pathways and SHadowS
Brooklyn’s Historic Lott House Unveils Outdoor “Pathways and Shadows” Exhibition
Nature abstractions bloom in Brooklyn opening in May
BROOKLYN, NY (April 11, 2024) — Today, the historic Brooklyn landmark and museum, The Hendrick I. Lott House is announcing that it will show Pathways and Shadows, an abstract outdoor exhibition inspired by the perpetual movement within ecosystems. Located in Marine Park, Brooklyn, The Lott House is a living time capsule of Gotham history dedicated to preserving history, interpreting art, and engaging in community education. Curated by local artist, Diana Naccarato, the duo exhibition featuring charcoal drawings and digital interpretations opens on May 4, 2024 and closes on December 13, 2024.
The outdoor installation consists of two parts: Pathways, the small pencil and charcoal drawings and Shadows, large-scale digital abstractions of the Pathways drawings. The outdoor installation will be displayed along the 35th Street and 36th Street fences of The Lott House, which will be available for patrons and passersby alike. The May 4th opening night event begins at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and will feature a keynote from the artist, as well as light fare.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Diana and showcase her thoughtful works which offer a unique perspective on our concrete jungle,” said Mary Tsaltas-Ottomanelli, board member of Hendrick I. Lott House. “The Lott House encourages local art exploration and is thrilled to partner on this exhibition to also bring educational workshops to our neighbors.”
Naccarato’s pieces are influenced by long walks in the coastal areas of southern Brooklyn and the salt marshes of Marine Park, Brooklyn. As she walks through the coastal areas, she pulls from the movement within the nature around her, like the reeds swaying or the waves crashing, returning to her studio to create abstractions from those sketches and photographs.
“When I began spending more time in Marine Park in 2020, I immediately realized how special the park and the salt marshes are to the people who live here,” said Diana Naccarato. “Somewhat isolated from the rest of the city geographically, Marine Park and New York City’s southernmost parts have a quietness that is distinct from the rest of the city. This exhibition is as much about Marine Park and the individuals who live here as it is about the art itself. I want people to see that they can look closely at our surroundings and find peace in what they see.” In Summer and Fall of 2024, Naccarato will host teaching workshops at The Lott House to engage the community in nature-inspired art by combining drawing and abstractions. Participants will experiment with rotation, repetition, and scale to establish strong compositions of plant life. Exact dates to be announced soon.
About Diana Naccarato
Diana Naccarato was born in Brooklyn, New York. She received her MFA from The City College of New York in 2018, and her BFA from State University of New York at New Paltz in 2013. Naccarato has exhibited at Kunstraum in Brooklyn, Townhouse Gallery in Stamford, and Unison Arts in New Paltz.
She has been an artist in residence at Nocefresca in Sardinia, Italy; Kunstraum in Brooklyn, New York; Elsewhere Studios in Paonia, Colorado; and most recently at a virtual residency at SomoS, Berlin. In 2022 and 2024, she received a grant from Professional Staff Congress (CUNY). Diana Naccarato lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband.
About the Hendrick I. Lott House
The Friends of the Lott House was founded by a group of architects and community members who were passionate about preserving the historic Lott House, which was unoccupied and in a state of disrepair. Today, the Friends of the Lott House continues to be composed of community volunteers who are working in collaboration with NYC Parks and Historic House Trust towards restoring the interior of the house and opening it to the public. Friends of the Lott House’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history and material culture of the 1720 and 1800 Hendrick I. Lott farmhouse in Marine Park, Brooklyn. It aims to educate and engage the public about this historic structure; the Lott family; the farm; the community of enslaved, immigrant and native-born workers; and the history of southern Brooklyn through interpretive programming.