In Search of One City: Sensing (In)equality
Exhibition dates: August 13-October 10, 2015
Exhibition Opening: Thursday, August 13, 6-9pm
VIP/press preview: Thursday, August 13, 4pm
Katherine Gressel, Curator
Exhibiting Artists: Artist Volunteer Center & With Food in Mind, Daniel Bejar, Mildred Beltre & Oasa DuVerney,Jennifer Dalton, Laura Hadden & Tennessee Watson, Brian Fernandes-Halloran, Sue Jeong Ka, Kenneth Pietrobono, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Dread Scott, Jody Wood
Location: The Old Stone House & Washington Park, 5th avenue between 3rd and 4th street, Park Slope. Hours: Friday 3-6pm; or by appointment, (718) 768-3195 or info@theoldstonehouse.org. www.theoldstonehouse.org
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“The state of our city, as we find it today, is a Tale of Two Cities – with an inequality gap that fundamentally threatens our future.” –Bill de Blasio, State of the City address, February 10, 2014
With a title Loosely based on the New York City mayor’s well-known campaign phrase, In Search of One City intends to promote continued dialogue around this timely topic, exploring artists’ role in investigating, navigating, and mitigating income inequality, with a focus on New York City. The exhibition will include both artists who expose and critique the systems that perpetuate income inequality, and artists and arts groups engaging with underrepresented communities towards developing new models and services for a more equitable city. Each artwork reflects or encourages deep looking, listening and outreach on the part of participating artists, communities and viewers to promote a greater understanding of inequality without resorting to specific political commentary or obvious contrasts between “haves” and “have nots.” In Search will instead privilege gray areas and moments of discomfort as artists straddle both ends of a socioeconomic spectrum or attempt (sometimes futilely) to transcend complex barriers.
Projects include video, installations and public art by Dread Scott, Jennifer Dalton and Kenneth Pietrobono exploring predatory financial systems; Kameelah Rasheed’s posters advising the poor on how to “suffer politely,” Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson’s jukebox of interviews with workers that are inversely proportional in length to the workers’ wages; Mildred Beltre and Oasa DuVerney’s new guide to tenants rights and community art, and Jody Wood’s documentation of her mobile beauty salon serving homeless shelters across the country.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
All public programs are free and will take place at the Old Stone House
Sunday, Sept. 13, 12-4pm: Know Your Rights screen printing & tenants’ rights workshop with Oasa DuVerney & Mildred Beltre (Brooklyn Hi-Art! Machine)
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7-9pm: Panel discussion/workshop: Sensing AND Doing Something About Inequality: artists & arts groups share their strategies. Participants include Artist Volunteer Center, members of BFAMFAPhD, Groundswell, and Jody Wood (final list TBA) with an opening performance by Theatre of the Oppressed NYC.
Sunday, Oct. 4, 10am-3pm: Museum Hue Mentorathon: Creative Career Exchange career readiness fair, produced by Museum Hue
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7pm: Closing Party and Film Screening: Films by Sue Jeong Ka and others (TBA)
In Search of One City is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC). Funding has also been made possible by the Puffin Foundation, LTD. In-kind support by Artist & Craftsman.
Postage stamp image: Daniel Bejar, Forever (Brooklyn, NY), 2015
Brooklyn Utopias 
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