Category Kills: A One Night Pop Up Show of Over 100 Works of Art By Suzy Kopf

Hua Hin Pad Thai, 2011, 11"x14", Watercolor on Archival Paper

St. Helena, 2012, 30"x30", Oil Paint on Canvas

In Season, 2012, 16"x16", Collage on Panel 

Suzy Kopf ( photo credit: Stephanie Seguino)

Over a hundred works on paper and canvas by Brooklyn painter and printmaker Suzy Kopf will be exhibited at the Tresle Project Space in Gowanus on November 16, 2013. The solo pop-up show will feature works on paper and canvas made by Kopf in the last six years.

The show's name Category Killers is based on "an economic market term for chain stores such as Walmart, Kmart or Target that sell all manner of goods, thus eliminating the need for independent retailers. The title is a reference to the artist’s most recent series of paintings that explore how these big box structures physically alter the American landscape seen through the aerial lens of GoogleMaps. Additionally, the majority of works in this show are pieces that remain from larger series or editions of prints that now might be seen as anomalies or the end of categories of work.

Kopf has said about this work, 'my paintings tread towards the places of alignment between the natural optics of the human eye and the world as we experience it on our everyday screens. Similar to corrupted picture files, my work evokes a surreal memento mori for the past life of the United States that feels inherently digitized.' "
"Category Kills" appears to be a very timely show as big box stores seem to be multiplying at a frightening pace here in Brooklyn. Ironically, the show will take place just one block from the soon-to-open Gowanus Whole Foods.  

Trestle Projects is located at 400 3rd Street on the 2nd floor

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Reader Question: What's Up With The Vroom Bus On Third Street?

photo credit: Molly

Reader Molly recently sent me the photo above of the green "Vroom" bus that has been parked intermittently on 3rd Street for quite a long time. She writes:

"I'm curious if you know anything about the "Vroom" bus that's been parked on 3rd St. by the Gowanus Canal for well over a year now. Who owns it? Does someone live in it? Anybody know?"

I have to admit that I have wondered about the bus myself and would love to find out what its story is.

*****UPDATE*****

Just received the following email comment regarding the bus which explains everything about it. Sounds really cool. Now I want to see the inside. Read on:

Hello!! Found yr blog through random internet wandering, and noticed your post about Vroom! Vroom is currently owned and operated by the Vroom Collective - a group dedicated to transporting activists and artists around the country, namely the Rude Mechanical Orchestra. The bus is a special, uniquely-outfitted vehicle that has many cool features. It currently can run on veggie oil in the warm months and on diesel fuel (biodiesel or petrodiesel) year-round.

No, no one lives there. For more information, check out:www.rudemechanicalorchestra.org

xoxo

justine

(snare)

°°°°°°°°°°°°

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Flier Warns Of Carroll Gardens/Gowanus Assault

Yes, we live in a relatively safe neighborhood, but even here, it pays to be careful....especially when one is distracted while talking on a cell phone.

According to a flier attached to a lamp post on Smith Street, a 30 year-old woman was assaulted by two teenage girls last Friday, October 1 at 9 PM on 3rd Street near the Gowanus Canal Bridge as she was talking on her phone. The teens attached the victim by striking her head and face with a metal padlock. Luckily, the woman was rescued by passersby.  

The flier was written and posted by the victim, who hopes to warn others that even in this neighborhood, such attacks can happen.  There is no indication if the police were involved nor if the girls were arrested.

Back in June, a similar flier was taped to the same lamp post.

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Stop Work Order Of The Day: Destroying Existing Building When Permit Only Allows Two Additional Floors

The permit posted on the fence at 85 3rd Street was issued for "two additional floors on existing building." Problem is, as far as I can see, there is no more existing building.
What used to be there, a small three story brick house, has been demolished behind a plywood fence. The only remaining part of the structure are the beams that once made up the top floors.
Head on over to the Department of Building's web site here to check out the numerous complaints that have been called in on this construction site. It truly is amazing.
Oh, and there is a stop work order on the site....Small wonder!

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