All posts tagged: Pandemic Gallery

Pandemic Gallery Presents: H. Veng Smith First Solo Show “Identifiable Reality” (Brooklyn, NY)

November 23, 2010 , , , , , ,

Veng
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brooklyn-street-art-veng-pandemic-gallery-11-10-1

In his first solo show, Veng takes us back to simpler times, to an era when things were made to last. Inspired by the artistry and work ethic of his grandfather, who hailed from a family of Swedish carpenters, Veng’s detail-rich paintings focus on the craftsmanship of the handmade. Embracing the handmade aesthetic to the fullest for this exhibition, Veng had custom mahogany panels built and crafted his own paints from simple pigments and linseed oil. Blurring the lines between the substantive and the imaginary, his paintings depict a world populated by a cast of stoic characters and whimsical winged creatures that interact with wooden contraptions more phantasmagorical than real. Drawing equally on the Old Masters and modern-day illustrators, Veng’s work possesses a timelessness not often captured by his contemporaries.

Born on Staten Island in 1981, Veng began studying painting as a young kid at a local art league. Since then, painting has remained an integral part of his life. With his work, he looks to capture the feel of something made long ago, be it characters with old-fashioned appearances or objects with Old World designs. He depicts ideas in his paintings in a representational and faithful manner, yet conveys them visually with a whimsical touch.

Borrowing from techniques of the Northern Renaissance, Veng paints by building up multiple layers. His thought process for painting, however, is less traditional and very much informed by his background in street art. He aims to make surreal impressions, with characters whose square heads are on the one hand very unreal, yet whose facial features are eerily familiar. He enjoys depicting scenes showing the viewer fictitious landscapes of an Old World interspersed with contemporary qualities. Nature also plays an important role in Veng’s work. He shows animals in a more traditional manner, painting them with realistic colors and textures. Often he’ll couple animals with imaginary devices that they control.

Whether on a panel in the studio or on a wall in a city, through his work Veng tries to convey a playful world of mixed inspirations. “Identifiable Reality” will run during Pandemic Gallery’s regular hours (Tues-Fri, 11am-6pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-7pm) from December 18th through January 8th, with an opening reception on Friday, December 17th, from 7-11pm. Pandemic is located at 37 Broadway in Williamsburg, accessible via the L subway (Bedford stop), J subway (Marcy stop), and Q59 bus (Broadway/Wythe stop).

Text and images copyright Luna Park


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Pandemic Gallery Presents: Richie Lasansky and Allison Read Smith “Sew Draw” (Brooklyn, NY)

November 6, 2010 , , , , , ,

Pandemic Gallery
On Friday, Nov. 12th Pandemic is very proud to host a dual exhibition of two astounding Brooklyn artists,

“Sew Draw”

Richie Lasansky and Allison Read Smith

The show, comprised of drawings, prints, and sculpture of various mediums
relays an incredible balance of styles and process, that when combined simply take ahold.
Absorbing the viewers into the compelling visions these two have portrayed.

"Riche Lasansky "Fish Girl" engraving. copyright 2010. Image courtesy of the gallery

"Riche Lasansky "Fish Girl" engraving. copyright 2010. Image courtesy of the gallery

Richie Lasansky
Born in La Paz, Bolivia, while his parents were in the peace corps, Lasansky’s interest in drawing and art stems from an age when he could first hold a pencil. His parents being music and dance performers, he traveled around with them, constantly drawing everything he saw. For a while he thought his interest in animals would lead him to a career in science. After graduation from Hebron Academy, he studied biology at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., but upon graduation, moved to Iowa to study printmaking formally with his grandfather – Mauricio Lasansky. He spent eight years in this apprenticeship.
As a printmaker, Lasansky feels many artists are not involved in an important creative aspect of the process by allowing their work to be printed by others. He prefers the complete approach. Intaglio printmaking is “such a sensual, tactile medium that if you don’t get your hands dirty and experience the feel of drawing on copper and printing the plate, you’ll never really know what the medium can do.”  Lasansky makes all his ink from scratch. This personal investment in the process is evident in his work. “A lot of artists’ work is heavily conceptual now, but mine is process-oriented,” said Lasansky. “It’s mostly figurative, not abstract.” He’s not one to analyze his art beyond that, however, preferring to quote his grandfather: “Artists and fish die the same way, by the mouth.”  Lasansky has lived in Costa Rica, New Hampshire, but was raised mostly in Maine, including a year on the Island of Vinalhaven. He now lives with his wife in Brooklyn.
Allison Read Smith "Frog King" sewn rubber. copyright 2010. Image courtesy fo the gallery

