2006, Irondale Center for the Arts, Brooklyn, NY
The Fort Greene Association (FGA) hosted Fort Greene Modern, an exhibition curated by Annie Coggan at the Irondale Center for the Arts, one of the grand, iconic, and hidden spaces of Fort Greene. The juxtaposition of modernism in the context of this historic space embodied the house tour theme. Focusing on modern projects and built works, projects varied in scale from individual residences to institutional projects.
Fort Greene will be home to projects by some of the defining architects of the 21st Century, who seek to reinvigorate the neighborhood with a series of cultural facilities for longstanding institutional residents such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Long Island University as well as for a growing base of independent resident artists. Traditionally, the FGA has celebrated 19th Century architecture. As the neighborhood diversifies architecturally, the Association is subsequently shifting its focus to raise awareness of the importance of modernist projects, and to redefine ideas about historicism and context. The question posed by this exhibition is to inquire if and how contemporary architects working in the neighborhood consider these issues in their process.
Photos by Caleb Crawford
