NEW YORK — In Tuesday night's sweltering heat, over 200 patrons gathered in Red Hook in a freshly manicured sculpture garden to sip iced Brooklyn Lagers. Visitors arrived in support of Downtown 4 Democracy, an organization whose modest goal is welding arts professionals into a unified (likely liberal) political voice. The inaugural D4D event was “Dining for Democracy,” the first in a series of social events geared towards facilitating creative exchange and raising funds for political action. For the occasion, sculptor Dustin Yellin lent his project space, known as the Intercourse, a 19th-century warehouse tastefully revived by Trimble Architects and recently debuted, just down the street from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.
“Dining for Democracy” delivered nicely on its name, offering treats by a host of local foodie favorites: Frankies Sputino, Vinegar Hill House, Home/Made, Fort Defiance, and the Good Fork. D4D spokeswoman Audrey Gelman said she hoped to have as many events as possible before November to bring attention to “what’s at stake for young people and creative professionals in the upcoming election.” She postulated that D4D will “counteract the stereotype that people who are young and creative are too busy caring about themselves to care about politics.”
At Tuesday night's event, young, hip opinion leaders perused artworks by Intercourse artists Adam Green (of the Moldy Peaches), Yellin, and Joey Frank (Frank’s show opens September 15). Outdoors in the garden, artists and architects mingled with tastemakers from all disciplines, from Gibby Haynes (a musician, of Butthole Surfers fame) to James Fuentes (of the eponymous gallery). At the end of the perfect night, Green complimented “Cartoon and Complaint,” his exhibition currently on view at Yellin's space, with a final acoustic performance.
“The spirit of Downtown 4 Democracy is all about collaboration,” Gelman affirmed, commenting on the positive turnout and energy of the evening. She had some words of enthusiasm for Yellin's contribution as well: “We are all about experimentation and creative collaboration, so it [The Intercourse] was the perfect place to host an event that brought together a diverse group of foodies, politicos, and artists to celebrate something bigger than themselves.”
To see images of the first “Dining for Democracy” at The Intercourse, click on the slide show.