Pancho Westendarp on view at Robert Henry Contemporary (image by courtesy of Robert Henry Contemporary)

Still reeling from the craziness that was Bushwick Open Studios, our community has settled down (slightly). After being relatively quiet last weekend, the Bushwick art community is back in full force, with several must-see shows coming to a gallery near you. If anything, BOS showed us that the art scene in our backyard has a great deal to offer, not just with studios, but with galleries featuring a plethora of thought-provoking, world-class art. This weekend should continue the trend of proving what we may already know – Bushwick is not just a place to visit once a year, but a thriving community that is open all year around!

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E4LD (courtesy of The Other Theater)

This weekend the New Museum celebrated its third year of IDEAS CITY, a collaborative initiative that seeks to use the arts to revitalize urban space as a forum for discussion and culture enrichment. Among the hundreds of participants, two women, Meenakshi Thirukode and Jasmine Wahi, push the mission of the three-day event, truly challenging the concept of art and space, and art in space. Brought together serendipitously and slightly prophetically, Thirukode and Wahi have combined their art world/business savvy with their passion for the expansion of art in public urban spaces to create the timely Project for Empty Space (PES). The foundation, brainstormed by the partners in 2010, focuses on transforming under-utilized or typically non-art spaces into temporary performance art venues. They seek to change perceptions and to stretch the impact of art in an urban environment, making it more accessible to the city’s entire population. As a second act to this weekend’s collaboration with The Other Theater, Etiquette for Lucid Dreaming, PES will host the event again, this time at Brooklyn Fire Proof in Bushwick on Tuesday May 7th.

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Well, kids, it is officially May which, for me, stands for margaritas, wearing white and, of course, Bushwick Open Studios! While this event is still a few weeks away, the galleries are already getting ready for it and the neighborhood is literally buzzing with activity. There is a slew of galleries at the 56 Bogart building celebrating openings this weekend, while other galleries are giving viewers once last chance to see their show before closing up shop. This week we can also celebrate a couple of stellar events in Williamsburg and Bed Stuy that are surely worth the trek. With so much happening, it’s a good thing you have us to curate your weekend for you! Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck for your art weekend!

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At Theodore:Art right now. (All photos by Katarina Hybenova)

There is nothing wrong with spending half a day shamelessly indulging yourself with art, wandering and experiencing. For this lovely purpose, let me recommend the 56 Bogart building located right across the street from Morgan L train stop. The building is home to numerous artist studios, but mainly to 10 galleries on the ground floor and at the basement level. The high concentration of art at 56 Bogart makes the building a go-to destination when you acutely need large quantities of great art. Here is what to see right now:

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All images via retronaut.com

Are you shamefully hiding your body under layers of ugly sweaters after a series of Holiday eating extravaganzas? Does your 2013 resolution list contain a lot of exercise but you can’t seem to be able to identify the right workout for you? Breathe in, breathe out, straighten your spine, we’ve got you covered. How about an art workout? Run around the art openings this weekend, spring and hop above the hurdles. And you better sprint because there is a LOT to see…

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Are you going to Miami? (Image via Tripadvisor.com)

Waiting for the holiday is a lot easier if you’re an art lover. Early December is traditionally dedicated to Art Miami Basel and a number of satellite art fairs. The burgeoning Bushwick art scene will not be left out this year, and many Bushwick artists and galleries are headed to Miami beach. So who is going and who is not going and why? What are the expectations of Bushwickians in Miami? Will Bushwick DIY chic prove itself next to the big art world glamour?

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I’ve had the pleasure of sleeping with two of the three art exhibitions I’m about to write about. I’m coming around to the opinion that art should be experienced with a lucid detachment. The kind that comes with waking up next to it as the sun begins to shine in the large loft windows of an old garment factory.

No coffee. No cigarettes. Just a good deal of blinking and possibly a stretch. Things come to you in waves. The realization that a day has begun sinks in and the only consolation is your surroundings.

(All photos by the author.)

