Park Slope Reader

sofia pipolo

Thrift 2 Death: Two Weekend Pop-Up Event Happening at Slope Vintage

By Filed Under: Community Tagged With: , ,

For the next 2 Saturdays, Thrift2Death will be hosting their End of Summer Pop-Up Event. Visit Slope Vintage on 5th Ave for amazing vendors with one-of-a-kind vintage clothes, fantastic thrift finds, and fresh streetwear. Treysaun McGeachy and his cofounder Christain Neils are hosting the free event on August 21st and 28th from 1 PM to 7 PM at Slope Vintage. 

“I’m excited for all of them really,” Treysaun says enthusiastically about the weekend’s vendors.

There will be a variety of vendors at the pop-up from vintage curators, custom clothing, graphic tees, and accessories. You’ll be able to meet the creators of new independent brands, those who are making one-of-one pieces and reworked fashion. They’ll also have handmade jewelry, bags, and crystal sellers. All the brands put an emphasis on creating sustainable fashion options; bringing a second life to clothes while remaining stylish and trendy. Thrift2Death also guarantees quality products at affordable prices for everyone, shopping options ranging from $10 to $200. And rest assured all the artists, designers, and curators will be bringing out their best pieces for the weekend event!

Visitors are welcome to come and go as they please. There will be drinks, food, and music. Of course, Slope Vintage will also be open with some great summer sales. And you’ll even have the chance to enter the giveaways for a Thrift2Death tote bag.

Treysaun McGeachy

Trey and Christain’s mission with Thrift2Death is to connect the next generations of buyers and sellers at fashion events. As many small brands and clothing curators continue to emerge, they saw that these young business owners needed a physical place to connect with their customers directly. And then had the idea for a pop-up shop event that would not only allow business owners a place to sell but the ability to meet other creators in a positive collective space.

Christain Neils

Trey, a 23-year-old recent graduate from Manhattan College, gained his following through TikTok as he began making thrift store review videos. He would showcase the best thrift and second-hand vintage stores in New York. He then began working at Slope Vintage and taking over their social media. The owner helped make Trey’s idea possible by allowing him to host Thrift2Death’s first event outside the store in July. With the combination of 5th Avenue street closure, increased foot traffic, and top-tier vendors the event was a huge success.

“It gave me a lot of confidence in our idea. It made me believe we could do this more and more,” says Trey. They were able to target their key audiences of Gen Z and Millenial shoppers, bringing a good profit and new followers for the businesses and brands, and learned how to make the next event even better.

Trey believes that Park Slope is a somewhat untapped neighborhood for young people. While everyone tends to go to the trendy areas of Williamsburg, Bushwick, and the Lower East Side; he sees Park Slope 5th Ave as a centralized location in Brooklyn that is easy for people to connect to all around New York. He hopes with the success of Thrift2Death more business and storefront owners in Park Slope will begin to see the potential in connecting and serving the next generation of brand owners and their customers. That young people have successful ideas, achievable ambitions, and have money to spend.

In the future, Trey and Christian plan to make Thrift2Death greater, with new vendors, larger spaces, and collaborating with more stores and venue spaces. They would even like to expand outside of NYC, hosting events in other cities like Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

You can follow Trift2Death on Instagram for more updates and previews on the vendors this weekend. We will see you at the End of Summer Pop-Up on August 21sh and 28th! 

Park Slope Puppy Boom: How Our Pets are Helping Us Cope

By Filed Under: Bark Slope, Feature, Pandemic Diaries Tagged With: , ,

The overall mental health and wellbeing of our neighborhood (and entire planet) has shifted due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. With new stresses, a global financial crisis, and loved ones lost, there is much that can’t be replaced. Through it all, many of us have found solace in our new and old pets. Because individuals and families are spending more time at home than ever before, Park Slope has seen a “Puppy Boom.”

The Kingham family (Stuart, Roz, and 10-year-old Isla) rescued German-Shepard mix Macy to help uplift their spirits. While reluctant before Covid, Roz knew that getting a dog would give them something positive to focus on after Isla kept mentioning her experience with remote learning as “lonely.” Stuart reflected on his increased stress from all-day screen time, working from home, and worrying about the health and safety of his family, as a kind of low-grade PTSD. He reflects, “Everything was a worry, even going to stores.”

Though housetraining Macy was a challenge, they agree it has far outweighed the stresses of the outside world as the Kingham family saw their commitment to the new canine family member pay off. Over 2 months later, Macy is already growing up alongside Isla. Taking the time to step away from their screens and heavy workload, the endless news cycle, and the grief of pandemic losses to take care of puppy Macy has made Staut, Roz, and Isla feel a bit safer and happier.

Isla Kingham with her rescue puppy “Macy”

They train her together and connect with other dog-owners in the neighborhood. Roz says, “There’s definitely a dog community in Park Slope so just making that human connection on walks with other dog owners has been nice; everyone stops to talk when you have a puppy!” Their new routine includes early morning off-leash play in the park, after-school walks, and evenings spent on the front stoop where they sit to watch the world go by.

You’ll find many families enjoying similar daily pet pleasures. Park Slope has 10 dog parks, including the Prospect Park Dog Beach, making it an amazing community for pet owners. Pets, especially dogs and cats, are known to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, to ease loneliness and encourage exercise and playfulness. They also help children to grow up more secure and active, and provide valuable companionship for older adults.

These days everyone needs some extra stability, joy, and positive coping methods, one reason why pet adoption and sales have been through the roof this past year. Even veteran pet owners have become more appreciative and formed closer bonds with their furry friends. 

For example, the pandemic has heightened Park Slope resident, Ingrid’s anxiety; making her less motivated to deal with tasks beyond short term consideration. Ingrid said, “ Much of the structure I’ve built into my life over the years vanished overnight, along with any sense of what the future could or should look like.”  Her two cats, Cabiria aka Cabbie and Jean Harlow whom she’s had for over 3-years, have brought extra companionship and cuddles during these uncertain months of quarantining at home. “Taking care of the cats provide some structure to the days, and requires me to think about something other than myself… So I actually have something to discuss with friends or co-workers that isn’t horrible pandemic news or politics.” She’s found exchanging silly cat photos and having Cabbie and Jean meow over speakerphone a sure-fire way to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Giselle with her partner and their rescue puppy “Pico”

Similarly, the unforeseeable future had spiked Diana Kane’s anxiety, so after some discussion adopting a dog felt like the right decision. And it was! Her family’s new 4-month-old rescue from Puerto Rico, Appa (named after the flying-bison from Avatar: The Last Airbender), has been a blessing for their mental and physical health. Diana and her family has been able to find peace and joy. She said, “I think Disney has it wrong: the Happiest Place on Earth is actually off-leash in Prospect Park.”