Allison Read Smith "Frog King" sewn rubber. copyright 2010. Image courtesy fo the gallery

Allison Read Smith
Allison Read Smith was born and raised in Memphis, TN and has lived and worked in NYC for the past twelve years. Merging Southern storytelling with the more brisk pace of New York she has generated a body of work that uses pedestrian materials, such as newspaper, magazines, postal stamps, cardboard, and rubber. For this exhibition she relies mainly on roofing rubber to generate a cartoonish, malleable dark humor. Her work has an intoxicating effect as the imagery she puts forth draw so many questions for the viewer. Asking what is really relevant and meaningful in our day to day lives. As a sculptor she combines many different elements into three dimensional creations of skewed beauty and wondrous theory. Pushing past the antiquated confines of sculptural work and into her own realm of an almost intangible essence.
PANDEMIC gallery
37 Broadway btwn Kent and Wythe
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.pandemicgallery.com
Gallery hours:
Tues.-Fri. 11-6pm
Sat. & Sun. 12-7pm
closed Monday
or by appointment

L train to Bedford ave, J train to Marcy ave, or Q59 bus to Broadway/Wythe

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Pandemic Gallery Presents: Dan Taylor “Notes From The Inside” (Brooklyn, NY)

September 28, 2010 , , , , , ,

Pandemic Gallery

"Deer Jesus" Image Courtesy of the gallery

"Deer Jesus" Image Courtesy of the gallery

Raised by squirrels in a musty old barn located deep in the woods of upstate NY, Dan Taylor’s work is heavily influenced by the anatomical forms of the animal kingdom.  In his drawings, sculptures, and mixed media works, Taylor treats organs and musculoskeletal structures as unique environments, which may be fused with other natural forms, as well as occasional unexpected consumerist elements (for example, mylar balloons, luxury handbags, gold leafing or toy soldiers).  Some day, the artist’s own remains will be stuffed and put on display to scare children.  The artist maintains a website, Mammal Soap.


On Saturday, October 16th, from 7pm to 11pm, Pandemic will host the “Notes from the Inside” opening reception, sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon.  “Notes from the Inside” will then run through November 6th.

Established in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2009, Pandemic is an artist-run space dedicated to showing work from up-and-coming, unknown, and well-established talent alike.  Embracing (but not confined to) urban street art, Pandemic is attracted to artists who think outside the confines of conventional normalcy — artists whose fresh concepts and unique visions inspire a broad audience. Pandemic is open Tuesday-Friday from 11am to 6pm and Saturday-Sunday from 12pm to 7pm; the gallery is accessible via the L and J subways and the Q59 bus.
For additional information about Pandemic Gallery, Dan Taylor, or this event, or to obtain additional exhibition preview images, please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail at (973) 220-5032.
Thanks in advance,
Megan Canter
Media and Development Director
Pandemic Gallery

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PANDEMIC gallery
37 Broadway between Kent and Wythe
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.pandemicgallery.com
Gallery hours:
Tues.-Fri. 11-6pm
Sat. & Sun. 12-7pm
closed Monday
or by appointment

L train to Bedford ave, J train to Marcy ave, or Q59 bus to Broadway/Wythe

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Pandemic Gallery Presents: Vilaykorn Sayaphet Solo Show “Split Personality” (Brooklyn, NY)

September 13, 2010 , , , , ,

Split Personality
brooklyn-street-art-Vilaykorn- Sayaphet-pandemic-gallery
Vilaykorn Sayaphet was born in Laos and emigrated to the United States in 1982. He grew up where his family settled, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was quickly and heavily influenced by American culture, but at home was taught very traditional Laotian values; as a result, Vil was conflicted, leading two separate lives. He developed a kind of split in his personality, a way to accommodate his parents and yet to also adapt to the new culture around him. His experiences from those early years gave way to his artistic visions. Art was a way to reflect on his past while looking into the future. Vil pursued the formal study of art at High Point University, where he received a BFA, and later obtained an MFA at UNC Greesnboro. He continues to be influenced by all aspects of art, from the street to conceptual and fine art.

