Written by Brittany Kleinman: This weekend in DUMBO, NYC the DAC will be hosting the 12th Annual Art Under the Bridge Festival. This extravaganza is the single largest urban forum for experimental art in the United States, transforming the distinctive waterfront neighborhood into a multi-sensory FREE public art arena. The event involves the participation of approximately 1,500 artists from all disciplines of visual art and attracts over 150,000 visitors to the neighborhood of Dumbo each year. Click Read More for additional information about the arts festival.

Breda Kennedy, Executive Artistic Director, explains that New York City’s creative edge is increasingly threatened by skyrocketing rents, but the DAC (DUMBO Arts Center) is committed to preserving what is possibly the last urban oasis of its kind. This is a site where young artists can test their ideas in the public domain, have unprecedented freedom and play. Visual artists have a long tradition of harnessing New York City as their canvas, seeing no boundaries between studio and street. The FESTIVAL allows artists to act upon that impulse by providing them with a place where the unpredictable, the spontaneous and the downright weird can still happen.

Along with the 65+ new public art projects, over 100 local artists will open their studios to the public and at the new Galapagos Art Space, Video_Dumbo will feature a non-stop program of cutting edge video art from NYC and around the world.

For more information on exhibitions and schedules, visit the Art Under the Bridge Festival website.

ART UNDER THE BRIDGE FESTIVAL
Where: Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park at Washington Street.
When: September 26-28, 2008; Fri. 6-8pm, Sat. 1-5pm
Sponsored by: Current

DUMBO ARTS CENTER (DAC)
30 Washingtion Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.694.0831
Website

Local Events: Design Gadgets & More at Japan C in New York
Local Events: 100 Day Bicycle Exhibition 2008 in Eindhoven
Local Event: Who Needs Paint When You Have Lights!?