If you found yourself below Flushing Avenue on Saturday, you know what kind of craziness went on. Jefftown was buzzing with art and spectators and was the perfect place to catch Bushwick Open Studios at its best. From Pablo Garcia’s punk baroque sculptures to Rachel Stern’s dick art, here is a photo-filled recap of Jefftown’s BOS.
My first stop was Harthaus at 1042 Hart Street. Artist couple Jessica and Oliver Ralli curated a small gallery of artist in their cozy home, leading down to some amazing ‘garage’ oil paintings by Carla Avruch.
It was buzzing at Norte Maar at 83 Wyckoff Ave, where everyone was there to see ‘Hecho en Bushwick’ and Carlton Scott Sturgill’s rose installation. All yellow roses were made from old button-down shirts.
The studios at 17-17 Troutman St were the crown jewels of Jefftown. A labyrinth of artist’s studios small and large, highlights included Julia Sinelnikova’s ethereal multimedia installations and Pablo Garcia’s “baroque punk” sculptures made of silk and spray foam.
Much of Jefftown on Saturday was anchored at the Bushwick Collective Block Party held on Troutman and St. Nicholas. Besides a sea of revelers, there were a handful of street artists hard at work including Dasic Fernandez, Sexer, and Zimad. Live music, food trucks, and vendors were also on hand – including Northeast Kingdom’s stall selling fresh produce and pickles on a stick.
From the block party, I walked a few steps to the baby blue-coated The Common. A work space, yoga studio, and gallery space, it was host a wide-ranging display of art like Elizabeth Traina‘s pastel-hued meta art and Rachel Stern’s genitalia-heavy photo exhibit, “A Certain Age.”
Bushwick Berlin, at 382 Jefferson St, showcased the works of German-born artists exploring the connections between Berlin and Bushwick.
Adjacent to Bushwick Berlin was Brooklyn Brush Studios, where I saw Michelle Silver’s oil paintings.
Taking me above Flushing Avenue, I finished BOS with the NEWD Art Fair at the 1896, located at 592 Johnson Ave. Showcasing a variety of paintings, sculptures, and installations, I was struck by the beauty of the brick building that was built in 1896. One of my favorite pieces was “Lasagna Del Rey” by thestrutny.
Until next year, BOS.