For his first solo exhibition, “Split Personality,” Vilaykorn embraces a painterly vision, while also showing his more playful and illustrative side. In this split series, one half draws towards the abstract/ impressionist influence. These pieces, painted with feeling and emotion, are his more serious and steadfast works. In the other half of the series, he draws from life as an observer, working his day job and finding some artistic escape whenever he can. The combination of the two styles provides a unique look into the mind of an artist as he makes his way through life…

brooklyn-street-art-Vilaykorn- Sayaphet-pandemic-gallery

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Pandemic Gallery Presents: Eddie Ochoa “Amalgamations”

August 11, 2010 , , , , ,

Pandemic Gallery Presents
“AMALGAMATIONS”
a solo show by Eddie Ochoa

Eddie Ochoa "The See-Through Horse," collage, 2010
Eddie Ochoa “The See-Through Horse,” collage, 2010

A Texas native, Ochoa has previously exhibited at Fl!ght Gallery in San Antonio; since relocating to New York, Ochoa also participated in a group show at 21LUDLOW in the Lower East Side. 

Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form.  Ochoa’s work does exactly that — his imagery draws from various mystical, religious and folklore traditions, and his method combines various media, including acrylic and watercolor paint, ink, and scrapbooking paper.  These highly-detailed and multi-dimensional layered works draw the viewer into the many planes (both physical and imaginary) of Ochoa’s other-worldly dreamscapes.  “Amalgamations” will also feature Ochoa’s drawings on tracing paper, thereby offering viewers a rare opportunity to gain understanding of an artist’s process simultaneous with the presentation of the finished works.
On Friday, August 27th, from 7pm to 11pm, Pandemic will host the “Amalgamations” opening reception, sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon.  “Amalgamations” will then run from Saturday, August 28th through Saturday, September 18th.
Pandemic Gallery, established in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2009, is an artist-run space dedicated to showing work from up-and-coming, unknown, and well-established talent alike.  Embracing (but not confined to) urban street art, Pandemic is attracted to artists who think outside the confines of conventional normalcy — artists whose fresh concepts and unique visions inspire a broad audience. Pandemic is open daily from 11am to 6pm, and is accessible via the L and J subways and the Q59 bus.
For additional information about Pandemic Gallery, Eddie Ochoa, or this event or to obtain additional press images, please do not hesitate to contact our Media and Development Director, Megan Canter, by e-mail to meganecanter@gmail.com (copied here), or by telephone call to (973) 220-5032.

Opening Reception:  Friday, August 27, 2010 7-11pm
Exhibition through September 18; gallery open daily 11am-6pm

_______________________________________

PANDEMIC gallery

37 Broadway between Kent and Wythe
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.pandemicgallery.com
Gallery hours: Monday-Sunday, 11am-6pm
or by appointment
L train to Bedford Ave., J train to Marcy Ave., or Q59 bus to Broadway/Wythe
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Fun Friday 07.30.10

July 30, 2010

Fun-Friday
Fun Friday 07.30.10 on BrooklynStreetArt.com

Last Chance to see “Radiant Child” Movie this Weekend at Film Forum

A gem of a film, isn’t that what those old timey movie reviewers used to say?  The previously unseen footage of Basquiat shot by his friend Tamra Davis in his studio is probably the most revealing about his short personal history, his meteoric rise, and wild free child within. Less illuminating is some of the self- aggrandizing by those who now lay claim to his history. Equally it is an indictment of a society dealing with it’s legacy of racism, and the misplaced value given to critics with personal agendas. Nonetheless most viewers will understand intuitively the work for what it is and focus on the Brooklyn guy who made it cool to be outside.

Film Forum is HERE

Jef Aerosol

Jef Aerosol doing a tribute to Basquiat in Brooklyn earlier this year (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Don Pablo Pedro this Saturday at Pandemic

“Fuck Don Pablo Pedro” is the second solo show for this talented Bushwick painter tomorrow and is sure to be fun, colorful, libidinous, and nauseating.  Pandemic Gallery

Don Pablo Pedro Poster (© Jaime Rojo)
Don Pablo Pedro Poster (© Jaime Rojo)

Faile in Lisbon (Video)

Brooklyn Street Art duo Faile recently took their sculptural installations to an earlier classical period of the Biennial Portugal Arte 10. The pop culture influences are re-contextualized, as they say….

