The Arts in NYC

2

What was YOUR favorite part of Chelsea?

Dear Arts in NYC class (except Andreas),

The trip we took to the Chelsea Galleries was, how do you say, a "mad good" experience. Never would I have guessed that there was such a remarkable treasure trove of artwork in such an obscure location in the lower districts of Manhattan. Devoid of the familiar large bustling crowds of NYC and incessant needless advertising, the Chelsea Galleries were an ideal place to gather and really experience pure art. Unlike any film or broadway show, with all the previews and hackneyed themes, each gallery kept us guessing. I really had no idea what to expect while entering one building after the next. I was more intrigued in the two and a half hours at the galleries than all museums I've visited in the last seventeen years. The artwork invoked emotions (I recall being surprised, spooked, disgusted, and amused) and curiosity (the "green" room). It made me notice that my appreciation for art has grown with my age and with all the places I've been, owing to my beloved class with Mr. Judell.

Among all the artwork I saw at Chelsea, my favorite has to have been the white circular room with the bold blue paintings emphasizing the use of perspective in art. The combination of the soft cloud-colored glow emanating from the ceiling, the soothing quiet music that eased my nerves and made the time stand still, and the smooth circular shape of the room made that gallery the highlight of my day.

(taken from Elaine's post. Thanks Elaine!)

Here is a list of galleries I remember visiting that day:
-The White Circular Room (aka heaven)
-The Giant Red/White/Blue Creatures
-The Paintings with the Popcorn Matrices
-The Giant Latex Worm
-The Chinese Man in the Field of Red Flags
-The Room of Mirrors
-The Brick Walls
-The Letters Written on Sky Backgrounds
-The Funky Smelling Cowboy Room
-The Cow Flesh
-The Horror Gallery, with the Drowning/Peaceful Woman
-The Black Canvases Lying on the Floor
-The Flowers inspired by Dante’s Inferno
-The Art with Words Inscribed in Faces
-The Dioramas
-The Green Window that led to Nowhere

That’s all I could think of for now. Check it out and post your favorite or any memories from that day.

P.S. Despite the downpour, I had a great time that day. Did anyone else feel like each store window was a gallery while you went home?

Yours,
Michael Cheng