Wednesday, December 8, 2010

DUMBO ARTS CENTER WELCOMES KARL ERICKSON AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR




The Dumbo Arts Center (DAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Karl Erickson as Executive Director. Erickson brings to DAC a passion for contemporary art combined with years of experience in non-profit arts management and programming. Recently Erickson was the Director for the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York. Prior to moving to New York, he served as the Director of the Fellows of Contemporary Art, a philanthropic arts organization, and as the Program Coordinator for Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions. Notable accomplishments include stabilizing the programming and operations of MoCCA, launching a new program for emerging curators at FOCA entitled “Curator’s Lab” and organizing a variety of cross-media and -genre works at LACE, such as the Voice-Overs series, as well as being the co-founder of Cakewalk Magazine. Erickson is also an artist whose interests include language, transcendental experiences, and counter-cultures throughout the ages.

Erickson says, “I am truly excited about this opportunity to lead DAC into a new era. It is an honor to be entrusted with such a rich, vital organization. DAC will continue to be a place where new art is created and new forms of interaction between artists and audiences initiated. I believe that art is an expansive field that documents where we are as a culture and, more importantly, shapes what we can become. Art can be a force for positive change and a way for us to creatively channel our energies to advance ourselves as a society. The freedom contemporary art offers to explore our potential is unparalleled, and we will delve deeply into this freedom. DAC’s education programs are also an important contribution to the New York art community and we will continue to develop them, including the Artist Opportunity Workshop. I look forward to working with DAC’s dedicated staff, Board and community in the coming year.”

DAC Board Chairman Julie Martin says “We are very excited to have Karl assume the leadership of DAC at this important moment in our history and look forward to working with him as we go forward in our new space. His energy, ideas and experience in working with artists and artists' spaces will continue DAC's long history of actively supporting artists and the art community in Dumbo and expand Dumbo's role as a cultural destination for New Yorkers and the world.”

Erickson joins Gallery Manager Maya Taylor to initiate DAC’s new series of programs in its next home at 111 Front Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn, a hub of art innovation in Brooklyn and beyond.

DAC is a non-profit contemporary arts organization located in Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York. DAC's mission is to catalyze interaction between visual artists, the local community and the wider public, in order to preserve the neighborhood of Dumbo as a springboard for new art.

Founded by artists in the wake of the first D.U.M.B.O. Art Under the Bridge Festival in 1997, DAC was the first non-profit arts organization in Dumbo, Brooklyn. DAC continued to produce the annual multi-site festival from 1998-2009. Today DAC presents a year-round program of new exhibitions in its gallery, commissions site-specific art and provides educational programs for artists and students.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Opportunities at A.I.R.

One of DAC's favorite Dumbo spaces, A.I.R. gallery, is now accepting applications for their fellowship program and for their 9th annual Biennial Exhibition.Link

More information follows below. To apply, please visit www.airgallery.org.

A.I.R. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: 18-month professional development program with solo show opportunity for women in the NYC area.

Panelists: Lisa Kim, Art Collection Manager, Gagosian Gallery; Paddy Johnson, Founding Editor, Art Fag City; and Wendy Olsoff, Co-owner, PPOW Gallery.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 30, 2010.
Apply online at http://www.airgallery.org.


THE A.I.R. GALLERY 9TH BIENNIAL EXHIBITION: juried exhibition open to all women artists.

Juror: Alexandra Schwartz, MoMA & Montclair Art Museum

ENTRY DEADLINE: November 20, 2010. All self-identified women artists may submit any original work of art. Apply online at http://www.airgallery.org.


Thursday, September 30, 2010

VANDALISM?

On the opening night of Pigeonhole, DAC’s current exhibition by Reina Kubota and Hang Xu, an unidentified graffitist placed a box of white chalk inside the artists' maze, with a message written above that invited visitors to “take this chalk.” Within half an hour, dozens of visitors had passed through the installation, and most surfaces had been covered in chalk drawings and inscriptions. Most acted in good faith; they believed this to be part of the artists’ plan and enthusiastically contributed to the collaborative graffiti project.

Due to the nature of the installation (mostly hidden from view from the front of the gallery), by the time the drawing was discovered, the chalk additions numbered in the hundreds. Though DAC staff and the two artists who created Pigeonhole were surprised and somewhat upset, the artists made a decision that night not to erase the marks.*

The original piece was intended to inspire introspection and encourage visitors to investigate the ways in which they self-identify. In some ways, the personal notes and descriptors, as well as several self-portraits, that visitors scrawled inside the maze are evidence of this investigation. Each amateur contributor, when faced with blank walls, made decisions about how to best represent themselves through chalk. The resulting glyphs, ranging from the inevitable rude anatomical sketches to sincere personal anecdotes or questions for future visitors, are an interesting representation of DAC’s public.

