Out and About in D.U.M.B.O.
by Deborah Au-Yeung
D.U.M.B.O. Archive
Since I fell in love with my girlfriend D., I've done a two-month
disappearing act from DUMBO. Trapped in my girlfriend's torrid den of sin in the
East Village, the howling winter didn't bother me a bit. But now that spring has
sprung, my artistic soul has been whispering that I need to spend more time in my 'hood,
making music and plugging the local art scene. Believe it or not, the neighborhood has not
lain dormant in my absence. I figured something was happening since the Jay Street
Mini Mart has extended their deli section (still no beer), and is now carrying the 2nd
issue of "D.U.M.B.O Direct: The Waterfront's Community Directory," a
neighborhood zine.
On a recent Monday night, I grabbed a pint of Harp and a plate of antipasto at Between the
Bridges/Superfine and snagged a flyer for a new show at GAleGAtesetal. (37 Main Street
Brooklyn 718-522-4597). Tanya, one of the owners of Superfine, saw the flyer and
said the NA.TO. show was going to be amazing. She had seen the Italian artists, with
their crazy-colored hair and tight outfits, running around DUMBO all week. D. and I
decided to attend the opening on March 2nd.
The group exhibition was organized by Italian curator Ombretta Agro and features the work
of 14 emerging Italian artists hailing from Napoli and Torino. At the gallery
opening, D. and I weren't surprised to find a SoHo gallery crowd milling about in their
bohemian finery from vintage chic to Prada sleek.
In the lobby, two acoustic guitar players were seated next to Nicola Bolla's giant wood
sculpture of a hot pink crown called Re Nudo 1995). On the other side of the
players, Anna Fusco's amusing installation, Partenope (1999) consisted of 4 color prints
of a woman-dressed-as-mermaid hung on the wall behind 12 multi-colored mermaid dolls made
of resin. One of my favorites was Luisa Rabbia's performance art piece "One
Pillow to talk to you," materials being "silicon, bed and performance."
A bare-shouldered young woman with neon green hair lay under a sheet on the bed
with her head resting on one side. A silicon ear protruded insouciantly from the
silicon-coated pillow above the woman's head. There are also three-dimensional paintings
by Alice Capelli, vertical canvases by Marco Memeo.
Ms. Agro has pulled together a fun and engaging show, introducing visitors to a diverse
group of Italian contemporary artists, including obscure artists along with those who have
been shown extensively. GaleGates will be running the show until April 16th.
Outside of the gallery, D. and I were accosted by a frantic middle-aged woman shouting
"are you going back to Manhattan?" (She assumed we had a car and had to be from
Manhattan.) We shook our heads no and she wailed, "Where am I ever going to
find a yellow cab?" There goes the neighborhood.
Deborah Au-Yeung spends the majority of her time
hibernating in her D.U.M.B.O. loft, writing short fiction and jamming on her electric
bass. She also works at Organic, dabbling in the wacky world of new media.
When she’s not wandering the waterfront on the cobblestone streets of the ‘hood,
she can be found sitting at the counter of her favorite local eatery, Superfine.
Please Note: She likes her burgers medium-rare.
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