In Brooklyn stands a body entrapped in glass. It’s a medley of flowery, crushed materials like amber trapping an insect, frozen in time. It’s beautiful yet alarming. From the side the view is reminiscent of the anatomy of the human body, meticulous glass slices that give it a 3-D illusion. This sculpture stops everyone in their tracks at Pioneer Works, a former factory that operated until the end of World War II. It’s now a non-profit organization that houses interdisciplinary works, residencies, and artistic events. Pioneer Works’ spacious brick building allows visitors to freely explore and the remoteness of the location forces you to focus on the art. It’s a space that makes you look in rather than out.

Pioneer Works recently housed Derrick Adam’s solo exhibition On. It held vivid mix media collages of television color bars, hair piece sculptures, and performance videos. Derrick Adams’s art reflects mainstream media’s perception of black culture and the type-casted roles often given to African Americans. His work celebrates the achievements of representation in the recent past and challenges the stereotypes presented by popular culture. Hopefully the present can look back at those moments for a reminder of bringing diverse roles back to the entertainment industry.