After making their bones and cutting their teeth in Williamsburg, The Locker Room has found a new home in TriBeCa and their inaugural exhibition was nothing short of rebellious, reflective and SPOT-ON. Inflation, an eclectic group exhibition featuring Locker Room alums and brilliant new-comers, was a satirical but skillful thumbing of the nose at the current economic landscape that can best described as toxic wasteland of of high prices and low wages.
Inflation understood the assignment. It was potent, poignant and playful. From the confrontational commentary of Marguerite Wibaux‘s scuplture, She Died For Our Sins, to the rousing hometown pride of Robert Moy’s Knicks inspired “Air Balls,” Inflation makes a notable statement without taking itself too seriously. The theme in itself enough to pique one’s interest–whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious passerby.
Truth be told, this rambunctious but thoughtful energy is a refreshing addition to the neighborhood. TriBeCa is currently undergoing a quiet reformation in which established newcomers are brighten a curatorial palette that has become quite stale. This is not a knock against the already existing galleries that call the area home. It is more so an observation of a shift in dynamic.
In all, Inflation was properly curated. It sounds simple but this feat is more complicated than it looks. Each piece had its spotlight and space to breathe; and, in turn, it allowed the exhibition to convey a strong message while still giving credence to the layers within that message. In fact, the astute and thoughtful placement of each work is a true indication of what The Locker Room has in store.
Speaking of, their current exhibition featuring Elena Stonaker, soft-œur, debuted last Friday, June 6th! You may have missed Inflation but we urge you to make your way The Locker Room (253 Church Street) in the near future!
Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is responsible for the curatorial direction and overall voice of Quiet Lunch. The Bronx native has read at venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, KGB Bar, Lovecraft and SHAG–with works published in Palabra Luminosas and LiVE MAG13. He has also curated solo and group exhibitions at numerous galleries in Chelsea, Harlem, Bushwick and Lower Manhattan.