New York, NY — Six socially conscious artists are invited to
engage vendors, customers and the Market itself in their artistic
processes as a means of co-generating experiences centered on
the life that unfolds outside Cuchifritos Gallery, the art space of
the Artist Alliance Inc. The participating artists and their
collaborators bring to the forefront issues relevant to their
respective trades and roles, while paying attention to the
narratives as well as to the material culture that their presence in
the place spawns as a result of their encounters.
Each of the foods listed in the title of this exhibition links an item sold by the merchants with the first letter of the
name of the contributing artists and of the curator: Lettuce-Laia, Artichokes-Antonia, Red Beets-Ricardo, Mangoes-
Mary, Broccoli-Beatrice, Honey-Harley, and Nutmeg-Nicolás.
Bring your unwanted plastic bags to the gallery and exchange them for a tote bag to shop at the Market. Offer valid while supplies last.
Installation View. Lettuce, Artichokes, Red Beets, Mangoes, Broccoli, Honey and Nutmeg: The Essex Street Market as Collaborator, 26 February- 27 March, 2016. Cuchifritos Gallery, New York. Photo: Bill Massey
Ricardo Miranda Zúñiga, Recetas y Gangas: The Essex Street Market Recordings, 2016, audio montage, speaker, MP3 player, 10 minutes 46 Seconds. Photo: Bill Massey
Mary Ting and the LES Girls Club, Refuse Redo, 2016, cardboard sizes vary, bread photo. Photo: Bill Massey
Beatrice Glow, Time Capsule for Essex Street Market, 2016, decal on found glass objects, olfactory memories translated into words, scents, paper, 24” x 7” x 6”. Photo: Bill Massey
Harley Spiller, Torn Off: The Printed Matter of Essex Street Market, 2016, paper, ink, words, photographs, various dimensions. Photo: Bill Massey
Antonia Pérez, Heart in Hand, 2016, A multipart site-based action. Props include used plastic bags; Market Bag (2014), crocheted plastic bags, 40” x 44″ x 12″; crochet hook; scissors. Photo: Bill Massey
Video Still. Laia Solé and Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful, e-, video, 2016. Video: Laia Solé / Jorge Ochoa. Edition: Laia Solé. Duration: 8′ 15”.
We would like to give special thanks to the following students from the Lower East Side Girls Club/La Tiendita for their collaboration with Mary Ting on her work Refuse Redo:Brianna Chapin, Casey Cornelio, Chrysten Cornelio, MariaTeresa Franco, Mirette Franklin, Ayana Gainey, Sienna Garcia, Jaylah Gonzalez, Tierra McNeil, Kailey Molina, Shanice Negron, Kaylee Ossorio, Shamya Peirce, Narielys Perdomo, Breanna Resto, Madison Rodriguez, Olivia Rodriguez, Krystal Ryan, Angeline Qiu, Tahjaney Santiago, Mya Singleton, Sophia Sky, Alonna Storey, Noemy Valverde, Dreanna Franco, Vanessa Furcal, Kenyatta Johnson, Daphney Mgwaba, Arissa Mitchell, Naraly Perdomo and Michelle Perez.
We also thank the vendors of Essex Street Market for their participation in and support for this exhibition: Pain D’Avignon, Davidovich Bakery, Rainbo’s Fish, Tralala Juice Bar, Luis Meat Market, New Star Fish Market, Boubouki, Ni Japanese Delicacies, Nordic Preserves, Fish & Wildlife, Peasant Stock, Viva Fruits & Vegetables, Luna Brothers Fruit, RoniSue’s Chocolates, Saxelby Cheesemongers, Fromaggio Essex, Porto Rico Importing Company, La Tiendita, Osaka Grub.
Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space is a program of Artists Alliance Inc., a 501c3 not for profit organization located on the Lower East Side of New York City within the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center. Cuchifritos is supported in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. This program is made possible by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. We thank the following for their generous support: Foundation for Contemporary Arts, New York City Economic Development Corporation and individual supporters of Artists Alliance Inc. Special thanks go to our team of dedicated volunteers, without whom this program would not be possible. For more information, visit artistsallianceinc.org