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jmonger

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Bio

Janice Monger is the Manager of Administration & Visitor Services at BHS. She also is project manager of the Public Perspectives Exhibition Series.

Artist and Artifact exhibit – artists interpret Brooklyn’s history

Written by Janice on November 18th, 2010

BHS is really excited about our new exhibit, Artist & Artifact: Re|Visioning Brooklyn’s Past, presented in partnership with our neighbor BRIC Rotunda Gallery, the contemporary art space of BRIC Arts|Media|Bklyn.

Artist & Artifact installation at BRIC Rotunda Gallery

Artist & Artifact installation at BRIC Rotunda Gallery with entry wall featuring comic book drawings by Andres Vera Martinez.

Over the past two years, 10 artists (7 visual artists, 2 writers, and a musician) were invited to delve into the BHS collections and create new works inspired by what they found. The new pieces are currently on view alongside objects from the BHS collection, creating a dynamic between past and present.

It has been fascinating to discover the range of themes and objects that the artists chose to focus in on. Many of the artists have looked at gaps in historical representation or looked at why certain people are memorialized and in what way.  Others were intrigued by the relevance of past events to issues we deal with today.  And some address how history lasts or disappears with the passing of time.  The resulting works include a comic book, photocards that can be arranged by viewers, paintings, photographs, sculpture, a letterpress book, an installation piece and performance video.

We hope you’ll visit the exhibit to explore these contemporary interpretations of history as well as the objects from our collections that are highlighted.

Read the Brooklyn Daily Eagle exhibition review here.

Meredith Bergmann transports her sculpture Historia Testis Temporum: Pinky, now on display in the lobby of BHS, as a contemporary answer to the portrait busts that adorn the facade of the building.

Meredith Bergmann transports her sculpture Historia Testis Temporum: Pinky, now on display in the lobby of BHS, as a contemporary answer to the portrait busts that adorn the facade of the building.

This exhibit is on view for the next few weeks only, until December 17.  Please note that BHS is open on Tuesdays during the run of the show.  Exhibit hours are: Tues – Sun, 12 – 5 (BHS); Tues – Sat, 12 – 6 (BRIC Rotunda Gallery, 33 Clinton St).

There are also opportunities to hear from the authors and artists about their work and the process of working on this project:

Author Readings with Michael Schwartz & Elizabeth Gaffney - Saturday, Nov 20, 2 – 4 p.m.

Artist Panel and Gallery Talk with Nora Herting, Andres Vera Martinez, Meredith Bergmann & Stanley Greenberg – Tuesday, Nov 30, 6 – 8 p.m.

Artist & Artifact installation at BHS with text and listening station for Elizabeth Gaffney's writing and display case of relevant objects from the BHS collection.

Artist & Artifact installation at BHS with text and listening station for Elizabeth Gaffney's writing and display case of relevant objects from the BHS collection.

Listen to Elizabeth Gaffney read excerpts from her forthcoming novel The End of the Age of Wonder (Random House, 2011):

Wally, August 1945

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Antland, June 1945

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The Victory Garden, 1945

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Listen to Michael Schwartz read his short story Hey Gerry!:

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Let us know what you think!

Posted in Brooklyn Past & Present, Exhibitions, Library & Archives | No Responses »
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Dr. Bob (In Memory of Bob Vadheim)

Written by Janice on August 13th, 2010
Napkins hand-printed in letterpress by Bob Vadheim for BHS

Napkins hand-printed in letterpress by Bob Vadheim for BHS

I also felt compelled to write upon the news of
Dr. Bob Vadheim’s passing.

Dr. Bob was a fascinating, witty and generous man. I enjoyed visits with him at his magnificent home on Willow St.

Dr. Bob was very proud – and BHS is very grateful – that he provided funding to install the clock mechanism on our clock tower so that it would be a properly working timepiece. He also printed letterpress napkins with a Brooklyn design on them – each by hand – which he donated to BHS so that we could sell them and benefit from the proceeds. These were delightful and personal contributions that Dr. Vadheim made to this organization.

I know that he was also proud of restoring a stained glass window at our neighboring St. Ann’s Church and the organ at the Brooklyn Paramount.

Dr. Bob always had a glint in his eye. He will be missed. His generosity in the Brooklyn community remains.

Posted in Brooklyn Past & Present | No Responses »

Got cycling photos?

Written by Janice on November 11th, 2009

courtesy Eric Corriel

courtesy Eric Corriel

 

One of the artworks from the current group exhibit at BHS, Brooklyn Utopias, moves beyond the museum walls. Eric Corriel’s “A History of Cycling in Brooklyn,” an interactive public art installation explores the history of bicycle culture in Brooklyn from 1880 to today, through images and video projected in the windows of the Brooklyn Historical Society. It can be seen from Clinton (between Pierrepont and Montague Streets) in Brooklyn Heights, sundown to sunrise, according to this calendar. The artwork is interactive in the sense that anyone with Brooklyn-based cycling media is invited to submit content for possible inclusion in the piece itself. Read more about the piece here, and submit your photos and videos of cycling in Brooklyn!

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Brooklyn Utopias? – ‘Utopian’ Urban Planning – what does it mean?

Written by Janice on October 26th, 2009
JacobMann-playground-near-brooklyn-bridge

JacobMann-playground-near-brooklyn-bridge

Yesterday (Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009) BHS hosted a lively panel discussion about ‘Utopian’ Urban Planning, in conjunction with BHS’ current Public Perspectives exhibit, Brooklyn Utopias?. Organized by curator Katherine Gressel and moderated by urban historian and licensed architect Marta Gutman, PhD, the panel addressed what the role of artists is in urban planning and how artists and community leaders might work together. We heard from Amy Sananman, Executive Director/Founder, Groundswell Community Mural Project, Shin-pei Tsay, Deputy Director of Transportation Alternatives, Derek Denckla, Founder, Propeller Group and Alexander Gorlin, FAIA, Principal/Founder of Alexander Gorlin Architects about art, advocacy, and design projects that involve and engage communities in Brooklyn to evoke change. Many of the comments from the audience and artists focused on how imperative it is that communities be the central voice in any such endeavors.  Some of the most fascinating questions that arose relate to what bettering Brooklyn means. What is involved with ‘improving’ Brooklyn? Is a utopian Brooklyn something other than what already is? Is it something nostalgic?

What do you regard as utopian Brooklyn? What does moving forward mean? What are the forces involved with that change?

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Brooklyn Summer H.E.A.T. Reflections

Written by Janice on August 25th, 2009

Today’s post is written by Evan Threadgill, who worked at BHS this summer through the Borough President’s Office program, Brooklyn Summer H.E.A.T. Evan is entering his junior year at East NY High School of Transit Technology.  BHS is proud to participate in this program and gives tremendous thanks to Evan for all his hard work!

brooklyn summer heat Today is my last day working at BHS, and the time that I have been here has been great.  Everyday since the first day I started has given me more and more experience in the museum and the office environment.  I was able to see how a museum operates behind the scenes in the office area.  It’s not all easy I guarantee you that, but it was still a great experience and a pleasure to have been working here.  Working along with Janice, Andrea and everyone else here at BHS has been wonderful.  I’ve been in an office environment before when I was much younger at my mothers’ job, but I have never been opened up to it as I was here, and I am glad to have gotten this job.  Hopefully next summer I will be able to get a job close to this one that I have had the privilege of working at. 

 

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