When the economy gets tight, it’s time to call in the artists.
That appears to be the message as yet another vacant patch of Downtown Brooklyn storefronts brought in artists to decorate barren retail shop windows to liven up the area.
The latest such art installation, dubbed “Your Art Here,” recently went up in six consecutive storefronts at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension just north of Fulton Street totaling 10,000 square feet.
“Our goal is to creatively enliven underutilized storefronts and provide a new outlet for the arts community while making a unique experience for Downtown Brooklyn residents and visitors,” said Katie Dixon, director of cultural development at the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP).
While owners of the unrented properties, Fulton DeKalb Associates, did not want to comment for this story, they were successful in working with the DBP, who contacted The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA), a collective of galleries and artists working to make contemporary art more accessible to the general public.
Previously, the DBP found artists to put works in windows along the empty storefronts on Willoughby Street.
The exhibitions on the Flatbush Avenue Extension feature sculptures and paintings by emerging artists, some of whom are Brooklyn-based. Exhibits include light and water-themed sculpture from artists Rachel Owens, Mike Womack, Matthew Lusk, and Urban River Arts along with visually stimulating paintings by Erik Parker, Kenny Scharf and Renaldo Davidson.
NADA and the DBP will manage the spaces, which will be publicly accessible Friday-Sunday, through January 10, 2010. Throughout the week, the exhibition will be lit and highly visible from the street.
DBP President Joe Chan said the installation reflects the weakened economy.
“Downtown Brooklyn has not been immune to the recession’s impact, causing some retail spaces to remain on the market longer. This program helps showcase those locations to potential retailers,” said Chan. “In today’s economy, it is crucial that property owners explore creative ways to market their spaces and support the livelihood of the local business community.”
The economic downturn does seem to provide a welcome opportunity for the artists.
“The project is great for many reasons, but foremost to me is the different kind of exposure,” said artist Rachel Owens, who has a sculpture on display in a 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension gallery. “People are walking in and are interested about the work. Sometimes galleries and museums make people feel intimidated and distanced from the art and the artist. These non-traditional exhibition sites break down that distance and people feel free to ask questions, to participate, to enjoy the work.”