“Brooklyn as a State of Mind” 

October 4-5, 2008, October 11-12, 2008

The Clinton Hill Arts Festival with it’s “Harlem state of mind” is an innovative new partnership between Brooklyn’s art community and its real estate developers scheduled for the first two weekends in October. Brooklyn artist and festival organizer Anders Knutsson is the main drive behind this contextually exciting project called “Brooklyn as a State of Mind”.  The exhibitions are a collaboration between artists, curators, community businesses and corporate partners and has resulted in a transformation of a former Helping Hands Mission – now a newly renovated condominium – into an art venue featuring over 40 contemporary artists from various backgrounds that all find their artistic home in Brooklyn.  The 2008 Clinton Hill Art Festival’s primary location will be this handsomely transformed condominium:  The LOFTS on LEX at 95 Lexington Ave. To honor the tradition to present exciting contemporary art, the developer – Fabian Friedland – has provided the Festival with four large lofts – over 8,000sq.ft. In its elegantly designed first floor.  The Festival Curators Kennis Baptiste, Anders Knutsson and Danny Simmons will present new works by over 40 mostly Brooklyn based artists’ works. The curators’ criteria is art that is uniquely inspiring, professional and unmistakably of our times.  “Brooklyn as a State of Mind” best represents the spirit of these artists who come from very different backgrounds yet find their artistic home in Brooklyn.

This cross-cultural environment that is so alive in Brooklyn, provides the artist with a community where they can live, work, develop new ideas and a new state of Mind.  Brooklyn is bursting with unstoppable creative energy. This vigorous energy is a tremendous inspiration to artists who come from every corner of the world. The result, which this installation clearly shows, is an astonishing vitality and diversity of style and expression both in the newcomers and the seasoned pros.   “Brooklyn As A State of Mind” will give you a glimpse of the amazing creativity that is the result of all of these forces. 

The first two short blocks of Lexington Ave in Brooklyn, which have a long and remarkable history as a cross-cultural artist haven will be the center for the 2008 Clinton Hill Art Festival, which  will present new works by some 40 mostly Brooklyn based artists. Just a few years ago there were over 50 active studios. In 2004 Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz participated in the opening ceremony and “proclaimed” the start of the Clinton Hill Art Festival. Its epicenter was a “charmingly” defunct building at 95 Lexington Avenue.

The neighborhood is now going through a magical transformation – 12 old buildings have either been torn down, refaced or are completely re-built as condominiums on these two blocks alone.

Despite these recent dramatic and abundant architectural changes – demolition and heavy re-construction of old buildings – the neighborhood still provides its artists with a community where they can live, work, develop new ideas and a new State of Mind.

“Yet surprisingly perhaps, art still lives and thrives here!” says Anders Knutsson.

The Festival has five locations and starts at 95 Lexington and exhibitions continue down Lexington Avenue at 93 Lexington Avenue (Gallery D³), and 334 Grand Avenue @ Lexington (Corridor Gallery); then down Grand Avenue to 285 Grand Avenue (Grand Dakar) and over to DeKalb by Hall Street (Pratt Institute). At Pratt, you can take a self-guided or student guided tour of this hidden gem: New York City’s largest out door exhibit of contemporary sculpture! I know you will find it a delightful surprise!

There will be an Opening Reception on Friday October 3, at The LOFTS on LEX at 95 Lexington Avenue, located between Franklin and Classon Avenues from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. 

For up-to-date news and a full list of the artists and links to their websites, you may visit: www.tragallery.net/chaf.htm.  Call 718-622-3432 or email a.knutsson@att.net for additional information.

Driving Directions:

From Manhattan to Lexington Avenue
Over the Manhattan Bridge.  At the second light (first legal turn) LEFT on Myrtle Avenue.  Go 1.7 miles on Myrtle and turn RIGHT on Franklin Avenue.  Go 1 mile on Franklin. Turn RIGHT on Lexington. 

Subway:  A or C train to Hoyt/Schimmerhorn.  Across the platform, take the G train three stops to Classon.  Walk south on Classon Avenue (against the one-way traffic) three short blocks to Lexington Avenue.

Contact Doris Schultz, 718-622-3432, or email a.knutsson@att.net

October 4 – 5 and October 11 – 12, 2008

Times:  12 noon to 6 pm

Opening Reception: Friday October 3,  6pm – 9pm

The LOFTS on LEX at 95 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11238

Between Franklin and Classon Avenue

Closing Reception:  Sunday, October 12,  6 pm – 9 pm

93 Lexington Avenue, 5^th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Sponsored by:  Gallery D³

Sponsored by:  The Patricia Neinast Team of The Corcoran Group and Montagu Square Development Universal Mortgage