This summer there will be an exciting new even happening in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York. A photography collective in DUMBO is using recycled shipping containers to create a photography exhibit.
Art Show for the Summer
The summer art show, dubbed Photoville, will be running June 22nd to July 1sth. United Photo Industries is organizing the event. United Photo Industries Creative Director Sam Barzilay described the event as “sort of a photographic village or country fair for photography.”
The containers will be set up in a spacious part of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and some of the exhibit will extend to Pier 1. Barzilay mentioned that landlords have been less likely to donate storefronts for art exhibits due to rising real estate costs.
About the Exhibit
The exhibits features 27 separate photography exhibits. The exhibits feature local as well as international artists. There are Dutch, Guatemalan, and Chinese photographers with exhibits, as well as many Brooklyn based photographers displaying work.
Many artists are personalizing their 8 by 40-foot steel container by transforming them into their own gallery. Josh Lehrer, 48, is displaying his photos on a large scale by wrapping vinyl reproductions of them on the outside of his storage container. The subjects of his photos are homeless trans genders.
Photographer Alexandros Lambrovassilis appreciates the raw aesthetic of the recycled units. He says they will compliment the photos of the abandoned Eliniko airport in Greece. Most artists involved have expressed their appreciation to be able to introduce their art to a new audience.
More than just Art
Other aspects of the festival include many delicious food trucks, a beer garden, and even a dog run for dogs to play in while their owners view the exhibits. Barzilay announced: “If you have a dog, come with your dog. If you have a child, come with your child.” The festival is about inclusion and having fun while looking at great artwork.
The public funded Photoville festival in large part. $30,000 were raised through Kickstarter website after some sponsorships were canceled. The way the community came together to fund the event is an example of the inclusive and cooperative feel of the event.