Community Art and Performance Space to Open at 734 Nostrand Avenue

734 Nostrand Ave, just north of Park Place, formerly home to Imhotep's vegetarian restaurant, will soon (er or later) become home to Nostrand Avenue's first in recent memory art and performance space.  Liane Fredel, a local resident, purchased the property in 2013 and has spent considerable time upgrading the residential units.  Now she's focusing on the commercial space.  I spoke with her today and she said she will definitely be opening this year.  Being that it's January, that still gives her a lot of time.  In addition to hosting local artists and performers, she plans to offer classes for youth on the weekends.

I had wondered when something would come to the IMHOTEP space.

The uses you are describing seem similar to the plans for Global Square: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/37947/893-dean-st-to-become-arts-performance-space-located-btwn-grand-and-classon/p1

That space has significant financial backing.

Does she hope to break even on her space?

I get the impression she has philanthropic tendencies and doesn't really need to break-even.  I would be nice to have at least one of those on Nostrand Ave!

Work is progressing

Great news. Variety is the spice of progress

Nice!

 The official opening for 734 Nostrand is set for November 11th when photographer Matthew Arnold will present his show “Topography Is Fate”.  This show has travelled widely, having appeared in New Orleans, Philadelphia, Cambridge MA and Houston.  Arnold’s recent honors include being named a Top 50 Emerging Photographer of 2014 by LensCulture Magazine and winning the 2013 Boston Museum of Fine Arts Traveling Fellowship award.  He will be included in an important show next January at the Boston MFA. Previous works include The Tourist—a documentation of the culture of the traveler in today’s society and how it defines one’s home culture. The other, Quiet Isolation, captures one’s internal longing to create a solitary personal space—either within or apart from the larger community.

The gallery is named “happylucky No.1” and is owned by Liane Fredel, a local resident.  Ms. Fredel hopes to attract local artists to exhibit at the space and also is interested in having public talks about topics of interest to community residents.  

This new gallery is set to open tomorrow.  The construction fence just came down today.  Here's a shot from the street of the interior.

With that restaurant style neon flower it appears she is keeping her options open.

Zillow is stating this place sold for $900k back in January 2013.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/734-Nostrand-Ave-Brooklyn-NY-11216/30591959_zpid/

Capt states above that she renovated the residential units as well, so I suspect she has now invested over $1.5M in the building.

....and almost 3 years of her life.

Indeed well over.  You might have also noticed that there is a set of solar panels on the roof.

As a result, I predict she will still be there in 2018, long after most of the new and old businesses on Nostrand have turned over.

I expect people will be willing to travel some distance to see the exhibits. 

I don't like that flower and leaf(?), but I hope they do well and have cool events.

Can't wait to see this exhibit.  I also saw that a Buddhist monk will be creating a sand mandala.

Rachel's piece:  https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151117/crown-heights/photos-new-gallery-art-space-opens-on-nostrand-avenue

Gallery known as Happylucky No.1. ...and will soon exhibit portraits of local residents https://www.facebook.com/events/1647805208818481/

http://www.happyluckyno1.com/traces