No Longer Empty Takes Hold of 215 East Houston
For the time being, 215 East Houston is no longer empty. Seriously. No Longer Empty, the organization charged with orchestrating public art events in vacant storefronts, is currently putting its mark in the empty retail space at the base of The Ludlow. The new exhibition is dubbed “About Face,” and will open Thursday night in conjunction with the Festival of Ideas for a New City.
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“About Face” is more of an interactive event that explores “alternative ways an exhibition can be created and received.” As such, this temporary show is not strictly relegated to 215 East Houston. According to the press release:
Artwork will be shown not only in the temporarily occupied storefront at 215 E. Houston, but also on the streets of the surrounding neighborhood and in the virtual space of the Internet or a smartphone. Some works will endure for the time the space is open, for instance artist Maria Jose Arjona’s performance is designed around the duration of the exhibition, while others will last only a few hours as in Itziar Barrio’s outdoor blue-screen installation.
Over the weekend, a team of artists was busy readying the interior. Painting pretty much every surface inside the storefront. A tiny sign in the door indicates what’s happening; tech savvy folks will also notice the QR code that accompanies the text.
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“About Face” opens May 6 and runs through June 12.
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