The Arts in NYC Fall 2012

Thanks to our wonderful MTA system, and especially its prompt service on weekends, I reached Brooklyn after a journey of two and a half hours to attend the DUMBO Arts Festival in which Kenneth Pietrobono’s project of roses, which were named in accordance with the different systems prevailing in United States, was being displayed.

After a short chat with Kenneth, we ambled further on and came across the Galapagos Art Space. Frankly, I did not understand a thing about what it was all about. It was one of those creepy places with dark lights and narrow alleys that you may see in an action movie where the bad guys hang out. After we went up a few flight of stairs we came across a room where there was a figure made out of pink lights on one side, and some old bottles and rocks drenched in white paint on the other. On one table there were some photographs of a man, and a description of his upcoming project “ Next time you see me, It wont be me’.

After our visit of the Galapagos Art Space, we went further towards the Brooklyn bridge carousel where Kenneth had informed us were the words that were used the most by the different presidents of United States. It started with ‘Gentlemen’ for George Washington, and ended with ‘Terror’ for George Walker Bush. 

Next place we went to was a festival that the Children Arts Museum had organized. There were different stalls that offered a variety of activities for children, such as there was a painting that anyone could go up and paint in. Susu and I also tried some of our painting skills, but then after we got all covered by paint, we decided to leave and go towards the drawing sections, where Susu made an absolutely gorgeous drawing of these colored cloths that loosely hung in a corner.

The time I spent here was the most enjoyable for me, not only because the weather was simply amazing, with cold gusts of wind tearing at our faces, but because of the general atmosphere there. A lot of people, especially families with little kids were present and every now and then you could see a parent-child bonding together by drawing, painting or just playing together. Perceiving all that made me think how simple the life of a child is, with all that he has to worry about is where his mother is, or as we were discussing in our previous class, with whom does he have to play with.

What I most liked about this effort of the Children Art Museum was that they gave children a chance to get in touch with their artistic side. Usually museums are about these intricate paintings that even grown ups, let alone children, cannot interpret. Over here, there were postcards, in which children drew, installed the skyline with strings and build the Brooklyn Bridge out of cardboard. The overall ambience was quite enthusiastic and it made me feel like the world is not just filled with complications and evils, but there are certain happy aspects to it as well.

Afterwards, Susu and I just enjoyed the weather and the breathtaking view of Brooklyn Bridge. There was a newly wed couple that was taking pictures, and some tap dancing was also going on.  I wanted to stay further, but then it started to drizzle. Although I should have learned from my experience of Friday, when I got utterly drenched because I did not have an umbrella, I still had failed to bring one today, and hence hurried to the subway, to start yet another long ride back to my home.