Jerry Saltz gives Norman Jabaut’s wood constructions a “10.”
– Jerry Saltz photo from Art Review magazine, Norman Jabaut photo by Jason Andrew

This weekend’s BETA Spaces, put on by Arts in Bushwick, brought out the big shots — including, as Diego Cupolo mentioned earlier this week, a Washington Post reporter here to scope out the scene.

WaPo’s Andrea Sachs quotes Arts in Bushwick’s Laura Braslow: “There is a lot more experimental art here, partially because people don’t have the structural constraints where they are trying to keep up with the galleries… the Bushwick art scene is not about sipping wine and looking at white walls.”

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“meKaniKdolls” — photo by Diego Cupolo

For me, Sunday’s BETA Spaces art festival began in the staircase of an old warehouse on Melrose Street.

At first, all I could hear was the high-pitched squeal of a rusty bicycle wheel and sporadic, synthesized bass beats. Curiosity was sparked and I continued up the stairs until I was bombarded with more complex images than my mind could comprehend — a blue wig, electrical wires, yellow fairy wings, hundreds of knobs, a projector from the Chicago Department of Education aimed at my face and hot pink and black stripped leggings coming out of a giant diaper that was tied to the ceiling.

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Kevin and Shari admire the work of Layton Hower at Norte Maar — photo by Anna D’Agrosa

I was a bad Bushwicker this weekend and didn’t make it to see very much of Arts in Bushwick’s fabulous BETA Spaces. (Although I hear that there were some art luminaries making the rounds and I definitely noticed a lot of energy in the neighborhood!) I did manage the short journey from Wyckoff-Starr to Norte Maar’s Hecho en Bushwick show with Paige, Kevin & Shari, and Austin Thomas of Pocket Utopia.

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The Hang at Summer Home Exported, by Joel Myers

Strong turnout and a wide range of media and subject matter marked Arts in Bushwick’s latest event. BETA Spaces, which was a free one-day arts festival of independently curated group events held on Sunday, came as the latest evidence that the organization’s presence in the neighborhood is becoming more pronounced.

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BETA Spaces, a “one-day festival of independently curated group exhibitions,” is taking place in a triangularish chunk of Bushwick this Sunday. In contrast with the overwhelming chaos of hundreds of artists opening their studios to thousands of strangers across the neighborhood as in June’s Bushwick Open Studios, this will be a much more manageable — and walkable — event, with only 30 locations (but still featuring the work of hundreds of artists).

There will also be a discussion forum at Bushwick IMPACT about gentrification issues, a slam poetry event at Lumenhouse, and an after-party at Wreck Room with live performances, a slide show from the day’s exhibitions, and — most importantly after a long day stomping around the hood — drink specials.

BETA Spaces
Sunday, Nov. 9, 11am-7pm
after-party 7-11pm