We'll forgive you if missed the fabulous opening reception of 'ordinary wonderful', as long as you promise to catch the exhibit before it closes on April 1st. In the meantime, whet your appetite with this great piece from the NY Times Local Fort Greene/Clinton Hill blog.

Myrtle Windows Gallery returns!

On Friday March 6th, come to Karen's Body Beautiful for the opening of the second Myrtle Windows Gallery exhibition, a program that turns Myrtle Avenue into an open-air art gallery for all to see. This solo exhibition features the photos of Brooklyn-based Trevor Brown, who explores the beauty in the ordinary things around us right here in Brooklyn...that we too often take for granted. For more information on the artist check out his website at www.trevorbrownonline.com.

Come to Karen’s Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle Avenue) at 5:30pm on Friday March 6th to tour the exhibition with the artist, himself! Afterwards, head back to Karen’s for a reception from 6-8pm with light refreshments from Myrtle faves Anima and Gnarly Vines.

The exhibition will be on display from March 3rd to April 1st in the following storefronts, all located within three blocks on Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Clinton Avenue: Anima (458 Myrtle); Five Spot Supper Club (459 Myrtle); Joseph Tyler Salon (456 Myrtle); Karen’s Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle); Karrot Health Food (431 Myrtle); Miracles Unisex Barber Shop (473A Myrtle); Move with Grace Dance & Yoga Studio (469 Myrtle); Optimum Care Rehab (474 Myrtle); Thai 101 Restaurant (455A Myrtle); Three Stars Laundromat (439 Myrtle).

If you've been thinking about adding to your personal art collection, the artist is offering all works in the exhibition for sale, as well as prints of each piece! Visit participating merchants or contact us at 718-230-1689 for more information.

Myrtle Windows Gallery (MWG) is an open air art gallery that ‘breaks down the walls’ of the traditional private art gallery to bring two-dimensional art to the public arena via the storefront window, where it is accessible to anyone simply walking down the street. Ten Myrtle Avenue storefronts temporarily transform part of their windows into gallery space for the works of local artists. The initiative helps bring together artists, local businesses, and the community in a dialogue about art in public spaces.

Installation System
The installation system serves to create a uniform look that unifies the exhibit, and displays work in a way that does not damage the merchant’s space or the work itself. The system includes a solar shade to provide a clean backdrop for the artwork while maintaining light and view through to the interior of the shop. A cable hanging system allows the artwork to hang in the window in front of the shade. The Partnership will not provide insurance to cover the art during this exhibition; however, the artist has the option to secure his/her own policy to cover theft or damage to the works while installed in the storefronts.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria
MWG seeks ten (10) existing two-dimensional works of art (paintings, prints, photographs, collage, mixed media etc.) that can be easily installed in each of ten storefronts windows. Preference will be given to local artists whose work captures or is inspired by urban life. If the artist chooses to offer pieces for sale the Partnership will receive a commission on each sale, to be negotiated with the artist prior to the exhibit. Given that community accessibility is a key component of the mission of this initiative, we hope to exhibit works at a broad range of prices.

Application Process
The following materials must be received by Friday, February 13, 2009 at 5pm at:
Myrtle Windows Gallery, 472 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11205
• Complete contact information including name, address, telephone and email address
• CD of images of the works to be included in the exhibition, with index listing title, medium and dimensions for each
• Narrative description of the collection of works to be included in the exhibition
• Current Resume and artist statement

Artists will be notified by February 18, 2009, and installation will take place beginning February 23, 2009.

Click here for photos from our last Myrtle Windows Gallery Exhibition, with works by artist Anne Lafond.

Please email Meredith@myrtleavenue.org with questions.

The competition was fierce and the vote count was tight, but the winners of Myrtle's first Holiday Windows Contest have been chosen by you, the public, via text message voting. Given how close the contest was, and given how many enthusiastic and talented artists participated, we added second and third place monetary prizes, while honorable mentions went to those Storefront Windows that had particularly strong support via emails, calls, and comments to our staff.

The artist(s) winning first place receives gift certificates valued at $250 to participating Myrtle Avenue businesses, while the second and third place winners receive gift certificates valued at $100 and $50 respectively.

1st Place: Benjie Sirota and Julia Wadsworth for their work at Zaytoons
2nd Place: Leola Bermanzohn for her work at (burzh-wa)
3rd Place: Suzanna Shapiro for her work at Gnarly Vines

And the Honorable Mentions go to:

The “Bright Idea” Award, for most innovative use of holiday lights, goes to artist Kelly Horrigan and Sara Weissler for their work at Karen’s Body Beautiful.

The “Snowblower” Award, for most creative interpretation of the theme of the business (in this case, using hair as snow), goes to artist Alecs Gryczon for her work at Joseph Tyler Salon.