However, the marks themselves are distracting for future visitors, and certainly detract from the mysterious and sometimes frightening quality of the original piece. Entering the installation in its current state, a viewer is less able to project their own impressions and interpretations on the forms and spaces of the maze.

The artists may well choose to remove the remaining chalk marks. For the time being, the comments and drawings remain but the discussion continues.

Images of the installation (pre-chalk) here.

*Some obscenities and the front face of the installation were later erased.

-Maya Taylor, Gallery Manager

Thursday, August 12, 2010

video_dumbo Open Call

video_dumbo is an international festival for contemporary video art. We are seeking submissions for the 2010 edition, as part of the 14th annual D.U.M.B.O. Art Under The Bridge Festival™, September 24-26 2010.

Our focus is on contemporary video art. We are looking for:

A. single channel work for the screening programs
B. video installations [single/multi channel and interactive software]

NOTE: For video installations the selected artists are responsible for the installation, production costs and all the equipment required for your work to be exhibited. Sorry we are unable to provide extra equipment.


The festival panel will make a final selection of works after the entry deadline. If your work is selected, you will be notified by e-mail by August 30, 2010. The screening copy of your work as a .mov file (in a DataDVD) or in miniDV format will need to be delivered to the festival office no later than September 10, 2010 . Entrants are responsible for shipping costs. Please do not use fiber envelopes.

There is no entry fee.

If you have any questions regarding the application process send an email to: videodumbo@gmail.com

Visit http://www.videodumbo.org/10-entry-form.html for more details.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Artist Opportunities for the Summer in Brooklyn


Here are some artist opportunities, competitions and call for entries for the summer in Brooklyn! Many deadlines have past already but below are a few that are still open to submissions!

Open A.I.R. - Call for Curatorial Proposals

A.I.R. Gallery invites women artists, curators and art professionals to submit curatorial proposals for a one-month exhibit in 2011. All women worldwide, regardless of age, curatorial experience, or place of residence are encouraged to apply. Artists may choose to include their own work. Selected curator will receive at least $500.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JULY 10, 2010
Website: http://www.airgallery.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.page&pagename=openair&pageid=148


School of the Future Call for Classes
ANNOUNCING highly unaccredited REQUEST for projects and classes at the SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE STARTING TOMORROW

School of the Future announces infinite enrollment for endless positions in our Summer 2010 program. Highly competitive opportunities available for teachers, designers, artists, organizations and people.

Website: http://www.schoolofthefuture.org


SITE 92 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Smack Mellon is currently accepting proposals that consider the unusual architecture of the gallery space for an exhibition featuring site-specific projects.
Deadline is July 15, 2010.

http://smackmellon.org/index.php/download_file/-/view/2473/


Open Call for Artists: WORK Gallery Art Market

WORK Gallery is hosting an OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS to showcase and sell their work: WORK Gallery Art Market will be held street-side, at multiple key locations in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th. We are looking for your submission of works on paper: drawings, paintings, prints, collage, photography, and mixed media, with the goal of promoting, selling and creating more interest in your work through a curated marketplace exhibition sponsored by WORK Gallery.

Website: http://www.redtinshack.com/open-call

Friday, March 12, 2010

BEHIND THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Top notch exhibitions showcase art work that tells a story beyond what your eyes can see. This is the case with DAC's current photography exhibition, "Battlefields" by Nebojsa Seric-Shoba. What look like standard landscape photographs are actually the backdrops for mass blood shed through out the ages. Locations range from Troy, Gernika and San Antonio (the site of the Alamo).

It amazes me that only 233 years ago the Battle of Brooklyn was fought on ground right near the DAC gallery. This was the largest battle of the entire conflict off of Long Island and the first battle American soldiers engaged in after declaring themselves a nation. No wonder our street was named WASHINGTON STREET .

Exhibition Dates: March 6- April 25, 2010


Friday, February 19, 2010

POP-UP CONTEST



Create a mind blowing slogan to help us advertise Dumbo Arts Center's Great Pop-up Art Sale, Feb 26-28, 2010 at DAC. The most creative phrase will appear on our website and in our next eblast. The winner will get 3 free drinks, a bag of free pop corn and 3 pop-up pastries when they come to the Pop-up party on Friday, Feb. 26. The winner will be announce next Tuesday, Feb 23rd.
Good luck!

Friday, February 5, 2010

WHERE IS YOUR UTOPIA?


Today the DAC interns went on a field-trip to BRIC, a non-profit gallery in Brooklyn Heights. The theme of one of their current exhibitions is utopia and it explores many issues such as geo-political conflicts, human rights, urban development, the environment and how we comprehend and utilize physical space. This is especially relevant to us interns because it reminds us of how each of us are from a state, city and country but can still get along. I know it sounds silly, but wouldn't it be much easier if we didn't have any borders at all? The whole world could work together to save our natural resources and care about what is really important. Seeing this exhibition challenged my view of immigration and place which made me appreciate the diverse friends I have made while working at DAC. Today was a joyfull outing. We talked, laughed and had a great lunch after going to the gallery and we all got to know each other a little bit better. The world is much more colorful when you have friends. So let's talk to each other more, laugh, and try to understand our differences, then maybe we can eliminate borders all together. The current exhibit "the no place" is on view through March 6, 2010 at BRIC Contemporary Artat 33 Clinton Street , New York 11201.

