resolve40 . 212 696 1792

On The Waterfront

by Iliyan Ivanov

One truly needed an elephant’s memory to trace even a singe day events taking place in the d.u.m.b.o. (area "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass" on the Brooklyn bank of the East river) Arts Under the Bridge festival.

Size-wise, the festival overshadows most of its cousins (mammalian names or not) anywhere in the country and probably around the globe. As to quality, the art of DUMBO is in a league of its own, the community having offered representational venues for artistic projects that many others may consider “marginal", “too alternative” or “way outside” of any given thematically outlined framework. If one attempts to extrapolate on the organizers’ credo, judging by the width and breadth of the presented art, a fair guess will be something like: “We believe in the artist, who takes one responsibility - to bring to life compelling artwork”- regardless of medium or inspiration.

The festival celebrated its 10th year anniversary by celebrating the creativity of artists, performers, filmmakers and curators in a two and a half day fiesta of countless exhibitions, street projections, graffiti dispersion and interactive art.

While that volume may come as a trade off for quality, in this case the filters seem intact- the festival presented art comprised of junkyard objects, no works in sight had been dragged from the junkyard of art. Personal favorites: the “Katrina remembered- The Coast Is Still Not Clear” six Mississippi artist benefit show; the amazing installation “The Art of Boxing” at the Gleason’s Gym; the square at the crossing of Pearl and Front, where art in the street rivaled the gems at the Jan Larsen Art and The Pearl Street galleries. Michael Whitney’s open studio proved to be a hidden treasure.

Getting to DUMBO is easy, much easier than crossing midtown in rush hour.
York Street first stop of the F train before or after Manhattan, rest is accessible by foot even if you are not athletic. Front Street is the "main drag", offering a variety of restaurants (Front Street Pizza is probably the most famous but Superfine lives up to its name and may be the coolest), alternative spaces (Spring is an innovative space with a really great mix of art and design), the multifaceted art at the second floor of the 111 Front street gallery.

But do not stop there - just take a stroll down Water street to check out a number of little and bigger stores, all showing art and serving goodies, as you head toward Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. Here your choices seem endless- take in the art installations in this unique setting - “Romantic Moment On a Bench Looking Out At The Brooklyn Bridge: A Musical”, the “Money Tree”, the “Glass Houses” and the “Meditation Cube; stand on the line for ice cream at the ferry landing (the Water Taxi stops there), dine at the storied River Café, or simply enjoy the city skyline. The still evocative-of-the-noir waterfront neighborhood is an excellent place to bring your love for a romantic stroll or the family for a sunny autumn afternoon, to play surrounded by art. What more can you ask of a placed named after a flying elephant, except, please DUMBO, don't ever change. We love you just the way you are.