Here it is another Hell’s Kitchen Art Festival studio tour. This year because of movie commitments i decided to exhibit my work in a local restaurant called braai , 329 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019 (212) 315-3315. One can just stop by and see my work without buying anything but i’d hope you contact me and buy a picture to hang in your house to cheer you up.
Very interesting menu and a great luncheon special at $12.95 which mary and i hope to try very soon. The place is very open and airy with their rear skylight along with a friendly staff.
Mary is also showing at Basmati Restaurant – 764 Ninth Avenue (btw. 51st and 52nd St) as part of the Artist tour. see her link for pictures of her work.
I’ve been involved with the Hell’s Kitchen Festival from the beginning and putting together an event like this isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s an all volunteer event usually held around the Ninth Ave Food festival weekend to draw more people. The Hells Kitchen Guild Association publishes a magazine highlighting the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and artist living in the area.
At one time this neighborhood was the home to many actors who worked in the many local theaters. Since redevelopment in the neighborhood due to it’s central location a project in the 70’s called Manhattan Plaza was formed using HUD monies providing a certain percentage of apartments to people involved in the performing arts. This has been an anchor to the neighborhood and performing arts community providing affordable housing and a decent place to live.
Local artist have a very difficult time finding affordable housing in this multi million dollar housing market. Across the street from me Verizon has sold part of it’s building to real estate developers converting the top floors into multi million condo’s. The hospital behind me and next door is being converted to luxury apartment rentals.
So the Art of money seems to be the new American art form along with our local PBS station being the riches station in the network while providing no local produced shows. I sometimes wonder did i go into the wrong business ? Does anyone care about the arts anymore?
From my limited perspective i see some wonderful art streaming along the internet inspiring all who visit it. But that’s just it one has to go looking for it and in this fragmented society we don’t seem to be doing much exploring. This maybe the final frontier, we have found the enemy and it is us.
I hope not.
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