Contents Giving the B its Due 1 2
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Launch Party 5 Sunny/dacia Half/Karma Main Event/Hekate Manco/Ed. Varie Gallery Map Gallery Map Phatory/ATKH EV Gallery/Ki Smith Book Club/3a Feeny & Jeanie Santi/Volpe/Ad Tumulum Observerobscura/jkosart Mad Vaillian/theohiogirl/Jenni ferpodisdead
Haikustrology by Ron Herczig GEMINI Spread love in the world When you are there for others They are there for you CANCER Inaction breeds fear Now go out and get busy Work work work reward
The B, loosely defined as the area between 14th and Houston, A and C, is home to 14 art galleries. Of those, only five were here before 2020. So, yes, the neighborhood is definitely in the midst of an artsy vibe shift and this is happening despite the stultifying effects of the pandemic. Of course the neighborhood-at-large has always been a hotbed of art and cultural diversity (just read the pieces in the last issue of BSZ), but we're not sure it's been getting its due of late. Take a look at the Downtown Gallery Map: dozens of galleries in the LES, Soho and Tribeca, but the map makes an abrupt stop at Houston St. Well, we won't be ignored any longer. In this issue, and distributed throughout the neighborhood, is our own gallery guide to give the B its due. Also in this issue we're again catching up with our beloved street art community, via #0h10M1keandfriends.
B Scene Zine
Launch party # 5, @Hekate
Photos: Daryl-Ann Saunders, Jake Henzon
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SUNNY NY, 155 E 2nd St Est. 2021 An artist-run enterprise founded by painter Russell Tyler and curator Hadley Vogel, Sunny NY draws on a diverse set of artists and styles. Unafraid of the new and experimental, the gallery’s recently featured artists include Andrea McGinty, Trudy Benson, Shawn Kuruneru and Jeremy DePrez. @s.u.n.n.y.n.y
Dacia, 621 e 11th st est 2021 A contemporary art gallery that presents museum quality solo and group exhibitions of established and emerging artists, Dacia mounts representational, landscape and abstract exhibitions. Featured artists include: Noah Buchanan, Erin Anderson, Janet A. Cook, Max Ginsburg, Travis Little, Daniel Maidman, Christopher Pugliese and Patricia Watwood.
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@daciagallery Photo: Bob Krasner
Half, 235 E 4th St Est. 2020 Half Gallery moved to its current location in 2020 after stints in the LES and UES. Founded by William Powers, the bright and spacious gallery hosts some of the neighborhood's finest shows. Recent shows have featured Hiejin Yoo, Umar Rashid, Lucien Smith, Kevin Reinhardt and others, many with ties to the EV. “I think the gravity of the art world, spiritually, is downtown,” Powers told EV Grieve. @halfgallery
Karma 188 E 2nd St, 172 E 2nd st, 22 E 2nd st est. 2016 Establishing its presence in the area in 2016, KARMA led the neighborhood’s art renaissance, bringing top artist from around the world to its three gallery spaces on E. 2nd. Founded by art dealer and publisher Brendan Dugan, the galleries have recently hosted shows by Louise Fishman, Maja Ruznic, Nicolas Party and Keith Mayerson. @karmakarma9
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Main Event, 42 Ave. B EST 2021 The Main Event Gallery is building community and its business, uniting cannabis and art. Through its “Social Gifting Program,” a share of the profits go to help 25 EV non-profits and local service organizations that promote restorative justice efforts. “It's a built-in opportunity to donate to a local non-profits,” says founder Jay Bulger, right @themaineventnyc
Hekate, 167 Ave B est 2022 Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge is a turn-of-the-century café and specialty shop, that doubles as a gallery showcasing local art. It features a wide range of exotic AF cocktails. Fueled by feminine energy, Hekate seeks to highlight the often overlooked women in arts communities. Hekate has hosted dozens of events including 0h10M1ke Sticker shows that drew hundreds of people (right top.) @hekatenyc
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Photo: Daryl-Ann Saunders
Manco Studio, 199 Ave B est 2022 Manco Studio is the latest project from Tom Manco, the talented, clever and resourceful creative best known for the larger-than-life cardboard sculptures that have been attracting attention in Tompkins Square Park for years. It is one of the newest and most authentic galleries on Ave B. Tom and the artists he curates have deep ties to the East Village. Among them: Tom Billing, Jason Baggatta and Michael Alan Alien. @mancostudio
Ed. Varie, 184 E 7th St Est. 2009 A creative institution founded by artist and curator Karen Schaupeter, Ed. Varie has hosted art exhibitions, book launches, community dinners and workshops. Its stated mission is to bring artists at various stages of their careers to the large and influential markets in New York and worldwide. @edvarie Photo: Regis Holman
