The Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC) will launch its summer season with four nature-focused exhibitions opening Saturday, June 7. Showcasing both local and international perspectives, the exhibitions Fungi, Biophilia, Creating With Sustainability and New Yorkers Capturing Nature, explore how artists connect with, reflect on and respond to the natural world.
“This June, BWAC embraces artists' relationship to the earth in four shows featuring the natural world," said Alicia Degener, BWAC president and curator of Creating With Sustainability.
Fungi, an international juried exhibition presented in partnership with Brooklyn Mushroom, delves into one of biology’s most mysterious realms. Featuring artists from six countries and a majority of women exhibitors, the show offers interpretations of fungi’s complex and often overlooked role in ecosystems.
Biophilia is a national juried show which examines humanity’s innate connection to nature. Through works inspired by forests, soil, plant life and organic patterns, artists convey the emotional and visual impact of the natural world. The exhibit highlights how nature serves as both subject and medium, reinforcing the bond between art and environment.
Creating With Sustainability presents works by BWAC member artists who incorporate recycled and repurposed materials. This exhibition is held in collaboration with Materials for the Arts, a program of the city's Department of Cultural Affairs with nonprofit partner, Friends of Materials for the Arts. The exhibit encourages environmental responsibility and creative reuse, featuring work that transforms discarded objects into meaningful visual statements.
Also on view is New Yorkers Capturing Nature, a photography exhibit by Sierra Photo NYC, a group within the New York City Sierra Club. This presentation documents the often-unseen natural beauty of the five boroughs through the lens of photographers who are committed to environmental advocacy. The show is located in the gallery’s second-floor café space.
All four exhibitions open Saturday, June 7, and run through Sunday, June 29. The BWAC Gallery is open to the public on weekends from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and is located at 481 Van Brunt St. in Red Hook.
