Over the past decade, thousands of visitors
have come to DUMBO’s annual "art under the bridge festival"
each October to see the latest from this burgeoning artistic
enclave. Now in its 10th year, the festival, held by the d.u.m.b.o
arts center Oct.13-15, redefines itself by focusing on what has
always made it unique – visual art.
Under the management of new Executive Director Breda Kennedy,
the festival will drop most of its music performers in favor
of new experimental visual art programs, which explore all mediums
from painting to video to graffiti.
"There is music year-round in New York," says d.u.m.b.o
arts center Associate Director Chris Herbeck. "What makes
this festival unique is that it’s visual art-based."
When local artist Joy Glidden launched this festival in 1997,
she used bands to attract crowds to then little-known DUMBO.
But now the festival has become a local tradition that brings
over 200,000 visitors and launches the careers of many artists.
Over the years, the DUMBO festival introduced the likes of Swoon,
a graffiti artist whose woodblock prints and cutouts are displayed
all over New York and have just been exhibited in the Museum
of Modern Art; and Theatre OUF!, which made a splash at last
year’s fest with its interactive comic performances that have
since spread throughout the boroughs. Both Swoon and Theatre
OUF! will honor their roots by returning to perform at this 10th
annual event.
"Artists are very inspired by this neighborhood," says
Kennedy, who has been working in the international art world
for over 20 years. "For most of them, this is their first
opportunity to embark on a project like this. That’s what’s great
about it. I don’t know anything comparable in the U.S."
The festival has nurtured the local art scene and put the neighborhood
on New York’s cultural map. But everyone knows that where the
artists go, developers follow, and DUMBO may soon be crowded
with suits and towering buildings.
Despite the fear of gentrification, Kennedy is sure that the
festival will go on.
"The festival will continue no matter what, because it’s
got such support in the community," she says. "It would
be like taking away Christmas. But whether we will have so many
open studios of fine artists in years to come, I’m not sure.
What will probably happen is that you will have more commercial
artists, designers, graphic designers, architects who can afford
studios here. That profile will change within a few years."
Many have already felt the changes. To mourn the changing climate
of the area, one local artist, Daniel Starling, is organizing
"Death of DUMBO," a funeral march and musical performances
by DUMBO-only bands.
"It’s a cathartic moment," says Starling, whose friends
have already been forced out of DUMBO by increased rents. "With
the new millionaires moving in, all the struggling artists –
and even successful artists – cannot afford to stay here. [The
funeral march] is to remember the people that were here."
"Death of DUMBO" may be the only scheduled musical
event in this year’s visual art extravaganza, but it doesn’t
mean that other artistic disciplines are excluded.
For example, contemporary dance performances, organized by White
Wave as part of the 2006 DUMBO Dance Festival, will entertain
the audience in the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. There, 11
New York dance artists and companies will present works ranging
from the acrobatic to theatrical to poetic.
This year’s festival also reflects change in the area of filmmaking.
While the program previously included both videos and short films,
this year’s "Video_DUMBO" program focuses exclusively
on videos. Local artists presenting previously unscreened conceptual,
experimental and documentary works will be joined by international
video-makers from Beirut, Mexico City and Seoul. Audiences will
also get a chance to see archival footage from all the previous
festivals.
But, as Kennedy pointed out, the biggest draw of the festival
is experimental visual art. As in previous years, DUMBO will
be filled with intriguing artworks shown in lobbies, and on facades,
rooftops, sidewalks and even on the water.
Unique site-specific installations responding to the neighborhood’s
unusual setting are especially worth a look. For example, Graffiti
Research Lab is combining tradition with technology by temporarily
projecting graffiti onto a wall.
On a loading dock, Las Vegas artist Aaron Sheppard is displaying
"Lost in Spegas," a multi-disciplinary installation
with an apocalyptic Vegas theme. Kennedy calls Sheppard’s work
"one of the wilder ones."
Gallery exhibits and artists’ open studios have always been a
draw for the festival crowds. But this year, there is the newcomer
Triangle Arts Association. Once every two years, this art organization,
which has been in DUMBO since their move from the World Trade
Center after 9-11, invites artists from all over the world to
participate in an intensive, two-week workshop that culminates
in a one-day exhibit. To attract a wider audience to this year’s
30,000 square-foot exhibit, it is scheduled to coincide with
the festival.
"We want to be more part of this community," says Ann
Chen, Triangle’s executive director. "I am looking forward
to seeing people’s reaction to the artwork.
Festival highlights
Video_DUMBO: See experimental and documentary videos, new video
art from New York and international artists, and archival footage
from past festivals. Event days and times: Oct. 13, from 9 pm
to 2 am; Oct. 14, from 2:30 pm to 2 am; and Oct. 15, from 2:30
pm to 9 pm. Location: 16 Main St. at Water Street. Admission:
$5.
Theatre OUF!: Pink Ladies Cruises Team of Theatre OUF!
presents comedic, participant-based performance, "PLOUF!
A Dive in the Hudson." Event days and times: Oct. 13-15,
from 7 pm to 9 pm. The last boat leaves at 8:30 pm. Location:
New York Water Taxi, departing every half hour from Fulton Ferry
Landing. Admission: free. For more information, call (212) 502-8576
or visit the Web site, www.theatreouf.org.
Death of DUMBO: Join the funeral march and enjoy the festival’s
only musical entertainment presented by DUMBO bands. Event date:
Oct. 14, from 1 pm to 10 pm; rain date is Oct. 15. Location:
the Triangle, 155 Water St. at Adams Street. Admission: free.
DUMBO Dance Festival: Marvel at the contemporary dance
performances in the unique outdoor setting. Event date: Oct.
15, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Location: Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park
at Water and New Dock streets. In case of rain, performances
will be held at White Wave’s John Ryan Theater, 25 Jay St. at
Plymouth Street. Admission: free. For more information, call
(718) 855-8822 or visit the Web site www.whitewavedance.com.
Lost in Spegas: Don’t forget to visit this wild, Vegas-themed
installation by Las Vegas artist, Aaron Sheppard. Event dates:
Oct. 14-15. Location: at the loading dock, 45 Main St. at Front
Street. Admission: free.
Open Studio of the Triangle Artists’ Workshop: Do not
miss the one-day-only culmination of the workshop for artists
from all over the world. Event date: Oct. 14, from 1 pm to 6
pm. Location: on the ground floor of 20 Jay St. at Plymouth Street.
Admission: free. For more information, call (718) 858-1260 or
visit the Web site www.triangleworkshop.org.
"Dumbo art under the bridge festival" brochures, with
a complete listing of events and a map, can be picked up at the
d.u.m.b.o arts center, 30 Washington St. at Water Street in DUMBO.
Call for the center’s hours at (718) 694-0831.
