My head's been stuck in the clouds lately and I haven't been keeping up with all the cool things going on around the city - like Open House New York and RE:FORM SCHOOL, both happening this weekend. RE:FORM SCHOOL is a fun and high-energy, pop-up group exhibition aiming to bring attention to reforming the American Public Education System. RE:FORM SCHOOl has set up shop for the three-day, holiday weekend at the former St Patrick's Old Cathedral School at 233 Mott Street, which is very conveniently located in my 'hood, so I was able to drop by yesterday and join the crowds in checking out new works by artists Shepard Fairey, Swoon, FAILE, Michel Gondry, and over 100 more. All the artwork is for sale and proceeds go to REDU, "a movement designed to expand and encourage the national conversation around education reform by providing information and resources to learn, a community platform to connect, and the tools to act" (from the event's website). REDU stands for "rethinking, reforming and rebuilding US education."
Artwork is displayed throughout the former school's three floors, filling up classrooms, hallways, coat closets, stairwells, and what was once the teachers' lounge. A deejay spins tunes outside in the playground whose walls are covered in a mural by WK Interact. Many details remain inside reminding visitors of the building's parochial school past like chalkboards, teachers' desks, tiny desks for tiny bodies, stickers, drinking fountains, and statues of saints, and the event's website charmingly posts the artists' bios alongside their childhood class pictures. The five themes the artwork is based on include: Knowledge is Power, Community, Teachers Inspire, Creativity, and Innovation.
Definitely stop by and check out the infectiously lively RE:FORM SCHOOL—and if you can, buy some art and help support a very important and worthy cause. Learn more at reformschool.letsredu.com. From October 9th-11th, 10:00am-6:00pm at 233 Mott Street (at Prince), NoLIta.
Kelly Towles, Dunce, 2010
ELBOW-TOE, Bust A Nut, 2010
Swoon, Milton, 2009
Grandarmy, Jamboree, 2009
Shepard Fairey, Dark Wave, 2010
Hunter Stabbler, The Impractical Astrolabe Wavicle of Timey Whimey Stuff, 2010
Allison Schulnik, Small Pink Flower, 2010
Alexis Mackenzie & Jeremy Mora, It's All in Your Mind, 2010
Kelly Towles, Atom, 2010
Richard Mia, SOS, 2010
Michael Murphy, USA Pencil Install
FriendsWithYou, Smiling Malfi "Malfie Will Bring You Great Warmth or Death"
Gary Basemen, F is for Future, 2010
Patrick Martinez, I Don't LIke to Dream About Getting Paid, 2010
John Vogl, Wise Owls, 2010
Julian Callos, Tabula Rasa, 2010
Left to right: Laura Sue Peters, R-Read, 2010; no info; Karen Wippich, Access, 2010; Jon Wippich, Open Their Eyes, 2010
Drew Young, Customers, 2010
Scotlund Haisey, Teach Pride not Division, 2010
Left to right: Amy Rice, Braids, Play Music, Don't Worry I have a Map, 2010
Aaron Axelrod, Me, Me, Me!!!, 2010
Shannon Crawford, Untitled, 2010
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Untitled, 2010
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