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Beneath the Surface Jamel Shabazz's New York Underground. The Secret Gallery is an unobtrusive space located several hundred feet beneath the towering Smith and 9th St. subway station. Like much of Red Hook, the area is a jumble of skeletal industrial architecture, low-income housing and a smattering of gentrification-induced lofts. Looming over the intersection like a mountain of concrete and corrugated metal, this subway station reaches a higher altitude than any other in New York. From the highest platforms, a remarkable view of Manhattan can be seen. It is befitting that the Secret Gallery’s current exhibition highlights an array of subterranean photos taken by a Red Hook native. Jamel Shabazz’s photography has been exhibited in magazines such as The Source, Vibe, Trace, One World and Honey. His work has been exhibited in locations close to home (The Brooklyn Museum) and overseas (“Trace Magazine: True Signs” in Paris). “Back in the Days”, Shabazz’s collection of photographs from the Eighties, is an endearing look at the styles and trends that emerged alongside the maturation of hiphop. Until October 31st, Shabazz’s latest project, New York Underground, is on display at the Secret Gallery. The exhibition features a series of photographs taken solely beneath Gotham’s terra firma over the last 22 years. Some pictures are candid, some are posed and a few seem staged, but each subject is captured either aboard a subway or within the cave-like confines of subway stations. Some of the most intriguing work is the collages of commuters from different eras. Small snapshots of passengers with dookie-chains and Kangols are interspersed with flicks of Wu-Wear clad riders. The garments may change, but the faces, expressions and poses remain the same. The exuberance of yesteryear’s fashions is often remarkable when contrasted to the relatively benign leather jackets and sweatshirts commonly found in the more recent pictures. The authenticity of the subjects is refreshing -- these are not runway models with outfits supplied by the Breakin’ costume creators. Showing a great understanding of the remarkable uniqueness of the netherworldly setting of his art, Shabazz integrates the physical presence of the subway car into many of the photos. The red metal doors of an original 2-Train have been sheared off and now house pictures. Key-etched Plexiglas windows frame other photos. A recording of rattling iron horses and door chimes plays throughout the gallery. Although the Secret Gallery is off the beaten path of Smith Street’s art gallery crawl, the few extra blocks are certainly worth walking for New York Underground. Not only does Shabazz’s work make the mundane beautiful, it also provides a unique opportunity to stare at fellow passengers without the threat of a brutal beating. The Secret Gallery is located at 474 Smith St. (@ 9th St.), Brooklyn, NY 11231. Read more articles in Arts » |
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