✰PREMIUM
On The Avenue: Art Walk on 3rd part of Embrace Winter Festival!

BAY RIDGE — Hey! They’re walking here!

Artists and art aficionados will be coming together “on the avenue” March 15th for an interactive Art Walk led by Victoria Hofmo of the Bay Ridge Arts & Cultural Alliance (BRACA) and the Ridge Creative Center featuring original work from more than a dozen local artists as well as some talented students. 

This special walking tour of Third Avenue is part of the annual Embrace Winter Festival, held in partnership with the Merchants of Third Avenue Civic Improvement Association, Inc. each year to link businesses with Bay Ridge’s thriving arts community.

“The purpose is to build relationships between the businesses and arts/cultural organizations and individuals, to promote commerce and to give the community something to enjoy during the cold weather,” Hofmo explained. 

This year’s walk steps off at noon outside Cosentino’s Fish Market, 6922 Third Ave., which we are told is celebrating an incredible 105 years in business! There attendees will enjoy an exhibit by the Scandinavian East Coast Museum titled “Norwegian History in New York Begins in New Amsterdam” before heading to nearby School of Rock Bay Ridge, 6901 Third Ave., for an exhibit by artist Aeilushi Mistry.

Next up, artist Whitney Hamilton will showcase “Two Hawks and a Serpent” — a 50 inch by 58 inch oil painting on canvas that she created in 2013 — at her studio at 340 72nd St.

“I painted this piece as an exploration of animal totems and the practice of Shamanism by Indigenous peoples worldwide, but particularly for Native Americans,” Hamilton explained. “Our beautiful neighborhood is the domain of magnificent red-tailed hawks. I see them fly about Owl’s Head Park, Shore Road and even in my backyard.”

Student artwork will be the focus at the next two locations — Cream, 7210 Third Ave., and Bay Ridge Connects, 7609 Third Ave.

Next up is an exhibit at Kitchening, 8002 Third Ave., by photographer Reidun Richards, who “explores with her camera, viewing nature in rare ways, as well as the many common day elements we pass daily,” according to her bio.

Charmed by JLM at 8311 Third Ave. will showcase an interesting and eye-catching exhibit by artist Yevgeniya Pechenaya. 

“I work in a variety of calligraphic hands and art styles from the middle ages and the Renaissance,” she said.

Across the street at Puertas, 8324 Third Ave., artist Tommy Pagano will showcase some of his work.

“I started drawing at a young age and continued to make visual art throughout my life and do so to this day,” he said. “I don’t like to be limited by subject, theme or media. I like to experiment in all ways.”

Skilled artist and carpenter Pat Sullivan will show off some of his custom cigar box guitars at Caffè Café, 8401 Third Ave.

“I like to work with my hands,” he said. “I am fascinated with guitars and began constructing one-of-a-kind cigar box guitars using found materials as well as unorthodox objects.”

Artist Alicia Degener has created a site-specific piece to be displayed at one of her favorite businesses, A.L.C. Italian Grocery, 8613 Third Ave. Degener is a New York City landscape painter focused on the terrain of Southern Brooklyn and its quintessential landmarks. She is also the President of the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC).

For this event, artist Maria Ierusalimskaya is showcasing two out of 10 portrait drawings from her “Rainbow” series at the Green Spa & Wellness Center, 8804 Third Ave. The series, which she began working on during the COVID-19 pandemic, features portraits capturing the faces of her loved ones adorned with vibrant, multicolored masks, according to the artist. These masks act as “symbols of hope and unity amidst uncertainty.”

At the neighboring Hom Store, 8810 Third Ave., Lebanese-Armenian multi-disciplinary artist and body image activist Hildos will showcase two 10 inch by 8 inch artworks that are part of her new watercolor series that she began in 2023. 

“I wanted to explore a material that I was teaching to my students but not using it in my art,” she explained. “My theme is ‘things that I cherish.’”

Japanese artist Yuri will display her work at Cellary, 8916 Third Ave. She likes to work with movement in her painting and prefers oil as her medium, she said.

Finally, all who complete the walk will be treated to a reception at Amanda Jean, 8907 Third Ave., where they can also enjoy student artwork from Bay Ridge Prep.

The cost of the Art Walk is $20 and reservations are encouraged. For tickets, contact Hofmo at 347-860-1932 or via email at [email protected].

Here’s to supporting our great artists and neighbors in business!

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If you’re doing something noteworthy “on the avenue,” reach out to me directly at [email protected]!