The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) presents Against the Grain: The Stories We Tell Ourselves, curated by Dana Notine, from January 17 to February 21, 2024, at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos. Against the Grain: The Stories We Tell Ourselves is a group exhibition bringing together work from contemporary artists who challenge and explore the complicated nature of record creation in the contexts of both institutional archives and the emotional preservation of memory. The exhibition’s artists explore the notions of the body as an archive, the emotional monuments of domestic spaces and inherited history, and how we connect the disparate dots of memories and world events to best fit the narratives of Against the Grain: The Stories We Tell Ourselves.
Artists like Peter Hoffmeister and Yan Cynthia Chen employ unconventional materials like ceramics, human teeth, and fruit skins to delve into themes of fragility and resilience, exploring the body as an archive and the memories embedded in architectural spaces. Abigail DeVille breathes life into forgotten histories through her site-specific sculptures crafted from anonymously discarded materials found on the streets of New York City.
The tension between family history and myth takes a humorous turn with Topher Lineberry and Bryan Zanisnik’s videos, repurposing home videos or interviews to create campy films that mine their relatives’ histories. Kathleen Granados uses everyday items like dishcloths and grooming tools to craft ghostly sculptures that serve as emotional monuments to domestic spaces and inherited history.
Emily Shanahan challenges the hierarchy of value by chronicling the minutiae of daily life, resisting the tendency to prioritize the impressive over the banal. E. Lombardo dissects symbols of power in cinema and culture through the appropriation of historical footage and popular film stills. Through paintings and assemblages, Karewith Casas reflects on frozen-in-time familial moments captured through photographs and journal entries.
For more information about this exhibition and the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, please visit here.
Against The Grain: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
January 17 to February 21, 2024
Participating Artists: Karewith Casas | Yan Cynthia Chen | Abigail DeVille | Kathleen Granados | Peter Hoffmeister | Topher Lineberry | E. Lombardo | Emily Shanahan | Bryan Zanisnik
Curator: Dana Notine
Opening Reception:
- Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 06:00 p.m. – 08:00 p.m.
Public Program:
- Tuesday, February 6, 2024 | 06:00 p.m. – 08:00 p.m.
Closing Reception:
- Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | 06:00 p.m. – 08:00 p.m.
.
About Bronx Council On The Arts
Founded by visionary community leaders in 1962, the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) is dedicated to advancing cultural equity in Bronx. From creative placemaking and arts advocacy to the provision of services for artists and arts organizations, as well as programming for children and seniors, BCA was the first organization in Bronx to focus equally on supporting local artists, serving the community, and catalyzing relationships between the two.
Since its founding, BCA has focused on the work of underrepresented groups, especially artists of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ community. We provide direct services to over 1,000 artists and 250 community-based arts groups each year, and thanks to our granting programs, we are able to touch the lives of over thousands of audience members.
Location:
Bronx Council On The Arts
2700 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461
Tel.: 718-931-9500
E–mail: contact@bronxarts.org
Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos
450 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Tel.: 718-518-6728
E–mail: longwood@bronxarts.org
