Through Sharing our experiences we can create a space for conversation and engagement around this topic.

IThou & Rush Arts Presents: THE EXCHANGE

https://www.ithouart.com/exchange

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:

Liam Alexander, Kimberly Becoat, Jerome China, Kate Fauvell, Kris Graves, Nae Howard, Ann Lewis, Jaime Permuth, Anthony Rosado, Duhirwe Rushemeza, Vaughn Spann, Allie Wilkinson

THE CATALYST:

In New York City, as in many rapidly growing urban centers, our communities are divided. There is a lot of talk about, and reactions to “Gentrification”. This often shows up as conversations of blame, hatred, shame, directed anger, and entitlement. If no action is taken these in-group conversations will continue, and create a future of separation, reinforced resignation, and lack of accountability.

This project is designed to interrupt that, and transform the conversation we have around gentrification into one of community and inclusion.

THE EXCHANGE:

For the past seven months we have been creating conversations or “Exchanges” in Brooklyn neighborhoods; Crown Heights, Bushwick, and Clinton Hill. We brought together community members from seemingly opposed sides of the issue who, in many cases, had never spoken with each other before; generational residents, new residents, activists, real estate professionals, business owners, and everyone in between. The conversations themselves created an expanded idea of community, and at these open forums our communities came together and explored our relationship to gentrification and its impact on you, them, and us.

All of the artists in the exhibition have participated in at least one Exchange, and they have created new work inspired by their own experiences of gentrification and their experiences in the Exchange. Each artist thus brings their own radically different perspective to the collective voice of this exhibition. In addition to working in a variety of mediums, these 12 artists have very different backgrounds and vary in age, race, gender & sexual orientation, socioeconomic background and neighborhood. Through sharing our individual experiences collectively, we can create a space for conversation and engagement around this topic.

PROGRAMMING:

The Exhibition is accompanied by three days of programming designed to educate, inspire, engage, and most importantly unite people. Based on the conversations had over the last few months, the EXCHANGE event series brings together our city’s bright minds to give talks that are solution-focused in order to foster learning, inspiration and action.