The Queens Edition

I am happy to announce that the Queens edition of Moving Forward, Standing Still will be showing at The Homefront Gallery in Long Island City, Queens in less than two weeks! I've been hard at work shooting and then going into my art cave for the past year making this work. So I invite you to come out to the show and let me share my view of Queens with you.


The Pyramids, Fort Tilden, Rockaway Peninsula, Queens, NY © Rona Chang

Rona Chang: Moving Forward, Standing Still – Queens Edition
September 17 – October 29, 2011

Opening Reception:
Saturday September 17, 4 – 6pm

The Homefront Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by Rona Chang. Moving Forward, Standing Still – Queens Edition will open to the public on Saturday September 17, 4-6pm and will be on view through October 29.

Moving Forward, Standing Still is an ongoing project that is engaged in portraying the complex intersection of people and cultures in a landscape. This exhibition will feature photographs taken within the last year for the Queens edition of Moving Forward, Standing Still. In the Queens edition the artist focused her lens on the neighborhoods of Astoria, Corona, Elmhurst, Flushing, Jackson Heights and the Rockaways. These neighborhoods are some of the most culturally diverse in the world and it is the intersection of cultures that she documents.

Each photograph depicts figures in a landscape, emphasizing the arrangement of formal elements and the familiar yet perplexing moments within everyday life. These encounters reveal the moment when a set of characters, a network of relationships, and an architecture of connections seem suspended in space.

The Queens edition of Moving Forward, Standing Still continues the artist’s interest in recording “the cumulative effect of people on their environment”. Although Chang has produced images for the series in many parts of the world, this project goes full circle and brings together her experience of “seeing the world, re-examining [her] immediate home environment and then seeing the world within the neighborhoods of Queens.”

Photographer Rona Chang is a recipient of En Foco's New Works #14 Fellowship. In 2011, she was awarded a grant by Queens Council on the Arts with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for her series Moving Forward, Standing Still. Ms. Chang is a finalist for the 2011 Rome Prize. In 2007 she was an associate artist at the Atlantic Center of the Arts residency under the guidance of Thomas Struth. Her work has been showcased online and has exhibited both nationally and internationally. After receiving her BFA from The Cooper Union School of Art she worked as a photographer for the Asian Art Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for nine years, where she photographed all of the Japanese woodblock prints, Indian paintings, and Chinese handscrolls in the collection. Her work can be seen on ronachang.com.

The Queens edition is made possible in part by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New Works #14 Fellowship from En Foco.

The Homefront Gallery
26-23 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101
347 827 0553 homefrontgallery@gmail.com thehomefrontgallery.com

Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Saturday, 12 to 6pm and by appointment

Breathing In

Here's the press release for one of two of my upcoming shows this month. If you did not receive it by email and want to be on my mailing list, please let me know. If you don't want to be on my mailing list, please let me know. I'll try not to hold any grudges. Hope you can make it!



Rona Chang: Breathing In

April 23 – June 18, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday April 23, 4 – 6pm

Reading with the poet Ann B. Knox: Saturday May 21, 2 – 3pm
RSVP to homefrontrgallery@gmail.com

The Homefront Gallery is pleased to present Breathing In by Rona Chang, a collection of photographs taken over the last ten years. This exhibition celebrates the publication of the book Breathing In, a collaboration with the poet Ann B. Knox. It highlights the images and words that emerged from “like ways of seeing” the world’s “patterns, strangeness and delights.”

A flick at the eye’s edge
and it’s gone.
It was probably nothing,
but no, it was
something…

-Taking Shape p.22

Photographer Rona Chang is a recipient of En Foco's New Works #14 Fellowship. In 2011, she was awarded a grant by Queens Council on the Arts with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for her series Moving Forward, Standing Still. Ms. Chang is a finalist for the 2011 Rome Prize. In 2007 she was an associate artist at the Atlantic Center of the Arts residency under the guidance of Thomas Struth. Her work has been showcased online and has exhibited both nationally and internationally. After receiving her BFA from The Cooper Union School of Art she worked as a photographer for the Asian Art Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for nine years, where she photographed all of the Japanese woodblock prints, Indian paintings, and Chinese handscrolls in the collection. Her work can be seen on ronachang.com.