Giselle Navarro and her partner adopted a Jindo mix named Pico just before the city shut down. While worrying about their health and safety and only communicating with others through screens, they felt lucky to have Pico by their side. By structuring their quarantine days around the new puppy, their new routine for the new normal provides time to safely leave the apartment, stay motivated to train together, and actually get a steadier sleep schedule.

Pico’s need for cuddles and play was also a welcome distraction for Giselle. “She’s always so happy, I frequently tell others that I’m not sure how I would be getting through the pandemic if we didn’t have Pico. Living through this has been tough, but having her has made it a little bit easier. Even if I’m not feeling great, her good mood rubs off on me.”

The Free Black Women’s Library: A Space for Radical Ideas

By Filed Under: Community Tagged With: , , ,

Back in 2015, visual artist, OlaRonke Akinmowo wanted to create an art project that empowered and honored Black women’s creativity, scholarship, education, and research. With a background in collage, printmaking, and decorating, Ola’s work brings different pieces together to create something new and unified. With this, she created The Free Black Women’s Library.

The Free Black Women’s Library is a literary social art project featuring traveling installations of over 2,000 books, magazines, and other material written by Black women. The program is simple: come to a library event, join the discussion, donate a book, and choose a book for yourself. Every event takes a different shape by taking on a different space. “Like a collage: poetry, horror, science fiction, romance, comic books, children’s books all written by Black women are being brought together in a way to create a library shape and community space.”

Nervous but excited and curious how the neighborhood would respond, Ola started the library one summer day off a front stoop in BedStuy, Brooklyn with just 100 books. With the forecast possibly showing rain, she remembers her main concern being the safety of her then small collection of books. She reminds us, “Books are precious objects.”

Over the next years, the library has grown and traveled to hundreds of locations around New York City, and outside to Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Each month there is a different theme, book, or writer that compliments the location. For example, this past March, for Women’s History Month, the installation at Weeksville Heritage Center in Crown heights focused on womanism within Black history. When it was at Concord Baptists Church, they focused on themes of humanity, spirituality, and love. Each installation brings new crowds, where everyone is welcomed to hang out all day, making new friends, reading, writing, and trading books.

The main goal is “to build a comfortable and creative space for radical ideas. Deep connections, vulnerability, joy, and pleasure… Visitors can come and find themselves in the space. I want it to feel like an inclusive space. Intergeneration. Always free.” The library has attracted young and old readers, families, and friend groups to visit and follow the program online. With a large collection of children’s books, classics, and contemporary literature, there is something for all interests, ages, perspectives, and reading levels. It’s a sustainable, ever-flowing, and connecting system where each individual’s participation influences the library’s collection.

By focusing on Black female authors, the library highlights the nuances of subjects, genres, and experiences of Black women. These vast distinctions and variety of voices are often disproportionately overlooked in traditional literary discussions. It works to share and give a platform to authors and ideas that may not be as widely recognized, especially in particular genres like fantasy or young adult novels. “The beauty of it is if you are a Black woman who has access to Black women writers it is very affirming to see yourself in art and literature. It’s humanizing.”

By inviting others to share in this empowering and humanizing art and activism, Ola strives to create a more positive world for her daughter (18). Motherhood has kept Ola constantly up, curious, and creating. It’s also one of her reasons for starting the Sister Outsider Relief Grant, a one-time cash grant for single community-working mothers. She states, “I want to make the world softer and kind.”

While recognizing how Black women deal with racism and sexism on an everyday basis, the library provides a space for Black women to express themselves and be seen as more than the archetypes they are too often boxed into. The Free Black Women’s Library asks more from visitors, readers, writers, and traditional institutions by exposing and bringing together the extensive works of Black women. Most importantly allowing them to be seen and be brilliant, imaginative, tough, funny, smarkt, and romantic. Anything one wants to be.

Everyone is invited to join the library community. Ola believes in the strong value of all genders, racers, ethnicities, and backgrounds to open and excite their minds to Black female authors. “It may take you out of your comfort zone and inspire you to think differently.” As an artists, activist, and educator Ola’s work invites and strives to open people’s minds. She advises, “Make sure your reading list is open and diverse. Read different types of stories. Not just stories that are written in this perfect Queen’s English, but slang and country English. And see the world through another woman’s eyes.”

While the COVID Pandemic had stopped the library from traveling and setting up installations, they have transitioned online, but it has been a challenge for a project that thrives on community. The library works best when people can come together with books in their hands, to meet face to face, and create a shared educational space. Now there are limits from internet access, to online devices, and scheduling. But the Free Black Women’s Library is still doing all it can by starting a YouTube channel, Instagram Live streams, and Zoom calls with readings, discussions, and writing prompts.

While they have been keeping people engaged, Ola has looked forward to when everyone can come together again and trade books, ideas, and smiles (even if it is behind a mask.) She will also be working towards some big long-term goals for the future of the library, including getting a vehicle for a bookmobile, creating an app, and establishing a full-time space and resource center.

Follow the Free Black Women’s Libary on Instagram @thefreeblackwomenslibrary and use the link in bio to learn more about how to support the program. Or visit their website here.

Support on Patreon.

People Over Policing: 6 Ways to Reallocate Funds to Better Serve Our Communities

By Filed Under: Part of the Solution Tagged With:

Mural at Park Slope 5th Avenue – Photos by Sofia Pipolo

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The conversation to defund the police and abolish prisons is nothing new. They’ve been happening within criminal justice reform groups for years.

For example, started in September 2018, No New Jails NYC is “a multiracial, intergenerational network fighting against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s inner-borough jails expansion plan.” Their mission statement reads, “Overwhelmingly, New Yorkers agree that all efforts should be dedicated now to closing all jails on Rikers Island, that there is no need to build any more jails, and that the billions of dollars budgeted for new jails should be redirected instead to community-based resources that will support permanent decarceration.”

The goal of such organizations, working alongside the Black Lives Matter Movement, is to radically reimagine what criminal justice looks like in our country. To bring an end to police brutality and the prison-industrial complex by moving away from hyper-policing, punishment, and control and towards restorative justice, rehabilitation, and reentry. Along with the ending of inhumane practices, such as solitary confinement and exploitative prison labor. 

In the past months, these discussions have moved beyond college classrooms, guest lectures, and activist groups and been brought to the mainstream. Since early May, New York City has consistently held protests. The trading tag of #defundthepolice and #abolishprisons call to question where our country, states, and cities choose to make and spend their money and what that spending prioritizes.

When our political administration has continuously cut back spending on education, social security, environmental conservation, public health care, but continues to increase its spending on military and police we can begin to question what it says about our priorities as a nation? What does it mean when we are number 1 in incarcerated citizens, and number 17 in literacy (with only 12% of adults reading at a high school graduate to college literacy level)? Why is the idea to defund the police so radical, but defunding education isn’t? Or women’s health care? Or National Park services? Or public art programs? All while knowing that our current system does not lead to a reduction in recidivism or reincarceration, but creates a cycle of poverty and punishment, which disproportionately affects people of color and low-income communities.

