By Katarina Hybenova

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“Hipster brunch is a late, low fi version of brunch in East Williamsburg,” said the ironic invitation from Rob de Oude from Camel Art Space. Last weekend was the final weekend for their current exhibition Narrative Ability (and Matthew Mahler and Andrew Zarou in the Project Space), and actually the final exhibition weekend for Camel Art Space as well. Indeed, Camel Art Space is moving from their current location on 722 Metropolitan to 1717 Troutman in Bushwick. I stopped by to check out the food art at Camel, and to chat with Rob de Oude and Enrico Gomez about their upcoming move.

One of the reasons for the move is that many galleries left the area and Camel became sort of an isolated animal in East Williamsburg. However, the main reason for the move is of practical nature. The building on Metropolitan Ave has become increasingly unstable. Leaks and other unsafe conditions are not the best spaces to store and exhibit art…That’s why Rob and his fellows from Camel didn’t hesitate to sign the lease at 1717 Troutman. Unlike other art spaces who are coming to Bushwick because of the increasing hype of the place in the art world, for Camel the move to Bushwick is more than natural. Not only does the space have more of a Bushwick than Williamsburg vibe, but Rob has lived in Bushwick for over six years and is actually happy that he can walk to his studio after several years of L train trouble.

Camel is not only moving their gallery but also their art studios. Rob said that the new space will be smaller, but they are welcoming the decrease of space as they want to focus on smaller and solo person art shows for the future, and get deeper into curation. They also want to exhibit more of their own work, as Camel Art Space was focusing mostly on big group shows and guest curators. Camel Art Space will be losing its name and is also leaving their mascot, the wood camel, behind. The camel came with the building, and no one would refer to the building differently as a result. The artists haven’t decided on the new name yet, and to my tiny disappointment, they ruled out animals from the selection [*sigh*]. The new space will be ready for the 1st show in April. We can’t wait!

Camel Art Space has been operating on Metroplolitan Ave since 2008, though Rob de Oude has been renting his studio in the building for at least 10 years. Camel Art Space started as a collective of artists who had studios in the building, and who were aspiring to curate group shows and to show their own work in the gallery space. Rob said that the decision to use the space at 722 Metropolitan as a gallery followed the recession peak of 2008, after which many galleries in Williamsburg had to close down. He felt like Camel has the necessary space and enthusiasm to fill in the sudden gap, and has been doing a great job since.

Welcome to Bushwick*, guys!

Correction, 1717 Troutman is one block into Ridgewood.

…do you know what you are doing this weekend? I surely know what Julie Torres and 13 other artists will be doing… They will all be part of an insane art experiment 48 HRS, during which they will be creating artwork, sleeping, and finally having a party!

Participating artists will meet up in Camel Art Space (722 Metropolitan Ave. Second Floor, Brooklyn) on Friday October 21, at midnight. They will be creating art work for the following 24 hours straight (!!!). After this creative insanity, they will have time to rest for 12 hours, i.e. from midnight on Saturday to noon on Sunday. On Sunday at noon to midnight, the doors of Camel Art Space will be open, and everyone is welcomed to take look at the artwork created during the experiment, and to join the creative bunch celebrating the last third of 48 HRS!

Here, take a look at this helpful timetable of 48 HRS:

Don’t despair! Thanks to Twitter you can also witness the first 36 hours of the experiment. Look for hashtag #48HRS or simply come to the Bushwick Daily website. We will be displaying every tweet containing hashtag #48HRS throughout the entire experiment. The artists will be tweeting and posting pictures right from the site.

Also Bushwick Daily’s Katarina Hybenova, will be photographing and videotaping the entire process. In regular intervals, some photographs will appear on Bushwick Daily, and in the end the photo and the video documentation will be exhibited as part of the art show!

Artist Julie Torres is a big fan of painting marathons and the mastermind behind 48HRS. Julie has herself undergone several “mini” painting marathons, and a 24 hour-long one, which took place at the headquarters of popular art blogazine Hyperallergic. We asked her what to expect.

1. You are a big fan of painting marathons. Where did you get the idea to start with them?

Geddes Levenson first introduced me to painting marathons, which she began doing about a year ago with her friend, Annie Blazejack. I’ve also done a bunch with Austin Thomas. And yes- I love them! Thank you, Geddes!

2. Why do you think that painting marathon as a creative method works for you?

They encourage me to push myself. I tend to paint for long periods, but working in such a focused way with another person is much more intense. And also, you sort of absorb what the other person is doing. Last time with Geddes, she was drawing these bees- and next thing you know- I’ve got these black and yellow stripes going through my piece (see photo.) That sharing of energy and experience thrills me.

Painting by Julie Torres created during a 15hour-long marathon with Geddes Levenson. Photo by courtesy of Julie Torres.

3. I know that you have been gearing up for 48HRS by doing shorter painting marathons with your close friends. Can you tell us more?

The longest I’ve gone with Geddes is 15 hours. We were pretty fried at the end. But she’s gone 24-hours straight with Annie, so I know that it’s possible! I’ve painted for 15 hours on my own, but there’s something different about hunkering down in one room with another person. When I work from home I take breaks, check email, make a phone call, etc– but this experience is different. It’s very concentrated. So yeah- that’s the longest I’ve gone, 9 hours short of the goal! But it helps.

Paiting by Julie Torres created during a painting marathon with Austin Thomas. Photo by courtesy of Julie Torres.

4. How do you perceive the role of the public that will come to the show after you finish a painting marathon?

That’s a tough one. I don’t know that it’s up to me to say what a viewers’ role is, but I do have some ideas about enhancing interaction with people who come to the show. I can’t wait. I won’t give it away…

5. Are you excited to have more people doing a painting marathon with you? How do you expect the group to affect the outcome?

I’m really excited to try this with a big group. I have no idea how, but I do expect the experience will change the way we all work in some fundamental way. You know that proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ That sums it up I guess.

6. If any of the artists participating in 48 HRS are concerned about how they’ll work in a group and for such a long time, what would you like to tell them?

Don’t worry, we’ll have a Safe Word.

48HRS will be held from  the midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday. Join us by posting tweets with #48HRS, and by coming on Sunday October 22, 2011, 12pm-12am at Camel Art Space!

Artists include: Lauren Collings, Julie Curtiss, Rebecca Goyette, Erin Haldrup, Katarina Hybenova, Warren King, Ken Kocses, Geddes Levenson, Rebecca Litt, Chris McGee, Joey Parlett, Jamie Powell, Babette Rittenberg, Julie Torres