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 Like bees in a hive
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| Central Park West. 3:59 PM. Photo: JH. |
Friday, January 14, 2011. Getting colder in New York. Like winter.
Word came yesterday from Rosina Rucci that fashion designer Bill Dugan died over the Christmas holiday at the home of his family in Albany. He had been unwell for sometime. He’d been prevented from returning to New York the following day because of the blizzard. He died the following night, peacefully and surrounded by his family. Bill had a long career working for Halston, and later had his own line as well as private clients. Ralph Rucci, Bill’s longtime friend and Bill’s wife of many years, Nancy North will host a memorial for him next week at Ralph’s studio. |
| On the ride through the park coming uptown to 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. 2:50 pm |
| Two beauties tied up outside the market. I waited for the owner to come out. She was smiling with treats for them as she exited the store. I told her that it was dangerous to leave her dogs unattended on a city street. She said that they were safe because everyone in the neighborhood knew them. I reminded her that not everyone in the neighborhood is from the neighborhood and that people steal these guys to sell for purposes that are fatal to the animals. I know this is somber and serious and can sound just this side of scolding, but it is important to impress upon ourselves that we are responsible for protecting our loved ones, and these are loved ones. |
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I went down Chelsea last night with my friend Charlie Scheips to a couple of gallery openings. I get invited to these things but rarely go because I don’t know the crowd and feel like a fish out of water, as they say. Going with Charlie is fun because he’s part of that world, knows a lot of people and knows what the art is about so he can assist my eye.
We started out at the David Nolan Gallery at 527 West 29th Street which is over between 10th and 11th. That part of town looks like it was – the industrial area. Except now at night the sidewalks are filled with people because it’s mainly art galleries. There are something like 400 art galleries in Chelsea. |
| The crowd at the David Nolan Gallery last night, 7 PM. |
| Charlie Scheips with Jacqueline Miro, who curated the show with Tim Nye. |
Shoes by Bruce Conner. |
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I always enjoy their parties simply because they are so different from the uptown black tie nights or even the non-black tie events. The art crowd is mainly but not entirely young, full of all ages and points of view. There’s a costume element, a business element, an attitude element, a creative element. And an absurd element. All in one space. Plus there is the art which is an important part of the party because it mingles along with everybody else. It’s not separated or isolated -- despite being anchored to a spot on the wall or ceiling or floor -- even if no one is looking at it.
Because it’s talking the same language and doesn’t go away like the rest of us.
At the Nolan Gallery was a show curated by Tim Nye and Jacqueline Miro. The exhibition was titled “Bella Pacifica; Bay Area Abstraction, 1946-1063, a Symphony in Four Parts.” Last night’s was First Movement: 6 Gallery, or “An Array of Influences, heard Softly” featured artists: Jess, Bruce Conner, Jay DeFeo, Sonia Gechtoff, Wally Hedrick, James Kelly, Deborah Remington, Hassel Smith. |
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| January White Sale curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody. |
Beth Rudin DeWoody and John Markus. |
From the Nolan Gallery we hiked down a couple blocks (it was getting colder) to the Loretta Howard Gallery at Loretta Howard Gallery at 525-531 West 26th Street. That block was jammed with traffic, both car and foot. Several galleries were having shows.
The Gallery, two stories on the third and fourth floors, was jammed. This is my picture of a Chelsea art opening. Remember, I’m a tourist and likely to remain one, but a tourist enjoying it. A classic art crowd: everything. Groups, trios, duos, little bunches, singles, solitaries. In very contemporary get-ups, meaning a plethora of designs.
Sixty artists involved, put together, curated by Beth. I took a few shots of some of the extensive collection of works and pieces. Again, it was an opening, very often not the best time to see the art. But it was there and talking the same language, and impeccably. You will like it.
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| Looking down to the first floor of the Loretta Howard Gallery last night for the opening of Beth DeWoody's January White Sale exhibit. |
| Jay Johnson and Tom Cashin. |
Ann Dexter Jones. |
| Rachel Hovnanian. |
Rose Hartman. |
| Elizabeth Fekkai, Eneas Capalbo, and Lavinia Snyder. |
Gallery owner Loretta Howard. |
| Hugh Bush, who is exhibiting in the show. |
Jessica Mezzacappa and Lisa Bytner. |
| Guests exiting the second floor of the exhibit. |
| West 25th Street outside the Loretta Howard Gallery last night at 8:30 PM. |
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Afterwards, we went over to Moran’s, the bar-restaurant on 24th and 10th. I’d never been before but Charlie’s eaten there often both lunch and dinner. It’s been there for many years going back at least to the 1940s and 50s. Charlie recommended it because he said the food was good and not expensive. It’s spiffy with a great barroom, fireplaces with real fires. It’s very popular with the people in the art business, as well as artists. www.moransrestaurant.com.
We ran into Alice and Paul Judelson. Paul had just returned from London a few hours before. He’d made a quick trip (two days) over for some meetings and to see the Gauguin show at the Tate. He had pictures of some of them on his iPhone which he showed us. Beautiful. Paul’s having an opening at his gallery this week also, and a dinner for the opening next Saturday. It’s the Art World. Everybody knows everybody and knows everything about everybody and what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with. And what the art is that causes it all. It’s fascinating to watch even from the farthest sidelines because it’s its own little world, like bees in a hive as Alice Judelson remarked. |
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