By providing sustainable, inclusive, and quality resources our city can shift its values and priorities from controlling to serving the people. Here are 6 ways to reallocate funds to better serve our communities.

The prison has become a black hole in which the detritus of contemporary capitalism is deposited. Mass imprisonment generates profits as it devours social wealth, and thus it tends to reproduce the very conditions that lead people to prison”

Angela Davis

1. Education

Almost all sociologists agree education is the number one path to equal opportunity, wealth, and success. It’s individual access to social mobility. It’s our greatest path to building smarter, active, and viable communities. There’s also a push to ensure our curriculum has intersectional representation to create a deeper, dynamic, and more complete look at history, literature, and social sciences. With fully-funded public education, every child will have equal access to intersectional knowledge, social and emotional learning, extracurricular and cultural programs, and a healthy and safe environment to continuously move us to a better future. 

As sociologist and activist writer W.E.B. Du Bois stated, “Education is that whole system of human training within and without the schoolhouse walls, which molds and develops men.”

Protest on August 21 at Barclay’s Center

2. Housing

Finland has essentially ended homelessness. Through the ‘Housing First’ program, those affected by homelessness have received a small apartment and counseling with no preconditions. With an extreme success rate, they have proven that providing permanent housing and the basic groundwork to begin recovering from the causes and effects of homelessness has been more sustainable and cheaper.

It’s hard to give exact numbers on homeless, but in New York City the homeless population accounted for in shelters has steadily increased over the past 5 years. Infrastructure designs, like street spikes, and other forms of policing have received criticism for attacking homeless individuals, and not homelessness. While shelters and other municipalities have continuously worked to support those affected by the city’s now five-decade-long homeless crisis, funding sustainable and permanent affordable housing and income plans are the greatest way to bring an end to homelessness.

3. Addition Rehab

Better funding, support, and awareness for addiction rehab programs will break down systems of poverty and criminalization, and build up community health in NYC. Drug and alcohol addiction is an illness and should be treated as such. By policing and criminalizing addiction, cities are often spending more and perpetuating more harm, such as family breakups and multi-generational poverty. An estimated 50 percent of U.S. prison populations have a drug addiction illness but do not receive the necessary care within prisons. 

Programs that prioritize the well-being of patients, research and education, care, rehabilitation, and prevention have proven more effective for individuals and their families affected by addiction. These programs create less costly, long-lasting, and viable results.

4. Health Care

The Covid-19 Crisis has proven we have a flawed public health care system. With New York having the highest number of deaths, over 32,500, we have seen the virus disproportionately affect Black and Latino individuals and posed an increased threat to the senior population. It has created a much-needed call to action on prioritizing funding for public health care and research.  

Healthy food and fitness options are disproportionately spread out in neighborhoods, with an estimated 750,000 people living in food deserts or without adequate exercise options, like gyms or parks. Similarly, women and LGBTQ individuals are still underserved when it comes to health care resources. Schools fail to offer an inclusive and complete public and sexual health education. And mental health care is put second or dismissed in conversations about public health. To increase the well-being of its people NYC needs all forms of affordable and accessible health care resources for all communities. 

Brooklyn Community Garden

5. Free Public Spaces

Danish architect, Jan Gehl, said: “A good city is like a good party – people stay longer than necessary because they are enjoying themselves.” Public spaces provide us the opportunity to come together and actively engage with our shared community. They should strive to be inclusive and accessible for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities by providing social spaces that fit the communal needs for entertainment, commerce, and recreation. 

Public spaces, like community gardens, public meeting halls, outdoor theaters, local markets, and libraries, serve to enrich communities without barriers of entrees such as memberships or other fees. They create self-sustaining micro-communities that people can openly visit as they wish, use in the ways that seem fit, and promote unity for all peoples.

6. Education for Reentry

Again, education serves as our greatest ally to uplift our city. 

Prison education and rehabilitation programs have shown the greatest success in ending recidivism, incarceration, and reentry poverty. All at a lower cost than fueling the prison system. For example, Hudson Link programs estimate the cost of $60,000 per year to incarcerate a single person, compared to their $5,000 annual tuition fees. These programs are the final step in ending the school to prison pipeline, the prison industrial complex, and mass incarceration.

As Victor Hugo famously said, “He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” 

By funding education, skill-based training, and reentry services incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals are better prepared to positively and successfully serve themselves, their families, and their communities. 

Additional Resources:

Best of Summer – Shirley Chisholm Returns To Brooklyn: A New Take on the American Monument (2019)

By Filed Under: Community Tagged With:

Our Destiny, Our Democracy artist rendering

Shirley Anita St. Hill was born and raised in Brooklyn New York to Caribbean immigrant parents. She attended Brooklyn College and Columbia University, earning a masters in elementary education. After working as a teacher and daycare director, she moved into public service serving two terms in NY State Legislature. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress, representing NY’s 12th congressional district of  Bedford-Stuyvesant. Then in 1972, she became the first black woman to run for President under a major political party saying,

I am not the candidate for Black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people of America.”

Shirley Chisholm on her presidential run in 1972

Chisholm went on as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Women’s Caucus. She retired after 14 years and passed away on New Year’s Day 2005. Ten years later, Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And now her portrait, commissioned by members of Congress- an honor usually only reserved for party leaders- watches over the most diverse and most female freshman class Congress has ever seen.

Chisholm will once again make history as the first female historical figure to have a monument dedicated to her in Brooklyn. 

Artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan Jeyifous’ design “Our Destiny, Our Democracy” honors Shirley Chisholm in a way that reimagines the functional purpose and ideology of the American monument. “This artwork will be bright, bold, and makes a statement – just like Chisholm herself,” says First Lady Chirlane McCray. This project, from She Built NYC, is working to represent the women who have shaped the city while addressing the gender gap in NYC monuments. Currently, just 5 of the 150 statues in NYC depict women. 

She Built NYC will change this male-dominated landscape of historical figures. So far, five trailblazing women will be commemorated in upcoming projects set to hit the boroughs- Billie Holiday (Queens), Elizabeth Jennings Graham (Manhattan), Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trías (Bronx), Katherine Walker (Staten Island), and of course, Shirley Chisholm will return to her home of Brooklyn. The 40 foot-tall structure, set for completion by the end of 2020 at the southeastern corner of Prospect Park, encompasses Shirley’s life’s work and her mindset of coming together through democracy.

During Shirley’s time in Congress, she worked to represent the needs of the people. Specifically, those who were underrepresented, which in 1968 and still today means women, people of color, and the youth. Her wants for equal democracy and unwillingness to back down from what she saw was wrong earned her the nickname “Fighting Shirley.” 

