Weekend Art Events: Sept. 14-16 (Opera On Tap, Photoville, Def Poetry Jam & More)
The sun returns (hopefully) just in time for a weekend packed with fun things to check out, from music, poetry, performances, exhibits, books, food, and more!
Don’t forget to celebrate the Brooklyn Army Terminal’s 100th anniversary at a block party on Saturday featuring performances by Busta Rhymes, Justine Skye, and Natasha Diggs.
Want to teach the kids about the environment? Then head to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Environmental Education Center on Sunday where there’ll be free activities to celebrate the Center’s third anniversary.
And don’t forget to check out the BKBF Children’s Day taking place on Saturday and the Brooklyn Book Festival Day & Literary Marketplace happening on Sunday.
Check the BKLYNER Calendar for more events happening around town or to list one of your own.
Opera On Tap (SPONSORED)
When: Thursday, September 13, 9pm to 10:30pm
Where: Freddy’s Bar, 627 5th Avenue (between 17 & 18th Streets), Park Slope
What: Straight from the tap, Freddy’s Bar and the Divas of Opera on Tap bring you the Home Brewed Opera series: funny, engaging, immersive operatic concerts in a casual setting. For this month, put on your face paint and your best glitter pantsuit and join us at Freddy’s on September 13 for an evening of epic music paying homage to the Gorgeous Ladies of the Opera World (GLOW) with our male referees!
From Valkyrie warriors to powerful queens, we will prove once and for all that women in opera aren’t just shrinking violets and swooning ingenues. Featuring: Mithuna Sivaraman, soprano; Nicole Guberman, soprano; Joanie Brittingham, soprano; Elena Armijo, soprano; Luke van Meveren, baritone; Seth Gilman, baritone; and Mary Prescott on the ivories!
How Much: $10 suggested donation
Mary Mattingly: What Happens After
When: Exhibition on view from Thursday, September 13—Sunday, November 11
Where: Gallery at BRIC House, 647 Fulton Street (enter at Rockwell Place), Fort Greene
What: BRIC presents an exhibition of work by Brooklyn-based artist Mary Mattingly, who creates photographs, sculpture, and large-scale public art projects that address climate change by “drawing connections between the social and economic forces that make up the current political ecology impacting our environment.” A deconstructed and redesigned 19,000-pound military cargo truck will be on display, encouraging viewers to question: “What happens when an object that embodies both the systemic violence represented by war and by climate change is manifested in a public space?”
Photoville
When: Thursday, Sept. 13—Sunday, Sept. 16 and Thursday, Sept. 20—Sunday, Sept. 23
Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Bridge Plaza (under the Brooklyn Bridge), DUMBO
What: United Photo Industries presents the seventh annual Photoville photography festival, featuring images by more than 600 artists in 90 exhibitions and installations held inside and around shipping containers. The free fest will also feature panel discussions, artist lectures, seminars, and hands-on workshops.
Stars In The Night
When: Thursday, September 13 through Sunday, October 14
Where: Locations across DUMBO
What: Firelight Collective presents a four-week limited run of STARS IN THE NIGHT, an interactive and immersive theatrical production that takes audiences to multiple locations across DUMBO’s historic waterfront district. The original story brings twelve audience members on a journey through four locations, including the Empire Stores as well as living spaces, “to witness the fallout when a woman suddenly goes missing.”
How Much: Tickets $125
Katra Film Series—Sidebar Edition
When: Friday, September 14, 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Wine Legend, 166 Myrtle Avenue (at Fleet Place), Downtown Brooklyn
What: The 2018 Katra Film Series presents the inaugural Sidebar Edition, featuring films by underrepresented communities focusing on issues, topics and stories by Women of Color, African-American, Asian-American, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and female filmmakers from all walks of life.
How Much: Tickets $10
Satellite Collective’s Echo & Narcissus
When: Friday, Sept. 14 at 8pm and Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7:30pm
Where: BAM Fisher, 321 Ashland Place, Fort Greene
What: Satellite Collective presents an adaptation of Echo & Narcissus featuring original music, live chamber performance, visual art, ballet, digital multimedia, opera, and lighting design.
How Much: Tickets $25
Southwest Brooklyn Fall Festival
When: Saturday, September 15, 12pm to 5pm
Where: Columbia Street (from Degraw to Union) and Union Street (from Columbia to Hicks), Carroll Gardens/Columbia Street Waterfront District
What: This annual street fair will feature local food, retail vendors, local artists and artisans, family-friendly activities, live performances, as well as community service providers.
