It’s been almost two months since Hurricane Sandy hit, but the effects are still being felt. Gowanus Ballroom, an alternative art collective in neighboring Gowanus, is still struggling to rebuild after the extreme damages it suffered, and the art community it supports is coming forward to ask for help.
Local artist TJ Volonis has created art for over a year in the Ballroom’s shared space, Serett Metalworks, and recently got in touch on their behalf:
“As you all probably know by now the studio space I’ve been working from for the last 1 1/2 years was badly damaged during Hurricane Sandy. Josh [Young, founder of both Serett Metalworks and the Gowanus Ballroom] and the Gowanus Ballroom have provided me with free work space, without which I wouldn’t have been able to do all the great work I’ve done this past year plus. They’ve provided a venue and space for so many artists and make major contributions to the creative/artistic community, something which we all greatly value as residents of Brooklyn and NYC.”
The warehouse was nearly demolished by floodwater from the canal, which submerged the entire ground level in five feet water. Tools and machinery needed to be cleaned and de-rusted, and many sculptures were damaged beyond repair.
The space itself is a vast 12,000-square-foot warehouse which has housed multiple large scale events a year, allowing artists, performers, and musicians a venue for collaboration. The Ballroom gives itself up to the art community freely, working to promote local art without taking commission for any artwork sold. Now, they are relying on the help of that same community.
The group has set up a fundraising campaign through indiegogo, where they are throwing in some pretty sweet incentives, like limited edition prints, an “I Saved Gowanus Ballroom” t-shirt, a metalworking class, season passes, and – for those willing to drop a couple grand – a tattoo from Duke Riley.
There are six days left in the campaign, and the group at the moment has gathered $1,460 of the $45,000 goal. If you’d like to help save the local art space, donate here.
Photo via Gowanus Ballroom