Speaking about the title Dr. Zinga Fraser, Director of The Shirley Chisholm Project of Brooklyn Women’s Activism says, “The name referred to Chisholm’s commitment to taking on the status quo… As a Black woman in America who sought to be a “catalyst for change” in a historically oppressive society, fighting was a routine aspect of her life… Any narrative about Chisholm or Black women’s activism that overlook this struggle is a misleading narrative.”

During Chisholm’s time in office, there were more bills passed relating to child care, education, and human rights than any other point in history. Dr. Fraser points out, “She would argue that a nation’s most important resource was ‘its children.’” Distinguishing herself as a champion of youth, many agree that every school child should know who Shirley Chisholm was. And know they will! – when students, parents, teachers, and all Brooklyn residents walk down Parkside Ave to see Chisholm’s beautiful figure.

The vibrant design from Williams and Jeyifous works to embrace this fighting spirit. The multi-prog, 40-foot tall steel sculpture reconstructs Chisholm’s portrait, the United States Capitol Building, and decorative patterns of vines and leaves. Her strong eyes with signature glasses, full head of curly hair, and poise figure will greet the public reminding us of her unique gift to connect to both children and adults with grace and empathy. Throughout the day these silhouetted compositions will cast shadows along the sidewalks complementing the surrounding trees and vegetation. These strikingly colorful and dynamic pieces assemble an amphitheater-style stage; inviting people to come together, interact, and occupy the space below Chisholm’s guiding light. The elevated seats will be inscribed with the names of women who followed- and will follow- in Fighting Shirley’s revolutionary footsteps; reminiscent of her famous quote, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Olalekan Jeyifous and Amanda Williams
Credit: Faye Penn, women.nyc.

With differing styles rooted in architectural study, Williams and Jeyifous’ individual and collaborative work focus on public spaces and public conversations. “Our project celebrates Shirley Chisholm’s legacy as a civil servant who ‘left the door open’ to make room for others to follow in her path toward equity and a place in our country’s political landscape. We have designed a monument in which her iconic visage can be immediately recognizable while also equally portraying the power, beauty, and dimensionality of her contributions to our democracy,” reads their artist statement.

“Our Destiny, Our Democracy” works to challenge the traditional notions of the American monument. Think Gaetano Russo’s Columbus Circle statue, or literally every monument just north at Grand Army Plaza. These traditional monuments commemorate figures by placing them in positions of power- strong and sturdy like the marble they are carved in. Telling us, “This person was important!”, but not much else. Many have sparked controversy that even Mayor De Blasio has addressed; “Our approach will focus on adding detail and nuance to – instead of removing entirely – the representations of these histories. And we’ll be taking a hard look at who has been left out and seeing where we can add new work to ensure our public spaces reflect the diversity and values of our great city.”

Williams and Jeyifous want to grant the ability to interact with art and tell that larger, more intersectional story. A narrative that showcases “the substance of Chisholm’s career- a career in which she fought for human rights and against corrupt and anti-democratic features of the U.S. political system… [and] created a foundation for candidates like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but also candidates like Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders who sought to expand the electorate and/or advance under-represented philosophies.” 

Dr. Zinga Fraser was part of the team that observed the artist presentation for the monument. She states, “We hope that the new monument will provoke conversation about Shirley Chisholm’s decision to become directly involved in politics even when the system and its defenders actively tried to tear her down. We hope that this will generate conversation about the unique challenges of marginalized communities and how they help transform American democracy for themselves and for humanity at large. We hope that it will also promote Chisholm’s long-held belief that direct involvement alone is the only thing that changes the system.”

The new 360-degree design will allow us to immerse ourselves in compelling examinations of history. From different points of view around the sculpture, the viewer will see varying ways the capital, vegetation, and Shirley herself come together. At no point is one piece wholly visible, in the same way, one never completely disappears. Instead, their relationship is inseparable. 

Thanks to She Built NYC, these artists have been given the ability to reflect on our current political, social, and cultural climate; and from there, promote diverse and unique perspectives of history and relationships. Questioning the relationship between individuals and government, citizen and leaders, laws and communities, nature and humankind, and so on. By breaking down the traditional American monument, they have created public art whose meaning and connotations are ever changing. Soon, we will see- and be able to participate in!- the discussions Williams and Jeyifous’ piece will provoke – during this the current Trump Administration, the upcoming 2020 election, and wherever the future of politics and American life takes us. The beauty and revolutionary aspect of this monument is not only that its subject is black and female, but that its narrative will transform with each individual viewer; inviting them to sit, think, and share their experiences, identity, and even arguments with others in the same way that Shirley Chisholm did. 

We look forward to experiencing this new kind of monument accomplish its goal of portraying a multidimensional narrative- a more diverse, complete, and malleable story of equal democracy that will transform how we view history for years to come.

Our Destiny, Our Democracy

Declare Juneteenth a National Holiday

By Filed Under: Community Tagged With: ,

We here at Park Slope Reader are active in showing our support to the Black Lives Matter movement, and to one of its many goals in declaring Juneteenth a national holiday.  

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865; a date nearly 3 years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. This changed the legal status under federal law for over 3.5 million enslaved African American individuals in the Confederate states from slave to free. By escaping control of the Confederate government, slaves would be permanently free. By the end of the Civil War in 1865, the Union victory brought the proclamation into effect in all former Confederate states, and the remaining slaves were freed by state action or through the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. 

Isolated from the rest of the states, it wasn’t until that date of June 19th 1865 that Union Troops led by Army General Gordon Granger arrived in the city of Galveston, Texas to read the federal orders that all 250,000 slaves in Texas were now free. The freedom of formerly enslaved people in Texas were given legal status in a series of Texas Supreme Court decisions between 1868 and 1874. 

Church-centered community gathers followed in celebration. In the years to come, festivities around the anniversary spread across Texas and other southern states. The date again gained popularity during the civil rights movements of the 1970s. Today, we see Juneteenth commemorations in major cities to honor not only the anniversary, but to celebrate Black individuals, culture, and community.

These dates are worth noting as the timeline exposes the slow and delayed process of freedom in the United States. That even after 1862, freedom is not fully realized as the country ushered in segregation laws, Jim Crow orders, wealth discrimination, and mass incarceration. 

That is to say freedom and equality must be continuously examined, fought for, and protected.

#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s murder. Their mission to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.” 

Now in 2020, we have seen the Black Lives Matter movement brought to the forefront of global attention. After the murder of George Floyd, activists, including us at Park Slope Reader, have come together to demand action now. The road to justice, freedom, and equality is often too long and futile when real individual lives are on the line every day. We actively stand with #BlackLivesMatter to take accountability and dismantle individual, institutional, and systemic racism in our community, country, and around the world. 

One step towards this is the United States Congress recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday. 

