The weather was warm, the music was lively, and people carpeted the avenue like apple blossoms. Oh, and there was art. Lots of it. Paintings and sculpture on tables set up on the streets, on gallery walls, some people even spray painted the walls surrounding construction sites. Love it. This was Brooklyn’s 6th Annual Atlantic Artwalk which brought “free art and music to the street for a cultural celebration.”
One gallery had large scale pen and ink drawings depicting various bacchanalian activities; drinking, dancing, and others too naughty to list here. I couldn’t find anyone who worked there, a catalogue, or even the artist’s name, but the work was astounding. Tonya Engel had a table on the avenue. As I walked by, a TV crew was interviewing her. Her small scale paintings of young women have that same dreamy look on their faces as a Rousseau. In one— two girls each hold up a lily, the leaves and branches for the flowers are growing out of their hats.
I was drawn into a gallery with a neon sculpture in the window, Metaphor, run by Rene Lynch and Julian Jackson (pictured). According to their manifesto, they “exhibit new works of exceptional quality by emerging and mid-career artists.” It was founded in 2001, in an 11th floor loft in Dumbo, adjacent to their studios. In May 2004, they moved to Atlantic Avenue. Real art can be real affordable— their prices start at $100.00.
