On April 4, 2012, a newly restored “paradise” in the Bronx will open to the public for a two-month long exhibition. Located along the Grand Concourse, the Andrew Freedman Home, originally opened in 1924, is a beautiful historic mansion that was originally built to be a haven, a paradise, for the rich elderly who had lost their fortunes. Now, the contemporary public art organization, No Longer Empty, will present “This Side of Paradise” inside the Home as a way of preserving the history but also reconnecting the Home to the present realities of today’s Bronx.

The Home’s grand former ballrooms, wood paneled library, billiards room, and 20 individual bedrooms will be transformed into site-specific artworks with artists actually using many of the found documents, objects, or furniture in their installations. The exhibition will highlight issues such as memory, immigration, storytelling, aging, and the creation of fantasy that the original concept of the Home “being poor in style” suggests. This Side of Paradise will celebrate human ingenuity, the strength of the human spirit and the resilience needed to fashion beauty, hope and rejoicing.

There will be an opening reception on Wednesday, April 4, and theme-public programming will take place onsite and off throughout the exhibit’s duration. You can find more details and information here.

The Andrew Freedman Home is located at 1125 Grand Concourse Bronx NY at 167th Street, along the B,D and 4 subway lines. “This Side of Paradise” runs from April 4 to June 5, 2012, Thursday to Sun 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

+ This Side of Paradise + No Longer Empty