May 21, 2012 -
PRLog -- Debuting on April 26, 2012, "art Nonjudgmental"©
by KL-Reyes - a local NYC grassroots art venue, featured FIRST artist, Frank Jackson at venue home, Local 138 Bar/Lounge (L.E.S., NYC) --
-- Kim L. Reyes, aka, "the shy art aficionado" as sweetly termed by cuz, Ruslana J. is the Founder of her own new "made in NY" grassroots art venue, "art Nonjudgmental"©
. Says KL-Reyes, "the modest role that I "aim to play" would be somewhat of an Art Venue Coordinator/
Manager responsible for seeking out (and accepting, should the venue be contacted first) local New York City talent: struggling, up-and-coming;
undiscovered, untapped amateur artists, covering art [fORM] from the obscure, to the abstract, to the modern, to the traditional – and everything in between. “art Nonjudgmental's”©
venue will additionally focus on identifying creations from/by our local NYC special needs artists and youth talent (expanding to written & spoken word), applying the same dedication and compassion in ensuring that ALL forms of artwork are fairly represented. The venue will further actively seek out and embrace the same “genus” in our local NYC photographers!"
More on the venue's debut --
A "dive bar knockdown" is what got KL-Reyes' fire burning. Not more than 4 months ago, she approached a favorite NYC dive bar "institution,"
of hers, one that she'd thought had come to know her name (you know, like "Cheers"). She remembers going back and forth even before that, inquiring with one of the head bartenders, also the bar's art venue manager about showing some work at the establishment, which at the time came across as a more informal type of venue showing. When it was time to get the "show on the road," KL-Reyes notes how disappointed she was when the same bartender "totally knocked the air out of me with an unexpected and extremely offensive response." "Without even "seeing" the art work sent for review, this particular bartender decides that she has become the authority on ALL art and refuses to hang the work, sending across, "well, certain art should be shown in groups." KL-Reyes decided that the best way to deal with the knockdown was to forgo any conflict with the know-it-all bartender, come "Louvre" art expert, finding a more productive way to soothe a temporarily bruised ego.
That night, 4 months ago, KL-Reyes scoured the web for dive bars and lounges with art venues. It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that she hit on a place of interest, not knowing that it would have turned out to be a source of (future) success for her. She remembers emailing with a purpose, tapping the keys quickly, feverishly and with determination - getting her message across in no more than a paragraph. When she learned that the bar she contacted did not have a dedicated art venue, something clicked in her head. It could have been a moment of temporary insanity, but that twinkling of madness is what won KL-Reyes a regular venue home at Local 138 Bar & Lounge on NYC's Lower East Side. Just minutes after finding out that Local 138 did not have an art venue, crossing her fingers and sending out good vibes to the universe, KL-Reyes proposed that she start one up. Several emails were exchanged, a written proposal was developed and a month before "art Nonjudgmental's"©
debut, KL-Reyes met with one of the two people that made an unrealized dream come true, Michael Whitney - Bar Manager and "angel in disguise." Michael pitched KL-Reyes' spur of the moment art venue proposal to Local 138's owner who agreed to give the venue a chance. Entirely grateful for the unique opportunity and thanking her lucky stars (including her crossed fingers and the universe), KL-Reyes hopes that it was her mission that got her the gig, "art Nonjudgmental...where art[fORM] is in the eye of the beholder..."
Since her debut, KL-Reyes has been working with future "art Nonjudgmental"©
featured artists -- Pt. Fernicola and Topaz Torres, and two of "art Nonjudgmental's"©
newer artists, Kevin Portundo and Jennifer Brickman. She continues to work on innovative projects with Frank Jackson, hoping to get involved with the Urban Arts Partnership, art venue sponsorship through NYU (NYUs Caribbean & Latin American division; NYUs Medical School Art and Cultural Anthropology chapters) where she is currently a student, and the Samuel Owen Gallery.
In closing, KL-Reyes talks about "art Nonjudgmental's"©
debut success and reflects on what she's learned about the industry, "propositioned for "some gritty New York" art work by some of Local 138's regular success stories - Josh, Peter and Matt of Harpoon Brewery, "art Nonjudgmental©"
will soon be providing the guys with specially created art pieces to jazz up their new NYC apartments this summer!" Additionally, "art Nonjudgmental©"
is excitedly looking forward to working with Yaz Higashiya and Mme. "Lazy Mills" of Old-Soulz Entertainment, as well as Linda Street, "Chief Chick at Pink Dragon Artist Syndicate," in promoting and sharing some of NYC's (and beyond) diverse talent.
"I've (quickly) learned that in this wonderful industry of talent and those who want to promote it, that competition is what drives it - so, in the spirit of "One hand washing the other" and sticking to my grassroots mission - whatever favors are bestowed, they will readily be returned!"
Kudos to "art Nonjudgmental"©
by KL-Reyes!
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