Courtesy of Microscope Gallery.
Microscope Gallery is a new art space specializing in the works of film, video, sound, new media and other time-based artists. The artists we present are independent, radical, experimenters and risk takers who range from the emerging to recognized pioneers and innovators. Microscope also offers a weekly screening, performance, readings and lecture series complementing the exhibitions as well as programs that showcase other artists.
Conceived in the heat wave of 2010, Microscope is the realization of a recurrent dream, dissolving the barriers between the white walls of the gallery and the darkened setting of the cinema/concert hall/theater space. In our first year, we held 9 exhibitions, presented over 70 screenings, music, and other performances. In addition we curated off-site events including the 2-day, 10 program BOS Film Festival, held as part of Bushwick Open Studios 2011 and Bushwick in the Box, video installations and performance exhibition featuring 6 emerging Bushwick artist at White Box (NYC).
The gallery, exhibitions, and events have been featured in ArtForum, Time Out NY, Village Voice, Wall Street Journal, BOMBLOG, Artnet, New York Magazine, Buswick Daily, Oakazine, Bushwick BK, Hyperallergic, Flavorpill, Break Thru Radio, BadLit, Screen Slate, CineSoiree, WG News & Arts, and others.
Sarah Halpern: How do the frequent screenings and performances in the gallery compliment the exhibited work and vice-versa?
Microscope Gallery: This is the core of what we do at Microscope so it should be a simple question, but it’s a little difficult to explain succinctly. We see the 2 programs as part of a
whole. We started Microscope to present the works of artists working with moving image (film, video, new media), sound and performance. To us this implied having both regular screenings and sound and other performances as well as exhibitions. While there often is a separation between the black box of the cinema/theater/music venue and the white box of the galleries, it’s usually an artificial one in that many of the works can be shown in either environment with different modalities. Also, many of the artists make installation works or work in other mediums. Theexhibits allow us to show the entirety of their artistic practice, for example we also showed photography and sound installation by Peggy Ahwesh, drawings by James Fotopoulos, light boxes by Joel Schelmowitz in addition to their moving image work.
SH: What is the function of Microscope Gallery within the avant-garde film/video community in NYC?
MG: Function? If we have one, perhaps it’s giving new and emerging artists a place to show their body of work, which is actually quite rare. We are constantly open to submissions to add to our programming. We also work to gain a wider audience for more established artists, to bring people in who have never heard of Anthology Film Archives and again to break down this separation between the so called film world and the art world. The distinction doesn’t make much sense to us.
For more about Microscope Gallery: microscopegallery.com
