Bushwick Just Got More Hip Starting in 2008: NUMU Arts Collective

Artwork by Numu Arts Collective, from their site.

Numu, according to their about section: "Numu, pronounced nu-MOO, is an Arabic word which means growth in a poetic sense (spiritual, emotion, etc.)"

You know Rosemarie DeWitt's character from Mad Men season 1? Midge? Her group of friends and their artist co-op, that's kind of the impression I'm getting. Some mustaches, paint smears, and youthful aspirations, sort of.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cassandra Katsiaficas at a birthday party last week while in line for the bathroom. Unbeknown to both of us, the person in front of me and subsequently her left a which burned my cilia. Unbeknown to me, she is a co-founder of this arts collective, and where else are they headquartered but Bushwick right here in the Kings County.

I was provided with a neat little flyer detailing their upcoming events for January, including writing workshops and "story metamorphosis" which going off the description looks like something for the expressiveness in you.

What I'm excited for is a DIY screenprinting workshop on Sunday Jan. 17th from 1 to 4pm. It costs 10 dollars (due to materials needed) but if you are like me and wear silly t-shirts with sillier sayings, it might be something for you to check out. Bring a shirt with you and get it done! I would start with something like the name of your favorite website or a bicycle fail.

You can check out their Artist of the Month (Rebecca Olguin) on their website as well, looks pretty rad.

Go to their official site: numuartscollective.org
and find them on facebook: facebook.com/numartscollective
and that old thing they call MySpace: myspace.com/numuartscollective

If you want to sign up for their mailing list, try numarts@gmail.com.

All events are held off the Jefferson stop on the L train in Brooklyn at 75 Stewart Avenue.

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krts is back at Monkeytown with Ryan Uzi to blow your mind

My man krts is back in action (he's having a busy fall after a nice little break from being so festive) at Monkeytown on November 7th with an audio/visual catharsis that will inspire you and make you wanna get out there in the brisk air and clear your mind and move forth with your life and progress and have those ups and have those downs.

Seriously, you're going to want to make your reservations at the link below. Oh and the cheese plate is pretty good at MT. Oh and did I mention Charlie Pino and his bretheren in Gold Fiction will be there? Oh yes.

From the information booth at my Facebook wall:

After 3 sold-out Monkey Town events, Krts welcomes another emotional roller-coaster of live indie-hiphop/electronic music with live video projection story-telling from award winning filmmaker Ryan Uzi of Light Harvest Studio. Together they tell the story of "The 6th Floor Walk-up" - An intense ride of LIVE mind bending visuals with indie-hiphop styled melodic, romantic, heart breaking and fun LIVE instrumentation.

**WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY CHARLIE PINO OF the fun indie-rock/american garage band GOLDFICTION!
myspace.com/goldfictionband


This may be the first collective of Krts and Ryan Uzi but, they're not amatuers at grabbing the minds, ears, and hearts of their audience.

Krts's Monkey Town shows had the critics hyping it as "a blend of hip-hop electronica à la Radiohead and Sonic Youth" (Village Voice). Trip-hop legends Nightmares on Wax (Warp) called his latest track "Doran Penny Roller" an "indietronic meets Zapp" crowd-pleaser on their latest 2009 compilation album, “Wax On - Volume 2."

Krts has shared stages with The Beatnuts, Machinedrum, Melo-X, Daedelus, Eliot Lipp, Mux Mool, Mexicans with Guns and others.

Light Harvest is the live multimedia performance work of award winning filmmaker Ryan Uzi. He creates complex visual atmospherics on subjects ranging from politics to paganism, from seductions of New York City to secluded train rides aboard the Orient Express.

Ryan Uzi's cinematic approach to video mixing and projection design has been seen with some of the worlds best DJ's including Felix da Housecat and Mark Farina (Mushroom Jazz), as well as commissioned for live events with the Guggenheim Museum, Diesel, Prada, Adidas Y3, and Flavor Pill Magazine.


****YOU MUST RSVP @ monkeytownhq.com/reservations.html *****

KRTS OFFICIAL WEBSITE
krtsmusic.com
KRTS MYSPACE & VIDS:
myspace.com/krts


RYAN UZI OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
light-harvest.com

New Yorker Films distribution company finito!

Indiewire has updated their story about New Yorker Films closing its doors. A New York establishment in promoting and distributing independent fare, it will be missed after 43 years of business.

To read the article, click here.

To see New Yorker Films website, go here.

From the article:

"Founded in 1965 by Dan Talbot, New Yorker has a legendary legacy, boasting a long-standing track record in international film distribution, bringing a staggering number of international auteurs to this country’s movie theaters over more than four decades. The company’s crucial role in establishing a lasting film culture in this country cannot be underestimated. A New York Times profile in 1987, marking a 14-week salute to the company at New York’s Public Theater, listed an illustrious roster of filmmakers whose films were released by the company: Ackerman, Bertolucci, Bresson, Chabrol, Fassbinder, Fellini, Godard, Herzog, Kieslowski, Malle, Rohmer, Rossellini, Sembene, Wenders, Schlondorff, and many others."

DUMBO the new SoHo? Alright, Brooklyn Heights Blog

Art is fascinating, but the art culture, being at a gallery, that has to be even more fascinating, a hodge podge of people watching, liasons, posers, and a shallow veneer of understanding. I revel in the posh cloak that surrounds the hippest of hip, the haute-est of haute.

Anywho, I don't think DUMBO is necessarily the new SoHo, and somewhere in there parts of Chelsea has to grab some acknowledgement if we're looking for similarities. I would still like to go to Re Bar, which looked nice.

You're going to want to get your art fix though with a variety of pieces that will be displayed at the BoConcept DUMBO Art Show, which runs from March 5th to April 1st right on Front Street (number 79 to be exact).

A special reception will be held from 6pm to 9pm on March 5th to kick things off, and if you click on the flyer photo and enlarge, you see that you can RSVP for a special discount at RSVP@boconceptny.com. There will be wine and food, and a little preview of some new furnishings. Coolio.

Here are the top billings:
Mireya Acierto
Daniel Krieger
Yazmany Arboleda
Danny Lowit
Deborah Freeman
George K George

They all sound like artists to me, especially that last one. George K George. Really?

Gowanus: The Last Vestige for Ar-teests?

If you're looking for something other than the Brooklyn Flea to go to this weekend, Gowanus is having their annual more-artists-than-you-can-shake-a-paintbrush-at tour where you can observe artists of all sorts in their natural habitats. It's called A.G.A.S.T., Annual Gowanus Artists Studio Tour, and it's this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 6pm, absolutely free.

Gowanus itself has always had an interesting desolation on many of its blocks that is unique to Brooklyn considering the neighborhoods they border. It's like a slightly less fun version of walking around parts of southern Soho/northwest Tribeca, where past industrial activity no longer seems prevalent but there's still the remainders, a lone truck, littered coffee cups, etc.

I can imagine that some cool art is going to be hanging around, I think there are particular inspirations and impressions that many of the artists probably draw from. You can preview all of the participating artists, join yourself, or sign up to volunteer at the official site below. The tour is set up by the Brooklyn Arts Council.

Official site: A.G.A.S.T.