A gallery exhibition of photographic portraits, essays, and artwork documenting 17 local artists inspired by Washington Heights and Inwood.
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Thursday, January 5 – Friday, February 10, 2012
Artists Talk Wed., Jan. 18 from 6-8pm
NoMAA Gallery @ Cornerstone Center
178 Bennett Ave. near W. 189th St. 1 block west of Broadway
Open weekdays during business hours or by appointment: 212-568-4396.
Over the last year I documented local artists who create work directly inspired by living in Washington Heights and Inwood: the streets, culture, people, and parkland. They work across a variety of artistic media and include both natives of Northern Manhattan’s predominately Dominican neighborhoods and immigrants from Poland, Argentina, Russia, and other countries. These artists have each been deeply moved by their time here and, through their work, serve as ambassadors, spreading the word about what’s happening in Washington Heights and Inwood.
For each of the 17 artists, I wrote an essay and made an environmental portrait that references how Northern Manhattan served as their creative muse.
The exhibition includes each artist’s artwork – paintings, prints, video clips, music – inspired by Northern Manhattan, including a mini-exhibit of photographs from NYC SALT, a nonprofit program that prepares local teens for college and careers in photography.
The exhibit is curated by Andrea Arroyo, an award-winning artist and curator.
The artists include:
Audubon
Natasha Beshenkovsky
Hector Canonge
Edgar Cortes
Andrea Cukier
Michael Diaz
Elissa Gore
Jon Michaud
Lin-Manuel Miranda
NYC Salt
Frankie P
Sky Pape
People’s Theatre Project
M. Tony Peralta
Dister Rondon
Tony Serio
Jonathan Ullman
Funding:
“Northern Manhattan as Muse” is one of the recipients of the NoMAA Regrant Program, made possible by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation.
Book:
In addition to the exhibit, I also published a small book that includes each artist’s portrait and essay. Purchase your copy here.
Press:
“Northern Manhattan Serves as Artistic Muse in Exhibit,” December 27, 2011, By Carla Zanoni, DNAinfo Reporter
“Northern Manhattan as Muse: Q&A with Mike Fitelson,” January 4, 2012, By Led Black and DJ Boy, Uptown Collective
“Inspired by Northern Manhattan: The artists and their muse,” January 4, 2012, By Gloria Pazmino, Manhattan Times
“Photos: Northern Manhattan as Muse Opening Reception,” January 5, 2012, By Art DJ Boy
“Pics from the Northern Manhattan as Muse Artists Talk,” January 18, 2012, Uptown Collective, By Art By DJ Boy