Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Community Board 9 for inviting us to participate in this inclusive event. Special thanks to Dante B. Arnwine, District Manager, and Nicholas Almonor, Arts & Culture Chair, for their awesome support.
The Community Board 9 Fair on June 1, 2024 was an ideal opportunity for us to connect with the community through visual arts. Held at Nair Park next to the Brooklyn Museum of Arts, the fair brought together a variety of community services, including Cannabis Licence help, health services like LaSanté and Brooklyn Hospital, as well as social services, information providers, and advocacy organizations.
Visitors eagerly interacted with the artwork, which featured mainly canvas and foam prints. Quiana Dumas, our community engagement manager, was instrumental in engaging attendees with her charming and elegant approach.
We shared the unique stories behind our artists’ work: Obinna Elechi’s stunning paintings of Yoruba masks, Lungisa Matubatuba’s heartfelt portrayal of his community, Laziza Rakhimova’s unique cameraless photography capturing the essence of nature, and the powerful portraits by Ashley Alcime. Other featured artists included Jessica Dalrymple, Grace Nkem, Shawn McKinney, and more.
Attendees had the unique opportunity to take the artworks home after completing a simple form. They will host these prints for three to four months for free. Afterward, the prints will move to new homes, sometimes with high school students, creating a continuous cycle of art sharing and community connection.
This initiative aligns with our mission to foster direct connections between local artists and the community. We also formed valuable relationships with dynamic activists and are excited about future collaborative actions—stay tuned for more exciting developments!
