The Case of the Curious Pedestrian
Curated by Christina Vassallo
September 15, 2010
Along Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
The Case of the Curious Pedestrian is a one-day exhibition of performance art and ephemeral installations that focuses on choreography of pedestrians, the nooks & crannies of commercial spaces, and the unspoken history of sidewalks. These playful gestures--curated by Christina Vassallo, inaugural Curator-in-Residence of the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership--will turn Myrtle Avenue into a cabinet of curiosities.
Artworks
- Ranjit Bhatnagar's City Birds is comprised of three sound sculptures made of vintage toy instruments that were modified to chirp the calls of local song birds (@ Mr. Coco, Green in BKLYN, and Clinton Express Deli).
- Part scavenger hunt and part interactive detective story, Veronica Dougherty's The Story of Johnny X shows participants how someone can disappear in a city. Briefings are conducted at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30pm, on the corner of Hall & Myrtle, where participants will receive a series of clues to solve the mystery of what happened to Johnny X.
- Angela Fan's Happy Benhadi Costume Party is a whimsical addition to a common city street scene: fresh fruits and vegetables for sale on the sidewalk (@Benhadi Supermarket).
- Jonny Farrow's video Pizza is Art celebrates the longstanding tradition of the Brooklyn pizzeria. Shot in the artists local pizza parlor, the footage was looped, reversed, processed, and folded back on itself, much like the process of kneading dough (@Liberty Pizza).
- Kathryne Hall's sculpture Aberrant Drain transforms the view at Clinton & Myrtle, twisting the horizon into urban mirage. Sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council.
- Join licensed tour guide and 4th generation Myrtle Avenue resident Jonah Levy on his Moitel Avenue Tour to discover the vast hidden history of the Myrtle Ave you might not know. FREE 30-minute tours are conducted at 1, 2, 3 & 4 pm, and start at the corner of Hall & Myrtle on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Each element in Lili Maya & James Rouvelle's Surface-active agent will subtly react to the heat, light, humidity, and vibrations caused by the patrons and employees of 3 Stars Laundromat.
- Playlab scoured Craigslists free listings to build a pedestrian lounge in the street. They archived each piece of furniture in their Craigshouse installation online here. Visitors to the exhibition are welcome to take home a piece of furniture if they agree to submit a photo of the item in its new home (@Home and U).
- Risa Puno's Look Here stereograms contain 3-D images hidden within 2-D patterns. Installed on storefronts along Myrtle Ave, each layer offers an opportunity for viewers to stop and stare (@Myrtle Glass, Karrot and Bechamel).
- Hunt for dollar bills in Sal Randolph's $1 Near Something Red. Look for red bicycles, fire boxes, fences, t-shirts, even apples, and you may discover a specially rolled dollar with a printed message enclosed. Try attracting dollars to you by putting out something red, or take the opportunity to leave some of your own money for others to find.
