Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

March 27, 2019

Art exhibit to takeover vacant Union Place retail space

Photo | Eric Ben-Kiki 62-82 Union Place in Hartford is being turned into a streetfront art exhibit.
By Joe Cooper

The owner of EBK Picture Framing in Hartford’s South End is transforming vacant retail space at Union Place into a streetfront art exhibit featuring local artists.

The gallery, at 62-82 Union Place, will be on display this weekend or early next week, according to Eric Ben-Kiki, who owns the frame-shop at 1429 Park St.

Ben-Kiki said the Union Place space downtown is being donated by Lisa Drazen, regional manager of Union Place Realty LLC.

The hope is that the streetfront exhibit will showcase local contemporary artists while also promoting the vacant retail space, which sits across from the Hartford train station.

“The idea for me is to approach property management firms to get as much empty storefronts downtown as possible to bring contemporary art streetfront across the city,” he said. “It’s a mutual arrangement: I’m marketing the art, they’re marketing the space.

Billed as “Inside Out Project: Hartford,” the gallery will showcase local art in 21 retail windows at Union Place that are currently covered up while the display modules are being positioned.

A grand opening is planned for Friday, April 26.

The artwork, available for purchase, will be rotated every four months, said Ben-Kiki.

The exhibit will be dismantled and relocated once the storefronts are leased.

Ben-Kiki closed his Pearl Street art space in December. His main operation is located in a Parkville neighborhood building also occupied by Hog River Brewing, reSET Social Enterprise Trust and Pine & Iron Axe Throwing.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF