Brewer Harris Projects livens up Syracuse with art and acoustics

When I walked into the inaugural Brewer Harris Projects Live event, I was unsure of how my evening would unfold. But as I took in the colorful paintings, the gentle strums of the guitar and the anticipation and excitement in the air, I knew that I’d leave with a deepened understanding of communal creativity. 

The event was curated by Brewer Harris Projects, a downtown Syracuse art gallery, co-founded by Miesha Shih and Laura Heyman. The gallery is dedicated to celebrating diverse artists and art forms and building community. Hosted by Sofia Gutierrez, the founder of Futures in Public Space and Community Engagement and DEIA Arts Fellow at CNY Arts, the event featured intimate acoustic performances by musicians blending the folk, indie and rock genres.

“We want to have the kind of exhibition space that would be in a major city. But we want to also make it really welcoming to the community,” Heyman said. “Not everybody is comfortable in an art gallery, and these kinds of events help make people comfortable and understand the art is for everybody. We’re also centering the work of artists of color, queer artists and women artists, which feels really essential right now.”

Sofia Violet, a Filipino-Mexican-American singer-songwriter, kicked off the event with a dreamy contrast of breathy vocals with R&B melodies and wry lyricism. The Los Angeles-born artist performed originals like “Terracotta,” “Cuando Me Miras”  and “Glossier,” all of which were inspired by personal experiences. 

“I’m a ‘no sabo’ [a person of Hispanic or Latino heritage who is not fluent in Spanish] kid. It’s the worst thing ever, because my abuela in Mexico will call and our conversations are usually ‘Hola!’ ‘Hola.’ ‘Como estas?’ ‘Bien.’ And then I leave,” she said, revealing the story behind “Cuando Me Miras.”

“I would love to learn more about her and so I’ve been trying to push myself to learn more Spanish, and this was my attempt in writing in Spanish and English. I feel like anyone who’s trying to learn a language should do it in some capacity in a creative way, whatever that may be.”

Rachel Bass, the second performer of the evening, hailed from occupied Onondaga territory. A classically trained guitarist and vocalist, they represented one-half of the local fusion duo, Know Nothing. Their music, shaped by medieval European, colonial American and postcolonial West African influences, explored themes of relational angst, socio-political disappointment and the specter of death. Bass’ set for the evening featured originals like “Home” and “Snow and Salt,” as well as a moving cover of French composer and poet Guillaume de Machaut’s “Je Vivroie Liement.” 

Enhancing the evening’s atmosphere were murals by Mexican artist Manuel Hernandez, which depict the myths and realities behind Latin American contemporary Indigenous narratives. His mix of earthy reds, bright greens and stormy blues address a range of topics, from migration to gender and family, which added another layer of depth and nuance to the space. 

Jessie Elizabeth, a Syracuse-based indie folk/Americana artist known for her emotive storytelling and introspective songwriting, took to the stage next. Her music, inspired by nature and themes of self-discovery, free-spiritedness and an ever-evolving relationship with dynamics, blended multiple genres to reflect her unique Americana sound. Her songs “Hello Venus,” “Stomach” and “Machine” made the space come alive with her raw storytelling and personal connection. 

“The song itself kind of, for me, changed over time. It’s questioning relationships, it’s questioning systems that don’t suit you,” she said, describing her thoughts behind the lyrics in “Machine.” “I wrote it when I was on the edge of taking action and wanting to make a change in myself. I feel like the words mean something different to me now, especially in today’s climate too.”

The evening was brought to a close by Honey for the Bees, a six-member indie-folk group based in Haudenosaunee land, featuring harmony-driven, lyric-heavy songs about queer stories, heartbreak and poetic resistance. Their performance featured four of their six band members, Blake Propst, Alison Mullan-Stout, Kazmira and Natasia White, singing soul-touching hits like “Plenty of Time” and “Exit Strategy.”

The atmosphere at the gallery sizzled with harmonious guitar and ukulele strums that settled in my bones and lyrics that made me feel like someone penned down my thoughts. These weren’t just performances; they were significant, socio-cultural conversations in music, invitations to step into someone else’s world for a few minutes. 

For Brewer Harris Projects, this evening felt like the start of something bigger than the space itself. And if the success of the first ever Brewer Harris Live was any indication, it is obvious that with each show, each exhibition and each gathering, Heyman and Shih are nurturing a place for creativity to thrive in Syracuse – a place where artists know they will be respected and communities can come together to support and heal.