No Takers
Is it wrong of me to say that the only nice thing I saw last night was the smiling, welcoming face of the sales clerk at [Jeneral Store](/www.jeneralstoreonline.com)? It wasn't exactly a work of art, per se, but considering the usual non-chalant treatment (READ: ignore) you get from Chelsea boutiques, it was the first surprise I had after an evening of gallery hopping. It was my fault really, after a fairly satisfying experience last week, I made the mistake of returning to the scene of the crime expecting the same results. I had forgotten the first rule of art scenesters: lightning does not strike twice. I mean, I did start the weekend off right by rubbing elbows at the [Genre magazine](www.genremagazine.com) party at The Ritz on Wednesday. I shouldve done something entirely different on Thursday, like a book party, the opening of an Off-Of roadway show or, at the very least, tried the [Conflux Festival](/www.confluxfestival.org) in Williamsburg.
No, instead I was gallery-hopping in Chelsea once again. I did have a couple of memorable stops, though, there was the Martin Creed exhibit, Small Things, which is presented by [CCS Bard](/www.bard.edu/ccs/). Then I ran into Colette, the [Von Lintel](/www.vonlintel.com/index2.html) gallerina, who offered to take me back through time by walking me through the Marco Breuer show, a non-linear exhibition of selected works purportedly from 1892-2007. When I first saw it, I was a little confused by the varying styles, Is this a group show? I wondered. But with Colette by my side, I was looking forward to a new gallery experience, she would be my art sherpa, guiding me through a land of chromogenics, photograms and gum bichromate art techniques. Unfortunately, this Eartha Kitt-looking woman with a giant flower snagged her and I was left in the wild to fend for myself.
Determined to find something worthwhile, I didnt give up, I tried the Beltre/Dolan show at [NY Studio Gallery](/www.nystudiogallery.com/), The Hackett exhibit at [Florence Lynch](/www.florencelynchgallery.com/) and I did see some nice pieces by Giga Bliadze hidden away on the eighth-floor space, [World Fine Art Gallery](/www.worldfineart.com), but nothing was blowing me away. So I did what anyone looking for a little excitement would do: I followed the crowd. I ended up at the [Rush Arts Gallery](/www.rushartsgallery.org/) and Resource Center, where I was told half-haughtily by a guy with a clipboard, Its a private fashion presentation. For the next few seconds, I grew overwhelmingly frustrated that I wasnt on the list, but then I took a second look at the people that were getting in and thought, Ohhhh, Its one of THOSE 'fashion' events. Nevermind.
Photo: Martin Creed: SMALL THINGS, installation view at 508 West 25th Street. Photo by Ellen Page Wilson.