User:Vlad Tolstoy/sandbox

Pocket Utopia, founded in 2007 by artist Austin Thomas, began as an alternative artists' space "in an old storefront on Flushing Avenue." After hosting exhibitions, salon discussions and other events for two years, Thomas closed the gallery to focus on her own art practice. Two years later, in 2012, Pocket Utopia reopened on Henry Street in Manhattan, and, according to art critic Roberta Smith, became "one of the more singular bright spots in the Lower East Side firmament." The new Pocket Utopia represented five artists: Sharon Butler (publisher of Two Coats of Paint ), Paul D'Agostino (director of Centotto ), Kris Graves (director of +Kris Graves Projects ), Ellen Letcher (Co-founder of the now-closed gallery Famous Accountants ), and Matthew Miller. The merger with Hansel and Gretel Picture Garden came after a brief collaboration between the two galleries beginning with Austin Thomas’ presentation of her drawing practice, "Utopian."

(1) (2) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/arts/design/the-thrill-of-the-ideal-richard-tuttle-the-reinhart-project.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C[%22RI%3A10%22%2C%22RI%3A17%22] (2)Two Coats of Paint (3)Centotto (4)+Kris Graves Projects (5)Famous Accountants (6) (7)