Electric Windows Tomorrow in Beacon New York

Take the Metro North about an hour up the Hudson to see 30 Street Artists painting live. Is there more to say?

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Electic-windows-copyright-Thundercut-Electric-Windows-FINAL_building_arial

Read about Electric Windows HERE.

A book signing of “Street Art New York” by Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington will be in the Open Space Gallery from 2 pm to 3 pm.

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Pandemic Gallery Presents: “Fuck Don Pablo Pedro”

July 6, 2010 , , , , ,

Don Pablo Pedro

Don Pablo Pedro

Don Pablo Pedro

Image Courtesy of the Gallery

Image Courtesy of the Gallery

Pandemic, established in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2009, is an artist-run space dedicated to showing work from up-and-coming, unknown, and well-established talent alike.  Embracing (but not confined to) urban street art, Pandemic is attracted to artists who think outside the confines of conventional normalcy — artists whose fresh concepts and unique visions inspire a broad audience.

Beginning on July 31, 2010, Pandemic will present the work of Don Pablo Pedro.  Don Pablo Pedro draws on the technical conventions of Old Masters such as El Greco and Hieronymus Bosch, and provocatively blurs the lines between perversity and sensuality, sacred and profane, suffering and ecstasy.  Don Pablo Pedro’s work has previously been profiled by P.S.1 and Brooklyn Street Art, and the artist maintains a website at http://donpablopedro.blogspot.com/.

There is no cover charge for this event; we attach a press release with additional details below.  For further information, please contact our Media and Development Director, Megan Canter, at meganecanter@gmail.com (copied here) or by telephone at 973-220-5032.

OPENING SAT. 7/31/10 7-11PM
@ PANDEMIC
37 BROADWAY
BROOKLYN, NY 11211


(L subway to Bedford stop or Q59 bus to Broadway/Wythe)
Gallery open daily 11am-6pm

—-
Pandemic Gallery
37 Broadway between Kent and Wythe
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.pandemicgallery.com

pandemic logo 1.jpg

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Fun Friday 06.18.10 : We Have a Winner!

June 18, 2010 , , ,

Fun-Friday

Contest Winner for “For Your Eyes Only”

You guys are good!  And so many got so close in guessing the full list of “Eyes” last week.

So here are the answers:

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Your-Eyes-Answers-1

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Your-Eyes-Answers-2

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Your-Eyes-Answers-3

Brooklyn-Street-Art-Your-Eyes-Answers-4

The big sticking points for most people were Number 2, which a lot of people guessed was Os Gemeos, and Number 4 which some thought was Neckface or Royce Bannon.

But don’t feel bad if you didn’t get them all – nobody did.  Our winner is Sandrine from Montreal, Quebec, who was the first person to guess 7 out of 8 correctly (she guessed #4 was Neckface).  Congratulations to Sandrine and your original and signed piece from Chris of Robots Will Kill will be in the mail Monday!

Thanks everybody who participated. We’ll have another contest soon!

Where Are You Getting Up This Weekend?

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Brooklyn-Street-Art-mighty-tenaka-heaven-hell

Read about the Mighty Tenaka show here.

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Brooklyn-Street-Art-Pandemic-Shock-Therapy

Read about the Pandemic show here.

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Brooklyn-Street-Art-crest-hardware

Read about the Crest Hardware show here.

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Ya Hearrrd? BSA on HUFF PO

Brooklyn-Street-Art-huffington-post

Yo homey, still doing a Snoopy dance on the subway this morning because your favorite Street Art blog was up on HuffingtonPost.com yesterday. Arianna Huffington is one of the few straightforward truthtellers in a storm of darkness year after year, and this is like when it is your turn at Double Dutch and Malcolm McLaren  happens to be walking up your block. Okay, big difference is I don’t wear striped red disco shorts and grew up on a farm upstate and never heard of Brownsville or Buffalo Girls till “Duck Rock” came out —but otherwise it’s totally the same yo.

