Performances by Bulbs and Sister Big Stuff at the opening.

Open to Public August 29th and 30th: 12:00 – 5:00 September 5th and 6th: 12:00 – 5:00 September 11th and 12th: 12:00-5:00 Or by appointment

“Room tone is a location’s “aural fingerprint” . . . Every location has a distinct presence of subtle sounds created by ambient sound sources and the reverberation of those sounds within the location . . . Room tone is recorded during the sound recording of a film production. It is used to match the production sound track so that it may be intercut with the track and provide a continuous-sounding background.”

“A convent may refer to a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or it may refer to the building used by the community” -wikipedia

An exhibition reflective of our contemporary atmosphere, Room Tones is also a return to an early and influential site of western art. The Catholic convent of St. Cecilia in Greenpoint was once a robust institution, home to a steady then slowly decreasing number of nuns until it was closed and vacated in 2008. Like many empty storefronts throughout New York City, the situation of this particular convent is a barometer of the complex social and economic changes taking place in Greenpoint and its neighboring L train enclaves. Spiritual views and orientations aside, Father Krische, pastor of St. Cecilia, has generously worked with organizer Nathan Spondike and his team making Room Tones an event that will reinvigorate this unique 97-year-old building into a testament of the new thoughts and ideas emerging from artists around it.

Room Tones is a collaborative exhibition of 25 highly diverse artistic peers within the vacant Convent of St. Cecilia. Reflections of the nuns’ former usage of the space permeate this momentary rehabitation. Inside this once highly private and exclusive residence, the artists have each been given an individual room to provide an intimate and singular view of their work. In addition, a selection of further pieces will be displayed in dialogue throughout the dining hall, parlor, basement, bathrooms, and hallways. Various video works from selected contributors will be screened along with opening night music performances by the San Francisco based “Bulbs” and Brooklyn duo “Sister Big Stuff” in the convent’s unique prayer chapel.