Considering that it was done by teenagers, âÂÂA Day In North Brooklynâ is an exhibit that is bound to surprise its guests with the talent put into each piece.
The artists come from the Manhattan and Little Neck branches of the Ashcan School of Art, which provides art classes to high school and college students. This summer, the students were offered the chance to exhibit their works at the Arts@Renaissance gallery (2 Kingsdale Avenue in Williamsburg) until August 26.
The gallery served as a mental institute where the old shower stalls and the tiled floors still remain as part of the gallery, creating a very eerie feel, drawing an interesting atmosphere to the art.
Supposedly inspired by the sights of Brooklyn, the 36 piece exhibit features several sculptures and paintings of severed body figures gives off a dark and mysterious feeling that donâÂÂt really make a connection to the Brooklyn community. These pieces push too hard for a deep and meaningful reaction.
Despite the lack of true meaning behind their works, the students of the Ashcan Studio of Art still are able to display their talent and skill. Each work was extremely detailed, and the technique in each piece was used correctly. In âÂÂGreenpoint Oil Spillâ by 17-year-old Jinsoo Chan, the use of perspective drawing to represent three-dimensional images on a two-dimensional plane was used precisely. The quality of the work is professional, and there are several times the viewer needs to be reminded that the works were done by teens.
âÂÂUntitledâ by 16-year-old Christine Lee was a piece that had the touch of a more mature person. âÂÂUntitledâ was a depiction of a train stop in various mediums, including oil paint, cardboard and acrylic paint. The windows at the train stop were done with much detail, and the way Lee brushed a layer of charcoal to create a musty atmosphere made the work all the more interesting.
In an interview on the work, Lee said, âÂÂI learned a lot from my classes at Ashcan, and I used the techniques I learned in my piece. I didnâÂÂt try to think too hard about what the work meant, I just painted, glued together what was in my unconscious.âÂÂ
However, this was not so for all the pieces. Many of the students tried to create a meaningful message with their art, and in turn, made several different pieces look the same. With this, parts of the exhibit lacked creativity and true meaning, although the pieces were well done.