A national holiday by definition “marks a celebration of nationhood, an important event in its nation’s history which radically alters its established self.” The events of June 19th, 1965 have done just that. In a national celebration of Juneteenth, we are further provided the opportunity to acknowledge the past, present, and future of Black history. That Black history is American history. That the emancipation, that took nearly three years for enslaved men and women learn about in Texas, is not only an event that changed history, but is an immediate call to action.

As Toni Morrison stated, “The function of freedom is to free someone else.”

More resources:

Hartstop: A new Artist Platform builds Community in Brooklyn

By Filed Under: The Arts Tagged With:

Opening Up the Art Scene

If you are looking for an exciting night out, full of high energy, great food and drinks, and a wide variety of live music, Hartstop has you covered. Hartstop is a community-oriented DIY collective production company working to bring audiences and artists of all kinds together to inspire growth, creativity, and collaboration.

Founders Nick Kaufman, Lily Reszi Rothman, and Paris Anderson started hosting house shows in early 2018, and since have grown Hartstop, producing 3 to 4 concert events a month at local venues around Brooklyn.

“It made sense. We found ourselves in an apartment that was weirdly set up perfectly for live events.” Their open living room conveniently constructed to pull focus toward a stage like corner; an open kitchen for a bar, an friendly street, and a rooftop for DJ dance parties. All with backgrounds in music and production, they decided to continue with the goal of creating an affordable, collaborative open artistic platform for everyone. “We tried one, and tried a second and third. And we were like let’s keep on doing it.”

Lily explains how the NYC music scene has largely been dictated by gatekeepers, so they wanted to build a company that broke down that power system. She says, “The idea of having a house show is the doors are open.” While artists would normally have to navigate a network of directors and managers for a gig, and be limited to the requirements of a particular venue or client, Hartstop works to provide an open and honest platform. A platform to not only perform, but connect with the audiences by showcasing their various talents and creating a community comprised of other musicians, artists, small businesses, and local venues. Nick, Lily, and Paris provide support in any way they can; from access to equipment, social media promotion, and even providing a place to sleep for touring bands.

Founders Paris Anderson, Lily Reszi Rothman, and Nick Kaufman

At first, they were inviting friends, friends of friends, bands and musicians they liked to play shows, but now the majority of their booking comes from people contacting them. Many artists simply reaching through email or Instagram messages. On booking, Nick says, “We want people to feel welcome and comfortable… Keeping the line up eclectic and as representative as possible.” They will consider the local music scene, bands that like to play together or have overlapping members, or sometimes will build a show around a particular artist. Today, Hartstop has hosted bands and musicians from Atlanta, Minnesota, California, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and of course, New York City.

At one show, a band from Puerto Rico reconnected with a New York-based band they had worked with years ago. It’s hard to say if they would have seen each other again if not for the dynamic line up and engaging connections Hartstop strives for.

Hartstop events also integrate other visual artists and businesses, always hosting a full bar and partnering with catering companies, like Brooklyn Kitchen. At shows, you can find a space for vendors selling anything from jewelry to collage prints to crochet hats. They have also had people doing stick and poke tattoos, visual projections displays, puppeteers mini-shows, and tarot card readings. Nick says, “We try to be supportive of any art people have… It helps to build a greater experience at events. And it gives people the opportunity to showcase the multi-faceted elements of themselves. So you might not just be a DJ, but also great at ceramics.”

The venues are equally important in providing a multi-faceted, compelling, and open experience. Each maintaining its own personal, homey, and intimate vibe. The look for spaces that are more of a blank space location, that don’t have a huge representation of what their shows are like. Rubulad, a venue in Williamsburg, provides an amazing set up with a whimsical outdoor garden space, tent for vendors, and stage building complete with disco ball, bizarre decorations, and minibar. And that limitless creative possibility is the excitement of Hartstop.

Paris explains, “You never know what you are going to get. That’s why you want to come! Whatever it is- it’s going to be good and going to be fun. It’s bands and musicians you maybe would never see before. And you don’t know who’s going to be first, or who will be last.” 

At every event, there is a powerful merging of people, genres, music, and spaces. You may arrive while a solo artist sings acoustic Spanish ballads, be purchasing jewelry outside with a DJ spinning soul records, and end your night dancing to an alternative rock band. “Every show feels like a mini-festival. There are so many things going on… At house shows, the living room is the main music space, or you can go on the rooftop with solo artists or DJing.”

The founders/roommates/friends tell how its always exciting to see their house transform from an everyday living area to an open performance space. Significantly, they have not had any major problems and always found people to be very trustworthy and supportive when they open up their home. Though they do note that when shows are on Saturday nights and garbage not until Wednesday, there’s always a four day period where the house smells like beer.

The future of Hartstop looks to expand into building community groups and resources, beyond going out to a party or show. They have recently started a monthly program, called Good-Grief, in which people can come together and provide comfort and counseling to those going through bereavement or other painful times. Paris tells how she recently lost a family member and hoped to provide the same support she received to others. “Grief and loss is something we all go through. And bringing people together to sit and talk is the first step in the process of healing.”

As part of their connection goals, the team keeps their shows affordable ($8 to $10 admission) and make sure to compensate everyone working and performing with them. Something that unfortunately can be very rare in the NYC art and music scene. And this difference from “paying in exposure” resonates. “You feel the difference, if the venue or space is taking care of the artists and if the artists feel appreciated. We are very mindful of building a real supportive community that people can interact, engage, and contribute to.”

When you go to a Hartstop show you can feel this energy of the collative work that has gone into providing an exciting and dynamic night to engage with new musicians, artists, and a community audience from around Brooklyn and beyond. As Lily states, “Hartstop wouldn’t be anywhere without our community. Whether it is working the door, bartending, working sound -There’s a lot of little things put together to create something really cool.”

Keep updated on Hartstop’s upcoming events at https://hartstopbk.wordpress.com/ or follow them on Instagram @hartstopbk .

Photographs by Lily Reszi Rothman @disposability

Caroline P. Cohen – Honest Engagement

By Filed Under: Reader Profile Tagged With: , , ,

Caroline Cohen – Candidate for Civil Court Judge

When I spoke with Caroline, she was in the midst of another busy day, riding in the car with her family- husband, Steve, and two children, Daschel and CiCi. And even over the phone, I could tell she was full of energy, inspiration, and self-assurance.  Back in April, Caroline won first out of four in the Primary Election for Civil Court Judge. Now, she running unopposed in the November General Election. She contributes this major achievement to her honest engagement with the Brooklyn community.

For the past two years, Caroline has been a trusted Civil Rights Attorney, working for a small, “Feminist Litigation Firm.” What’s that mean? Well, exactly what you would hope. A legal firm that advises and represents those that have been discriminated against in the workplace – be it sexually harassed, because of their status as a caregiver, or for their maternity status. Caroline sites this leap into law and politics as the best professional decision she has ever made. 

