Peace, Love and Joy!
- frida@artyardbklyn.org
- Dec 26, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Advanced Studio Artists took a field trip to Studio Museum in Harlem Sunday December 21st. We were all excited with the reviews Reg and Adji shared in a recent recap! Reg’s assessment of the building and the dialogue it creates with its location is spot on.
What an abundance of spectacular artwork!!
David Hammonds, Pray for America, 1969. Photo Meridith McNeal
Fisola looking at Isaac Julien, Incognito, 2003. Photo Meridith McNeal
Beauford Delaney, Portrait of a Young Musician, 1970. Photo Meridith McNeal
Adji and Fisola view Jack Whitten, Dead Reckoning 1, 1980. Photo Florian Velayandom Neven du Mont
David McKenzie, A Small Monument, 2004. Photo Meridith McNeal
We were invigorated! Lots of artwork by friends, as well as artwork we have studied was placed throughout the grand spaces in a delightful eclectic curation which dares to avoid pigeonholing style or medium. There were a few challenges as a viewer -- I admit that I am not a fan of looking at my phone for labels via a link, and in some cases that was more noticeable when squinting to see work hung high in the rafters… but really that is a minor complaint.
Adji and I commiserated on feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the visit. I will be heading back soon to get another look. There is nothing like seeing art in person, and this is a museum experience that merits many repeat visits to fully absorb.
Adji comments: “My second time at the Studio Museum in Harlem was less overwhelming than the first time. I was able to better appreciate the depth and breadth of artists. Every floor had something different to offer. For example the 6th floor was dedicated to the history of the museum from its inception to now. Many of the pieces were archival, while the 3rd floor was mostly contemporary photography. Much of the curation strikes a balance between the past, present, and future. There’s a deep reverence to legacy, while maintaining access for artists in training. The entire 4th floor is dedicated to artist’s whose talents and skills were nurtured by the Studio Museum. It’s evident the practice of art is communal and the Studio Museum delights in welcoming artist of all ages through its doors.”
AYB Teaching Artist Iviva Olenick reflects: “In its new expansive space, the Studio Museum shows off its extensive collection and artist residency program with iconic works by some artists (Barbara Chase-Riboux), and smaller, unexpected works by artists in its stable (Alma Thomas, Stanley Whitney). The dense, salon style hanging in some hallways with QR codes filling in for wall texts left us wanting for immediate confirmation that we recognized beloved artists and artworks. Otherwise, the works are thoughtfully installed, critically juxtaposed, and provide a thorough overview of the Museum’s history and holdings, and of the reciprocal relationship between the museum and the ever-changing Harlem neighborhood.
Alma Thomas, Space, 1966 & Opus 52, 1965. Photo Iviva Olenick
Karon Davis, Fix Me, 2023. Photo Iviva Olenick
Jacob, M, & Adji view Leonardo Drew, Number 74, 1999. Photo Florian Velayandom Neven du Mont
I (Iviva) personally appreciated seeing historic works from Expanding the Walls, the museum’s teen photography program, treated with the same care and reverence as collected works.”
AYB Artist Florian Velayandom Neven du Mont adds that: “It felt like walking through a portal that still operates after the visit. A reminder of the miracles in the mundane that can almost feel overwhelming to process if you try to make too much sense of it.”
AYB Artist Rashidah Green sums up: "I truly enjoyed my time at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Although the building appears narrow viewing it from bustling 125th street, it is surprisingly dense with a plethora of stunning works. The curation is very unique; by arranging pieces both vertically and horizontally across the museum walls, the galleries evoke the intimate atmosphere of someone's private living room rather than a traditional museum. I was convinced I could see everything in a single trip, but with the sheer volume of works, I'm likely going to have to make a return visit."
On Monday Advanced Studio on zoom had a great session with AYB Artist Assata Benoit! As one of the teaching artists who have come up through our programs, I have to admit to having a sort of double dose of enjoyment in experiencing Assata’s thoughtful, well organized presentations! This class had us looking at several artists bed themed work, and depicting our own beds.
As inspiration and to spark our lively discussion, Assata shared images from several artists including Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec, Maira Kalman, Tracey Emin, Shan Shipshank and Kurt Solmmsen:
Assata explains: “As of late, my most common reply to “what you been up to?” Is “work, home, sleep, work.” The endless trade of work for time is… Exhausting. The more time I spend at work, the more I want to be home doing absolutely nothing. When I leave the house I’m thinking of coming back. It’s sick. Also the sun goes down at 4:30pm.
I actually got inspired at work. While looking out the window of a new site, I saw into hundreds of rooms in the building across the street. Most of them had the same exact bed style in the same exact spot on the wall. “My bed looks nothing like that” I thought, “Mine bed looks better”. (See image above!) After that, I became even more obsessed.
To most people their space is unique because it is customized to their needs, but others may have to make an unsecured space their own too. Where you lounge can be where you lay. Some prefer the couch, some like the floor, some outdoors.
