Eye Fascination 1

MacKenzie Friedmann (@jonesmcgee_) is an artist located in Queens. She is primarily a musician, creating with bands, loser cruiser and A Bunch of Dead People, but enjoys dipping her toes in many mediums including visual art, writing, acting, and both art and photo modeling. She finds that the practice of each art form deeply informs the others and has always been intrigued by the infinite perspectives to be learned throughout life’s interactions.  

Her installation from August / September 2024  invited the question: 

When have you gotten a glimpse of someone’s
inner world? 

Here’s what our neighbors responded: 

“When they were at their most vulnerable state, but most of all when spending time with that person or people in a more domestic setting, even if not necessarily their actual homes.  

Another way is when you discover in conversation with a person that they do something in such a similar way as you, that you can completely empathize with them, because up until that point you've never met or talked to anyone that would have understood such a thing from your point of view.” 

“Once at Bliss Plaza I saw an older woman shuffling along, pushing a cart, looking at the ground. Then she heard some music, and she straightened up, like a ballet class had begun. And she did a few steps with such grace and skill—and joy. I don’t know anything else about her, except that she had that dance within her.” 

“When cooking with other people.” 

Neighbor George Libbares had his response picked at random, and he’s now the proud owner of “Eye Fascination 1.” When we gathered for MacKenzie to hand off the work to George, they chatted about acting, making music and film, and about taking courageous creative risks. Wonderful to see neighbors connecting around art—that’s the big goal of this gallery!