She then quotes Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” After the 2016 election, Caroline, like many others, felt a call to action. “I couldn’t be as mad as I was and not try to move into a position that could affect greater good.” These intimate feelings motivate many of Caroline’s personal and political engagement decisions. She continuously speaks about how she experiences issues very emotionally and takes things incredibly personally. Ironically, these are often the excuses people have for not electing women into positions of power. But Caroline is unapologetic with her feelings. Aside from showcasing a sense of humanity, she understands them as an opportunity to translate emotions into a passion and dedication for positive change. “I was filled with rage. But still, you turn that into something else. It would be a greater tragedy just to take those feelings and be like ‘Oh well, this is the world we live in now.’ No, you take it and you do more with it.” 

Soon after, she called her brother saying, “Well, I guess I am running for office now.”

Caroline with her campaign team including NYS Senate Candidate Josue Pierre

Similarly, Caroline’s desire to move into law came from her own mother’s inability to pursue higher education and a professional career as an attorney. Caroline states that the death of her mother, Carol, was the most defining moment of her life, because of the parallel similarities she saw between her moment of loss and her mother’s. Carol had applied to law school, but ultimately her father did not support it, saying “You have been educated enough. That’s it. Hard stop.” In the end, she moved on to be a successful businesswoman, but still, this loss was continuously prominent in the determination to pass on strength to her children. Caroline says, “She saw a lot in me what she saw in herself – a focus, and dedication, and just a belief that you can do it.” 

Amongst the great values inherited from her mother is the belief that “you don’t take shit from anybody.” Caroline too wishes to deliver this energetic self-assurance to others. She speaks to me about the need to claim your identity and power. “Be fearless when you’re speaking with people who are dismissive of you.” I can image Caroline working with her clients, giving them the same spirited motivation that her words project; providing them the opportunity, access, and tools to pursue that which other’s have tried to take away. And Caroline brings this ferocious devotion to all aspects of her life.  

“This cycle I hope to give to my clients, that I hope to give to my children, that I hope to give to my constituents is that if you come before me as a judge you will be heard, if you are my client I will fight for you, if you’re my child I will empower you to speak for yourself and speak for others.”

Of course, the transition has not always been easy. It continues to involve months of long days as it was never an option to take off of work for Caroline – she says, “My ladies need me.” So while holding her 9 to 5 hours, she would campaign on the subways in the morning, knock on doors in the evenings, and end her day with team meetings between 9:30 and 11 PM.  An almost unbelievable work schedule for a mother raising a 6 and 4 ¾-year-old. But as Caroline states, “I am the definition of ‘It takes a village.’ And when I ask her children if they think it’s cool to see their mom talking with all these people and doing this big job for the city, rising pre-schooler CiCi replies, “Pretty much.”

Caroline and daughter, CiCi speaking with friend

In the same way that the community has supported her, as Civil Court Judge, Caroline is focused on giving back and engaging the community. “And not just during the campaign, I think that’s a bunch of garbage. You have to be dedicated to reach out to all the corners of the community if you are going be a public servant and seek to represent them.” Caroline has made a major effort to connect with Brooklyn individuals in order to understand the nuances of each community. For example, providing comprehensive relief to the multi-decade affordable housing crisis or directly dealing with Islamaphobia in the Muslim community. She has been endorsed by Brooklyn Young Democrats, LGBTQ organizations- the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, and the Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club. “What I can bring [to Civil Court Judge position] is a perspective and understanding of whom my constituents are. And it comes from living here. I have lived in Flatbush for 10 years. It’s a great joy to me and my family to continue to be involved in the community.”

As part of her community engagement Caroline co-founded Ditmas Art, a mixed media arts organization focused on political discourse. So, we wrapped up our conversation with a question that as a media creator I often ask others: What do you believe the goal of art and media should be? For me, the goal is to create work the provokes empathy. Caroline began by telling me a story of a former Art History professor who hated Steven Speilberg films, because “They told you how to feel.” However, she finds a distinction between this control and engaging one’s audience to make them think in a new way. She states, “It’s all about opening up dialogue. And that was really the point of opening up this art salon in our house. Because we were a community who were bereft from the 2016 election. And I use that word purposefully.”

She again recalls the night of the 2016 election with the deeply personal memory of retreating to her upstairs bathroom, so her son would not have to see her cry. In those moments, fear took hold equivalent to that when she learned her mother had stage four metastatic cancer. “It felt like the world had shifted under my feet. So I wanted to create a space for people to bring their ideas… And to allow them to begin to formulate thoughts. Because people were grieving. And it was an opportunity for people to grieve.”

“So, I think, in its best form art is just an opportunity for people to allow their thoughts to flow.”

Caroline’s thoughts, too, flow from her with purpose and energy as she speaks with me about these challenges, accomplishments, and sentiments. All which motivate her to bring that same confidence to others- confidence not only that she will fulfill her role as Civil Court Judge, but promise that in doing so every individual will gain a stronger, louder, and recognized voice. In our conversation, again and again, Caroline would proudly proclaim, “I love what I do!” Indulging in stories of the people, places, and experience that brought her to where she is today.

“I am very aware that I am indebted to the community. I owe everything to this community. It is helping me raise my children. It provided me a platform to meet my boss- who I met in my oldest child’s moms group. It has given me a spiritual stronghold in moments of political disbelief. And that love and dedication will translate to love and dedication on the bench.”

To learn more about Caroline’s Campaign go to cohenforjudge2019.com

Shirley Chisholm Returns To Brooklyn: A New Take on the American Monument

By Filed Under: Community Tagged With: , , ,

Our Destiny, Our Democracy artist rendering

Shirley Anita St. Hill was born and raised in Brooklyn New York to Caribbean immigrant parents. She attended Brooklyn College and Columbia University, earning a masters in elementary education. After working as a teacher and daycare director, she moved into public service serving two terms in NY State Legislature. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress, representing NY’s 12th congressional district of  Bedford-Stuyvesant. Then in 1972, she became the first black woman to run for President under a major political party saying,

I am not the candidate for Black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people of America.

Shirley Chisholm on her presidential run in 1972

Chisholm went on as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Women’s Caucus. She retired after 14 years and passed away on New Year’s Day 2005. Ten years later, Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And now her portrait, commissioned by members of Congress- an honor usually only reserved for party leaders- watches over the most diverse and most female freshman class Congress has ever seen.

Chisholm will once again make history as the first female historical figure to have a monument dedicated to her in Brooklyn. 

Artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan Jeyifous’ design “Our Destiny, Our Democracy” honors Shirley Chisholm in a way that reimagines the functional purpose and ideology of the American monument. “This artwork will be bright, bold, and makes a statement – just like Chisholm herself,” says First Lady Chirlane McCray. This project, from She Built NYC, is working to represent the women who have shaped the city while addressing the gender gap in NYC monuments. Currently, just 5 of the 150 statues in NYC depict women. 

