamic atmosphere that he immediately found myself immersed in. This vibe was validated over and over again during the process of painting the mural as so many enthusiastic passersby exclaimed compliments and nice words of encouragement – from cars, bikes, skateboards, and on foot.

As Quiet As It's Kept, We Thrive: Stories & Portraits from the Heart of Bed-Stuy brings visibility to the residents of Bed-Stuy whose voices are seldom heard, honored and celebrated. The portrait and mini-documentary series comes out of a larger community-based movement to offer alternatives to violence and focus on positive, life-affirming activities to those who may not feel that they are normally included.

This exhibition is presented by Bailey’s Cafe.

Designed by Elisabeth Condon with artists Angel Garcia, Karl Kelly, Paulapart, Kiana Vega, Estefania Velez-Rodriguez and Price White, Lattice Views spreads over the extended on either side of the handball courts in lower Highland Park. Within the lattice pattern, harmonious tones of green that relate to the park conjoin with community garden foliage, wide stairs that lead through the park, as well as people, lamps, and bicycles from the park. The lattice acknowledges the trees above the extended walls by pulling them down into the design, creating visual continuity between nature and the handball court and ground.

This exhibition is presented by Norte Maar for Collaborative Projects in the Arts.

Gabrielle Vitollo bends and cuts metal to reexamine the boundaries between painting and sculpture. In this steelwork Cutout, the sky-blue paint links to the overhead atmosphere and the curves create soothing gradations. Vitollo’s window-like sculpture reframes the garden so that the surrounding environment may be seen from a fresh perspective.

In a warming world, shade has become a valued commodity. Made In The Shade is a public art tribute to the parks and green spaces that allow people to gather, cool off, play and relax. Artist Elizabeth Keithline recently asked Eldon and other park goers to consider the value of New York City public parks as providers of shade by tracing the shadows of some of their favorite things on 2’ x 4’ wood panels: playground equipment, a bike, an ice cream cart, a tree.

The youth photographers who contributed their work to this exhibition were a part of a program organized by the Red Hook Community Justice Center in partnership with the Red Hook Recreation Center. Students learned about photography basics and techniques and how to document their lives, interests, and the world around them. The students re-learned how to take a deep breath in and appreciate the world around us. 

This exhibition is presented by the Red Hook Community Justice Center, Red Hook Recreation Center, and Photoville.

A sonic sculpture inspired by and dedicated to the art, life, and legacy of this Brooklyn Hip Hop legend, the form and structure of Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings challenges the traditions of western public sculpture by representing his African American artistry, lineage, and evolution as the “King of New York.” The crowned bust is traditionally sculpted, sitting atop an angular steel frame and supported by panels that highlight Wallace’s achievements and contemporaries. It invites the viewer to experience the larger-than-life artistry of B.I.G.’s contributions to and love of Brooklyn, hip-hop culture and community.

This exhibition is made possible by a grant from the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund, led by Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Dumbo Improvement District as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.