Talk about art that pops!
The artists behind Succulent Studios, a new gallery in Greenpoint, are hosting an opening celebration that will feature art made from thousands of balloons.
“The beauty of the balloon is that it creates a childlike response in people. Balloons are so innocent and happy,” said the artist known as Sek3, who is one of the organizers of the show. “It really opens people up to other art.”
Artists Cern and Addi Sonrekh are collaborating on a massive balloon sculpture that will be exhibited at the opening. For the project, Sonrekh will build the balloon sculpture and then Cern will paint it.
Sek3 and Cern both came out of the graffiti and street art crew YMI, a group that gained notoriety when it contributed to the artwork in the Graffiti Hall of Fame.
Since then, they have turned to more traditional forms of art. Last year, the pair hosted a pop-up gallery in Miami Beach during Art Basel.
“We have a lineage coming from the birth of graffiti all the way to the collaboration between graffiti and fine art,” said Sek3. “We’ve got a lot of that excitement. It is a rock and roll kind of feel.”
The sculptures won’t be the only inflatable pieces on display at the launch event — women will also be walking around in bikinis made of tiny balloons.
Balloons will not always be in display at the gallery, but Succulent Studios plans to continue to mine works and performances that are at the intersection of street art and fine art. The organizers said they wanted to highlight this diversity of styles and mediums at the opening, inviting some 30 artists to exhibit their work.
“We want to create a positive experience that is not tied to any particular art scene,” said Cern.
Gallery Opening at Succulent Studios (67 West St., Suite 522, between Noble and Milton streets in Greenpoint, succbk.com). March 29 at 6:30 pm. Free.
