We the People
Opening Wednesday, June 19 at Howl! Happening, 6 pm to 8 pm. On view through July 21.
Some people go to prestigious and expensive schools to learn how to make art, throwing piles of cash at nice supplies in the process. Guy Woodard, on the other hand, honed his craft using a cheap ballpoint pen while incarcerated. The former counterfeiter and forger is opening a solo show of intricate ink drawings at Howl Happening in the East Village starting tonight. In addition to his drawings, which explore both political events and the ins and outs of everyday black life, the exhibition also features a selection of Woodard-created forgeries, including one of Trayvon Martin’s Howard University diploma.
Stonewall 50/50
Opening Friday, June 21 at 1969 Gallery, 6 pm to 8 pm. On view through July 28.
The latest edition to the slew of cultural happenings related to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots is Stonewall 50/50, an exhibition curated by former White Columns director and curator Bill Arning at the aptly-named 1969 Gallery. The “50/50” refers to the dichotomy that still exists in the fight for justice in the queer community—we celebrate what we have achieved so far, like gay marriage and increased societal acceptance, but remember the troubles we still face, like barriers to queer and trans healthcare access, the frequent murders of trans women of color, and persecution overseas in places like Chechnya. The show features artists from NYC and Texas (two places Arning has lived), and covers a range of themes, including “explicit joyful and fun sexuality.”
The Chimney x Ulmer Arts
Opening Saturday, June 22 at 81 Beaver Street, 2 pm to 8 pm. On view through July 28.
It’s not unusual to see a building become abandoned, then eventually repurposed for some other use—a warehouse becomes a party venue, a factory gets turned into apartments, and so on. A 60,000 square foot abandoned brewery on Bushwick’s Beaver Street is the latest to be given new life, this time in the form of a sprawling art space called Ulmer Arts. The first happening in the space will be a collaboration with local gallery The Chimney, featuring nine artists from across the world working in disciplines from painting to sculpture and beyond. As the gallery is particularly spacious, the artists will be bringing in pieces larger than what would occupy a typical gallery.