Leave a comment at Huffington Post and tell them how good BSA is at swinging those ropes! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/blog-watch-brooklyn-stree_n_615922.html


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Pandemic Gallery Presents: “Shock Therapy”

May 26, 2010 , , ,

Shock Therapy!”

Sat. June 19th 7-11pm
featuring works by:

Thomas Buildmore
Morgan Thomas
Kenji Nakayama
Enamel Kingdom

Shock therapy is an attempt to regain control. while everything may seem to be spiraling towards disaster, there are methods to shock it all back in place. Over the years the term has been used to describe methods of medical, financial, and economic rebound, as well as psychological molding.  As we see it, Shock Therapy through art is a way to Instill upon others an instant sense of our passion and our desire to create. But also a way to overcome any subconscious hang-ups, to let go and be released from mental confines. A way to control the chaos, while still pushing the envelope. Shocking ourselves and the viewers straight and askew in tandem with a visual onslaught, so that they may see as we do the perplex, all encompassing world we live in.

ENAMEL KINGDOM

Enamel Kingdom is Artist/Designer Ryan Lombardi
Born in Indianapolis Indiana in 1980, Ryan’s family then moved to the Boston area when he was one year old and that’s were they decided to stay. With strong interests in Commercial Art, Graphic Design, and illustration, he headed for the “City of brotherly love” to attend Art Institute of Philadelphia. Through the introduction by a mutual friend, he hooked up with the international Artist collective Project SF in 2005.

Now Ryan lives in Boston, paying the bills with design and painting on the side. His works consist of various enamels applied to found objects such as: wood, metal, fiberglass… and any surface with normally underestimated aesthetic potential. Mainly influenced by urban settings, wild life and hip-hop culture, Ryan continues to draw from any other elements exposed from day to day life for inspiration.

KENJI NAKAYAMA
Kenji Nakayama is an artist originally from Hokkaido, Japan…

Documenting the environment that surrounds him, he spends weeks to hand craft his hand-cut multi-layer stencil work. Kenji flawlessly captures significant moments in his daily life. Serving as a diary from start to finish, his work is deeply personal.

Kenji is currently working and residing in Boston, Massachusetts. Showing his work both inside and outside of Boston.

MORGAN THOMAS


Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Morgan Thomas has spent the majority of her life in observation of the people around her. She has studied art and art history around the world and graduated in 2007 from Williams College with two degrees (in studio art and sociology). Thomas’ main subject is human but she strives to examine human action, emotion, history and communication further than the classic portrait. Utilizing a semiotic vocabulary built up through the existence of the human race, Thomas records the world around her as she perceives it visually and spiritually. She aims to communicate to her audience the honest image and heartfelt meaning of a moment in time as it can be understood through form, color, and symbolic imagery. Thomas’ work is sociological, allegorical, and historical record. It does not try to comment on an event, but rather represent it for the audience to bring judgement to.

THOMAS BUILDMORE

Thomas Buildmore received his diploma from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 2004. Since then, Buildmore has taken part in and/or curated many fine art installations in a variety of arenas, receiving acclaim from publications such as The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The New York Daily News, And the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 2007 Buildmore established Overkill Studio in South Boston, Massachusetts. In 2008, Overkill Studio relocated to Philadelphia with Thomas Buildmore and Morgan Thomas at the helm. They are enjoying the lively and energetic Philadelphia Arts Community.

Also on display, the amazing video work of

DONALD O’FINN
“I appropriate samples from disparate TV media sources. I re-purpose, re-contextualize, effect, alter,
and weave these constructions into the dreams a television may have”
 www.donaldofinn.com

gallery hours:
mon. – fri. 11-6
sat. – sun. 10-7

andemic Gallery

“Shock Therapy!”
Sat. June 19th 7-11pm
featuring works by:

Thomas Buildmore
Morgan Thomas
Kenji Nakayama
Enamel Kingdom

Pandemic Gallery

37 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11211

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Fun Friday 12.11.09 – Support Your Artist Neighbors this Holiday Season

December 11, 2009

It’s a Festival of Blight!

Artists ’round Brooklyn-World are taking Christwanzaakkuheid matters into their own hands….with art fairs and screen-printing parties and good old-fashioned holiday disco-burlesque-debauchery !!!!

