Norte Maar rocks another Beat Nite!

Beat Nite made its neighborhood début with Bounce the Beat in February 2009. It featured all the alternative art spaces and galleries in Bushwick, which numbered only seven. Following that initial night, the event as grown into a bi-annual occurrence, offering an awesome neighborhood-wide late night that has been call the most underground, exciting, and fiercely independent pockets of the New York art world by ARTINFO and the Best Neighborhood-Wide Gallery Nite by L Magazine.Last Friday, throngs took to the streets once again for the ninth edition of Beat Nite, featuring just 10 galleries and art spaces selected by guest curator of the night James Panero, art critic and Executive Editor, The New Criterion. The event was sponsored by Hyperallergic with community support from Bodega Wine Bar and Heavywoods. After party beer sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery."Brace yourselves, kids. The mother of all art crawls is upon us again!" reported Bushwick Daily."Beat Nite is THE Bushwick art crawl," says Panero,  "It's a neighborhood celebration where everyone's invited. I've always admired its energy, openness, and do-it-yourself drive. Beat Nite is Bushwick at its best. Come on out! You don't need a passport to get there."I'm honored that Jason Andrew of Norte Maar has tapped me to curate this latest edition. Beat Nite unites Bushwick and the larger art world in moving beyond the gilded graveyards of culture and recognizing a vital alternative spirit for contemporary art."In part Beat Nite serves as an entry point for people new to the neighborhood," adds Panero, "There's the basic question of what I would want them to see. The answer is, first, great art in great DIY spaces. Beyond that, I wanted a selection that would recognize important new venues while honoring the veterans that have given this neighborhood its voice. Finally, I looked for a spread that would encourage visitors beyond the Morgan and Jefferson Street subway stops out into the larger "Bushwick" community, which includes areas of East Williamsburg and Ridgewood."The night was a great success (thousands downloaded the map from our website!) and a party bus organized by Jason Andrew whipped a band of critics and collectors through our diverse and eclectic neighborhood.Here's just some of the great press from the night!Your Weekend Art Guide: Beat Nite Edition by Allison Galgiani, Bushwick DailyHighlights from Friday's Beat Nite by Ben Sutton, ArtInfo3 Critics Pick Their Favorites from Beat Nite, HyperallergicArt F City makes Beat Nite Top Pick, Art F CityWagMag makes Beat Nite Top Pick, WagMagBeat Nite All Stars: a photo essay by CojoBeat Nite: a photo essay by Erik DuRon