Guerrillas in the Midst:
The Art of Undoing Spells

Anthony Akinbola - Mary Chang - Francks Francois Deceus - Amber Robles-Gordon - Jamal Ince - Jean Patrick Icart-Pierre - Navin Norling - Sol Sax

organized by Jamal Ince

on view: september 9 - october 8, 2018
Opening reception: Saturday, September 9, 5–8pm 

In the 1990s, the concrete wilderness of Brooklyn was brimming with social, cultural and artistic energy. An unprecedented concentration of filmmakers, poets, singers, dancers, and visual artists were developing new forms of expression. In the midst of this artistic renaissance, many Brooklyn artists found that despite their vigorous artistic expression and output, they were denied representation in established art outlets.

In response to seeing the training and talents of their fellow artists being ignored by established galleries, a small group of artists gathered a group of artists under the moniker Guerrillas in the Midst. With anoriginalmission ofaddressing the marginalization of Caribbean artists, the group drew up a manifesto and organized a series of “strikes” in the form of art exhibitions in unconventional spaces.

In 1998, they mounted the first Guerrillas in the Midst exhibitionto critical acclaim. Emboldened by the power of community and bonded by the pursuit of equal access and representation in artistic spaces, the Guerrillas in the Midst collective continues to expand it membership with the goal of dismantling the elitist constructs of the art establishment and nurturing the work of underrepresented artists.

Guerrillas in the Midst is a Brooklyn-based, grassroots artists collective comprised of individuals whose artwork reflects, transforms, and deconstructs the social, cultural and economic realities faced by African diasporic communities. Through art exhibitions, community outreach and art education, Guerrillas in the Midst endeavors to preserve the cultural heritage of artistic expression in Brooklyn and beyondwhile providing a space for marginalized and underrepresented artists in the art world. By engaging with members of diverse communities, convening artists shunned by conventional institutions, and occupying makeshift spaces, Guerrillas in the Midst makes room for artistic “outsiders” to be seen.

DIRECTIONS:

Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

FiveMyles is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Greenwich Collection, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, and Humanities NY.