Upcoming Happenings
Welcome to the Backspace, where we are grateful to be able to host a wide variety of community-oriented events. We invite you to join us for twice-weekly yoga, live music, artist-led workshops, local makers’ markets, visual art exhibitions, children’s storytimes, private parties, and so much more.
We’re also always open to new ideas for future happenings! Please feel free to fill out our Event Interest Form if you’ve got an event you’d like to make happen here, or goods you’d like to sell at one of our pop-up markets (this is also how we consider new goods for the shop).
Also, please be mindful that while we do love reading all of the ideas that come in, we are a very small team so it may take us some time to review each one and we may not have the capacity to pull them all off. But we will certainly be in touch if we feel your vision is one we could bring to life here at the Backspace!
Unfurl (Tuesday evening Yoga) led by Elle Pierre
Join us every Tuesday evening and Friday morning for a heart-guided yoga experience led by Elle Pierre. Tuesdays we offer "Like Water: A Dynamic, Fluid Flow" / Fridays are "In Gratitude: A Flow to Cultivate Joy." Both are deeply grounding, gentle, and open to all levels. Yoga mats, blocks, straps, cushions, and blankets provided, or bring your own. Sliding scale pricing (starting April 1) between $20-35 per class; $15 deposit to register and the remainder paid by cash, card, or ApplePay upon arrival on class date. Register now as space is limited :) Register here!
Paint & Sip with Lemon Water Studios
Join our Paint & Sip springtime edition with Lemon Water Studios… Grab a friend or just come as you are and join us for our next fun evening of painting & sipping! For spring time we will be painting planters🪴🎨🖌️
This one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by you can be also a lovely gift for the mommas in your life! (Mother’s day is May 12th)
$35 registration fee includes all materials, one free drink, and your take-home masterpiece
Additional drinks available for purchase by donation
(Outside food & drinks please leave at home, thanks!)
These fun events fill up so RSVP today!
Live Music: The Blump Band, Kim Cass (solo set) & Katie Jacobson
The Blump Band was created to give life to the low, warm sounds that we all want to hear. The combination of bass clarinet, bassoon, bass trombone, synth and drums with no cymbals is meant to evoke the sweet timbres of the swamp, or maybe the creatures at the bottom of the sea or some primordial sound from the center of the earth. Dreamed up by keyboardist Michael Coleman, the band features some of NYC's most sought after improvisers. Ivan Arteaga (bass clarinet), Sara Schoenbeck (bassoon), Sam Kulik (bass trombone) and Sarah Galdes (drums).
Katie Jacobson is a musician and performance artist interested in the use of words, humor and visual narratives in music performance. Some of her past work includes The Aging Piece: a punk rock reflection on the passage of time, The Mirror: A piece about narcissism sung on roller skates, and Honey Noble’s Last Show Ever: a multi-discipline, multi-room meta-exploration of the many identities of the lead singer of a band.This performance will be for bass clarinet, synth, and voice and includes choreographed movement for the lead singer + a nature documentary friendship moment for the band.
Kim Cass, originally from Bar Harbor, Maine, developed his musical language precociously as a virtuoso jazz bassist. An utterly unique improvisational thinker, his early years were spent producing solo recordings of upright bass in electronic composed settings. After receiving his Bachelor's in music from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, Kim relocated to San Francisco and then New York City. He has recorded and performed with pianist/ composer Matt Mitchell, saxophonists John Zorn and Noah Preminger, and multi-intrumentalist/ composer Tyshawn Sorey among others. Kim is on the teaching faculty for lessons at the New School and has many visiting students. He currently is focusing on composing music for the bass and other instruments in new and inventive ways, showcasing a unique style of detailed handwritten notation.
*suggested $10-20 donation goes 100% to the artists*
Unfurl (Friday morning Yoga) led by Elle Pierre
Join us every Tuesday evening and Friday morning for a heart-guided yoga experience led by Elle Pierre. Tuesdays we offer "Like Water: A Dynamic, Fluid Flow" / Fridays are "In Gratitude: A Flow to Cultivate Joy." Both are deeply grounding, gentle, and open to all levels. Yoga mats, blocks, straps, cushions, and blankets provided, or bring your own. Sliding scale pricing (starting April 1) between $20-35 per class; $15 deposit to register and the remainder paid by cash, card, or ApplePay upon arrival on class date. Register now as space is limited :) Register here!
