Sundays at the Pocket

I'm studying up on Lee Lozano tonight in preparation for next Sunday's salon. The pictures above are from last Sunday.

A Must See

James Kalm has a video about Fred, his show, and Lee Lozano (with supporting roles by Pocket Utopia and friends.)

And Elizabeth Riley made a beautiful video of Fred's installation, another must see!

27 seconds

Twenty-seven seconds per image in iPhoto was sometimes adequate, sometimes way too long, and sometimes not enough when describing how I attempt to break down the barriers between art and life, how art making is a cumulative process, and defining my work as community-oriented, in addition to talking about drawings, sculpture and social spaces. All of this photo sharing and clock beating occured at Brown University on Tuesday when I spoke to Leigh Tarention's class and other members of the undergraduate Visual Arts Department.

I took the train to Providence, walked to Brown's Philip Johnson building, and visited with Leigh's printmaking class. It seemed like I was there for 27 seconds!

Arts in Bushwick is Everywhere (and in Bed-Stuy)

Peri Lee Pipkin, Pocket Utopia's intern has opened her own space in Bed-Stuy called Video and they had a well attended opening on Saturday with really beautiful drawings and awesome zines. Way to go Peri, we're so proud of you all, cool space!

There's art all over Bushwick. Last weekend during Arts in Bushwick's BETA Spaces we stopped in at Norte Maar's Hecho en Bushwick and checked out art in the park. And don't forget about Privateer, even though I'm trying to forget Saturday's performance! Pictured above Andrew Hurst's mixed media painting.

The Washington Post's travel section even writes about Bushwick, so it most be a destination!

100 Shadows at Jefferson Market Library

Jefferson Market Library has a beautiful, small exhibition of photographic shadows, they're anonymous, elusive snapshots that capture your attention.

Salon a la Fred

Read the article about Lee Lozano's Fred and Fred in the Brooklyn Rail.

A platform to work

We've opened things up even more at Pocket Utopia for Kevin Regan. Kevin will join Amy Lincoln as another artist in resident. It's great to have more people around! That's our intern Peri working on the floor.

Timeout says...the L to Morgan Avenue is a Pocket Utopia

I've posted this picture a many times on this blog, but Mike took it and Timeout Magazine referred to in a recent article about Pocket Utopia's neighborhood.


Time Out New York / Issue 684 : Nov 6–12, 2008
TOUR NEW YORK
L to Morgan Ave
We took the L to Morgan Ave and found killer street art, cheap vintage and no barf.

By Andrew Frisicano

35 mins from midtown

Upon exiting the Morgan Ave stop, the first thing we notice about Bushwick is its abundance of street art: Wheatpasted installations have supplanted the gang graffiti of yesteryear—well, most of it, anyway. We step inside The Archive Cafe (49 Bogart St at Grattan St, 718-381-1944), a video-rental store and cornerstone of what some locals are calling Morgantown, and ask assistant manager and Cool Hand Luke fan Dan Mitchell for the nabe’s best spots. He recommends Life Café (983 Flushing Ave at Central Ave; 718-386-1133, lifecafe.com) for its vegetarian options, especially during brunch; the voguishly divey Wreck Room (940 Flushing Ave between Central and Evergreen Aves, 718-418-6347), notable for its pool tables and cheap swill; and thrift store Urban Jungle Vintage (118 Knickerbocker St between Flushing Ave and Thames St, urbanjunglevintage.wordpress.com).

We head in the direction of Mitchell’s faves, but get sidetracked by two guys filming a music video near the gates of a Boar’s Head warehouse. Lensman Tyler Ribble loves the ’Wick. “I’ve lived here a year and a half and there are always rooftop parties and barbecues,” he enthuses. The crew gives a thumbs-up on Mitchell’s picks, and vocalist Matt Singer adds one more to the mix: Roberta’s (261 Moore St between Bogart and White Sts; 718-417-1118, robertaspizza.com), a brick-oven pizzeria known for its gourmet pies and homey vibe.

Urban Jungle Vintage
While chowing down there, we chat with Juan Figueroa, owner of the NY Loft Hostel just down the block. “It used to be a clothing warehouse, like most of the neighborhood,” says Figueroa, who says the only clothier left in the ’hood is Martin Greenfield—famous for dressing notables like Bill Clinton.

We head over to Tina’s Restaurant (1002 Flushing Ave at Wilson Ave, 718-821-9595), a nook of a diner with an odd schedule: 3:30am to 4pm. The predawn business is strong with “night owls and Boar’s Head drivers,” says owner Tina Skermo. “Sometimes they’re waiting outside for me to open up.”

Farther down the block, we spot a packed crowd feasting on vegan scrambles at Life Café. Manager Andy Mills says the joint reflects the neighborhood’s arty vibe even when its doors are closed: “All three of our gates were done by graffiti artists that I’m told are extremely famous.” (A little research tells us the scrawlings belong to Jace, Pez, Eine and Aiko.) We soldier on until we hit art studio and “social space” Pocket Utopia (1037 Flushing Ave between Morgan Ave and Vandevoort Pl, pocketutopia.com), whose open door beckons. Artist-in-residence Amy Lincoln points out a wheatpasted piece across the street, compliments of Swoon. We admire the work en route to another gallery: Factory Fresh (1053 Flushing Ave between Knickerbocker and Morgan Aves, factoryfresh.net), whose current show, “Quality of Life,” displays four photographers’ takes on New York’s forgotten spaces. Codirector Ali Ha reports that the previous night’s opening party was a success, but they had a problem curbing attendees’ BYO inclination. “We’re trying to do everything legit,” says Ha. “At our last spot [in the LES], we got talked to by the chief of police.” So why the move to Bushwick? “The Lower East Side is done—it’s where everyone starts puking into garbage cans at 7pm. Lots of artists live out here now.”

We leave, turn the corner and finally arrive at Urban Jungle, ready for flannel shirts (priced at a paltry $7). Adam Wistar, a student who has lived in the neighborhood since last summer, is trying on threads. “Getting some shirts for the winter—one-of-a-kind items, you know,” he says with a grin.

On our walk back to the subway, we spy a massive Barack Obama mural, just blocks from a new condo development and a community garden. Good or bad, big changes are happening here, and the motto seems to be, “Yes, we can.”

I Voted

and he won!

More Freddy, Sunday Salon - November 9th @ 4:00 pm

Pocket Utopia presents, Fred Gutzeit: "Love to Fred from Lee Lozano"

A Sunday Salon Discussion.

Sunday, November 9th starting at 4:00 pm., refreshments served.

Fred Opens

Fred Gutzeit: “Love to Fred from Lee Lozano”

1 November – 14 December, 2008

Jeremy Jones And Audra Wolowiec in the project space and a new print edition by Libby Hartle