ABC No Rio the long-lived activist cultural center in the Lower East Side of New York is celebrating 45 years of life and struggle with a timeline exhibition in April at the Emily Harvey Foundation, historic seat of the Fluxus movement. We invite our out-of-town community, past and present, to participate by sending in “mail art” for this show – in effect, a correspondence of remembrances of people, exhibits and performances, images of work seen in the long-demolished 156 Rivington building, texts of poetry or spoken word. Or what you like. Send us a letter!
We need physical materials by March 23, 2025 or as soon as possible — the show runs the month of April so at least before the end of April. Send to – ABC NO RIO 45, 123 Scribner Avenue, Staten Island, NY USA. Please include an email address to confirm receipt. Questions? abcnorio45@yahoo.com
Hunh? What?
ABC No Rio is a collectively-run center for art and activism. It is an internationally known venue for oppositional culture. The center was founded in 1980 after an occupation by artists committed to political and social engagement, values we retain to the present.
We cross-pollinate between artists and activists. ABC is a place where people share resources and ideas to impact society, culture, and community. Our dream is cadres of actively aware artists and artfully aware activists.
Our community is committed to social justice, equality, anti-authoritarianism, autonomous action, collective processes, and nurturing alternative structures and institutions operating on such principles. Our community includes punks who embrace the DIY ethos, express positive outrage, and reject corporate commercialism. It includes nomads, squatters, fringe dwellers, and those among society’s disenfranchised who find at ABC No Rio a place to be heard and valued.
ABC’s new building is rising now, after decades of work by our beloved director, Steven Englander, RIP. We hope to be in it by Spring of ‘26. During the construction period ABC No Rio programs and operations continue “in exile” at other venues. Coordination is out of the office, archive and Zine Library temporarily housed at the Clemente Center down the block.
#ABCNoRio #ABCNoRio45Years @ABCNoRio.org collaborating: #MoRUSMuseum