Creativity & Caregiving Series, Part 2: Taking Care of Ourselves
Care informs all of our lives — we have all been cared for, given care, or will need it one day. And yet care can feel so isolated from the rest of our lives — especially our creative lives. Join Miriam Grossman and artist Rebecca Katz at the Brooklyn Artery to explore our relationship to caregiving through lively discussion and art-making using the Jewish Studio Process.
In this three-part series, we’ll dive into different dimensions of caregiving — how we care for others, care for ourselves, and approach caregiving in society.
Come to part two or 3! $18 per workshop.
All are welcome—no artistic experience is necessary.
May 15 (2/3) — Taking Care of Ourselves: Whether caring for children, parents, partners, or loved ones, who cares for you as you care for others? What do you need to care for yourself? — and are you receiving it? How do you adapt when those needs change? What, if anything, do you yearn for? Register HERE for May 15!
June 5 (3/3) — Caregiving in Society: What did you learn about care and caregiving from your family and community growing up? What are the formal and informal structures that you rely on to make your life work? What do you need to sustain yourself? Registration for June 5 coming soon :)
KCW Walk-Around Spring & Summer Tasting
Join us for a delectably delicious evening as we taste the rainbow of wines and spirits that make us want to scream SPRING! Come by and find your newest rosé obsession or a festive pet nat for your next park hang. We'll be joined by some of our favorite representatives from Super Glou, Artisan Wines, Skin Contact Wines, and Haus Alpenz!
Your $45 registration includes:
Taste 16+ wines and 4+ spirits
Light snacks will be provided
A rollicking good time!
RSVP HERE. Spots are limited!
Community Conversations on Art & Incarceration
Join us to listen, learn, and connect with four community advocates who are using the arts to support currently and formerly incarcerated persons. An evening of dialogue and collaboration… free of charge, please join us!
Macramé Plant Hanger Workshop
Unwind, connect, and unleash your creativity at our beginner-friendly macramé plant hanger workshop. In this 2.5-hour session, you’ll learn the foundational knots and techniques needed to craft your very own macramé plant hanger, which you’ll take home with you!
Perfect for those looking to add a touch of handmade charm to their home or seeking a unique gift, our workshop offers a relaxing environment to unwind, learn, and connect with fellow craft enthusiasts.
No previous experience needed!
$65 per participant; registration required. RSVP HERE!
Creativity & Caregiving Series, Part 1: Caring for Others
Care informs all of our lives — we have all been cared for, given care, or will need it one day. And yet care can feel so isolated from the rest of our lives — especially our creative lives. Join Miriam Grossman and artist Rebecca Katz at the Brooklyn Artery to explore our relationship to caregiving through lively discussion and art-making using the Jewish Studio Process.
In this three-part series, we’ll dive into different dimensions of caregiving — how we care for others, care for ourselves, and approach caregiving in society.
Come to one, two or all 3 sessions! $18 per workshop.
All are welcome—no artistic experience is necessary.
April 24 — Taking Care of Others: Who do you care for? What are the expectations and responsibilities—from yourself or others? What have you lost and found in becoming a caregiver? What are the boundaries—or self, time, creativity, and move—you’ve needed to establish and tear down? Register HERE for April 24!
May 15 — Taking Care of Ourselves: Who cares for you as you care for others? What do you need to take care of yourself — and are you receiving it? How do you adapt when those needs change? What, if anything, do you yearn for? Register HERE for May 15!
June 5 — Caregiving in Society: What did you learn about care and caregiving from your family and community growing up? What are the formal and informal structures that you rely on to make your life work? What do you need to sustain yourself? Register HERE for June 5!
Movie Night at the Artery!
Save the date for a fun movie night complete with popcorn, candy, and drinks for sale! Doors at 6:30 and movie will start at 7. Film selection will be revealed soon so stay tuned! Space is limited so please RSVP HERE (attendance is free!)
Community Craft Circle
Bring your in-progress art or crafting projects and join us for an evening of creativity and community. Enjoy sipping on a warm tea in an inviting setting as you work on your projects and make new friends! Free to join :)
Blind Tasting with Kings County Wines
Blind tasting is an important exercise for the intrepid wine drinker. By withholding the identity of a wine, your attention is focused on what is in the bottle, not what is on the label. It can be a little intimidating, but if you don't mind maybe missing the mark, it is really, really fun!
Join us as Jim guides a blind tasting of ten wines. Expect some tasting technique, a discussion of wine styles, a lot of guessing-games, and good conversation. $40 per participant. Register here!
