Smack Mellon. The name itself never fails to catch one’s attention. Housed in a raw, industrial building that was once a boiler building meant to provide heat to the neighboring houses, this organization evokes a rusty, out-of-place vibe that coincides with its mission to promote unpopular, unique artists. Having the gorgeous view of the Manhattan Bridge and crisp waters of the Hudson River as its backdrop, this gallery is situated in one of the most aesthetically pleasing areas of New York City.

Located in Dumbo, Brooklyn—one of the city’s most beautiful hidden jewels, this non-profit organization strives to give voice to under-the-radar, emerging artists who have never entered the commercial world of art nor gained the attention that they merit. Founded in 1995 by Andrea Reynosa and Kevin Vertrees, Smack Mellon portrays exhibitions related to the visual arts and music.

What makes Smack Mellon truly stand out among the hundreds of galleries found in NYC is its emphasis on nurturing new artists with the provision of workspace, media equipment, and other invaluable resources. Of the several programs this gallery provides, the Exhibition Program pushes for its artists to design site-specific works using both traditional and innovative technological methods. The Artist Studio Program, started in 2000, was a direct response to the lack of affordable workspace for artists; it seeks to provide talented, arising artists with necessary tools and connections to building a career from their passion for art. But what may be the most outstanding program that Smack Mellon has to offer is the Art Ready Program that equips the still-developing, still-dreaming population of adolescents that is often ignored. By providing mentorship and exposure to the art world via field trips, this program directs young minds in the right path to pursue to their creative ambitions.

The messy, crumbling, unconventional look of Smack Mellon exhibitions gives it almost a refreshing change of scene that contrasts the organized, polished look of exhibitions found in more popular museums/galleries like the MOMA and the Guggenheim. The arrangement of the pieces found in the exhibitions is quite random and sporadic. What is also rather different is that this gallery chooses to display only a few number of exhibitions to draw attention to the distinct pieces of art rather than piling piece upon piece upon piece.

Among the many subtexts and themes that the exhibitions suggest, there seems to an emphasis in involving political insinuations and stances on modern-day issues. For example, one of the previous exhibitions, The Hollow Center, displayed many posters, videos, sculptures, and paintings such as the Monuments to an Unfinished Revolution and Acting the Words is Enacting the World that reflect the artists’ strong views on public and domestic spheres that are developed by a communistic, decentralized movement. Other exhibitions, such as Somewhere Beyond Nowhere and Sugar Carpet, play around with cultural aspects and infusions. In these specific ones, the artists, Janet Biggs and Aude Moreau, try to forge a cultural exchange between Montreal and Brooklyn through detailed two-channel video clips and large-scale installations. By enabling artists to design their masterpieces from a wide spectrum of topics, Smack Mellon is definitely an organization that encourages and not than limits creativity and thought.

Not only does Smack Mellon display its artists’ work in an adorning manner, but it also hold several events that help fund its programs and enlighten the public of the world of visual arts.  A recent event, the Kentucky Derby Party and Art Auction, invited guests to join in on the fun, bet on horses, and return to their homes with original pieces of arts. Other events, such as the Summer Solstice Indoor Backyard Badminton Beachball Beer Tasting Party, had a more relaxed, informal atmosphere that attracted a younger audience. It is intriguing to notice the differences in audience demographics that this organization reaches out to. This kind of trend embraces the concept that art is meant for all ages and all types of people.

Art is meant to transcend boundaries. It is meant to be designed and created by every age group, every class, and every race. While many art organizations are sometimes ignorant of this, Smack Mellon recognizes this important value and strives to provide equal opportunity to all those who have the drive and the ambition. And because of that mission, Smack Mellon continues to flourish and develop significantly.