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By Katarina Hybenova

Photo via Nordemaan flickr.com

We are taking it by subway stops. That was a decision when wondering how we could possibly write a guide to Bushwick Open Studios 2012. Over 540 participating locations aren’t easy to cover. Here is what we won’t miss off the Morgan L stop:

#1 The Bogart Salon: Isha A Tell All Tale

You can either hate or love the 56 Bogart building filled up to the edge with galleries and studios, but you certainly can’t miss it when strolling through BOS2012 participating art spaces. We promise an unlikely art and cultural experience at The Bogart Salon. Meenakshi Thirukode, Peter Hopkins and the crew will be filming a Bollywood style soap opera about the art world and the perils of a young woman, right there on the set in the gallery.

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#2 Robert Henry Contemporary

Robert Henry Comtemporary is a brand new gallery at 56 Bogart. When in the building go check out their inaugural show Centuries of Noon by Andrew Zarou. (Wink wink – keep your eye on Andrew Zarou. We predict some sparkles and stars shooting around him…)

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#3 Carol Salmanson Studio

Carol Salmanson is a truly interesting artist who likes to use light, glass and electricity in her work. Her studio happens to be in 56 Bogart building, so check out her work.

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#4 CRE8

On the 3rd floor of 56 Bogart building, visit CRE8. CRE8 features visual art from resident artists, Modesto Flako Jimenez among other. Modesto is a Bushwick-raised poet and cabbie in his spare time. This super-smart and super-talkative guy talks about gentrification in his art. He created a documentary to be featured during BOS that everyone should see!

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#5 This Is So Fucking Temporary

There is a lot going on at McKibbin lofts as well. Make sure you don’t miss Daniel Greer’s surrealistic posters, large scale drawings, music and readings on Friday and Saturday nights.

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#6 Centotto

Take a quiet moment from BOS insanity and visit Centotto, Paul D’Agostino’s apartment gallery across the street from Roberta’s. Paul has prepared an exhibition that looks really beautiful and features Austin Thomas, Meg Lipke, Josh Willis, Gili Levy, Cecco Angiolieri, and Charting the Not.

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#7 Rafael Fuchs Studio

L’enfant terrible of contemporary photography, local icon, and a very sociable man of Israeli origin has his studio on Bogart Street right above Swallow Cafe. Pay him a visit and let him tell you all about Bushwick since he moved here in 2005.

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#8 Bushwick Dimensions

Jean Luc Van Damme invites you to explore a survival game played on the streets of Bushwick!! Visit BushwickDimension.com on your smartphone and start playing now!

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#9 Brooklyn Fire Proof Film Series

Over at Brooklyn Fire Proof they have prepared a film festival consisting of old and new films celebrating life. This could be a nice change of festival pace. Visit The Seltzer Room Studio 3 Screening Lounge.

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#10 Gili Levy

While at Brooklyn Fire Proof complex, visit artists’ studios located there. Gili Levy will be showing her gentle abstract paintings and welcoming guests.

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#11 Ethan Petit Contemporary

Ethan Petit Contemporary is a brand new gallery in Bushwick that will open during BOS2012 for the 1st time. In their innaugural group show Ethan Petit will feature many of our favorite local artists.

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#12 The Living Gallery

One of the very new galleries and art spaces in Bushwick, The Living Gallery, is located in The Loom. Nyssa Frank is hosting photographer Meryl Meisler who collaborated with writer Vanessa Martir. Defying Devastation will be an exhibition that is an absolute must if you’re interested in Bushwick and its history. Vanessa Martir grew up in the streets of Bushwick in the ’80s when Meryl Meisler used to take photos in the streets. As it turns out, Meryl took a picture of Vanessa as a child playing in the street, and Vanessa learned about the existence of this picture through Bushwick Daily. We will bring more on this fascinating encounter on Bushwick Daily soon.

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#13 Storefront Bushwick

All-time favorite gallery in a storefront on Wilson Ave, Storefront Bushwick will bring works by Abdolreza Aminlari and a sculpture by Drew Shiflett. Abdolreza is a an artist of Iranian origin explores ideas of cultural memory and identity, specifically the idea of “home” in relation to the Iranian Diaspora.

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#14 Two Coats of Paint

The founder of the blog Two Coats of Paint, painter Sharon Butler has recently moved her studio to Bushwick. Additionally, she invited Austin Thomas of Pocket Utopia to curate a painting show there for BOS.

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#15 Truck Yeah

Truck Yeah Meet Up is a very cool project whose goal is to transform any location into a creative gathering. Visit Pine Box Rock Shop on Saturday and Sunday and have fun!

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