Spring Clothing Swap
Spring is almost here and so is the time to clean your closet! 🌸👢👜🎒🌸🧤🧣👖🌸🧥👕👠 🌸👗🧥
We’re thrilled to host our first ✨community clothing swap✨ of the year and give all us neighbors a chance to purge what we don’t need and score some new treasures — for FREE! April 14th, 11am to 6pm.
This swap is for clothing, shoes, and purses/handbags for ALL AGES, all seasons, all sizes, all gender expressions and styles
Bring items that are in good clean wearable condition (free of stains, odors, and pet hair)! Please save stained items for textile recycling — see grownyc.org/clothing for more info! ♻️
Please be mindful of our dropoff window, Apr. 1st-8th. We’ve intentionally left some time between drop-off and the swap date (4/14) so we can sort, and organize all the goods for easy browsing!
Spread the word with the ones you love and happy swapping! 🔄✨
Palestinian Storytime with "These Olive Trees" author Aya Ghanameh
Join us for Palestinian Storytime! Come meet Aya Ghanameh, author & illustrator of These Olive Trees, the story of a Palestinian family’s ties to the land, and how one young girl finds a way to care for her home, even as she says goodbye. Story reading followed by book signing and olive tree craft activity. This event is intended for children ages ~4-8, but of course all are welcome!
When: Sunday, March 3rd from 10 am –12 pm
Where: Brooklyn Artery, 1004 Cortelyou Road
Cost: $30 (includes the price of the book + donation to recently arrived family from Gaza)
Reserve your spot & your book HERE!
Reparative Reading Book Club: Chain Gang All-Stars
We’re honored and excited to announce that Reparative Reading Book Club is back at the Artery next month, brilliantly facilitated as always by @brandenjanese ❤️🔥
We’ll be reading Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, which is both a bestseller and a deeply important narrative for *these times* we’re living in.
Meetings will be every Wednesday evening in March, and the reading schedule is pasted below. Please note that the idea is to come to the first session having read the first chunk of the book 🤓 (but you’re always welcome to join regardless!)
AND 🌟 grab your copy from Taylor & Co Books in person or online and use the code ReparativeReading24 for a 10% discount on the book!
We’re looking forward to reading and exploring this book in community — come join us!! It’s free and you can let us know you’re coming with a quick RSVP HERE!
READING SCHEDULE:
March 6th: come (ideally) having read pages 1-86 (Hurricane Staxxx - Personhood Link)
March 13th: pages 87- 183 (Circuit - Melee)
March 20th: pages 184-278 (To Be Influenced - Balloon Archway)
March 27th: pages 279 - 378 (The Farmers Market - Loretta Thurwar)
Full Moon Circle
We invite you to join us in a full moon circle on March 24th where we will embark upon a profound exploration of divine rage—an emotion that is often obscured by shame.
This full moon falls under the sign of Libra, the sign of relationship and beauty. Libra is known for its pursuit of balance and harmony. While peace is the ultimate goal for Libra, within this sign lies the potential for repressed anger, stemming from its inclination towards people-pleasing.
In this circle, we will shed light on the ways we mask our own anger and delve into the concept of Divine Rage—a formidable force that serves as a guardian, signaling our needs and delineating our boundaries. The intention is to transmute this potent energy into a catalyst for empowerment and self-realization
We invite folks to come dressed in comfortable light-colored clothing and to bring a journal as we prepare to move through various practices on our journey together.
Register soon as space is limited… click here
KCW Wine School: Wines of the Loire
If you made a wine Venn diagram of Elegance, Variety, and Hipness, the overlap would be France’s Loire Valley. Europe’s longest river, lined with grand Chateaux and nature preserves, is home to famous grape varieties like sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc, and pinot noir, as well as a bunch of unique, under-the-radar ones like pineau d’Aunis and grolleau. Join Adam and Hannah as they survey and celebrate this rich trove of wine delights on Thursday March 21st from 7:00 to 8:30. Taste 6+ wines and earn $20 in Kings County Wines loyalty points with every registration.
Click HERE to sign up! :)
Fiber Jewelry Workshop
Join us as we learn the art of fiber jewelry making with Jessie (@the_weekend_weaver)! Come try this fun and functional craft and you’ll walk out with a handmade pair of earrings or other baubles that you can wear or give as a gift!
Your $60 registration includes:
An interactive lesson in how to make pompom earrings, macrame feather earrings, and rainbow earrings — skills that can also be applied to other forms of jewelry as well!
