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You will be forgiven for confusing an art opening in New York’s gallery district of Chelsea with a nightclub. When I whipped down to Manhattan for two days to attend the opening of an exhibition of paintings by my late father, William Perehudoff at BERRY CAMPBELL gallery, I entered a strange and wild scene made up of art critics, artsy students with backpacks (and hey, watch out for the artwork, you luddite!), ambitiously hip artists, tourists, art lovers and overly-enthusiastic men who descend on Chelsea on Thursday evenings in the hopes of meeting fashionable women.
To experience New York at its most exuberant and visual best, I suggest you add yourself to the mix next time you’re in Manhattan. Here’s how to do it:
When to go
Opening nights in Chelsea happen on Thursday evenings, generally from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Art galleries that stay open late are the ones that are showcasing new exhibitions – usually about once a month. There are so many galleries you’re sure to find something to your liking – and yes, I know you have refined tastes, but you’re not going to get much better than this.
“Chelsea,” according to gallery owner Martha Campbell, “is what Soho was in the 90s.”
“It’s bursting with energy,” says Christine Berry, the other half of BERRY CAMPBELL. “It’s exploding. It’s where everything is at.” (Um, can you tell Christine likes Chelsea?)
Where are the art galleries?
To get to the heart of the art, start at the corner of 10th Ave and 24th West. Look out for the gas station with the sheep (you heard me). Stroll west on 24th and mill around the surrounding streets. Go into any gallery that is open while trying to look earnest and intellectual. (I’m kidding. They won’t kick you out for having a blank look on your face. At least they let me stay.)
BERRY CAMPBELL, if you’re interested, is at 530 West 24th.
What to expect at an art opening in Chelsea
Everything. In Chelsea there are mega galleries and smaller galleries, established er, establishments, and galleries just starting out. You’ll find all types and stripes. Besides the art, expect crowds! Action! Excitement! The William Perehudoff exhibition was jammed.
The downside
Because of the crowds it can be impossible to get a good look at the art (at least it was when I was there), so I went back the next day and took Chelsea at a slower pace.
Ah, so peaceful.
It’s also, shall we say, illuminating, to see the art in daylight.
These are two family favourites – the elegant horizontal above and the ephemeral brown and yellow below. (We call it Ghost. It’s kind of like a member of our family.)
Galleries to visit in Chelsea
I polled some gallery owners and critics (actually one gallery owner and one critic) and came up with some Chelsea art gallery standouts:
Check out Edward Thorp in the Baron building on 11th Avenue between 24th and 25th. (Same building as Stella McCartney, how chic!). I saw a show by Matthew Blackwell that was stunning and so inventive.
Don’t miss some of the mega galleries that create the superstars:
Pace is on West 25th Street. (Here I saw a show by the ever-interesting Zhang Huang, the same artist who did The Rising outside the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto.)
Hauser & Wirth on West 18th Street
Gagosian on West 24th Street
So go, enjoy, and unleash your hidden – or not so hidden – artistic side … because gallery night in Chelsea will beat a nightclub every time.
Perehudoff daughters Catherine and Rebecca, gallery owners Christine Berry and Martha Campbell, moi and William Perehudoff’s granddaughter, Molly Minton. Catch you at the next show.
Read more:
About BERRY CAMPBELL
William Perehudoff paintings of the 80s
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The conflict stems from not knowing… from wishing and hoping and believing that this could be a long lost work by Kenneth Noland. However, if you have the time, please Google “Nolandesque.” Someone responded to my posting on Pinterest with an LOL, to which I replied:
Go to Google Images and study KN paintings… Noland worked on
> the floor, he has several out there off an 80″ roll of canvas,
> he used a soak stain technique….and study his colors…. his
> friend and mentor (Clement Greenberg) advised him to get rid of
> paintings that were too similar to those of other artists…it
> is a confirmed fact that Noland discarded or destroyed a number
> of such paintings…what if this is one of those thrown away
> masterpieces — look closely. Kenworth Moffet[t] wrote to me
> and said he did not think it was a Noland but an Edward
> Avedisian. Avedisian did his beach balls in acrylic — and none
> have both height and width at the 80 x 80 mark…. his rolls of
> canvas were not as wide…. most if not all were signed… (go
> to the Carrie Haddad website in Hudson, NY). And the colors are
> very Nolandesque as well. I believe this is a transitional
> piece between his stripe/chevrons and his targets… he has done
> other things to
> experiment… he was known for experimenting. And KN did not
> sign other works. An[d]y Williams’ son sold his Dad’s circle by
> KN for several million… this is not what I am looking for…
> although it would be nice. What if…
That’s my conflict, the “What if.” I sent a follow-up to this to Mr. Moffet, and he is still convinced it is not a Noland. He was the one who told me about the Berry Campbell Gallery. I looked at the photograph of the Avedisian works and immediately recognized from the edge of the painting on the left that Avedisian also painted on the floor. Why is it that Noland works are worth so much more? I do not believe that Mr. Avedisian has received the kind of recognition he deserves — fortunately, this gallery exhibition will begin to change that.
Does soak-staining work with diluted acrylic paint the way it does with oil? When I looked into Avedisian works, it seemed all his beach balls were done in acrylic…. from the photos I have on ETSY, you can see how the paint soaked through the canvas. I am not a painter, or an expert. I just use what I learn, and I ask questions. Then of course there is the size of the work….
Who knows….
I believe it is wonderful painting too, but with ten cats and three dogs on a farm in the country, there is no place for it. That’s why I have it listed on ETSY… although I am told I should work with an auction house….
Mr. Moffet is probably right. It is an Avedisian, and a nice one…so how should I proceed?
What a gorgeous painting. I can imagine you’re conflicted about selling it. Thanks for visiting.
The “ephemeral brown and yellow” seems to channel a warm and loving positive energy from beyond… My father, who passed away in 2003 was also a painter and collector. His works are priceless, but I am selling off his collection. One in particular is an 80″ x 80″ Beach Ball… I have it on ETSY now…. https://www.etsy.com/listing/162832772/a-nolandesque-80×80-striped-circle-1960s?ref=shop_home_active I was searching for an email address for Berry Campbell, and I came across your blog. I need to drive down to NYC and visit their gallery. #Nolandesque
Oh my goodness, Carol, I was just days behind you, standing right at that gas station sheep meadow right just before I hung a wish on Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree. Your father’s paintings looked so gorgeous, as vivid and fresh as the day they were completed. It was a pleasure to meet and talk with Christine and Martha. I noticed the High Line passes practically right over Berry Campbell (and other galleries on 24th) with High Line stair access at 23rd. So that would be a great way to get down there, on a sunny day…
wow!!!! it looks fabulous…what else to expect…..living with one of your dad’s big paintings is one of my rules for living well
Fantastic show. I love the pink painting in Photo 127. When I sell a best-selling book it will be my first purchase assuming one of those art lovers in the crowd doesn’t buy it first.
fun to see and read! Thanks for sharing. Really like your blog. Congratulations on the show. It sure looks good!
Thanks, Dave. Sweet of you.
Congratulations! Looks like a rocking showing of your Dad’s work.
The Irving Penn photo show is worth a look too….