She Built NYC will change this male-dominated landscape of historical figures. So far, five trailblazing women will be commemorated in upcoming projects set to hit the boroughs- Billie Holiday (Queens), Elizabeth Jennings Graham (Manhattan), Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trías (Bronx), Katherine Walker (Staten Island), and of course, Shirley Chisholm will return to her home of Brooklyn. The 40 foot-tall structure, set for completion by the end of 2020 at the southeastern corner of Prospect Park, encompasses Shirley’s life’s work and her mindset of coming together through democracy.

During Shirley’s time in Congress, she worked to represent the needs of the people. Specifically, those who were underrepresented, which in 1968 and still today means women, people of color, and the youth. Her wants for equal democracy and unwillingness to back down from what she saw was wrong earned her the nickname “Fighting Shirley.” 

Speaking about the title Dr. Zinga Fraser, Director of The Shirley Chisholm Project of Brooklyn Women’s Activism says, “The name referred to Chisholm’s commitment to taking on the status quo… As a Black woman in America who sought to be a “catalyst for change” in a historically oppressive society, fighting was a routine aspect of her life… Any narrative about Chisholm or Black women’s activism that overlook this struggle is a misleading narrative.”

During Chisholm’s time in office, there were more bills passed relating to child care, education, and human rights than any other point in history. Dr. Fraser points out, “She would argue that a nation’s most important resource was ‘its children.’” Distinguishing herself as a champion of youth, many agree that every school child should know who Shirley Chisholm was. And know they will! – when students, parents, teachers, and all Brooklyn residents walk down Parkside Ave to see Chisholm’s beautiful figure.

The vibrant design from Williams and Jeyifous works to embrace this fighting spirit. The multi-prog, 40-foot tall steel sculpture reconstructs Chisholm’s portrait, the United States Capitol Building, and decorative patterns of vines and leaves. Her strong eyes with signature glasses, full head of curly hair, and poise figure will greet the public reminding us of her unique gift to connect to both children and adults with grace and empathy. Throughout the day these silhouetted compositions will cast shadows along the sidewalks complementing the surrounding trees and vegetation. These strikingly colorful and dynamic pieces assemble an amphitheater-style stage; inviting people to come together, interact, and occupy the space below Chisholm’s guiding light. The elevated seats will be inscribed with the names of women who followed- and will follow- in Fighting Shirley’s revolutionary footsteps; reminiscent of her famous quote, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Olalekan Jeyifous and Amanda Williams
Credit: Faye Penn, women.nyc.

With differing styles rooted in architectural study, Williams and Jeyifous’ individual and collaborative work focus on public spaces and public conversations. “Our project celebrates Shirley Chisholm’s legacy as a civil servant who ‘left the door open’ to make room for others to follow in her path toward equity and a place in our country’s political landscape. We have designed a monument in which her iconic visage can be immediately recognizable while also equally portraying the power, beauty, and dimensionality of her contributions to our democracy,” reads their artist statement.

“Our Destiny, Our Democracy” works to challenge the traditional notions of the American monument. Think Gaetano Russo’s Columbus Circle statue, or literally every monument just north at Grand Army Plaza. These traditional monuments commemorate figures by placing them in positions of power- strong and sturdy like the marble they are carved in. Telling us, “This person was important!”, but not much else. Many have sparked controversy that even Mayor De Blasio has addressed; “Our approach will focus on adding detail and nuance to – instead of removing entirely – the representations of these histories. And we’ll be taking a hard look at who has been left out and seeing where we can add new work to ensure our public spaces reflect the diversity and values of our great city.”

We hope that it will also promote Chisholm’s long-held belief that direct involvement alone is the only thing that changes the system.

Williams and Jeyifous want to grant the ability to interact with art and tell that larger, more intersectional story. A narrative that showcases “the substance of Chisholm’s career- a career in which she fought for human rights and against corrupt and anti-democratic features of the U.S. political system… [and] created a foundation for candidates like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but also candidates like Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders who sought to expand the electorate and/or advance under-represented philosophies.” 

Dr. Zinga Fraser was part of the team that observed the artist presentation for the monument. She states, “We hope that the new monument will provoke conversation about Shirley Chisholm’s decision to become directly involved in politics even when the system and its defenders actively tried to tear her down. We hope that this will generate conversation about the unique challenges of marginalized communities and how they help transform American democracy for themselves and for humanity at large. We hope that it will also promote Chisholm’s long-held belief that direct involvement alone is the only thing that changes the system.”

The new 360-degree design will allow us to immerse ourselves in compelling examinations of history. From different points of view around the sculpture, the viewer will see varying ways the capital, vegetation, and Shirley herself come together. At no point is one piece wholly visible, in the same way, one never completely disappears. Instead, their relationship is inseparable. 

Thanks to She Built NYC, these artists have been given the ability to reflect on our current political, social, and cultural climate; and from there, promote diverse and unique perspectives of history and relationships. Questioning the relationship between individuals and government, citizen and leaders, laws and communities, nature and humankind, and so on. By breaking down the traditional American monument, they have created public art whose meaning and connotations are ever changing. Soon, we will see- and be able to participate in!- the discussions Williams and Jeyifous’ piece will provoke – during this the current Trump Administration, the upcoming 2020 election, and wherever the future of politics and American life takes us. The beauty and revolutionary aspect of this monument is not only that its subject is black and female, but that its narrative will transform with each individual viewer; inviting them to sit, think, and share their experiences, identity, and even arguments with others in the same way that Shirley Chisholm did. 

We look forward to experiencing this new kind of monument accomplish its goal of portraying a multidimensional narrative- a more diverse, complete, and malleable story of equal democracy that will transform how we view history for years to come.

Our Destiny, Our Democracy

Uncompromising Identity: Frida Kahlo at The Brooklyn Museum

By Filed Under: Reviews, The Arts Tagged With: , , , , ,

Frida in New York, 1946. Nicholas Muray

Known for housing extraordinary exhibitions of art and media, The Brooklyn Museum has always brought history and contemporary culture together in unique perspectives. Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving (running from February 8th to May 12th, 2018) is no different. 

If you are expecting to see rows of Frida Kahlo’s beautiful, colorfully painted self-portraits you will not find them here. Instead, for the first time in the United States, the exhibition displays the iconic artist’s trove of personal photographs, clothing, and belongings.

After her death in 1954, these possessions were locked away under the instruction of her husband, muralist Diego Rivera. Fifty years later, uncovered from her life long home, Casa Azul, The Blue House in Mexico City, they now lay on display to explore Frida’s work in relation to that which surrounded her. This framing is what makes the exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum so unique. With only twelve of her paintings within the 350 objects, the exhibition itself questions what is more important- the art or the artist? 