10th Street Block Party And Outdoor Art Exhibit
When: Saturday, September 15, 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Where: 10th Street between 8th Avenue & Prospect Park West, Park Slope
What: Local artists will showcase their work at this annual block party and outdoor art exhibit, including Nancy Rodrigo who will be displaying a selection of her drawings and paintings. The exhibit takes place at 683 10th Street on the driveway from 12:30pm to 4:30pm (weather permitting).
Def Poetry Jam Reunion
When: Saturday, September 15, 3pm to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm
Where: Billie Holiday Theatre, At Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, Bed-Stuy
What: RestorationArt kicks off its 2018-2019 season with two Def Poetry Jam Reunion shows curated by Danny Simmons. Both shows will feature a diverse group of renowned poets and spoken word artists, including Sonia Sanchez, Liza Jessie Peterson, Steve Colman, Ursula Rucker, Bonafide Rojas, Derick Cross, and more.
How Much: Tickets $30
You Are Unwanted, Yet, You Radiate
When: Saturday, September 15, 4pm to 5pm
Where: E-Waste Warehouse, 469 President Street (at Nevins Street), Gowanus
What: LES Ecology Center’s artist-in-residence Keiko Miyamori will perform an hour-long site-specific art piece featuring “primal vocals” recordings by vocalist Ami Yamasaki and other Japanese performers. The movement and sound work “aims to ‘shine light’ on the world of the discarded.”
How Much: $5 suggested donation
Creekers Jamboree
When: Saturday, September 15, 5pm to 8pm
Where: Gowanus Dredger’s Canoe Club, 165 2nd Street (between Bond Street & the Canal), Gowanus
What: Creekers Jamboree celebrates Roots and Americana music on the third Saturday of every month this summer! This final edition features the NYC-based acoustic roots trio Queens of Everything and the Brooklyn-based jug-band/country/blues/old-time musicians, Brotherhood of the Jug Band Blues.
How Much: Donations encouraged
Reunify – A Benefit Concert
When: Saturday, September 15, 6pm to 8pm
Where: Brooklyn Music School, 126 St. Felix Street, Fort Greene
What: Brooklyn Music School and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) present a concert to benefit children who have been displaced. All proceeds from the show will go towards music therapy and legal support for children who have been separated from their parents by authorities.
How Much: Tickets $25 general admission/$15 BMS students & parents
Daily Vase: New Works From Alison Owen
When: Exhibition on view from Thursday, September 6—Sunday, October 14 (Opening reception: Saturday, September 15, 7pm to 9pm)
Where: Greenpoint Hill, 100 Freeman Street (at Franklin Street), Greenpoint
What: At the start of 2018, artist Alison Owen began creating a vase for every day of the year—traditional clay vessels, fabric interpretations, paper collages. Her only requirement for the project was that the daily artwork incorporate a vase in some way. Her works are made using items found at other artists’ studios, on the street, or from her daily life. This exhibition displays selections from her project to date.
Dance party: Soul In The Horn
When: Saturday, September 15, 9pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights
What: Celebrate the opening the Brooklyn Museum’s special exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power with a Soul in the Horn dance party featuring horn-infused sets combining hits from the 1960s through the 1980s. Attendees can also check out the exhibit during the special hours and have their portraits taken by Rog and Bee Walker from Paper Monday.
How Much: Tickets $20
Sunset Park BID 5th Avenue Street Festival
When: Sunday, September 16, 11am to 6pm
Where: 5th Avenue from 44th to 59th Streets, Sunset Park
What: Join thousands of neighbors and community members in celebrating the local merchants on Sunset Park’s 5th Avenue at this annual event featuring vendors, free entertainment, games, and family-friendly activities.
Taste Williamsburg Greenpoint
When: Sunday, September 16, 1pm to 5pm
Where: East River State Park, 90 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg
What: This 9th annual outdoor event celebrates the flavors of North Brooklyn with sample tastings from more than 40 neighborhood restaurants, bars, breweries, and wineries. There will also be live music, demonstrations, and more!
How Much: Tickets $55-$85
Concerts On The Slope Presents: “Debussy, A French Celebration”
When: Sunday, September 16, 3pm
Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 139 St. Johns Place (at 7th Avenue), Park Slope
What: Concerts On The Slope presents the Genin-Gregory-Rodolfo Trio featuring Mélanie Genin (harp), Catherine Gregory (flute), and Jesus Rodolfo (viola) performing Claude Debussy’s Beau Soir, Afternoon of a Faun (arr. M. Genin), Syrinx, and two Arabesques; Saad Haddad’s Dohree; and Sebastian Currier’s 15 Minutes.
