A Closer Look at Tom Fruin's Neon Sign for Brooklyn's Wythe Hotel

If North Brooklynites haven't yet had a cocktail in the swank bar at Wythe Hotel, they've at least noticed the newest addition to the neighborhood: A fifty-foot-tall, glowing "HOTEL" sign mounted vertically on the corner of Wythe and N. 11th in Williamsburg. As it's virtually impossible to not see, we though we'd get a closer look and find out more.

The five-story, 72-room hotel, a turn-of-the-century factory and former cooperage (barrel and cask-making) that officially opened on May 1st, commissioned artist Tom Fruin to design and build a permanent sculptural installation for them. As source material, Fruin used old found metal signs from New York City.

"The signs, featuring hand-painted fruit and pizza, air conditioner repair advertisements, warnings and phone numbers, were found all over town from a demolished pizza deli in DUMBO to a converted paper supply warehouse on the bowery. Many were liberated from construction dumpsters or discovered in the street. One sign features 3D artwork by graffiti artist Dan Witz, dating to the mid-90s."

After collecting enough bright, text-heavy signage, Fruin hand-riveted the pieces together to serve as the base for red neon tubing. Fruin's previous work uses similar materials, most often collaged with other found objects.

Head over to Fruin's site to see more work--though might we suggest tackling its immensity for yourself by perusing a few of our Welding & Fabrication classes.

Go Here Now: Brooklyn's CharitySub Reimagines Philanthropy

We're always on the lookout for new initiatives and ideas that fit into the Future of Money infographic that we shared back in December. In February, for instance, we told you about Carrotmob's "buycotts." Now we're thrilled to highlight a new website that's based right here in Brooklyn.

Straight out of Carroll Gardens, CharitySub makes supporting good causes simple and easy. Each month the website picks three worthy nonprofits that are working toward similar goals. Then its subscribers, who chip in a modest $5 per month, get to choose which of those organizations receive their money. This month's "Working Dogs" theme, for instance, offers the option of supporting Angel On A Leash's therapy dogs, Canine Partners for Life's service dogs or Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue.

To make sure that its subscribers' money will be put to good use, CharitySub carefully selects its charities based on their impact, fiscal responsibility and transparency. It also provides subscribers with statistics on their giving and shareable illustrated reports on how charities have used their donations.

By automating the giving process, taking care of the research and footwork and pooling funds to make a bigger impact, CharitySub is an exciting and inspiring example of how the power of emerging economic systems can be harnessed for good. The only hard part will be deciding which of those cute and heroic pups to support.

-- John Ruscher

Happening Now: BAM's Annual Silent Auction

Anyone who lives in Brooklyn and doesn't regularly go to BAM for a play, performance or movie simply isn't getting the most out of the borough. What other arts institution hosts both experimental opera and screenings of Die Hard (followed by a Q&A with Alan Rickman)!? Well, now they're holding another event worthy of a quick trip to Fort Greene: their annual Silent Auction.

If you haven't guessed already, one of the reasons BAM is able to produce so many innovative programs at reasonable prices is because they rely on donations. So if you're feeling charitable, check out some of the art up for auction, including pieces by Cindy Sherman, Richard Serra, Nan Goldin, Glen Ligon, Mickalene Thomas, Nate Lowman and several other emerging Brooklyn artists.

"Plate Distortion II," by Brooklyn-native Tauba Auerbach (pictured way up above) has already sold, but you still have until April 22 to get your bid in on most of the other offerings. You don't even have to be wealthy to take home something great. We're contemplating placing our bids on Michael De Lucia's "Cylinder (Violet)" or maybe Matthew Jensen's "On the way to, #14." 

Regardless, Check out the entire auction online and stop by BAM to see what's on display in the lobby. Get your culture on, people!

