Ode to Black Rock!
Ode to Black Rock
In late 2008 When I was readying to open the Galley at Black Rock. I had no idea how the community would receive it, for that matter I had very few friends or acquaintances in the gallery’s home of Black Rock. The very first opening we had I met some of the best people our City had to offer and who unbeknown to me, would become some of my dearest friends.
Black Rock is arguably the most economically diverse part of Bridgeport. The harmonious mix of differing socio-economic backgrounds living and working in the area makes for an exotic stew studded with characters. I could not have asked for a better community to become part of.
Being in Black Rock has allowed the gallery to grow and find it’s footing. The community has been forgiving of missteps and has celebrated with us in the successes. I think we have become part of the fabric that makes Black Rock such a unique and special place.
Never has a day gone by in where we did not get a visit from some of the regular Fairfield Avenue people, some interested in art, some interested in politics, and some just looking to shoot the breeze and come in from the cold/heat.
One thing I have always been looking toward is ways to grow and to improve the ability of the gallery to bring a wide array of art to our city and the little Black Rock space would often limit that due to size and other constraints. The gallery worked at growing into larger spaces by showing in converted warehouse spaces and alternative venues which helped cement the resolve to create a space with more possibilities for what we could do with art.
Recently an opportunity came up to move the gallery to a space that will give us a way to amplify the work we are doing. The space will be four times the size of the space we have now. It will allow for a much wider array of arts to be shown including more large works, Sculpture, mixed media and new arts. It will allow us to add more to the cultural life here in Bridgeport than ever before. In short a dream come true.
The move is made bittersweet by the fact that we will be leaving Black Rock and Moving to Knowlton Street in Bridgeport’s East Side. The East Side, having a good portion of the bones of our manufacturing industry warehouse spaces is the natural place for finding large and affordable space for arts venues. The building we are going to be housed in is undergoing a stunning renovation that will help pioneer a major neighborhood revitalization process that I could not be happier to be a part of.
I expect to continue to be very active in the Black Rock Arts scene. As part of the NRZ Arts Committee, we are planning an Art fair this spring at the Captains Cove and will actively seek out ways to continue our very positive link with the Black Rock community.
THANKS Black Rock for allowing the gallery in, and I hope that you will all be part of the new space and continue to let the gallery be part of the fabulous, funky, and friendly community that is Black Rock!
Friends and gallery goers, one and the same.
The galleries TRUE saint Paul Arroyo, myself and Peter Konsterlie at his solo opening.
