Lucky Gallery invites you to a book release party for Here in Red Hook, a photography book from Red Hook photographer, Andy Vernon Jones, at 360 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, on Thursday, November 17, 2011, 7 – 10pm. After a long hiatus Lucky gallery is pleased to be hosting this event in the community of which the book reflects and having this opportunity to work again with artist Vernon-Jones.

Here in Red Hook presents a body of work that Vernon-Jones has been working on for nearly five years and presents the series in its entirety for the first time. The book is composed of photos taken in the streets, alleys and abandoned lots of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook and combine a documentary approach with an art-photography sensibility. The photos express the beauty and struggle of life in Red Hook. Many of the portraits are of young people who are at the cusp of adulthood; their gazes show their toughness and their hope for the future.

Vernon-Jones manages to capture the many layers of the neighborhood that the average person does not see traversing the main street. There is a sense of nostalgia and romanticism in this work a sense of timelessness; it is hard to tell the time frame of when this work was made. He is so at ease with his subjects and the neighborhood he unobtrusively captures their spirits and weaves together a narrative, through desolate landscapes and candid portraits, of one of the most unique neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Red Hook.

The party will include food, drink, music, and book signing with the artist. There will also be limited editions of photos for sale of Vernon-Jones imagery from Here in Red Hook. For more information email laura@luckygallery.com.

This event is sponsored by, The Good Fork, Steve’s Key Lime Pies, Sixpoint Brewery, Baked, Brooklyn Ice House, Esser Vineyards, and Breuckelen Distilling.

And special! special! thanks to Scott Pfaffman for the use of 360 Van Brunt Street!

Andy Vernon-Jones, Raheem and Raquan Smoking Before School

Vernon-Jones manages to capture the many layers of the neighborhood that the average person does not see traversing the main street. There is a sense of nostalgia and romanticism in this work a sense of timelessness; it is hard to tell the time frame of when this work was made. He is so at ease with his subjects and the neighborhood he unobtrusively captures their spirits and weaves together a narrative, through desolate landscapes and candid portraits, of one of the most unique neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Red Hook.

Here in Red Hook presents a body of work that Vernon-Jones has been working on for nearly five years and presents the series in its entirety for the first time. Some of these images have been featured: on Vernon-Jones’ blog www.hereinredhook.blogspot.com, at Lucky Gallery’s “Made in Red Hook” exhibition and at the Brooklyn Museum. All the photographs in the book were shot on medium format film includes an introduction by Brian Zimbler and a hand-drawn map of Red Hook by artist Adam Thompson. Avni Bhatia and Andy Vernon-Jones designed this 96 page, limited edition book hand-numbed by Vernon-Jones.

Lucky Gallery is very excited to work with Vernon-Jones again after the closure of Lucky Gallery storefront at 176 Richards Street in July 2010. Lucky Gallery’s director, Laura Arena is reincarnating “the spirit of gallery” by hosting this event at 360 Van Brunt Street just a few blocks from the where the gallery once was located.

“Lucky Gallery does not need a storefront to exist, the spirit and practice to provide a supportive environment for emerging artists lives on,” says Laura Arena. “Having this opportunity to work again with Red Hook artist Vernon-Jones and hosting this event in the community of which this book reflects is fitting for the relaunch of Lucky Gallery as an independent entity working and collaborating with artists, galleries and artist spaces world-wide.”

The book release party for Here in Red Hook is on November 17, 2011 from 7 – 10 at 360 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The party will include food, drink, music, and book signing with the artist. There will also be limited editions of photos for sale of Vernon-Jones imagery from Here in Red Hook. For more information email laura@luckygallery.com.

This event is sponsored by, The Good Fork, Steve’s Key Lime Pies, Sixpoint Brewery, Baked, Brooklyn Ice House, Esser Vineyards, and Breuckelen Distilling.

And special! special! thanks to Scott Pfaffman for the use of 360 Van Brunt Street!

Illustration Luis Blackaller

Curated and directed by Yagil in collaboration with Amy Weng, the installation includes sculpture, video, music, painting, poetry, and photography, from thirteen artists, including Benjamin Ayers, Jeremy Holmes, Michael Kondel, Emily Gosweiler, Timothy Shipman, Andrew Rowley, A.M. Breakups, Krystal Kaler, Claire Dickinson, Patrick Lamothe, Ani Sevag, Kelsey Bozler and Kipton Hinsdale.

This is a celebration of more than a year of Lucky exhibitions and events and includes musical performances by Yagil, Mighty Alpacas, Comadante Zero in collaboration with visual artist 0h10M1ke and from Boston, the Gondoliers. In between sets enjoy the sounds of DJ Spacey Sissick who will end the evening with sweaty dance party and with ongoing performance by Boston peformance artist Heidi Jane.

Beer and wine will be provided with special drink specials over the course of the night. Come and say goodbye, buy a Lucky Gallery t-shirt, and enjoy an evening of some of the best entertainment South of Brooklyn in the tropics of Red Hook!

Illustration by Luis Blackaller (blacklog.mitplw.com)

The installation conveys the progressive nature of western technology juxtaposed with the organic world and the affect it has on today’s modern lifestyle. It questions the benefits and detriments of the Western world’s techno-scientific advancements in relation to the natural world. Presented in a lighthearted fashion, the installations borrow and relate to the pace, aesthetic and feel of contemporary Western media.

The installation includes sculpture, video, music, painting, poetry, and photography, from artists Benjamin Ayers, Jeremy Holmes, Michael Kondel, Emily Gosweiler, Timothy Shipman, Andrew Rowley, A.M. Breakups, Krystal Kaler, Claire Dickinson, Patrick Lamothe, Ani Sevag, Kelsey Bozler and Kipton Hinsdale. The installation transforms the Lucky Gallery space to create discussion within the community about the ongoing topic.

“Arc Angle” is directed and curated by Yagil, in collaboration with Amy Weng.