Kickstarter Pick: Brooklyn Grange Apiary Project

Locals might be familiar with Brooklyn Grange, a 40,000 square-foot rooftop farm (that's actually located in Long Island City, Queens) and holds open markets and supplies Brooklyn restaurants like Roberta's, Marlow & Sons, Fatty 'Cue and Juliette. Brooklyn Grange has sought funding on Kickstarter before, but this time it's for a completely new venture: bees. They already have a few apiaries on the roof to pollinate their produce, but this new initiative would add 20-30 new hives, enough to pollinate 60,000 acres. 

People get excited about bee byproducts like raw honey (anyone who's licked a fresh honeycomb knows what we're talking about), but pollination is the chief goal here--and with more frequent reports of colony collapse disorder, keeping up the bee population is a legitimate concern. As Brooklyn Grange is a community-based organization, the Kickstarter funds won't go exclusively towards buying bees and equipment--they'll also help fund an apprenticeship program training "aspiring urban beekeepers." And if these future beekeepers agree to mentor the next apprenticeship in line, they'll be given their very own hive to tend.

Furthermore, Brooklyn Grange's master beekeepers are attempting to breed a local line of bees and queens specially adapted to NYC conditions. Pledge $50 or more by Thursday, April 19th and get a jar of what we'll bet is the tastiest honey in town.

Brooklyn's Hyperakt: Making Infographics Look Easy

It's no secret we at 3rd Ward are self-proclaimed infographics geeks. Though last week, I was lucky enough to visit Deroy Peraza and Julia Vakser Zeltser at Hyperakt, their lovely studio in Carroll Gardens. They've created some pretty exciting projects, one being Teach, which you might have heard them live pitch to Kurt Anderson on Studio 360. In just one week they developed a comprehensive strategy to rebrand the teaching profession, replacing the traditional "apple crapple" with a sophisticated brand ID that educators can be proud of. 

As students of illustration in college, Peraza and Zeltser's current work comes packaged with a strong visual sense. Nowhere is this clearer than in the information graphics they've created for GOOD Magazine and The New York Times--not to mention Thomson Reuters Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Acumen Fund, Ford Foundation and Google. Hyperakt makes presenting statistics in an engaging way look simple, though the amount of work that goes into each one is painfully evident. Hit the jump now to see what we mean.

And after perusing the infographics down below, check out the rest of their work--and learn infographics 101 with 3rd Ward's classes in InDesign, Illustrator and Processing: an Introduction to Interactive Media. Oh right, we even offer a course in Branding. We know the next Peraza and Zeltser are reading this...

-- Perrin Drumm

Kickstarter Pick: The Hundred Story House

Traveling, miniature, movable libraries aren't a new thing, but they are a wonderful thing, acting as both a mobile book lender and a friendly reminder to put down your phone and pick up a book (because, sadly folks, playing Words With Friends doesn't count as a literary pursuit.) The latest mobile library is Brooklyn's Hundred Story House, a "piece of interactive public art" modeled after a Brooklyn brownstone that literally opens its window to lend you books, about a hundred of them. Or at least it will if it gets funded on Kickstarter by March 2nd. 

The project's founders are asking for $13,000 to build, insure and maintain The Hundred Book House, though we'd bet that most of the subsequent maintenance and costs associated with moving the house around to other Brooklyn parks will mostly be a labor of love. And be honest: How can you not support that?

-- Perrin Drumm

ESSENTIAL EVENT // TEDxBrooklyn Comes To Brooklyn Bowl And Livestream This Friday

This Friday, December 2, the second edition of TEDxBrooklyn comes to Brooklyn Bowl, and, while the in-person event itself is sold out, you can still soak up all of the knowledge, creativity and inspiration from afar.

There will be free live screenings of the entire conference at the Knitting Factory in Williamsburg, 61 Local in Cobble Hill and the Brooklyn Brainery in Carroll Gardens. If you can't make it to any of those places, you'll be able to catch all of the action from anywhere else via a live video stream.

Right now you can peruse the TEDxBrooklyn Program Guide [PDF], which features background information on all of the speakers and presenters, such as host and renowned funnyman Eugene Mirman, Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson, architect and designer Susannah Drake and Creators Project coordinators Julia Kaganskiy and Ciel Hunter.

