Brooklyn Utopias: Along the Canal, is a  public outdoor exhibition inviting artists to consider what a “Utopia” would look like for the communities of the neighborhoods bordering the Gowanus Canal. These include Gowanus, Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill, and Red Hook. Artists may comment on existing “utopian” endeavors in these communities, or imagine their own. These outdoor exhibitions will run in conjunction with the Brooklyn Utopias indoor exhibition at The Old Stone House.

The project is a public outdoor art exhibition of printed banners hung on the fences surrounding J.J. Byrne Playground and Coffey Park. The exhibitions will feature artists of all media and career stages. Artists will comment on one of the above neighborhoods and address the following questions:

• What does a “Brooklyn Utopia” look like for you, specifically in the neighborhoods bordering the Gowanus Canal?

• How can this area’s unique history, as well as current developments, inform its future?

• What is the role of artists in creating a more “Utopian” Gowanus? 

These outdoor exhibitions allow artists to introduce ideas to improve their community and make a more positive future for their neighborhood. These artists will address a wide variety of issues including equity, diversity, political and social structures, environmental issues, gentrification, and financial instability in order to present a collective vision of a more positive future.

The Brooklyn Utopias series was first conceived in 2009 by OSH Contemporary Curator Katherine Gressel as a way for artists to respond to Brooklyn’s resurging popularity in the 21st Century and often competing and controversial rebuilding and rebranding efforts. It was also inspired by Brooklyn’s history as an enclave for artists, social reformers, immigrants, environmentalists and others drawn to its iconic neighborhoods. This is the first time we will be incorporating banner exhibitions to accompany the indoor art exhibition.