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Ave B Gallery Map 2022
B Scene Zine
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Phatory, 618 E 9th est. 2003 Run by curator Sally LeLong, The Phatory is committed to exhibiting exceptional contemporary art in all media by both emerging and established artists. It strives to be “an incubator of innovative and thought provoking art.” “I like to present work that is driven by an underlying idea or concept and how ideas express themselves visually,” LeLong told AmNY. @sallylelong
ATKH, 521 E 12th est 2021 All the King’s Horses, ATKH, opened in 2020 as a coffee shop, but soon morphed into an art gallery and community meeting place, “at the intersection of art and caffeine.” Owner Robbie Lecchino says the coffee shop’s adjoining room was perfect for hosting small art shows. Painter Bridget Bethel’s The Tiger was a good example of the kind of work ATKH’s shows. @atkhcafe
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EV Gallery, 621 E 11th Est 2020 Opened in late 2020, EV Gallery has maintained a busy schedule showing work by dozens of artists, six solo shows with lively receptions, jazz musicians in residence, an AAPI fundraiser, film screenings, performance art, sound baths, full moon rituals, mini concerts, documentary filming, and sidewalk jams. @_ev.gallery
Ki Smith, 197 E 4th Est 2018 Ki Smith Gallery aims to disrupt “by representing a carefullyselected group of artists with diverse backgrounds, methods, and aesthetics.” While KS takes note of what other galleries are doing, it considers its peers to be “the artists, patrons, and friends that are active parts of our community. “Recently featured: Kyomi Quinn Taylor, Luke Ivy Price, Ryan Bock, Sono Kuwayama. @kismithgallery Photo for Poetry In New York at Book Club Bar
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Book Club, 197 E 3rd Est 2019
Book Club is more of a coffee shop/book store/perfomance space than a gallery, but we feel it fits the BSZ community art mission. A bookstore that serves coffee, beer, and wine, Book Club hosts “Poetry in New York” on the 3rd Thursday of each month as a sort of neighbohood oral elixir. @bookclubbar
3A, 629 E 6th Est 2011
Seems like every gallery has joined the bright white walls meme. Not 3A; the micro-gallery that shows contemporary art on E 6th has opted instead for a deep, mellow green. @3agallery
this Month's Featured Artists Feeny and Jeanie
New to the street art scene, these twin dynamos bring French style and energy to the lower Manhattan canvas. They're celebrating their birthday on April 1. Vive la difference! @displaybydelphine
SantiOfAllTrades I'm your friendly neighborhood Colombian cool, anxious, nerdy illustrator who paints cute wholesome rats. My rat Is how I see myself every day: curious, small, a little bit scared, but always wanting to explore more. @santiofalltrades
Sharon Volpe Sharon Volpe is an illustrator and painter who aims to bring the human emotions on the inside through to the outside with expressive color, textures and shapes. "Many of my pieces come from my memory and imagination."@sharonvolpeartwork
Ad Tumulum
Ad Tumulum is a NYC-based everyday artist & maker, widely recognized as the eighth hardest-working living artist in NYC. His slaps have been buffed, ripped down and graf'd over in some of the best and most notable places.@ad.tumulum
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Observerobscura Observerobscura has been sharing their locutions on the walls of the streets of the world and NYC for 10 years in the hopes of waking and touching the seekers & the curious. @observerobscura
jkosart Pasting is an immediate way for me to convey messages of hope, love, resilience, and healing. My work responds to current events and personal experiences. @jkosart
Peso Neto
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Words become art across the neighborhood, the city and beyond. His philosophical quotes reflect the importance of selfempowerment and self-reflection. @_pesoneto
Madvaillan Experimenting with alter egos, Madvaillan, aka Villain, continues to spread his works, always reminding people to stay on their toes, always be vigilant because the world can be an intense place. @madvaillan
theohiogirl After getting her fine arts degree, theohiogirl worked as a photographer's assistant and then became creative director for a record label. She designed a little blue bear with the spirit of the borough she loved, Crooklyn. @theohiogirl
JenniferPodisdead Texan by birth, NY-er by choice, JP has lived in the LES for 13 years. She repurposes street found objects, including syringes (see bracelet left), to create art & jewelry. @jenniferpodisdead
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Volume 1, Issue 6, April, 2022
B Scene Zine
Street Art w: Mad Vaillan JenniferPodisdead Feeny and Jeanie SantiOfAllTrades Sharon Volpe Ad Tumulum Observerobscura jkosart theohiogirl