The interior of the bricks-and-mortar Easy Street, which will be replaced by a virtual online-only gallery at the end of July 2011.
In January 2010, when the owners of the 7-year-old nonprofit Philadelphia Glass Works and its younger commercial gallery operation, Silica Galleries, issued an announcement that they would be closing their doors, Ian Kerr and Nathan Purcell, explained that it was to turn their attention to their glass-pipe boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which they bill as “the first-ever gallery of its kind” to “bring glass pipe making to the forefront of the contemporary art scene.” And in the year-and-a-half since, they have exhibited the work of a wide range of flameworkers. However, when the current exhibition on view, entitled “Crossroads” and featuring mixed-media work such as tea-pots and elegant minarets by Micah Evans comes down on July 20th, 2011, it will be the last exhibition with an extended run at the retail gallery space.
After closing last weekend, which set off rumors of the gallery’s demise, and being closed again this coming weekend for the July 4th holiday, Easy Street responded to an email from the GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet to inform us that they plan to reopen for regular hours on July 6th. The regular hours are from Wednesday through Saturday from 12 noon until 8 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. But they also announced that come August, the gallery would be online-only.
Micah Evans' work, such as Tea Pot Study #3, takes the extruded borosilicate tubing that is the hallmark of flameworked pipes into new directions.
The news, according to Easy Street general manager Korin Prince, is:
Easy Street Gallery announces that we will be closing our doors at the end of July. We thank everyone who has come out over the last 2 years to support and enjoy the shows we put together. We are no longer able to stay open due to the high cost of doing business in New York.Our last opening is July 23rd featuring Power Up! by Micro. According to Prince, Easy Street will continue to operate online, but will no longer be taking on the costs of renting a large gallery space.
155 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel: 718.388.8257Website: www.easystreetbrooklyn.com
She writes: “We will be making the transformation to a web store in the months to come. With the reduced cost of overhead we will be able to bring you a wider selection of work from your favorite artists. Stay tuned…
For those looking for one last chance to party in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, high-end gallery space, consider attending the Micro exhibition on Saturday, July 23rd, 7 to 10 p.m.
IF YOU GO:
“Power Up!” MicroOpening reception: July 23rd (7 to 10 p.m.)Easy Street Gallery155 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel: 718.388.8257Website: www.easystreetbrooklyn.com