Pioneer Works Reopens with All-Out Renovations and New Programming
Still from Le’Andra LeSeur’s “Monument Eternal”
After months of anticipation and all-out renovation, Pioneer Works will reopen on September 6, unveiling two exhibitions of Alejandro García Contreras: "¿Quién no ha intentado convertir una piedra en un recuerdo?" and Le'Andra LeSeur's "Monument Eternal" - marking both their first institutional solo exhibition. The reopening also celebrates the return of Pioneer Works' Second Sundays starting September 8. With this comes a new large-scale performance by the self–proclaimed masked and merkin-ed artist Narcissister scheduled to debut on September 14 and 15; the now sold–out performance, centered around a kinetic installation, features an assortment of physical feats, lo-fi magic tricks, and pyrotechnics–Fun!
Stationed in the heart of Red Hook in Brooklyn, Pioneer Works has been a staple for the neighborhood's creative community since opening in 2012 by Dustin Yellin, a local artist himself, as a hub for the humanities where space is used for exhibitions and residency. But most importantly, it's a W.A.G.E. certified organization–paying artist fees that meet our minimum payment standards. As reported by Artnet, "Since launching its first capital campaign in 2019, Pioneer has raised $28.3 million to renovate and upgrade its 1866 building. The goal is to raise $1.7 million more to fund additional work, including an ambitious effort to open New York City's first public observatory."
Alejandro García Contreras' ¿Quién no ha intentado convertir una piedra en un recuerdo?, or Who hasn't tried to turn a stone into a memory? unites his ceramic practice with his interests in concrete pouring, photography, and experimental video, creating elaborate, mythical sculptures that explore Mexican Folklore.
This piece talks about an ancient civilization discovered in a certain archaeological site. The exhibition explores the connections between human beings' transient state and the materials they leave behind. The artist is a well-known sculptor who is known to combine multiple styles from multiple cultures in regard to his profound work. Monument Eternal, on the other hand, artist Le'Andra LeSeur explores the significance of racist monuments that have been commemorated and how their legacy has affected the mental psyche of the black community. The exhibition contemplates how this alteration manifests in the physical body, especially when presented with and situated in the sonic rhythms that reverberate across these sites of violence. The most important component of this project is a title video, which is filmed in Stone Mountain Confederate Monument Park, showing the artist repeatedly falling in slow motion on the mountain's peak. Both works were made possible thanks to the assistance of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the New York Council on the Arts.
