For art lovers, Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood should be a main attraction
Dumbo stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and it has become a hub for emerging arts since its deindustrialization in the mid-20th century. Both not-for-profit institutions and for-profit art galleries thrive in this area, as well as theaters that present many different types of productions. Some of the more popular venues in the Dumbo district include:
St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water Street – Founded in 1980, St. Ann’s originally presented many classical concerts at their original location in Brooklyn Heights. Since relocating to the Dumbo neighborhood in 2001, St. Ann’s has hosted several productions that combine theater and rock and roll in extremely well-received ways. The theater has received the Ross Wetzsteon Memorial Award from the Village Voice for it’s dedication to new developing new work. Artists that have been associated with St. Ann’s include Charlie Kaufman, Steve Buscemi, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, The Coen brothers, Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, Meryl Streep and many more.
A.I.R. Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 228 – The A.I.R. gallery was created in 1972 as a reaction to the largely male-dominated art scene in New York City at the time. The A.I.R. Gallery is an all-women non-profit that is dedicated to exhibiting women’s Dating Sites Land art and celebrating women’s contributions to the Brooklyn arts and theater scene.
- Dumbo Arts Center, 111 Front Street, Suite 212
- Bose Pacia, 163 Plymouth Street
- Smack Mellon, 92 Plymouth Street
- Rabbithole Studio, 33 Washington Street
- Galapagos, 16 Main Street
- Klompching Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 206
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum, located at 200 Eastern Parkway, is perhaps the most famous institution for classic art in Brooklyn. The museum, founded in 1846, houses sculptures, paintings, drawings, watercolors, pastels, and prints ranging from circa 1720 to 1945.
Pieces created after 1945 are located in the Contemporary Art section. Famous artists that have pieces in the Brooklyn Museum include Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, William Rush, Frederic Church, Thomas Cole, Albert Bierstadt, George Inness, William Merritt Chase, Hiram Powers, Eastman Johnson, Albert P. Ryder, and Thomas Eakins.
Outdoor Sculptures
Many major cities have permanent outdoor sculptures to visit, and the Brooklyn art scene is no different. Outdoor statues and sculptures include:
Theater in Brooklyn
There is no shortage of venues for arts and theater in Brooklyn. Classic shows, children’s theater, new plays, opera, ballet, and avant-garde theatre are consistently being performed. Some of the spaces include:
Walt Whitman Theater at Brooklyn Center, Campus Rd and Hillel Pl – The Walt Whitman theater is the centerpiece of the Brooklyn Performing Arts center. This 2,350-seat theater has presented concerts by The Joffrey Ballet, Itzhak Perlman, Luciano Pavarotti, Tony Bennett, Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, and The Beach Boys, just to name a few. But music concerts are only part of what this theater offers. The Walt Whitman venue plays an important part in the Brooklyn arts and theater scene through the presentation of Brooklyn College mainstage productions and thesis productions. Youth theater productions are also seen on this stage. The Walt Whitman Theater also presents shows that are staged through non-profit organizations and community theater companies.
BAM, 30 Lafayette Avenue – BAM is one of the oldest performing arts centers in the country. It was founded in 1861 and has since become one of the most lively venues in New York City. BAM stages up to 220 productions every year, which are all monetarily supported by contributions. There is an in-house restaurant and bar, and they host over 200 New York City schools each year. Throughout the years, BAM has presented emerging plays as well as several nationally-renowned Shakespeare productions.
