For its 8th year in a row, Artshare exhibited it’s grand spring showcase at Clover’s Gallery. The show features over 175 original works from 56 artists who attend the Brooklyn and Queens Heartshare day programs.
This shows marks many firsts: It was Artshare’s first year as an official participant of the Atlantic Avenue Artwalk, an week-long community initiative to boost local artists and businesses.
It was also the first exhibit featuring works under the guidance of teaching artists for visual arts Mitchel Coffman and Flavia Bertorello. Whereas historically, visual arts lessons leaned towards learning the styles of greats such as Marc Chagall and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Coffman and Bertorello focused on drawing out their unique personal styles. One section entitled “Unfiltered Journaling” featured select visual diaries of artists from Bay Ridge Day Hab and Union Turnpike. A special section on Hip Hop highlighted the visual expressions of Derrick Green, aka DJ Cass. Elizabeth William’s meditations on ducks in Heckscher Park conversed with Jeffrey Tao’s arms-length reflection of Roosevelt Island. Finally, a wall dedicated to favorite movie and comics characters were packed with painted, illustrations and woven tributes.
Additionally, the show premiered the installation entitled “We Are Here: A Collective Whole”. The multi-media work represents over 10 day programs across Queens and Brooklyn - the scale of which is unprecedented. This collaboration between artists with disabilities, direct service specialists and day program staff is the first of its kind in Artshare history.
The opening reception featured performances from Brooklyn Day Hab and Brooklyn PACT, a poetry reading from Patricia Williams of Brooklyn Day Hab, and a special DJ set from Derrick “DJ Cass” Green” of Bay Ridge Day Hab.