All materials for jewelry-making
A lovely piece of jewelry you made yourself
A fun afternoon with friends & neighbors
Come join us! Click here to RSVP soon as spots are limited :)
Valentine's Day Wine & Cheese with KCW!
Want a fun, festive, and delicious plan for February 14th? Bring your date, your pal, or your fine self to an evening of wine & cheese with husband-wife team Jim Hutchinson of Kings County Wines & Chef/Owner Erika Lesser of King Mother!
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
7:00-8:30 pm
$75/person
Taste 5 wines + spirits alongside 5 specially sourced cheeses + other goodies. And back by popular demand, King Mother's legendary focaccia will be provided!!
Click HERE to register!
February Paint & Sip: Canvas or Frame!
Join us for a fun and relaxing evening of painting and sipping with us and Caitlyn of @Lemon_Water_Studios! For this February rendition, you’ll have the option to paint either a canvas, or a wooden picture frame — either would make a beautiful addition to your own life or a special gift for a loved one!
$35 registration fee includes all materials, one free drink, and your take-home masterpiece
Additional drinks available for purchase by donation
(Outside food & drinks please leave at home, thanks!)
These fun events fill up so RSVP today!
~ The Parlor ~ Winter edition
Join us for the 4th installment of the most magical seasonal lit series, ~ The Parlor ~ as we close out our first full year with the winter edition. Black & white & tender purple are our guiding colors / mirror, ache, submit our thematic words for this upcoming night. We invite you to come out and join what’s always a deeply special time, to dress to theme if you like or just come as you are. There’ll be wintry libations for sale, and an after-party somewhere nearby. Please be ready to show some love to our amazing readers in the form of a suggested $10-20 donation which goes 100% to the writers. Who are!!:
AJ Clauss
Benin Gardner
Sydney Haas
Ife Olujobi
Emily Zhou
We hope to see you here on 2/2/24!
Live music with Dan Strauss & the Celestials!
We’re excited for a night of live music next Saturday 1/20/24 with some wonderful local musicians! @danstraussmusic and a whole host of friends are bringing a 2-set show to the Backspace so come on out and join us!
✨ Sat Jan 20th, doors 7:30 / show at 8
✨ suggested $10-20 donation goes 100% to the artists
✨ cash bar available for refreshments
Come on down! 🎸🎻💫
Local Holiday Market! (Week 3)
Mark your calendars for the first 3 weekends in December as we welcome an amazing group of artists & makers to our Backspace at this year’s Local Holiday Market! 🎁
Come meet the makers and purchase their handmade gifts and goodies each weekend — December 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17, from 11am-7pm ✨ Stop by as many times as you like because each day you’ll meet a unique group of artists and their work!❣️
Local Holiday Market! (Week 2)
Mark your calendars for the first 3 weekends in December as we welcome an amazing group of artists & makers to our Backspace at this year’s Local Holiday Market! 🎁
Come meet the makers and purchase their handmade gifts and goodies each weekend — December 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17, from 11am-7pm ✨ Stop by as many times as you like because each day you’ll meet a unique group of artists and their work!❣️
Local Holiday Market! (Week 1)
Mark your calendars for the first 3 weekends in December as we welcome an amazing group of artists & makers to our Backspace at this year’s Local Holiday Market! 🎁
Come meet the makers and purchase their handmade gifts and goodies each weekend — December 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17, from 11am-7pm ✨ Stop by as many times as you like because each day you’ll meet a unique group of artists and their work!❣️
KCW Walk-Around Holiday Tasting
Join us for a festive evening as we taste around the world in 20+ glasses! Looking for a bottle to bring to dinner with your in-laws? Or do you need a gift for your hard to please boss? Maybe you need the perfect bottle of bubbles to ring in 2024. Heck - you don't even need a reason! – just come by to taste some of our favorite wines & spirits with some of our favorite representatives from Ripe Wine Imports, MFW, Domenico Valentino, and more!
Friday, December 1, 2023; two sessions available
*** Please RSVP for only one time slot ***
6:00-7:15pm
7:30-8:45pm
Your $40 registration includes:
Taste 16+ wines and 5+ spirits
Light snacks provided by King Mother
A rollicking good time!
RSVP HERE. Spots are limited so hop on in!
Art Exhibit Opening Reception: "Sorry, I Can't Do This Right Now (But I'm Doing It Anyway)" by Sara Erenthal
Please join us for the opening reception of “Sorry, I Can’t Do This Right Now (But I’m Doing it Anyway)”, an art installation by multi-disciplinary artist Sara Erenthal (@saraerenthalart ), on Nov 30th, 7-9pm at Brooklyn Artery, 1004 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn.