Ann B. Knox is author of two books of poetry, Staying Is Nowhere, SCOP-Writer's Center Prize and Stonecrop, Washington Writers' Publishing House Prize. and two recent chapbooks, Reading the Tao at Eighty (Finishing Line Press), and The Dark Edge, (Pudding House Press). Individual poems have appeared in many literary journals such as Alaska Quarterly, Nimrod, Poetry, The Green Mountains Review. A collection of short fiction, Late Summer Break (Papier Mache Press), was selected by Barnes & Noble as one of their Discovery Books. She received an MFA from Goddard/Warren Wilson and for eighteen years edited the literary journal, Antietam Review.


The Homefront Gallery
26-23 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101
347 827 0553 homefrontgallery@gmail.com thehomefrontgallery.com

Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Saturday, 12 to 6pm and by appointment

Blender @ The Homefront

Hidemi's show, Blender, opens at The Homefront Gallery this Saturday. Hope to see you there.

Blender in Chelsea

I finally got to see Hidemi show at Hudson Guild on Friday night. She keeps making her work more colorful, accessible, and fun. She'll also be part of the Holiday Exchange at The Homefront. Congrats Hidemi!

Holiday Exchange

I've been gearing up for Christmas since September, mainly due to the fact that I've been organizing and making items for the Holiday Exchange that opens at The Homefront Gallery next Saturday. In addition to all the great artists Crystal and I pulled together for the show, I'll be showing some new prints from my Breathing In series, including the one below that I shot in Sweden over the Summer. I'll also be selling a selection of my soap that I make in very small batches. The flavors will be bamboo charcoal soap infused with tea tree oil, peppermint and rosemary and an herbal floral soap with grapefruit and Valencia orange oil extract. These are gentle soaps that are vegetable oil based. They are actually quite labor intensive to produce (I've spent many weekends devoted to these soaps) and will be sold at a super reasonable price. There will also be a small batch of cyanotype gift tags, perfect for those that enjoy topping their presents with something unique. All of the important info below.

The Homefront Gallery

26-23 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 www.thehomefrontgallery.com


Sailboat and Lace Rona Chang

Holiday Exchange
December 11, 2010 – January 29, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday December 11, 2-6pm

Join us on December 11 for the opening of “Holiday Exchange” at The Homefront Gallery. “Holiday Exchange” is a group show featuring affordable art and design objects in the spirit of collecting and gift giving. In addition to drawings, photographs, paintings, sculptures, watercolors and video, we will have furoshiki, wood block prints, soap, jewelry, lamps, origami ornaments, magnets and zines for sale. All of these unique items are priced within the range of $2 -$300. Come and shop for your holiday gifts at The Homefront Gallery!

Artists:
Jae Hi Ahn, Lisa Candage, Rona Chang, Elaine Chow, Amy Finkbeiner, Jeanine Hart, Geoffrey Hutchinson, Pixy Liao, Noah Lyon, Ross Minzenberg, Sarah Morgan, Laura Napier, Kim Parr, Maria Passaroti, Mike Perry, Patricia Silva, Hidemi Takagi-Bastien, Jane Tam, Jacqueline Taeschler, Jennifer Viola, Jenna Wainwright, Jennifer Williams

The Homefront Gallery’s hours are Saturday and Sunday 12-6pm and by appointment. For all inquiries contact Crystal Kui at homefrontgallery@gmail.com

Jenn Viola's Tabletops

Jenn Viola's Tabletops is on view until Dec. 4th at The Homefront Gallery. It's a fun show. I hope some of you can make it there.

Jenn Viola Opening Today!

I've been quite involved with The Homefront Gallery and hope that you can join us for the opening of Jenn Viola's show later today.

The Homefront Gallery
26-23 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 www.thehomefrontgallery.com



Jennifer Viola: Tabletops
October 9 – December 4, 2010
Opening Reception:
Saturday October 9, 4:00 – 6:00 pm

The Homefront Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of drawings by Jennifer Viola. On view will be her series, “Tabletop,” one made for each day of the week. Viola’s drawings depict an arrangement of everyday objects that are at once absurd, whimsical and witty. In this series, the artist turns the lower half of her body into a piece of furniture on which various items are arranged. Her imagery blurs the line between the animate and inanimate.

The artist has formulated a set of rules for drawing that guide her decisions about composition and subject matter. These rules range from the concrete, #1: Chosen drawing implement must efficiently represent the character of the object being drawn, to the subjective, #11: When employing product placement, only show the best, most favorite products of their type.

Jennifer Viola grew up in Upstate New York. She received a B.F.A. from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and and M.F.A. from The School of Visual Arts. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn.

