Art Exhibition Opens Saturday in Vacant UWS Storefront

An exhibition of 24 paintings, photographs, and other artworks that reflect and celebrate the Upper West Side will open on June 5, filling the windows of 2780 Broadway. The temporary gallery, prominently located at the corner of 107th Street, was formerly home to Bank Street Bookstore.

Art on the Corner was organized by a group of neighbors, all residents of a co-op at 245 West 107th Street, which encompasses the vacant retail space. Their goals were to enliven the empty storefront and the surrounding blocks, boost community spirit, and support local artists, who will retain 100 percent of any proceeds.

Almost one hundred local artists responded to the call for entries, submitting more than 250 works. In a range of styles and media, they offered markedly varied interpretations of recurring motifs: the vitality of our street life, the diversity of our residents, the natural beauty of our parks and river, and the visual interest of our streetscape and vernacular architecture.

“We hope visitors to Art on the Corner will recognize their neighbors and their own experience in the images on display, and perhaps see a familiar subject in a new way,” said Nancy Cohen, a member of the team.

The exhibition will run through September 6. The artworks will also be featured, along with artists’ statements, pricing, and contact information, at artonthecorner.net.