A few months ago the Brooklyn Artery invited Sara to exhibit her art at our Backspace this winter. Everyone was excited about the future show. Then the horrors of October 7th occurred and the world would begin to react from all perspectives. Each day’s events since have shattered Sara’s heart, leaving her wondering if this was the right time for such an undertaking. But, knowing that art is an act of protest, as well as a potential tool for healing, the only direction to go was forward — for Sara to share her work as she continues to experience it.
Join us for this special exhibition which will allow our community to witness Sara’s work during this time.
The exhibition will run through December.
Flyer by @jack.adam
The Death of a Jaybird: Essays on Mothers and Daughters and the Things They Leave Behind (author conversation)
We are honored to cohost (alongside Taylor & Co. Books) author Jodi M. Savage reading from her new book of essays The Death of a Jaybird: Essays on Mothers and Daughters and the Things They Leave Behind. A gorgeous book on grief, mourning, and the particular transmission (and manumission) that only black daughters and mothers experience in each other's presence. Jodi will be in conversation with poet JP Howard.
Cane: A New Critical Edition (release party co-hosted with Taylor & Co. Books)
The 3rd Thing Press will be releasing an amazing new critical edition of Jean Toomer’s CANE to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the work’s publication. This gorgeous new edition comes with an oracular card deck and features original art, writing, and poetry from some of the greatest of our generation: Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Bettina Judd, Christina Sharpe, Doug Kearney, John Keene—just to name a few. We’re so excited to host this event alongside Taylor & Co. Books. You won’t want to miss it!
KCW Wine School: Wine Styles
Orange, sparkling, red, pink or white. Fruity, funky, full-bodied or light. Wine is, most simply, fermented grape juice, but cultivated and crafted for over 2000 years, it displays a range of characteristics that is astonishingly rich and diverse. Join us for our first-ever KCW wine class as we try to make sense of the full palette of wine styles. Try new things, break old habits, learn a little and have a good time!
Your $30 registration includes:
A fun, informative lesson on the many styles of wine and how to taste more confidently. Why do you like what you like? Come find out with us!
Taste 10 different wines
400 Points ($20!) automatically added to your loyalty account for future store use
RSVP HERE. Spots are limited!
A Sacred Respite: New Moon Workshop
The New Moon in Scorpio is casting a shadow of intensity. Instead of wrestling with the dark and stormy vibes, you’re invited to embrace tranquility and self-care through A Sacred Respite.
Led by experienced guides Elle Pierre and Soleil Atiles, A Sacred Respite is a transformative communal mindfulness experience that offers a sanctuary amidst life's chaos.
A Sacred Respite is designed to help you tap into your inner well-being through five powerful healing modalities:
Meditation for inner calm, Breathwork to discover the inner healing power of your own breath, Movement to connect you to your body, Sound and Energy healing to sooth, release and transform.
The theme for November is Rain.
Join us on Monday, November 13th from 7:30-9:30pm for a supported journey toward rejuvenation and self-discovery. Serenity is on the other side – see you there!
$60 event fee goes toward the facilitators, the use of the space, & materials. We are also working to secure funding for community-sponsored spots; please reach out if you are in need of a community-funded spot.
Register here!
Movie Night Special Edition: Horror at the Artery!
This month’s Movie Night took a dark turn down the wrong hiking trail….
Join us & guest host / all things horror powerhouse Adam Torkel for a super special screening of The Ranger, complete with badass indie horror sponsors, an appearance by the director (!), giveaways, drinks, popcorn, candy…. It’s a fright night you won’t forget. Come thru!!
Portal: A Writing Workshop with Somalia Seaton
From Somalia:
PORTAL is a writing workshop created for all writers, but specifically those who are yet to respond to the call of putting pen to paper. Come join us for an evening of imaginative tangents and judgement-free creative exploration.
As a writing coach, I will offer clarity on how to use intuitive writing as part of your spiritual practice and my personal writing guidance with the full breadth of my career and spiritual integration to date.
For those who embark on this journey on October 26th, we will begin an exploration into various writing techniques, some of which will include writing dialogue, prose and poetry. PORTAL is ultimately envisioned as a series of workshops for emerging writers, offering you a toolbox of exercises and techniques to facilitate the development of your stories and ideas.
If anything I have shared above excites you, please be brave and sign up! I look forward to meeting you.