| New York, March 20, 2015 – No Longer Empty (NLE) is pleased to present When You Cut into the Present the Future Leaks Out at the Old Bronx Borough Courthouse. Curated by Regine Basha for NLE, the exhibition is one of seven projects to receive the Neighborhood Challenge Award. Built 1905–1914 and attributed to architects Michael John Garvin and Oscar Florianus Bluemner, the Courthouse, once boasting granite floors, lavish stairways, and bronze doors, remains adorned by a statue of Lady Justice. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bronx County, the Beaux Arts-style building has been shuttered for 37 years. For more information, please visit nolongerempty.org
The Old Bronx Borough Courthouse is taken as both site and theme: a time capsule, witness, and symbol existing within a plurality of narratives about its future role in the neighborhood. Referencing a quote by Beat generation poet William S. Burroughs, When You Cut into the Present the Future Leaks Out echoes approaches attributed to cut-up poetry, early Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, and the sculptural practice of artist Gordon Matta-Clark, who sliced into urban spaces as social commentary. The exhibition will occupy three floors and include the works of 26 artists and site-specific works commissioned by NLE.
Artists: Daniel Bozhkov / Melissa Calderon / Beth Campbell / Paco Cao / Onyedika Chuke / Abigail DeVille / Teresa Diehl / Elastic City (Todd Shalom) / Nicolas Dumit Estevez / Ellen Harvey / Skowmon Hastanan / Adam Helms / Iman Issa / Paul Ramirez Jonas & Deborah Fisher / Lady K Fever / Michelle Lopez / Ivan Navarro / Daniel Neumann & Juan Betancurth / Shellyn Rodriguez / David Scanavino / Lisa Sigal / Julianne Swartz / Xaviera Simmons / Valerie Tevere & Angel Nevarez
To activate the empty space and directly involve the community members, NLE will host public programs and activities. Approximately 20 events will include: No Longer Bored Family Day: Urban Gardening Workshop (Saturday, April 25, 1–4pm); BX200 Virtual Artist Studios (Sunday, April 26, 3–5pm and Friday, June 12, 6–8pm); Teens Curate Teens exhibition opening and teen day (Saturday, May 16, 1–7pm); Bronx Fashion Week (Saturday, May 9); and conceptual walks with Elastic City (Friday, May 29, 1pm and Saturday, May 30, 1pm and 5pm). Bilingual support materials will be available where appropriate.
Additional event and programming dates to be announced: New York Public Library Community Oral History Project, an evening of dance and performance with Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, walking tours by Ed García Conde, Founder and Editor of Welcome2TheBronx, a prospective tenant party hosted in partnership with SoBRO, and more! Stay tuned at nolongerempty.org
Community Partners: ArtsConnection / Bronx200 / Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance (BAAD!) / Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education / DreamYard Project / Ed García Conde, Welcome2TheBronx / The Kelly Street Community Garden / New York Public Library Community Oral History Project / Percent for Green / South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO)
Official media sponsors: WNYC Radio and Ed García Conde, Welcome2TheBronx
ABOUT NO LONGER EMPTY
Founded in 2009, No Longer Empty’s mission is to activate public engagement with contemporary art through curated, community-responsive exhibitions and educational programming that revive underutilized properties. NLE’s unique approach begins on site, with extensive research and engagement with the assets and needs of the community that culminates in program development, implementation, and legacy.
Partnering with building owners, community groups, non-profits, museums and universities, NLE has organized 18 museum-quality exhibitions throughout NYC; showcased the work of 219 artists; and commissioned 141 artworks. In addition to hosting 188 public programs, NLE has developed educational programming including No Longer Bored Family Days & School Tours, Y.DOT Youth Docent Program, Teens Curate Teens in partnership with ArtsConnection, and our legacy program NLE After-School & Beyond. In 2013, the organization launched NLE Curatorial Lab, an annual professional development program for curators interested in site-specific practice.
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