These beautiful works of art aren’t in a gallery, they’re on display in front of vacant stores and venues in Washington Heights.
The 42 works by 26 different artists are part of the exhibition entitled The Rise of Art in the Heights and is completely free to the community; the exhibition definitely draws attention.
“I saw the art gallery and I said, but how strange, because it is not a store as it is, it is simply an expression that we can look at”, says Carmen B Lopez.
Federico Cristian is also a resident of árez and comments:
“To be a closed building, what it shows is abandonment. So while it is being used for something beneficial to the community.”
This is one of the last exhibitions to occupy empty spaces in the city. Organized by ‘Art on the Avenue’ A non-profit organization that creates projects with the intention of amplifying underrepresented artists. Ruthy Valdez is 20 as a surrealist artist.
Ruthy Valdez is an artist and is also exhibiting her art.
“I use symbols to communicate like a book. If you can read the symbols, you can read my art.”
Artist Maggie Hernandez Knight who grew up in upper Manhattan also has a work in the show.
“Yes, it’s called a check or together we rise and it’s like something that speaks of the human being to rise a little, to rise, but with the support of others,” he says.
Both women are from Washington Heights as are 68% of the artists currently exhibiting along Broadway between 169th and 170th Streets and along 181st Street.
For the first time, the organization has an art curator. Alexis Mendoza focuses on contemporary and Latin American art.
In this project, he includes artists whose work is not usually found in a gallery.
“The works that we are presenting in this project can all be easily presented in museums and Latino galleries anywhere in the world,” says curator Alexis Mendoza.
The vibrant collection within the row of abandoned shops is having a perceived impact not only on the people walking by, but also on the street vendors on the block.
Luisa Hernández is a salesperson and explains:
“Now it looks much better. People pass by, look and also look ahead and stop. And sometimes he buys too.”
There is a QR code on each piece for people to learn more about the art and the creator, and they are even for sale.
“If it is to inspire the youth. I tell all parents come take a walk.”
“It has a great benefit in that an energy is emitted to the person who sees it and it can affect how they feel, they can feel better or it can be given as a memory of something that happened to them”
The organization offers free guided tours to anyone who requests it. The exhibition will be displayed until August 31.
2023-07-01 19:26:00
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