Assata Benoit, Bed l & ll
I appreciate that we had an intimate group for this session, as it felt appropriate. Also, some great pieces came out of the extra time lol.”
We celebrated the solstice on Tuesday in Advanced Studio in person at 180 Franklin Avenue. With AYB Teaching Artist Rainy Lehrman made Sodai, geometric hanging mobiles symbolic of the cosmos, connecting past, present, and future. There was an additional poignancy to this ritual as, like AYB, Rainy lost her entire studio in the Red Hook fire on September 18th.
The space at 180 Franklin is a welcoming one, and allows us to gather comfortably to talk as well as make art. We dove into the topic of the night by sharing our own significant winder rituals. Truly an inspiring discussion, one that made me glad all over again for the amazing AYB community!
Rainy recaps: "This week will welcome the celestial migration of the sun and look to the winter solstice for inspiration. Working with cut straw and thread we attempted to make Sodai, geometric hanging mobiles that are considered an ancient folk art. Sodai are made to last though the winter months and are often burned come the spring equinox, like a small effigy that helps clear a home and usher in new beginnings. They are thought to represent the “World Tree” (Pasaulio Medis), a universal symbol of the cosmos, connecting past, present, and future.
Making Soldi at ART YARD. Photos by Rainy Lehrman
Perseverance, love, and joy were fully employed as we worked together to help each other build the delicate straw structures. Trajectories shifted but the joy persisted and by the end of the night all had found and accomplished form. Towers, hats, adornment, flowers, wands, ornaments and more appeared out of hay. It was so gratifying to see how all tackled this project in their own way. Truly inspired by the optimism and enthusiasm that the community at AYB brings every time. Peace, Love and Joy!"
Our winter solstice celebration included a pot luck feast which included Jacob’s Russian beet salad, TJ’s homemade cookies, Rainy’s banana preserves, crémasse that Assata made with her grandmother, and so many other goodies!
Chace, of course, went full on sculptural with his soldi, and Rainy's example is impressive!
Culminating with our annual art exchange – and the flurry of excitement which ensues as we pull names out of the fez.
Other Art News
AYB Artist Maraya Lopez shares: “3 Pointz Brooklyn is the culminating work of a multi-year exploration through a series of live-walks (live-streamed walks) across Brooklyn. Following three initial “live walks” conducted in 2023 and 2024, this final installment will be an extended durational walk spanning 14-16 hours across three distinct geographic points in Brooklyn, focusing on the borough's parameters.”
Exhibitions To See
Museum of the City of New York — a history and art museum at 1220 Fifth Avenue (at 103rd St.), NYC. Housed in a 1929–30 brick and marble building on Museum Mile, it was founded in 1923 to preserve and present the story of New York City and its people through exhibitions and public programs.
My niece and I (Meridith) went up to check out the renovated Stettheimer Dollhouse in a new Light, a remarkable art passion project Carrie Stettheimer worked on between about 1916 and 1935. I love this dollhouse filled with miniature art made by artist friends and the attention to detail is spectacular. Not sure what happened after this recent conservation effort — this gorgeous house now sits mostly in darkness and is barely visible. I expect it’s to safeguard the materials, but gee whiz: it felt like ’the night before Christmas and all through the house…not a creature was stirring’ because the lights were all out. The dollhouse is on view through January 19, 2026.
Stettheimer Dollhouse installation views. Photos by Meridith McNeal
In keeping with the miniature theme, Clara and I were thrilled to find the Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off exhibit. My favorite was the Sewage Treatment Plant. Wow! This sweet cityscape of gingerbread creations runs through January 19, 2026.
Gingerbread Houses installation views. Photos by Meridith McNeal
The Urban Stomp: Dreams & Defiance on the Dance Floor exhibition was well done and featured some fabulous NYC dance memorabilia. A tiny dance card for the “Ninth Annual Afternoon & Evening Picnic of the Employees of the Dekalb & Franklin Ave. R.R.” piqued my interest, as did the disco swan-heeled shoes and the how-to Break Dance View-Master (!!!). This show runs through February 22, 2026.
Urban Stomp installation views . Photos by Meridith McNeal
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
It has been quite a year for AYB. There are constant reminders of the devastation caused by the September 18th fire. Just this week, Rainy asked if we had staplers. We had many — long-reach, regular, heavy-duty, small ones for small hands, construction-grade staplers for installations, light-duty versions because not all tools are easy for everyone to use. All of them were lost in the fire. So I rummaged through my desk and brought in my childhood Swingline to Advanced Studio this week.
There is a version of this story almost every day. Our critiques sometimes take on the depth of group therapy as we continue to move forward — in this year of migration — and continue to make art together.
To all of you who have supported AYB, we are deeply grateful.
AYB will take a winter break next week. We will be back in action on January 5th !
🪩♥️🌲❄️
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