What people are saying about "Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space" (2012 exhibition)
"After spending time in the tranquility of Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space [2012] in theOld Stone House…it was possible to imagine…that artists are an essential voice in imagining an exuberant, yet intelligently developed, future for the borough."
– Allison Meier, Hyperallergic
"I really enjoyed the artist talks at opening night, giving the sense of a broader community of shared interests expressed through varied aestheric and conceptual visions. I have a better sense of some of the issues of interest to Brooklynites."
– Jonathan Kuhn, Director of Arts & Antiquities, NYC Parks Department, and "Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space" selection panelist.
"I think the show was very well curated with other artists who are exploring a similar dialogue. Meeting the other artists and exploring their work, as well as being part of an exhibit in a space off the usual gallery map, which because of location is just as concerned with the theme of the show as the participants, were all equally rewarding. Participating impacted my artistic development because I chose to create a piece specifically for the show relating to the rebuilding of the park and the surroundings. I was forced to research the before and after and decide what could be, having myself engage in the space more intimately, than by just hanging an existing piece in a show."
– Christine Gedeon, artist
"Having the show pushed my wok further and helped me to focus in on many aspects of what was an otherwise nebulous chain of ideas."
– Jeff Hutchison of Husk, artist
"It was rewarding to meet other artists and see their ideas for and reactions to the spaces of Brooklyn."
– Stephanie Beck, artist
"The most rewarding experience participating in the Brooklyn Utopias project was to meet fellow artists who are exploring
urban topics in general and Brooklyn specifically. Also, during an artist talk, I had a chance to meet visitors, discuss
my project in depth and have engaging conversations. I think the show was a great opportunity to introduce the local community to artistic projects that bring attention to various aspects of Brooklyn life that otherwise would be overlooked."
– Marina Zamalin, artist
"The exhibit was distinguished by the great diversity of the works: media, mediums, performances, tours, activities, play, implied skepticism, implied optimism, direct activism, and indirect aesthetics. This multiplicity of approaches gave it a feeling of a wide porous scope."
– Will Pappenheimer, artist
"Brooklyn Utopias exhibits are based in spaces that are topically linked in a way that the space informs the work, and the work informs the space. Brooklyn Utopias is a holistic experience and encompasses a larger critical experience than the exhibit itself – from panel discussions, to public event programming, to your partnership organizations, there are multiple points of access to contemplate the subject matter. It's also distinctly community focused."
– Kim Maier, Executive Director, Old Stone House
"It was rewarding to connect with other panelists and have the opportunity to share Groundswell's work with a broader audience."
– Amy Sananman, Executive Director, Groundswell, and "Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space" event participant
"Katherine Gressel's distinctive approach to curatorial inquiry employs deep, specific place-based exploration of the transformative power of art to describe (as well as imagine) the cultural layers that might catalyze positive change upon the underlying structure of the physical, built environment and/or the socio-psychic fabric of community relationships."
– Derek Denckla, Project Coordinator, Slow Money Resource Hub, Co-Curator, Brooklyn Utopias: Farm City (2010) and panel discussion participant, Brooklyn Utopias? (2009)
"The most rewarding part of the Brooklyn Utopias experience for me was actually getting to play Circle Rules football in an organized fashion with lots of kids. I'm so used to running league games with VERY serious athletes and yelling and hard, fast competition. It was a blast to just watch kids go at it and have fun. There were several kids that played that day that started showing up routinely to play on Sundays in Prospect park."
– Scott Riehs, Circle Rules Federation member and "Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space" event participant"
Photos from Tracy Candido's "Pining for You: A Celebration of Queer Love"
Tracy Candido's successful June 16 event brought friends and community members together to celebrate, plant a symbolic pine tree, and eat homemade almond cake in the spirit of Dutch wedding traditions, in the Old Stone House's garden. Read more about this event at our Past Events page!
Exhibition opening photos and recent press for "In Search of One City: Sensing (In)equality!"
New exhibition announced!
Take our exhibition home with you!!
New photos of Brooklyn Utopias: In TRANSITion gallery exhibition by Hugh Crawford
NEW: Brooklyn Utopias: In TRANSITion Closing Party and book launch, January 10