"No Mustard" by Ryan Higgins

In an homage to yard flamingos everywhere, a Ditmas Park basement-turned-art-haven is launching “The Lawn Show”—an afternoon-long Brooklyn version of a sculpture garden. The show’s organized by the Dirty Dirty, an alternative studio space for artists to branch out a bit from their everyday work. You may not find many garden gnomes on the lawn Saturday, but you will be treated to a variety of weird and wonky works from Brooklyn sculptors like Sarah Granett, Ryan Higgins, Elisa Lendvay and a bunch of others. The announcement on Ditmas Park Blog says BYOB, so apparently, the B is a welcome part of the show. Saturday, May 8, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

672 Westminster Road, between Glenwood Rd. and Foster Ave. Q train to Newkirk Ave.

Fancy artist like Itziar Barrio will be selling at the pop-up sale. (But this piece probably isn't $50.)

We Brokelynites love art. Of course we’re cultural like that! As Brokelynites, we also sometimes (have to) categorize “art sales” under “wish list.” Not this weekend, guys! Dumbo Arts Center—the group behind the annual Art Under the Bridge fest—brings you the Great Pop-Up Art Sale, a three-day exhibition and sale of affordable artworks. Brokelyn is co-sponsoring this event, so it’s no wonder the prices start at $50. Half of those proceeds go to DAC’s efforts to support the creation of new art, and the other half goes to the artists. But the glory of finding a unique piece that you can actually afford–that all goes to you.

The Great Pop-Up Art Sale
Fri., February 26, 6-9pm, Sat., February 27, 12-8pm,  Sun., February 28, 12-6pm.
Dumbo Art Center, 30 Washington St., 718-694-0831

So you think you can take pictures? So do tens of millions of other Flickr poolers. Next month, aspiring Man Rays can find out if they have what it takes to make it in the increasingly competitive, decreasingly remunerative photography field at the powerHouse Portfolio Review.

Like a speed-dating version of art school, the review allows a photographer at any level of accomplishment to have her work critiqued in five 20-minute sessions with different professionals in the field on Sunday, Feb. 28. (more…)

Tomorrow there’s a rare opportunity to rub shoulders with contemporary comics greats and snag a one-of-a-kind gifts at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival, a free event co-created by Desert Island and Picturebox. The con boasts more than 50 artists/exhibitors from local talent (Michael Kupperman of Tales Designed to Thrizzle, VICE contributor Lisa Hanawalt, Mome regular Dash Shaw) to some big names (Charles Burns, Adrian Tomine, Gary Panter). The fest will be held at Our Lady of Consolation Church (184 Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg), from 11 to 7, while nearby at Secret Project Robot (128 River St. at Metropolitan), the artists will be giving various lectures from 1 to 6. Following the day’s festivities, there will be a free show at Death By Audio (49 S. 2nd St Between Kent & Wythe) starting at 9pm.

The Williamsburg Art & Historical Center.

It’s only Monday, but we wanted to tell you about a Brooklyn-wide gallery hop that Marty Markowitz has put together for this weekend. Five free buses will be doing loops around our artiest neighborhoods (Bay Ridge? OK cool), every hour on the hour from 1 to 6, on Saturday or Sunday, depending upon which area you’re browsing. Bring your wallet, if there’s anything in it, because docents will be stationed at the galleries and along the bus rides dispensing art-buying advice. See below for pickup spots, and make your reservations now—they want people to RSVP to this thing in advance or you might have to hoof it. Register by phone at 718-802-3530 or email smart@visitbrooklyn.org. You have to give your name, phone number or email, and specify which hub and time you want. You can only make reservations for two people at a time.  (more…)

This is not one of those precious thingy blogs that goes around digging up all these sweet little trinkets for you to covet. OK, sometimes it is that kind of blog, like right now, because we noticed that an artist named Ryan Berkeley was going to be selling his portraits of animals in formal dress at the Renegade Craft Fair, and we had to have a merchy moment. We have a dozen of Berkley’s prints, because 1) they have that edgy-cute aesthetic that is to Brooklyn parents what Martha Stewart is to Connecticut brides and 2) they’re seriously underpriced: only $8 for a 5 x 7 or $ 15 for an 8 x 10. (Please don’t show him this post.) See more in his Etsy shop or stop by the Renegade Craft Fair tomorrow and Sunday at McCarren Park.

If it’s spring in Brooklyn, there must be an open-studio event somewhere. This weekend there are two: an art crawl in Bushwick, where you’ll see the likes of this elegantly twisted painting from Hannah Mishin (That girl’s on a mission!) along with work presented by 249 other galleries and artists. Open studios are tomorrow and Sunday from noon to 7. Get more info and a downloadable map here. Then there’s the Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk, with loads of artists and deals at 35 area restaurants. From 1 to 6 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday. (more…)

Ah, open studios…the perfect storm of home-grown artsiness, free snacks and real-estate voyeurism. It’s no accident that the weekend-long Red Hook/Carroll Gardens Studio Tour is co-sponsored by Prudential Douglas-Elliman, but here’s featured painter Spring Hofeldt’s idea of “Affordable Housing” (left). Seems a safe bet that a lot of art will be a little more affordable than usual this year. Find out more at the art crawl’s official web site. *Broker-friendly new neighborhood name.