One woman’s Thursday night art world odyssey in the East Village and beyond.

This past Thursday, like most Thursdays of late, art enthusiasts, collectors and artists themselves both young and old crowded the galleries in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Like many other businesses, art galleries (particularly opening receptions) have experienced a resurgence as covid restrictions are lifted and the weather gets warmer. 

Gallery owners sometimes double as curators, help with installation, are content creators and so forth. With the help of social media, galleries, artists and their supporters are able to spread the word about these opening receptions, and many people see this as an opportunity to meet the artist they may have been following only virtually. Those involved in the art scene feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves. Many of the older community members compare it to ‘the old days’ in art when artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Harring were living and working in downtown Manhattan. 

Although the spring art season is just starting, the word is getting out, and the galleries of the East Village are exercising ever-expanding impact on the art scene in NYC and beyond. Gallery owner Kerri Lindstrom of EV Gallery calls her East 11th Street gallery a “micro art space” that shows up-and-coming artists and hosts a wide range of other events, including performance art, music, film and neighborhood gatherings. Lindstrom is all about building community around her thriving art space and while it may be small, EV Gallery is in such demand that its calendar is full until 2023. Interested artists should, nonetheless, reach out to see if Lindstrom and EV Gallery might host their work at some point, even if that means waiting a few months.

Another East Village staple for gallery-hoppers is The Main Event, where there’s always a DJ playing on opening nights in the front and art, vintage clothing, records and, oh yeah, weed in the back. Gallery hopping in the East Village is the haute thing to do on a Thursday night. Surround yourself with amazing art, grab a glass of wine (or a joint) and meet your people. (Someone is bound to invite you to an afterparty.) The different galleries offer something for every artistic taste, and did I mention beer and wine? Here’s a recap of the shows we attended this Thursday. 

O'Flaherty's, 55 Avenue C, Anthea Hamilton  “The Pillow Book”

The most attended opening other than the Art Expo at Pier 36 was at a larger gallery that just opened its doors in its permanent space this year. British Artist Anthea Hamilton, in her first solo show in NYC, drew attendees that were packed wall to wall in the large space. The artist had placed boulders along the checkerboard tiled gallery floors, and attendees took selfies with wallpaper of nuns behind bars as the backdrop. Almost everyone had a drink in hand, including the artist, who wore an unassuming black cardigan and orange scarf. B Scene Zine asked “Do you think people here understand what they are seeing?” To which Hamilton replied: “Not really, but they are here, and everyone interprets art differently, yes?” We asked the artist for a photo but she was too tired, so we went across the street to a deli, fetched her a bottle of water and left her in a corner of the gallery to rest. It was very difficult to get a feel of the art itself, due to the crowd and noise, still the experience was amazing, the beer was great and we will definitely be back to check out the art itself.

The Main Event, 42 Ave. B, Issac Abrams “The Second Dimension”

Main Event usually draws a very spiritual, down-to-earth crowd, and this past Thursday was no different. Psychedelic art enthusiasts filed into the gallery to see artworks by the man who originally coined the term “psychedelic art” in the 60’s. To go along with the art, Keith Shocklee of PublicEnemy DJ’d well into the night as people mingled among the art. The colors of Abram’s works were vibrant against the white walls. While the artist was not present, attendees could meet with the gallery owner Jay Bulger who is always eager to share his knowledge of the arts and his vision for the gallery. Jay considers his space to be a ‘High Art Gallery’ and welcomes everyone, smokers and not, to indulge in the shows he often curates himself. 

EV. Gallery, 621 E. 11th St., José Fresán, “The Graphic Resistance”

In a bright, open gallery space onlookers were surrounded by work featuring thick red paint on white paper. Simple graphics of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and other poignant yet politically charged images set the tone for the show. “The Graphic Resistance” was a step back into the reality of the sociopolitical turmoil many have been experiencing. There was no wine, there were no crowds of 20-somethings mingling among the art. This show was a message and it was heard loud and clear whether you entered the gallery or not.  Walking by, one could not help but look into the window of the gallery. The artist will be in attendance April 15, 22 and 23, B Scene Zine will definitely be back.

West Chelsea Contemporary, 231 10th Ave., “An Evening With Phoebe New York”

Phoebe, the character, is indeed more recognizable to the average New Yorker than the artist herself. Going along with the theme of her public anonymity, she seems out of place among her followers with their Gucci bags and purebred dogs. The displayed pieces are striking and political. The face behind the character, Libby Schotettle was in attendance, but most did not recognize her, as she wore New Balance sneakers, pants and a blue shirt/blazer along with a hat that simply said “Thursday.” B Scene Zine spoke with the artist who said she prefers to stay out of the public eye, and believes her work “is like a different take on street art.” We describe it as street art meets fine art meets collage meets Banksy. The character, Phoebe, itself has an appeal to a certain crowd, sporting the same look as dolls in old Steve Madden ads. Phrases such as “Down The Rabbit Hole,” “Meltdown” and “Get Over Yourself” in cut-out letters of different shapes and colors overlay the images. Schotelle includes reference to artists like Roy Litchenstein and Andy Worhol in some of her pieces, giving them a very pop art appeal.