Take a look at the full schedule after the jump and head to one of the venues mentioned above or to the live stream at TEDxBrooklyn.com on Friday, when things will kick off at 9am.

-- John Ruscher

ESSENTIAL EVENT // TEDxBrooklyn Speakers Announced, Tickets On Sale Thursday

This one's still a few weeks away, but tickets go on sale this Thursday and as avid fans of all things TED, we want to make sure you don't miss out.

On Friday, December 2nd, Brooklyn Bowl will host the second TEDxBrooklyn conference. The "x" means that it's an independently organized event granted a license by TED (short for Technology, Entertainment & Design), the world-renowned series of conferences centered around the slogan "ideas worth spreading."

The first TEDxBrooklyn took place last November at the Pratt Institute and featured speakers such as novelist and WNYC host Kurt Andersen, Fabien Cousteau (grandson of Jacques), NYC artist Swoon, and even Richard Saul Wurman, the architect and designer who founded TED back in 1984.

Organizers just announced this year's initial lineup, and we're excited to see that it's got something for everyone, from rooftop farming and aerial acrobats to some of NYC's coolest tech companies and cultural game-changers.

Check out the lineup after the jump, along with a couple video highlights from last year's conference. And remember: tickets go on sale this Thursday, November 10 at 1pm.

TEDxBrooklyn's initial 2011 lineup:

Susannah Drake :: Principal at dlandstudio pllc :: The future of landscape architecture

Blake Whitman :: VP, Creative Development at Vimeo :: Online video community builder extraordinaire

Viraj Puri :: Founder of Gotham Greens :: A rooftop farm in the heart of Brooklyn

Sean Meenan :: Founder of Habana Outpost :: Sustainable hacienda

Lisa Jamhoury and Dana Abrassart :: Independent Aerial Acrobats :: Creatively adorning Brooklyn's airspace, with original musical accompaniment by Philip Joseph Restine III

Jack Walsh :: Executive Producer at Celebrate Brooklyn! :: Legendary performance festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell, produced by BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn

Chad Dickerson :: CEO of Etsy :: The net’s most prosperous online flea market

Jonny Wilson :: Founder of Eclectic Method :: Audiovisual remix producer/DJ

Jullien Gordon :: Purpose Finder :: Innerview.me + 30 Day Do It

Jen Lyon :: Founder of Mean Red Productions :: Brooklyn’s risk-taking event production

Farai Chideya :: Author/Public Radio Host :: Award winning writer & media personality

Laurie Cumbo :: Founder and Executive Director of MoCADA :: Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art

Ruth Ozeki :: Author/Filmmaker :: Ordained Zen minister to kick off the event

Paul Steely White :: Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives :: Reclaiming NYC streets

Eugene Mirman :: Comedian :: Smartest funny man in Brooklyn

-- John Ruscher

Registration Discount // Sunday's DIY Business Association Conference

What: Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference—“a talent show for productivity, a swap meet for arty types, a crucial meeting of the minds, a think tank for the Creative New Economy.”

Who: You and all sorts of aspiring and established creative entrepreneurs. Participate in networking groups and learn from expert panelists including Grace Bonney (founder and editor of Design*Sponge), Andrew Wagner (ReadyMade editor-in-chief), and Chris Kaskie (president of Pitchfork). Click here for a full line-up.

When: Sunday, June 26 with light breakfast, lunch, and beer-and-wine evening reception

Register for HALF DAY: 
Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference for the Music Industry (3–6:30 pm)
Register for FULL DAY: 
Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference (10:45am–6:30pm)

Take advantage of a discounted full-day pass ($99; regular price $125) by entering "3rdward" at registration checkout. 

Where: The DUMBO Loft (55 Water St, Brooklyn) and Etsy Labs (55 Washington St, Brooklyn)

Why: “It takes a community to do it together,” says DIYBA founder Amy Schroder. We couldn’t agree more!