Frida painted her image in the same manner that she presented herself every day. In both appearance and art, she dressed in the fashion of the indigenous Tehuantepec women of Southern Mexico; with her long enagua skirts, huipil square cut tunic, and braided hair decorated with blooming flowers. She challenged the growing Euro-centric beauty standards by noticeably darkening her skin in paintings and highlightings her thick facial hair and eyebrows; while also celebrating her femininity, wearing traditional lace resplandor garments. The ruffled white lace framing her done-up face like a flower. These hand-made dresses are featured in personal photographs and on petite mannequins complete with floral headdresses and heavy pendant jewelry. No two dresses similar in detailed design. 

Her appearance cemented her identity with Mexico motivated by her personal, political, and artistic convictions. Raised by a mother of Indigenous and Spanish descent and German immigrant father against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, Frida became educated in her Mexican heritage both colonial and modernist. She contracted Polio at a young age and later suffered a broken spine and injuries in a severe trolly accident. She began painting, fixated on her own image in the mirror as she lay hospitalized for months. These injuries would stay with her, causing her several miscarriages and need for abortions. She joined the Mexican Communist Party in 1928, immersing herself in political and intellectual issues alongside her husband, Diego Rivera. She also took a leading role in the Mexican Muralist Movement. 

Diego on My Mind, (Self-portrait as Tehuana), 1943

Seen in the love letter from photographer Nickolas Murray- with whom she had an on and off affair- he, maybe ironically, applauds Frida for her devotion. Frida Kahlo had a strong devotion to herself- her identity, her beliefs, and above all her art as she painted her way through pain, love, heartache, and joy. Never giving up or compromising on her own image, Frida meticulously crafted a visualization of her identity.

From the small Aztec sculptures to her painted diary entries, this personal story is told with each piece in the collection. Showcased at the center of the exhibition is the pink lace garment and flower headpiece she dons in the self-portrait Diego on My Mind (1943). The huipil grande headdress, a defining accessory of Tehuantepec women, was found on a statue of the Virgin Mary, attracting visitors to gather round. Contrastingly, the actual painting featuring the garment, complete with gold leaf and Diego’s figure above Frida’s striking brow, is tucked in the corner of the room. 

Plaster corset, painted and decorated by Frida Kahlo.

Under the square tunic blouses, Frida wore an orthopedic, leather-bound corset that assisted in supporting her fragile spine and back. Pages of medical reports and documents give information on her clinical history are uncovered. Her prosthetic leg with traditional Chinese fashion inspired laced up boots, which she strategically hid from prying audiences under her large skirt, come to light. Also displayed are Frida’s plaster cast corsets covered in some of her first paintings composed as she lay after surgery with a mirror about her body. On one she paints a fetus over her abdomen, another a gaping empty space on the stomach. One other features her spine as a broken column cracking and crumbling to dust. On two she paints a large, red Communist hammer and sickle over her heart. Frida, herself, chose to keep these casts once they were taken off, perhaps as a way to remember and document the suffering she endured which worked to fuel her creative energy. A surrealist drawing from her diary shows her as a one-legged child, inscribed “Feet, What Do I Need Them for If I Have Wings to Fly?” 

So with her art, and furthermore her everyday life, is Frida daring us to be bold and live to outwardly express ourselves?

Frida’s image was conscious, considerate, complex, and strategic. In photographs, she posed in such a way to hide her disability, but even that which was private and purposefully covered up was essential to her identity. Contrastingly from these private elements, greenstone and jade beads, finely carved rings, silver earrings, and heavy gold Tehuana necklaces materialize under glass cases. Some would say this heavy jewelry and flower crowns would upstage the young artist’s petite figure, but others saw the significance of the overpowering look. Each beautifully crafted works of art in themselves, which Frida was adamant to decorate herself with. Personal photographs document her enjoying Mexico City’s markets and the purchases she made there- rings, dolls, and decorative trinkets. Frida was known never to barter for goods, indicating a belief in the value of material things. 

She cultivated these purchases in a collection of gems, clothing, writing, sculptures, and even animals at The Blue House. Often housebound due to her disabilities, Frida created a microcosm of Mexico within her own home. Filled with craftsmanship that celebrated Mexican history and culture, every element that influenced her life came together in The Blue House. There she cared for monkeys and other animals as pets- or perhaps as surrogate children-, decorated with Olmec figures as her alter egos, and hung mirrors around every corner to compose her appearance throughout the day. Appearances Can Be Deceiving gives us a glimpse into the highly detailed world Frida cultivated- a treasure trove of her integrated parts of her life, art, and identity. 

Just as the objects around her were important, so were the people. Frida surrounded herself with like-minded artists and individuals that helped to record her artistic legacy. The influence from her parents, her sister- who had an affair with her husband-, American photographers Lous Pachard and Imagen Cunningham, and of course her husband, Diego Rivera. About him, the subject of many of her paintings, Frida writes, “I suffered two grave accidents in my life. One in which a streetcar knocked me down… The other is Diego.” Referred to by their family as “an elephant and a dove,” the exhibition has hundreds of photos and films of the couple painting, at political events, traveling, and living in The Blue House together. In the press, Frida was often referred to in relation to her husband. It is interesting enough to wonder if Frida knew that in the future her name would largely mean more to us than his. But maybe she did as she stated seemingly realizing her own importance and iconic image, “All the painters want me to pose for them.” 

Photographer Imagen Cunningham said that people marveled over Frida’s appearance when she came to the United States. And how is that any different from today? As I walked through the museum, I came across a young woman dressed as Frida Kahlo, in full hair, makeup, and costume. Still today the bright, beautifully woven colors and patterns of the Tehuantepec style highly contrast the black, solid prints of modern New York fashion. Ironically enough, the one black colored dress in the exhibition, Frida wore to a New York art show and dinner event in 1933. From her fiery red lipstick to her embroidered skirts, to her shoes from New York or San Fransisco’s Chinatown to her iconic unibrow, Frida’s appearance was truly her own. 

Installation view, Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving, Brooklyn Museum, February 8 – May 12, 2019 (Photo: Jonathan Dorado)

No piece of her was without thought. In mind, body, and appearance, Frida was aware that every part of her being brought about her values and message. Whether she cared if we agreed or not, Frida worked for others to know who she was through her open visual identity. Proving this, on the back of her mother’s First Holy Communion photo Frida writes in pen “Idiota!”. She has even stated, “I do not like to be considered religious. I like people to know I am not.”

So with her art, and furthermore her everyday life, is Frida daring us to be bold and live to outwardly express ourselves? Or did she simply not care about us- the audience- using her self portraits and painting as just another way to curate her uncompromising identity? If so, what does this exhibition signify- where do the importance and meaning lie in these personal belongings? The title of this exhibition, Appearances Can Be Deceiving, suggests that there is more to what is outwardly presented. So if Frida was in fact so adamant about visually presenting and cultivating her identity, what deeper truths are there to be uncovered? I urge you to visit this must-see exhibition at The Brooklyn Museum with these questions in mind as you walk through surrounded by the same items and objects that Frida Kahlo chose to surround herself with.