The Homefront Gallery aims to bring together art and design objects that address the concept of the “homefront”. There is a focus on the home as a place where we design our daily lives. The Homefront Gallery is a space for artists who, in one way or another, find themselves living and working on the “homefront.” Come visit us and find something to take away with you—a work of art, an experience, an encounter with an artist, a book or gift. For all inquiries contact Crystal Kui at homefrontgallery@gmail.com.

Saturdays and Sundays

Most Saturdays and Sundays this Fall, you will be able to find me at The Homefront Gallery. Last Saturday, we had a great start to the Conversation series with Jen Williams. Please come visit!

Mapping out LIC

If you are planning a trip to LIC, here's a handy map (click to view larger) of the places you can visit nearby, including The Homefront Gallery.

Charlie's Raw Cacao

My dear friend Michelle and her husband Charlie make the most wonderful little indulgences and they are now available on the new Charlie's Raw Cacao site. They are super addictive and I have to pace myself so I don't pop them in all at once.

The Homefront is hoping to carry these soon so those of you in NYC can have immediate gratification. I'll keep you updated.

Flo and Stalled @ the Homefront today

Flo ©Jennifer Williams

The Homefront Gallery opens today and there are already two write ups about the show on the LICNYC blog and the New Yorker blog. See you at the opening today (12-6pm)!

The Homefront Gallery- first opening this Sat!

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 7, 12pm – 6pm

The Homefront Gallery
26-23 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6
And by appointment

www.thehomefrontgallery.com

Crystal & Jen have worked hard to make this a stunner of a first show at the Homefront Gallery. We hope you can make it. I'll be there for the whole reception.

Touring Recap

Crystal (of Homefront fame) and I made our way through 3.5 boroughs* on Saturday checking out awesome art, fueled by the great personalities we met along the way.

Going on a studio visit is almost like a peek into someone's innermost thoughts or at least a private part of their world. We got a a proper show and tell from Jenn Viola whose work we're totally psyched about. I'm not going to post any of her work or any one else's that we saw for copyright reasons plus we're still trying to figure some things out but I thought I'd show some glimpses of Saturday.




Outside of Jenn Viola's Studio


The Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn


Some musical entertainment at the Fair


Ferrying across to G.I. for more art and sun










Governor's Island

Looking at art is great fun. Thank you to everyone we met and spoke with- we'll be in touch soon.

(*not sure how to count Governor's Island. It's a world unto its own.)

Studio Touring

The Water Towers on top of the Kensington Studios © Rona Chang

This weekend, Crystal and I are running around doing a bunch of studio tours and portfolio reviews for The Homefront in search of potential artists for the upcoming year. If you are interested in submitting, please read the guidelines.

We're slated to meet up with Jenn Viola (whose studio roof is pictured above), Hidemi Takagi, Jen Williams, and Jane Tam. It's going to be a fun art-loving weekend.

Here's a preview of what we saw at James Corporan's studio last weekend.

The Homefront Prepped

Here's a view of The Homefront gallery being prepped. It will be gloriously white & gorgeous soon.

The Homefront

Here's a call for entry from The Homefront, a new gallery project from my friend Crystal:

The Homefront is a new art gallery and store opening in Long Island
City, Queens NY this summer. Our hours will be Saturdays and Sundays
from 12-6. We are pleased to announce an open call for artists.

Send your projects and proposals to homefrontgallery@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Long-Island-City-NY/The-Homefront/118097231554418
http://thehomefrontgallery.blogspot.com/

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Call for Artists:

In what ways do artists today find themselves working on “the
homefront”? “The homefront” refers to the routines and risks of daily
life, everything from the political to the domestic. The project of
The Homefront is to open spaces for encounters with art and dialogues
with artists in ways that move beyond the display and exhibition of
art.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
-Artist statement
-CV and artist’s homepage including name, email and phone
-3-5 jpgs (Adobe RGB, 8 bit, 72 dpi) including title, dimensions, media
-Links to your films/videos online (best quality)

There is no deadline. A committee will review projects every 3-4 months.

We are currently accepting email applications only.
Send your application to homefrontgallery@gmail.com


Community for Artists:

In addition, The Homefront will host a series of programs aimed at
creating a bridge between art and its public. Music concerts, book
clubs, tea salons, film and cooking labs are a few examples. We are
open to your ideas and proposals.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
-Project proposal
-Artist statement
-CV including name, email and phone

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For all inquiries please contact:
Crystal Kui
homefrontgallery@gmail.com

The Homefront
26-23 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City
Queens, NY 11101