Special thanks to Baseera Khan BRIC's Assistant Curator for taking the time to speak to us.




Friday, January 29, 2010

THE EXPERIENCE OF GREEN CATALOG

Our fall exhibition was a huge success. Now people have the chance to experience THE EXPERIENCE OF GREEN forever by buying an exhibition catalog. This is DAC's first publication. It features photographs from the exhibition and an essay by Jen Schwarting. The bulk order of this catalog is coming soon, but because I am so excited about the new book I decided to blog about it now! I can't wait to get mine! It's $15 and worth every penny! Come by the gallery today or email press@dumboartscenter.org to reserve your copy.


This is a limited edition catalog featuring photographs from the exhibition taken by the artists and a critical essay by Jen Schwarting.




Friday, January 22, 2010

MAKE A DIFFERENCE! BUY A BAG!

Everybody knows plastic and paper bags are bad for our earth. They require energy to be recycled (which increases carbon monoxide levels in the environment). In response, DAC chose to make a stylish shopping bag. Take it with you anywhere! It comes in a tiny storage bag so you can easy carry it in your purse and look artistic and environmentally conscious.

Support ART and the EARTH. Buy a DAC shopping bag! Only $9.99! Special thanks to BAGGU.


They cost only $9.99. Pick one up at the DAC gallery or through our website.


Erin Hawley our current Programs Intern is enjoying a relaxing moment in the park with her hip DAC bag.





Thursday, January 14, 2010

DOES PRESENT EXIST ?



Making of Pixelville

With the start of 2010, Dumbo Arts Center(DAC) premiered Pixelville, an exhibition that incorporates urban planning and thoughtfully analyzes environments from the past while simultaneously acknowledging the rapid transformation of cities in the present and future. The capabilities of technology never cease to amaze us, especially in our attempt to keep up with the many technological advancements that occur, but a question that continues to plague our minds is, how can we capture-or remain in the moment? A series of cliches quotes come to mind, "live in the moment," "live each day as if it your last"...blah blah. Well, how can we do that?!

The world is becoming so modern these last decades that we don't even know where it will go . We personally think we are always absorbing information from all the technological media that we are surrounded by, so much so that we often forget to create and be creative. Instead of expressing creatively with the knowledge we've been collecting in our lifetime, we simply keep collecting it for the future. For example, we choose to take pictures of great landscapes to store forever rather than taking a moment to sit and feel the present sensation of being somewhere nice and beautiful. This is what comes to mind when we observe this exhibition. It is the merger between virtual and real life, that makes you forget where you are, who you are and what you feel.

Peter Frank, the curator of Pixelville, acknowledged the fluctuation of time when he stated, "we have access to the past as never before, and the future- for better or worse- seems to be similarly immediate. Does the present, then, still exist? Is there a place where the actual moment maintains?"

Live in the moment, and come visit Pixelville to expose yourself, in the moment, to ideas of the past, present and future.






Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Acces to the past and the future . Wha't about the present ?

The present is how I, or whoever visits the Dumbo Arts Center, interprets Nivi Alroy and Shirley Shor's first collaborative mixed-media installation, Pixelville. With the start of 2010, Dumbo Arts Center premiered Pixelville, an exhibition that incorporates urban planning and thoughtful analysis environments from the past while simultaneously acknowledging the rapid transformation of cities in the present and future. The capabilities of technology never ceases to amaze me, especially in my attempt to keep up with the many technological advancements that occur, but a question that continues to plague my mind is, how can we capture-or remain in the moment? A series of cliches quotes come to mind, "live in the moment," "live each day as if it your last"...blah blah. Well, how can I do that?!

The world is becoming so modern these last decades that I don't even know where it will go . I personally think we are always absorbing information from all the technological media that we are surrounded by, so much so that we often forget to create and be creative. Instead of expressing creatively the knowlege we've been collecting in our lifetime, we simply keep collecting it for the future. For example, we choose to take pictures of great landscapes to store forever rather than taking a moment to sit and feel the present sensation of being somewhere nice and beautiful.
This is what comes to mind when I observe this exhibition. It is the merger between virtual and real life, that makes you forget where you are, who you are and what you feel.

Peter Frank, the curator of Pixelville, acknowledged the fluctuation of time when he stated, "we have access to the past as never before, and the future- for better or worse- seems to be similarly immediate. Does the present, then, still exist? Is there a place where the actual moment maintains?"

Live in the moment, and come visit Pixelville to expose yourself, in the moment, to ideas of the past, present and future.