Here are a handful of opportunities to spend your cash and not worry that it is getting sucked through a tube to a corporate headquarters somewhere while the frightened-minimum-wage-no-health-benefits cashier who bags your item thinks about hitching a ride to her second job.

When you buy art in your community from your community your money stays in your community. Hooray!

Pandemic Printing Party 12.12

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More info @ Pandemic Gallery

Cream Studios Holiday Sale & Party 12.12

brooklynstreetart-cream-studios

238 Melrose street
between Wilson and Central
Sat Dec 12 4:30 – 12

Andy Kessler Memorial Benefit Art Show  12.12

Honoring the Godfather of NYC skateboarding, who passed away in August

Come by the Volcom NYC store on Saturday, December 12th for the Andy Kessler Memorial Art Show. The show is from 8 pm – Midnight, there will be a silent auction featuring a ton of art, drinks and good times to raise money for a good cause!

Volcom NYC
446 Broadway (Between Grand and Howard)
Also open Sunday, December 13th – 11 am – 7 pm

Secret Project Robot Channukah Party 12.13

4pm to 10pm
For your Jewish and Gentile friends alike a Menorah lighting at sunset
(they’re throwing a christmas/holiday party with Jonathon Toubin on the 17th as well)
German Measels
Jaques Detergent
The Mad Scene

Non profit Secret Project Robot supports the local weirdo arts scene consistently through-out the year

– whether it’s art shows, fashion shows, music shows, street art, conceptual art, performance pieces, parties, fundraisers -you name it. They are totally ART + COMMUNITY and many people have come through their doors that we know, and the doors are still open to struggling new people who are trying to make a go of it.

Make a Donation directly to Secret Project Robot (a 501(c) registered non-profit) arts organization by writing to them – they’ll make it easy for you to give back to the arts  >>>secrets@secretprojectrobot.org

Check out this hilarious “My Menorrah” video, a favorite of our own Manischewitz home-gurl Lera Loeb

3rd Ward & The Danger Party throw “Sugar Rum Cherry” 12.12

Click on this to RSVP at their site and see a delicious HIGH class striptease to Eartha Kitt, may she rest in peace.
Click on this picture to RSVP and see a delicious HIGH class striptease to Eartha Kitt, may she rest in peace.

“Explore twelve thousand square feet of debauched festivities” – oh promises, promises!

Professional art-party ambiance makers The Danger somehow mix the best elements of all holiday traditions while respecting none.

  • Dirty Santas
  • Seductive elves
  • loud sound,
  • jump-up dancefloors,
  • cheap drinks,
  • mistletoe and
  • an abundance of whip-cream and cherries.

Finally, next week it’s Brooklyn’s Own

BLIP FEST ’09 in Gowanus at the Bell House

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New Gallery: Pandemic opens Saturday in Brooklyn

New Gallery: Pandemic opens Saturday in Brooklyn

August 21, 2009 , , ,
Some work in progress on the gallery floor from Keely (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Some work in progress on the gallery floor from Keely (photo Steven P. Harrington)

NYC’s unemployment rate is nearing 10% (higher than the national average by a point), the heat index in the City this week was as high as the crowd at Glasslands, we’re losing Arts programs in the schools left and right, Ad Hoc is shutting down their main gallery space, and Jennifer Anniston was thrown into the trunk of a car.

Who would believe in this topsy-turvey New York that a GALLERY celebrating Street Art is actually OPENING?  You read it right. It’s called Pandemic (explanation below) and its on the South Side of Williamsburg Brooklyn in a space that used be the DollHaus, a Gothic-themed and deliberately disturbing gallery with Kewpies on skewers and mutilated cyborg dolls with Lydia-Lunch eyes. Even though it’s a little off of the main Williamsburg drag, it’s just a block from the first artist/hipster outpost “Diner”, and two blocks from the favorite place for Wall Street big-bellies to take guests for a daring trip across the river for steak on their corporate card , “Peter Lugers“

A bright "Welcome!" from 3 of Celso's ladies (photo Steven P. Harrington)

A bright “Welcome!” from 3 of Celso’s ladies (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Now the newly painted space has a fresh air of possibility that washes over you when greeted by the sunny owner of Pandemic, Keely Brandon, an artist and friend of the street art scene for some time.  This week we stopped by during the installation and the gleaming walls, new lighting, and shiny floors bespoke a world full of possibilities.  Saturday night the small gallery will host a group show of work by no less than 14 street artists, an impressive show of strength for the Grand Opening.

