Screws, nails … and enamels: Why you'll find art in the aisles at H&W Hardware on 1st Avenue

Desnivel Gallery opens its latest show this afternoon: HARDWARE, a presentation of new enamels by Carmelle Safdie. 

The exhibit takes place at H&W Hardware, 220 First Ave. at 13th Street, part of Desnivel's ongoing, nomadic series of shows in everyday neighborhood spaces. (The first show in June was staged at Village Gourmet Grocery on Second Avenue and Sixth Street.) 

The opening is today (Saturday, Sept. 13) from 4-6 p.m., with the work on view through Oct. 4. 

Desnivel Gallery, founded by Maria De Victoria, moved from the basement of her home to East Village storefronts as a way to highlight the financial challenges of running an art space while also making art more accessible to the public. 

By placing art in places like a hardware store or corner market, De Victoria says the gallery aims to integrate art into daily life, much like the neighborhood's experimental art scene of the 1980s. 

Read more about HARDWARE here.

Art meets aisles at Village Gourmet Grocery

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Friday night, local artist Maria De Victoria launched her series of gallery shows at unexpected spaces in the East Village, starting with the Village Gourmet Grocery on the SE corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street.

The inaugural exhibit is "EN EL KIOSKO," a presentation of new paintings by Juan Jose Heredia (below with De Victoria).

On view through June 29, the work is displayed alongside the everyday corner market items sold at Village Gourmet Grocery.

Aside from gallery-goers, the usual Friday evening stopped by to pick up a few items. 

De Victoria shared more about her new vision for her Desnivel Gallery: 

I moved Desnivel from the basement of my home to the storefronts of the East Village — the neighborhood I’ve lived in for the past 15 years — to highlight the financial challenges of establishing and running an art space, and to make art more accessible to viewers who may not have the opportunity to engage with it otherwise. 

Desnivel aims to increase visibility and accessibility, allowing the artwork to be seen and experienced at various times of the day, in a way that is convenient for visitors and hopefully leaves a lasting impact.

East Village artist reimagines where and how we see art, starting with exhibit at corner market

Local artist Maria De Victoria is beginning a series of gallery shows at unexpected spaces in the East Village, starting with the Village Gourmet Grocery on the SE corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street tonight from 6-8.

She shares more about the project here: 

I moved Desnivel from the basement of my home to the storefronts of the East Village — the neighborhood I’ve lived in for the past 15 years — to highlight the financial challenges of establishing and running an art space, and to make art more accessible to viewers who may not have the opportunity to engage with it otherwise. 

Desnivel aims to increase visibility and accessibility, allowing the artwork to be seen and experienced at various times of the day, in a way that is convenient for visitors and hopefully leaves a lasting impact. 

The inaugural exhibit is "EN EL KIOSKO," a presentation of new paintings by Juan Jose Heredia. It will be on display through June 29. Find more information here... and if you're on Instagram.