Ok, so if there was any doubt left in anyone’s mind, summer is officially here — in full force. All around the neighborhood there are scenes of people attempting to install their window AC units without letting them plummet three stories; scantily-clad guys and girls trying to wear as little as they can get away with; and, of course, there is the ever wonderfully hot and sticky summer art opening. This weekend, the Bushwick art world will wake up from a holiday slumber with a number of exciting solo and group shows that are definitely not to be missed! Yes, there will be crowds of people slowly crawling from one gallery to the next, and YES, there will most likely be cold beer to make it all ok. There is so much going on that the Bushwick Daily team joined forces to bring you all of the best events! The newest exhibition from offers visitors the chance to participate in a mystical, celebratory performance. Established in the summer of 2012 by Greem Jellyfish and Alex Patrick Dyck, Noodle Beaches for Meeting Witches is a group of artists working around the themes of shared experience, community, beach culture, and the spirituality found in communing with nature. “Small Worlds of the Claiming Moon” is the group’s newest endeavor, and it opens Friday at Signal just in time to capture the heightened psychic energy of the full moon on the 12th. The exhibition includes multiple installations made with found materials from beaches, parks, and more for visitors to explore and interact with, and the artists have also built a communal altar, which visitors are encouraged to contribute to, for ancestors and the spirits of the summer season. Artists and non-artists alike know that feeling – the moment when you reach the pinnacle of frustration and sweet agony working on a project. That constant struggle of being exasperated and driven to keep going can only be described as existential, and often it is surpassing this obstacle that makes the victory that much better. Tommy Coleman new works in a variety of media all center on this liminal moment between breakthrough and heartbreak. While focusing on the process that goes into the making of a work, Coleman is also acutely aware of other aspects an artist must deal with, including social media, networking and the threat/hope of sudden fame and notoriety for their work. Channel your own inner Charlie Brown with a hand-palm: good grief! (Allison Galgiani)
