When you get to Red Hook, look for a yellow sign.

The Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC) is indubitably a quintessential Brooklyn organization and nothing proves that more than the spring art show, Nailed, on view from May 8 – June 13, 2010.

This exhibit set inside a civil war warehouse on the Red Hook waterfront near the colossal Fairway market (click here for Ferry schedule), with a vista of New York Harbor is the venue in which BWAC carries out it’s two missions: the first, to help emerging artists advance their careers; the second to present the art-of-today in an easily accessible format.

Anyone who walks in can say confidently that BWAC goes above and beyond to accomplish these aims. It’s vaguely personal feel and obvious historical look lends a quiet charm.  The wooden floors and economical yet spacious arrangement  contrasts to the large, airy and sometimes intimidating spaces of other galleries around NYC.  A free snack bar doesn’t hurt the cause.

Just as important as the room they are in, the variety of artwork and artists featured in this exhibit makes it just as diverse as Brooklyn itself.  When you walk in a giant portrait of Abe Lincoln done entirely in ballpoint pen stares back at you.  Pen isn’t the most remarkable media in and of itself, but that’s what makes everything so unique — from acrylic to twigs to solid steel are used to create a multitude artworks from the purely representational to the infinitely abstract.

One thing all the works in Nailed have in common is that all the artists are alive.  In fact “ Support Living Artists” is what they put on stickers that everyone receives for free as they walk in.  What’s not for free, rightfully so, are the pieces on display; that’s right, most of the art is for sale for anywhere from twenty dollars to a few thousand.  All in the name of, you guessed it, supporting living artists.  If that wasn’t enough, there are free concerts on Sundays that go by the name of Unplugged in Red Hook.  It’s literally an unplugged performance: the musicians play without the aid of electronics.

When it comes down to it you’ve got art, free food, music and a great view, all in one place.  What more could you want?