Williamburg dynamic in art
With just a few simple brush strokes, a renowned young Orthodox artist awakened two opposite worlds on acrylic canvas at J Greenstein Gallery in Cedarhurst on July 11. Elke Reva Sudin exhibited works from her “Hipsters and Hassids” painting series, introducing the dynamic of two developing yet differing groups in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood.
“The ‘Hipsters and Hassids’ series juxtaposes the two sides of Williamsburg that both seem to be completely different but I show how they actually have so much more in common than you might believe and so when you see these paintings you should come with a feeling of how we are all really connected,” Sudin said. “There’s so much more that is similar than the things that we bicker about than our differences, and I think it’s really important for Jewish communities to recognize how different expressions of Judaism or of humanity are all very much valid except they just look a little different.”
A Brooklyn resident, Sudin is an alum of Pratt Institute and participated in various local art groups, including Jewish Art Salon and Artists 4 Israel. “The reason we brought Elke here is because of the aesthetics of her art. Her work is absolutely beautiful,” said Jonathan Greenstein, the owner of J Greenstein Gallery. “There is a New York story behind each and every painting as most recently with the nonsense that was between the hasidim and the non-hasidim in Williamsburg, and she was able to put that on canvas, but she was able to do it in an aesthetically pleasing way.”
Most of the paintings were displayed in groups of two in order to show the differences, yet also paint us a picture of similarities between the two sects. For example, the “Farbrengen” and “Loft Party” paintings each represent strikingly different vibes, in addition to the shared feelings of happiness and comfort.
“You have your hasidic group, and then also your artsy type. So the painting of the hasidic party is composed of only males and then the hipster painting shows women and men partying together, and that was just really unique,” said Mileise Sabbatini.
