Curatorial Statement
Are We Having Fun Yet? explores fun, a uniquely American pathology, from the unapologetically joyful surface to the dark, deadpan underbelly. Smiles take on frightening proportions, nuns enjoy cigarette breaks, and artists get hit in the head by flying objects. Straightforward and sublime, subversive and perverse, Are We Having Fun Yet? invites you to have the last laugh.
Project Diversity is a multi-venue exhibition of 200 Brooklyn artists to be held at 16 galleries in 10 Brooklyn neighborhoods in Spring 2005. The exhibition is meant to help unite audiences and artists across lines of race, gender, age and place. To feature works across all visual media as well as educational forums and family activities, the event will also celebrate Brooklyn's tremendous diversity, cultural vision and cutting-edge style. The majority of exhibitions will take place April 29-May 28, although some will open in md-March and early April. Free public shuttle bus service will provide easy access to all participating galleries on select weekends. Project Diversity was conceived by Rush Philanthropic cofounder/executive VP Danny Simmons, an accomplished artist and Brooklyn gallery owner, and creator of the award-winning Def Poetry Jam. The exhibition was developed with a coalition of the borough's key cultural leaders. Project Diversity is presented by Bloomberg LP. Generous support is provided by Target, Washington Mutual, Independence Community Foundation, Con Edison, Deutsche Bank, and Danny Simmons. For info, please visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.
Acknowledgements
The Rotunda Gallery is grateful for the generous support of our exhibition and education programs from Astoria Federal, the Sally and Milton Avery Foundation, Bloomberg L.P., Con Edison, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Forest City Ratner Companies, the William Randolph Hearst Foundations, the Independence Community Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the New York Community Trust, JP Morgan Chase, the Pepsi Cola/Hip-Hop Summit Partnership, the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, Verizon, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, as well as numerous individuals.
Programs are made possible in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with support from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts.
The Rotunda Gallery is a program of BRIC/Brooklyn Information & Culture
SPECIAL EVENT
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Join us for an evening of readings and performance featuring writer and performer Mike Albo (The Underminer), author Ben Greenman (Superworse), Coney Island sideshow star Heather Holiday, artist Marie Roberts and musician Everton Sylvester. Each performer will explore the themes of our Are We Having Fun Yet? exhibition.
Admission is free, but space is limited.
For reservations, please call 718.875.4047 x11.
March 17, 2005 TO May 7, 2005
Admission is FREE
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION: Thursday, March 17 - 6pm-8pm