Beloved Brooklyn-based artist Jonathan Blum is celebrating his 60th birthday with a major retrospective of his work at Arts Gowanus. The exhibition will be open to the public daily from 2:00pm – 7:00pm through July 6.
The show, at 240 3rd Ave., features both new works and key pieces from Blum’s decades-long career, showcasing the evolution of a singular artistic vision that has become deeply woven into the fabric of the Park Slope community.
Venture down Fifth Avenue and at some point, you’re bound to encounter the odd-looking storefront at 285 Fifth Ave. Once an old thrift store, the address has been home to Blum, a.k.a. the Rabbi Painter, since 1999.
More than just a working art space, Blum’s creative home has become a community landmark and refuge for all artists. With a sign on the door reading “Open by appointment and by luck,” the space has attracted neighbors and art lovers alike, becoming an essential stop in the creative life of the neighborhood.
“I’ve never sought out press,” said Blum. “I've been in a lot of gallery shows, but I've never had a gallery represent me."
Blum said he prefers to sell his artwork directly.
"I've sold in New Orleans on the streets, in Jackson Square, in Washington, D.C. and in Berlin and Prague. And I've always kind of just gone to the street, and I make a living—a good living this way, actually — because people generally like to buy from the artist," Blum noted. "But after 40-plus years working as a professional, I do think it’s okay to take stock and have a retrospective like this."
