In artist Simon Evans‘ world, the stories that we tell ourselves are the most important part and often the only way that we can find meaning in where we’ve been, where we are and where we might wind up eventually. His appropriately named exhibit, ‚”Island Time,” showing at the James Cohan Gallery through April 4th, hints at the loneliness inherent in life when home becomes nothing but a reconstructed memory. We’re left searching for an allusive sense of belonging and purpose in an entirely new place and all we’ve got is a nearly endless succession of days ahead.

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Whether you call it street art or vandalism, graffiti has become synonymous with life in New York City and at its root is a form that’s as American as Jazz. For those that do it, words like “love” and “addiction” describe the act, fulfilling any number of needs from being known and expressing personal style to political protest and membership in an exclusive community. Words like “damage” and “destruction” don’t seem to provide the driving motivation, unless of course you’re looking at the world through the eyes of a city cop. Theirs is a lens of black and white, where even if your name happens to be Yoshitomo Nara, if you don’t have permission and you’re caught, you’re going to spend some time down at central booking that night.
This difference of opinion took the spotlight at powerHouse Arena in Brooklyn last night as personalities from both sides — artists Ket, Cope2, and Ellis G with former officers Rivera, Mona and Chiuli — came together in a temporary truce to discuss retired officer Joseph Rivera’s new book, “Vandal Squad: Inside the New York City Transit Police Department, 1984-2004.” And while the atmosphere was mostly one of mutual respect, there was still some underlying tension at play, prompting some great one liners and lively exchanges.

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Housed in a wedge-shaped Meatpacking District building with a checkered past — former tenants include a Civil War Hospital and three S&M bars — the Ivy Brown Gallery provides the perfect backdrop for photographer Julian Hibbard‘s show, ‚”The Noir A-Z,” on display now through April 16th. The exhibit features ten limited edition photographs laced with enough impending peril and shadowy intrigue to transport the audience to the seedy underbelly of life. Populated by classic archetypes come to life from the pulpy pages of hard-boiled detective fiction, we’re introduced to a world filled with seductive femme fatales and faceless calculating killers.

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