The Grand Street BID is proud to announce (be)longing: Art on Grand Street. (be)longing is an Art exhibition activating storefront windows on Grand Street, from June 29th — July 23rd in seven different locations. The exhibition will showcase artwork from locally based artists from New York and abroad, reflecting the different types of people our neighborhood comprises. (be)longing aims to understand the different perspectives of feeling what it means to belong to the community. Partnering with curator Emily Markert, we’re proud to bring seven different artists’ work to our neighborhood. You can learn more about (be)longing and the artists here.

We are excited to offer two walking tours of (be)longing with the Grand Street BID and the exhibition curator on Saturday, July 15th, and Saturday, July 22nd. Tours will begin at 1:30 pm at 760 Grand Street outside of Williamsburg Animal Clinic.

A statement from Curator, Emily Markert

Although the land between Union Avenue and Bushwick Avenue has been occupied for thousands of years, the stretch we know as Grand Street has been so named since c. 1858. Whether they are pre-war or were built just before the Covid-19 pandemic, the buildings here today have witnessed and held people through myriad unprecedented moments, providing spaces for food, shelter, livelihood, and joy. But what do we see when we catch our reflections in their storefront windows? How do we fit into this neighborhood; this history; this city? (be)longing begins to answer this question by investigating the complexity and challenge of finding one’s place. Featuring the work of seven emerging artists, this exhibition considers varied definitions of home and explores what it means to be part of a community or to yearn for one. While they are all based locally, these artists’ backgrounds are as varied as the materials they use; for example, some grew up in Brooklyn or Long Island, while others hail from as far as Taiwan or Spain. As a result, their artworks present numerous perspectives on finding or creating a feeling of belonging. Through site-responsive installations, their works—some newly created for this exhibition—convey relatable experiences while speaking with and to the specific context of Grand Street.

Whether by a chance encounter or deliberate engagement, seen through storefront windows, these works offer viewers moments of literal and metaphorical reflection. By placing artwork that approaches familiar yet intimate struggles in this context, (be)longing brings private thoughts into public space. Thus just as the artworks blend the personal with the universal, the exhibition itself blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior, inviting viewers to consider the possibility of Brooklyn being a place for all.

*There will be a photographer present at this event. Please note that unless you email us at [email protected] stating otherwise, you are consenting to be photographed.*

Time: 1:30 pm EDT

Free!

Registration