A view of Peirogi Boiler with all the gravity racers lined up against the wall and the track in the middle. (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic)
Pierogi is a Williamsburg, Brooklyn art gallery and one of its longest-running traditions turns 20 this week: Brooklyn Gravity Racers.
Featuring four distinctive categories (“The Speed Award,” “The Heavyweight Division Award,” “The Aesthetic Award,” “The ‘What Were You Thinking’ Award”), artists and the general public are invited to submit their miniature gravity racers for three nights of head-to-head match-ups, culminating in a race between finalists on Friday, September 19.
The racers are on view September 13–21 (Thursday through Sunday, 12–6pm), but the real action happens in the evenings. Renowned artists including Fred Tomaselli, Dawn Clements, Peter Fox, Greg Barsamian, David Kramer, Ati Maier, and Tom Burckhardt, among others, have made their vehicular contributions to the event. Races take place at the Pierogi Boiler space on 191 North 14th Street beginning at 7pm.
Of the hundreds of racers, here are some that caught my eye:
Peter Fox’s lasagna-inspired racerFred Tomaselli’s Presidential carElizabeth Meggs goes literal, I mean literaryBrooklyn pride from Francesco PizzaA shadowy figure from Kathy and PaulTom Burckhardt puts his work into itPeter Garfield goes FreudianGowanus pride from Paige TookerLarry Krone likes flamesI guess Jonathan Schipper is going for the aesthetic category because I can’t imagine this one will finishThe eyes have it for Matt and Alix Marello’s carVanessa van Walraven and Keith Mendak provide a punchJustin Amrhein’s sleek designLinda Herrit and Mark Beton are inspired by the new Freedom TowerOMG Glenn WonsettlerNot In My Gravity Racer! WM (Bill) GiraefRacing makes Greg Barsamian hungryDawn Clements has a slippery car\Fuck Yeah, Matt Blackwell’s gravity racerMike Ballou is into big dogsRaimundo Rubio thinks racing is a piece of cakeWhat if Frank Lloyd Wright designed a speed racer? Nico Koehler and Michael Koehler seem to askSome people would love to see Peter Freitag’s car in real lifeUSA! USA! USA! screams Seokyeong YoonI guess if the race doesn’t pay off, Pierogi can use David Kramer’s creation
