AO Onsite – The Exquisite Corpse DIS/MEMBER/MENT: A Charity Auction at Dustin Yellin’s new project space, The Intercourse, in Red Hook, Monday, June 4

June 6th, 2012


Photos for Art Observed by Charles Shoener

On Monday evening creative unit FAMNYC and international auction company Phillips de Pury came together to host a charity auction at The Intercourse, a new studio in Red Hook founded by artist Dustin Yellin.  The offered exhibition, titled “The Exquisite Corpse Project”, was sold both silently and live with a portion of the proceeds benefiting ART Start, an organization helping to foster creativity among unprivileged youth.  A group of ART Start’s very own One Mic students also gave an intermediate performance at the event.


The live auction items, at left: Ross Bleckner, Thomas McDonell, Sebastian Errazuriz; at right: Dustin Yellin, Jordan Wolfson & Joey Frank

“Exquisite corpse” or “exquisite cadaver” is defined as the method of assembling together a collection of words or images.  FAMNYC’s spin on this art form has involved the combination of work from such artists as Ross Bleckner, Thomas McDonell, Sebastian Errazuriz or Matt Jones, John Gordon Gauld, and Dustin Yellin.  Nine of these pieces were offered at The Intercourse’s first auction last night, as Yellin’s warehouse turned gallery opened only at the start of this year.


Collection of works by Kirsten Deirup, Fawad Khan, and Vadis Turner


Ken Tisa, Brock Enright, Karsten Krejcarek

Though the space is still relatively new on the map, Yellin’s initial vision and plans for the Brooklyn based gallery are quickly being realized.  He describes The Intercourse as a sort of “cultural think tank slash museum”.  The space currently features a large exhibition area, an artist’s residency program, an affiliate magazine, and a growing sculpture garden.


The garden


Yellin’s own work at the back of his gallery

Auctioneer Philae Knight from Phillips de Pury noted in her conclusion that “the great thing about [Yellin] is what he does in the art community, galvanizing other artists to work together”.


Dustin Yellin

By partnering with ART Start, the event also able to give back to the community surrounding The Intercourse, connecting artists to the younger generation present there.  As Knight also said, “we are all here because we know how much art transforms lives”.


One Mic Collective performing


Drawings and works created by participating ART Start kids.  Donators to the organization were able to choose their favorite to take home.  The event helped raise more than $10,000 in total for ART Start.


Philae Knight and Miky of One Mic below the work by Ross Bleckner and  Thomas McDonell

The Intercourse will also show Adam Green’s exhibition “Cartoon and Complaint” this coming weekend.  Opening night is Saturday, June 9.

–L. Marsova

Related Links:

FAMNYC [Main Page]
Phillips de Pury & Company [Main Page]
An Artist’s Big, Big Plans for Red Hook [NY Times]
Dustin Yellin [Personal Website]
ART Start [Main Page]
One Mic [ART Start Blog]