The “Santa's Workshop“ Award, for most innovative use of outside materials to create multi-dimensional scenes, goes to Cecilia Rebecca Ziko, Matt Brennan and Melissa Rioux for their work at The Bakery (pictured above) and Kapella’s.

The “Yes We Can” Award, for creatively incorporating current events into an inspirational holiday theme, goes to Kathleen Hayek for her work at Fort Greene SNAP.

Many thanks to all of the merchants, artists, and voters who participated in this year's Holiday Windows Contest. We hope everyone enjoyed the window art as much as we did, and got in the holiday shopping mood while walking down Myrtle Avenue.

Who will win?

It's close, and votes are still coming in! Don't miss your chance to cast a vote for your favorite Holiday Window on Myrtle Avenue! Hurry...the 'polls' will close on Christmas Day.

Click here here for a list of participating Myrtle businesses, and for a sneak-photo-peek at the windows in the running.

Winners will be announced here on our website on December 26th.

The polls are open! Cast your vote and help us choose the winner of the first Myrtle Holiday Windows contest!

You can vote for your favorite Myrtle Holiday Window via text message through Christmas Day. Here's a sneak peek at the windows on our flickr site.

Instructions on how to submit your vote are posted in participating storefront windows, so take a holiday stroll down Myrtle and check out these stores:

Ray's Barber Shop (331 Myrtle)
Fort Greene SNAP (324 Myrtle)
Gnarly Vines (350 Myrtle)
burzh-wa (352 Myrtle)
The Bakery (154 Vanderbilt)
Duncan’s Fish Market (385 Myrtle)
Kapella’s (417 Myrtle)
Karen’s Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle)
Jive Turkey (441 Myrtle)
Joseph Tyler Salon (456 Myrtle)
Barking Brown (468 Myrtle)
Polish Bar Brooklyn (470 Myrtle)
Zaytoons (472 Myrtle)
Optimum Care Rehab (474 Myrtle)
Sandbox (487 Myrtle)
Pillow Cafe (505 Myrtle)
Square Root Café (584 Myrtle)

A special thanks to all the local artists who volunteered their time on this project! Happy Holidays!

We're still looking for artists for our inaugural Holiday Windows Contest! We've added a prize to sweeten the deal: the winning artist/team of artists will receive a packet of gift certificates totaling $250, valid at participating Myrtle Avenue businesses! See below for details on how to apply. Send us your holiday window ideas!
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Calling all artists, art teachers, art students, and other artistically talented folks! This is a fun and simple way for you to share your talents with the entire community during this holiday season!

We’re starting a new holiday tradition on Myrtle Avenue – the Myrtle Holiday Windows contest!

We’re looking for local artists who are willing to help us bring some holiday cheer to the avenue by using temporary paint and holiday lights to create festive storefront windows. We’ll supply up to $100 for paint, brushes and lights.

The art-making is as much part of the excitement as the final product! All the painting will take place on Saturday, 12/6 from noon to 5pm, and we’ll invite visitors and shoppers to come out and watch the storefronts come to life! People will be able to vote via text message for their favorite, and the winning designers will be featured on our website. The art will be displayed until early January 2009.

See details on how to apply below. Applications are due by Sunday, November 16th. Please share with others who might be interested!

Guidelines:

-Preference will be given to local artists.
-Artists muse use the removable paint and LED lights provided by the Partnership (all products applied to the windows must be removable and must not damage the glass in any way). Painting will take place on the INSIDE surface of the storefront window.
-The Partnership will supply lights, paint and brushes totaling no more than $100 per storefront.
-If selected, artists must commit to painting their assigned window on Saturday, December 6 between 12 and 5pm.
-Final designs must be approved by the participating merchant, and artists are strongly encouraged to communicate with merchants during final design process (we'll facilitate communication).

How to apply to become a Myrtle Holiday Windows ARTIST:

Please send the following VIA EMAIL to Meredith@myrtleavenue.org:
1. Name, address, telephone and email contact information
2. Select up to three Myrtle Avenue businesses that you would like to work with (or you can let us pair you with a Myrtle merchant if you don’t have a preference)
3. In 350 words or less, tell us about your proposed design ideas for the storefront window. All designs must be done using temporary paint and incorporate holiday lights, and should reflect a holiday theme. Sketches are not required, but feel free to send one. Be creative!
4. Photos or links to examples of your past work

Please apply ASAP! We hope to confirm all artists by Friday, November 21st.

Just a few days remain for the current Myrtle Windows Gallery exhibit, which features the artwork of local artist Anne Lafond.

If you haven't had the chance yet, take a stroll down Myrtle between Hall and Clinton and check out the exhibit this weekend. The art will come down on Wednesday, November 19th. Look for our next exhibit to take place in early February 2009!

Click here for more information: Myrtle Windows Gallery presents Anne Lafond