The Longest Night – A multimedia art exhibition of darkness and light

Gowanus Ballroom invites you to The Longest Night, a group exhibition that is all about paying a bit of Brooklyn-style homage to the winter solstice. Drawing inspiration from the longest night of the year, the show explores darkness and light through artworks that mesmerize and sometimes deceive the eye.

Sounds a little bit like the art world gone pagan, right? Because it is, as artists contemporize ancient ritual and totemic celebration through modern artistic expression. Featured objects all but defy their materiality and toy with the peculiarities and sensualities that come with the absence of light. Labyrinthine interactive pieces play on ideas of negative and positive space. They alter the atmosphere and leave a potent experiential mark on viewers. Artworks range across media, from painting, drawing, and sculpture to photography, installation, and 3D light mapping projections and performances.

Gowanus Ballroom is a vast alternative art space that gives the impression of a gritty cathedral, with 50-ft ceilings and more than 16,000 square feet of gallery space. The Longest Night floods this urban temple with darkness and light, bringing together righteous art with sensational acrobatic performances, incredible sculptural installations, live bands, and interactive works that will see us through the long, dark nights.

Doors open for the opening reception of The Longest Night at 6pm on Friday, December 9, 2011. Performances start at 8pm each night thereafter.

Artists include Jordan Eagles, Leandro Flaherty, Shani Frymer, Robin Hill, Jeremy Holmes, Serban Ionescu, Integrated Visions, Margaret Krug, Kate Raudenbush, Cecelia Rembert, Matthew William Robinson, Charlotte Schulz, R. Justin Stewart, Melanie Vote, Dustin Yellin, and Joshua Young.

Opening Reception Friday, December 9, 2011 Doors open at 6pm $10 suggested donation after 8pm

Performances & Bands: Morgan O’Kane–bluegrass king Aerialist Seanna Sharpe–notorious Williamsburg Bridge high-flyer Flambeaux Fire–fire troupe extraordinaire Kelvin Daly–musical performance ritual with aerialists Liron Dan & Bree Buryk Sullied Accolades–acoustic animals of the night Performance artist Matthew Silver–you know he’s gonna get naked

Solstice Celebration Saturday, December 10, 2011 $10 suggested donation after 8pm

Performers & Bands: Morgan O’Kane Flambeaux Fire Kelvin Daly live musical performance ritual with aerialists Liron Dan & Bree Buryk Sullied Accolades Performance artist Matthew Silver

Closing Party Weekend Friday, December 16, 2011 $10 suggested donation after 8pm

Performances & Bands: Morgan O’Kane with Phillip Roebuck Aerialist Seanna Sharpe Flambeaux Fire Kelvin Daly live musical performance ritual with aerialists Liron Dan & Bree Buryk Sullied Accolades Performance artist Matthew Silver

Saturday, December 17, 2011 $10 suggested donation after 8pm

Performances & Bands: Aerialist Seanna Sharpe Flambeaux Fire Kelvin Daly live musical performance ritual with aerialists Liron Dahan & Bree Buryk Sullied Accolades Performance artist Matthew Silver

Dates & Times for The Longest Night December 9-11 & 16-18 Fridays: Doors open at 6pm Saturdays: Doors open at 12pm Sundays: 12-6

Weekdays: Viewings available by appointment, 347.460.2687