How Much: $20 suggested donation
24th Annual MAAFA: “Eradicating Slavery’s Legacy”
When: Sunday, Sept. 16 at 6pm; Monday, Sept. 17 at 7pm; Thursday, Sept. 20 at 7pm; and Friday, Sept. 21 at 7pm
Where: St. Paul Community Baptist Church, 859 Hendrix Street, East New York
What: For the 24th year, St. Paul Community Baptist Church presents the theatrical production, The MAAFA: “Eradicating Slavery’s Legacy.” The play depicts the journey of African slaves to America from 1500 to 1900, recreating their journey through the “Middle Passage” during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The Church will also exhibit art, wood carvings, and artifacts, as well as present an interactive walking tour to educate visitors about the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
How Much: Tickets $25-$40
The Jamie Baum Septet+: “Bridges” Album Release
When: Sunday, September 16, 8pm
Where: Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue (at 3rd Avenue), Boerum Hill
What: New York-based flutist/composer and 2014 Guggenheim Fellow Jamie Baum celebrates the release of Bridges, the latest modern jazz album from The Jamie Baum Septet+.
How Much: Tickets $18 online, $25 at door
Wes Modes Presents A Secret History Of American River People
When: Exhibition on view Saturday, July 28 through Sunday, September 16
Where: The Waterfront Museum, 290 Conover Street, Red Hook
What: California artist Wes Modes traveled down the Hudson River in a recreation of a 1940s-era shantyboat, collecting stories from the people who live and work along the waterway. The artwork on view in this exhibition is part of a larger project spanning several years and covering multiple river communities.
Mie Yim | Sfumato
When: Exhibition on view Thursday, August 16 through Sunday, September 16
Where: Ground Floor Gallery, 343 5th Street, Park Slope
What: The Sunset Park-based artist presents this series of abstract works, “larger-scale, sumptuous paintings created between 2017 – 2018.” The name of the exhibit, “Sfumato,” refers to a technique of “blending colors and shapes” which Yim credits Leonardo DaVinci for creating. Closing reception on Sunday, Sept. 16 (3pm to 5:30pm) includes Korean barbecue!
For Which It Stands—A Contemporary Art Exhibit
When: Exhibition on view Thursday, August 23 through Sunday, October 14, Fridays 3pm to 6pm or by appointment
Where: The Old Stone House, 336 3rd Street (between 4th & 5th Avenues), Park Slope
What: The Old Stone House presents this contemporary art exhibition that connects Brooklyn’s revolutionary history to some of today’s most pressing issues. Artists reinterpret and offer their “fresh take on the flags of the American Revolution and today, including the contradictions inherent in their symbolism.”
Leigh Blanchard: And Now I See
When: Exhibition on view from Thursday, September 6 through Sunday, October 7
Where: 440 Gallery, 440 6th Avenue, Park Slope
What: This solo exhibition of Blanchard’s recent work explores alternate ways of creating digital images, focusing on “technological flaws.” Loading thousands of images onto various “online artificial intelligence systems,” the artist captures imperfections and creates complex, distorted imagery either organically or by manipulating the software.
Nancy Bowen: For Each Ecstatic Instant
When: Exhibition on view from Friday, September 7 through Sunday, October 28
(Opening reception: Friday, Sept. 7, 5pm to 8pm | Artist’s talk: Saturday, Oct. 6, 4pm)
Where: Kentler International Drawing Space, 353 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
What: “Artistic archaeologist” Bowen reassembles found fragments including maps, stamps, glass, picture frames, and pages from books to create patchworks that explore “what counts as knowledge.”
PÒTOPRENS: The Urban Artists of Port-au-Prince
When: Exhibition on view from Friday, September 7 through Sunday, November 11 (opening reception Friday, Sept. 7, 7pm to 9pm)
Where: Pioneer Works, 159 Pioneer Street, Red Hook
What: More than 20 artists working in Haiti’s capital will be presented in this exhibit featuring sculpture, photography, and film, as well as a garden installation of a recreated Port-au-Prince barbershop.
How Much: Free
NEXT WEEKEND
Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party (Sponsored)
When: September 21st – 23rd (Seven performances)
Where: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
What: Everyone’s invited to take part in the sunniest and funniest street celebration in Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! Sesame Workshop features favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more in a brand-new sensory adventure live on stage. Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!
How much: Tickets start at $19