Brooklyn Street Art: A new gallery!  How did you hook this up?
Keely: It kinda just fell into my lap, I was apartment hunting and was offered a storefront instead. At the time it was a jewelry store. I started thinking about how awesome it would actually be to have a gallery space that I could run my own way. Free to display the art and merchandise of myself and other artists I respect. So I just went for it.

Always willing to lend a paw around the gallery! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Always willing to lend a paw around the gallery! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Is “Pandemic” referring to something in particular, or just a general feeling of dread?
Keely: It’s the concept of a creating a worldwide epidemic, but in a positive way! expanding the global consciousness of our breed of art.

Stikman is mapping out the inner route (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Stikman is mapping out the inner route (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you ever had a gallery before?
Keely: Nope

Brooklyn Street Art: How did you chose the artists that are involved with this show?
Keely: I chose a group of prolific street artists who’s artwork and dedication I really admire. Many have worked together before on projects, and create an awesome looking show.

I've got an eye on the underwater world (Keely) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Fresh from the East River! (Keely) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: This place used to be a gallery for baby dolls dressed in gothic garb – babies with black lipstick and white eyes, etc.  You find any heads rolling around in the closet?
Keely: Ha.. yea actually when i first moved in there i could have sworn the basement was haunted! No heads, but a lot of fuschia to paint over!

A box fer all yer stuff (Deekers) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

A box fer all yer stuff (R. Deeker) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Are you following a particular theme for this show, or is it mainly a group show?

Keely: No real theme… The name of the show is pandemic 37 – which is basically the gallery address. The show is just a grand intoduction to the place..

That IS Cheap! (photo Steven P. Harrington)

That IS Cheap! (artist Gay Sex) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: Outside of the artists in the new show, what art excites you the most?
Keely: hmmm.. I like alot of different things.. strange 70’s artwork. Peter Max, Marushka, and other obscure wall hangings. I love old illustrations in wildlife books, deep sea creature photographs and dinosaur everything. Anything with gnarly teeth!

Brooklyn Street Art: You ever have dinner at Diner? Muffins at Marlowes? Porterhouse at Peter Lugers?
Keely: Dinner at Diner once, muffins at Marlowe… never. As for Peter Luger… I’m a vegetarian and I’m not rich!

You KNOW what time it is! (Royce Bannon) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

You KNOW what time it is! (Royce Bannon) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

One of the more entertaining pieces in the show is the working clock on the face of one of two monsters by Royce Bannon.  Royce explains the new development”

BSA: What made you make a clock?
Royce: I made a clock because I like functional art.  It looks cool and tells the time too.

BSA: What new skill did you use to install it?

Royce: No new skills were used in the making of the clock just the same old skills

BSA: What room of an apartment would it be more appropriate for?
Royce: Probably the kitchen.


BSA: Is it Monster Time?
Royce: It’s always monster time

From here to INFINITY (photo Steven P. Harrington)

From here to INFINITY (photo Steven P. Harrington)

In addition to celebrating the opening of the new gallery, everyone will be celebrating the new Street Art Blog by celebrated photographers Rebecca Fuller and Luna Park.

Their exciting new endeavor, The Street Spot, will feature many of the images of the street that fans have faithfully followed for the last few years.  Besides being avid documentarians of the ever-evolving street art and graff scene in NY, Park and Fuller have a deep reservoir of knowledge and stories to draw upon.

TheStreetSpot.com will surely add to the richness of this vibrant scene for all the fans of the wacky world of street art.  The AfterParty is where we’ll raise a glass to these fine individuals and their dream.

So that’s TWO great openings in one night!  Things are LOOKING UP!

Familiar names in a new location

Familiar names in a new gallery, Bixby, Buildmore, Celso, DarkClouds, infinity, Judith Supine, Keely, Kngee, Matt Siren, R. Deeker, Royce Bannon, Stikman, Skewville, Wrona

Pandemic Gallery

37 Broadway Between Kent and Wythe

Brooklyn (South Williamsburg)

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Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

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