Mothership: A throwback to the 70s’ art scene opens up her rooftop in: 111 Rooftops in New York That You Must Not Miss
In these days of chic, safe, and, face it, exclusive New York City, it can be hard to recall the 1970s when the city was about to go bankrupt. Muggings and murders were commonplace, and artists paid a pittance for sprawling cold-water lofts in abandoned SoHo factories. Certainly it was a much more dangerous city, but an atmosphere prevailed that attracted and nurtured innumerable artists, the likes of Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, and so many more of the creatives that are still today’s cultural influencers.
A tiny remnant of that 1970’s art scene lives on at Mothership. This artist live-and-work space collective is housed in a permanently docked Brooklyn warehouse at the end of a gritty, industrial street that backs up to Newton Creek. This ship that does not sail is a proud throwback to New York’s art past and serves as a safe harbor where international artists can afford to anchor themselves in the 21st century.
Mothership has an open-house event on the second Tuesday of each month featuring artists of all stripes: filmmakers, performance artists, painters, sculptors, and so forth. When the weather cooperates, the guests migrate up the few steps to Mothership’s spacious, unimproved rooftop. The evening becomes that month’s variation of an open-air art party, as well as a blast from New York City’s less stuffy, more avant-garde past.
Artists and non-artists are warmly welcomed at these casual events that require not much more than an open mind and a willingness to venture out to an edge of Brooklyn that might not be familiar, though it is easy enough to find. The schedule can vary so please check the website for monthly events and surprises that Captain Sol Kjøk and her mates create. There is never a dull moment at Mothership, and when it’s warm and inviting outside, the rooftop is open for expansive views while expanding your mind.
