Brooklynite Gallery Debuts "Snake Bite"

On Saturday night, the Brooklynite Gallery held its first show of the year, "Snake Bite," an exhibit centered on the works of Elik, an artist who roamed New York City's streets in the early 2000s.

, the owner of the gallery, said Elik's work - a collection of graffiti and collages - was the perfect fit for the space's first show.

"We shut down the gallery for a little bit because we decided to rethink things, like how we present the shows. We decided to change it to a one person per show, instead of featuring two like we used to do, and really just turn the space over to them. Elik's work reflects this attitude well."

Inside the gallery, Elik's presence was everywhere. There was a boombox taped inside a small wooden phonebooth-like box that blared a hypnotic speech, collages of all sizes covering the inside walls, and large graffiti painted on the concrete outside of the gallery.

As an added bonus, attendees of the show were treated to the sounds of legendary DJ Kool Herc. McGrath said that he was introduced to the inventor of hip-hop through mutual friends, and Herc's music selection - funk and old school classics, ("No 50 Cent," McGrath pointed out) - fit well into the gallery's vibe.

That feeling the Brooklynite gives people is what has made it such a great addition to Bed-Stuy, explained Clay Williams, a resident of the neighborhood for 25 years.

"Brooklynite Gallery doesn't just import an audience of tourists and hipsters into Bed-Stuy, it includes the families and children and music of the neighborhood in what they are doing," he said. "They aren't transforming the area into Williamsburg or DUMBO, they're incorporating art into the community."

McGrath said that he's able to lure street artists - typically a shy bunch because of the nature of what they do - to the gallery because the space is so welcoming. "We want the artists to know that this is an extension of the street," he added.

All signs point to the Brooklynite's new direction being successful, as the night drew a large crowd. They nodded their heads to Kool Herc's musical blend, admired Elik's art, and gave the gallery a huge "welcome back."