"I've lived here for three years now and I've never heard of a gallery opening in Crown Heights," said local resident Aliza Riemenschneider, 35. However that changed on June 30, with the opening of Repair the World NYC's group art show "BROOKLYN: JUXTAPOSITION."
Curated by Aimee Rubensteen and sponsored by "For Brooklynites, By Brooklynites", the show focuses on the concept of juxtaposition as interpreted by 12 Brooklyn-based artists.
Rubensteen believes that this concept is something that resonates with the multi-cultural Crown Heights neighborhood. "Us as human beings have so many different parts of ourselves and it's hard to identify or label with one term. I think juxtaposition helps me better understand myself and people around me," she said. "I felt like it was an appropriate term that was sensitive for topics that are happening in our neighborhood through race, culture and religion and because juxtaposition can be understood through so many different lenses."
Each piece covered this theme through one aspect or another, ranging from juxtapositions within one's self as seen through Sara Erenthal's self-representations on the door of the galley or on a the community level as displayed through Rusty Zimmerman's selections from the Crown Height Portrait Project.
Artist and Crown Heights resident Ron Taylor, who created the abstract piece out, said he loved the idea of juxtaposition. "We need different ideas, different thought, different backgrounds."
"We need different ways people articulate with each other," added Ana Medina who attended the opening with Taylor.
The artwork will be on view at Repair the World NYC now until August 14 each Tuesday through Friday from noon until 6:00pm. The admission is free. Repair the World NYC is located at 808 Nostrand Ave.
