From The Peopling of NYC

[edit] Art and Cultural Scene

An Artistic Atmosphere

The neighborhood of Chelsea fosters a strong artistic spirit, as it is evident by the presence of over 200 art galleries as well as by the prevalence of street art around the entire community.

Chelsea Art Museum

The building was originally a lounge for hundreds of longshoremen waiting for work calls in 1915 and later a Christmas ornament factory before becoming the Chelsea Art Museum in 2002. Located across the street from the piers, the Chelsea Art Museum now hosts many exciting exhibits featuring 20th and 21st century art.








The Street Voice

For those who have the creative and artistic mind but are without the credentials to set up an established gallery and have their work put on display in a private gallery, another option is available, that option being to use the neighborhood itself as one's gallery. This is happening quite frequently since Chelsea is a neighborhood with more than its fair share of artists and because it's an ingenious way of getting your work out to the public, and for free nonetheless. Many people choose to tag their work , such as the famous duo Revs & Cost, while others create these masterpieces for their own sake and for the neighborhood's sake. Since these are not displayed in a traditional gallery, artists are much more free to express themselves but of course, they have to be wary that if they offend too many people, it is likely someone will get rid of it by covering it with something new. It is that fleeting sense, the sense that these works are not up for long, that adds to the beauty of the pieces from the view of the beholder because it's as if you've stumbled upon a hidden treasure that only you a few others have had the chance to enjoy.

The Gay Makeup

Chelsea from the beginning has been a place for settlement in the gay community. Living in regular apartment buildings, they improved these living spaces into luxurious accommodations transforming Chelsea into what it is today. Due to the large amount of money that gay people are willing to spend on their homes, new condominiums and luxury apartment buildings that are under construction are targeting the gay community. Leading Real Estate companies like Corcoran have mottos such as "Live who you are." Therefore indirectly making Chelsea a place where living spaces are on high demand and expensive that only the wealthy and educated can afford. In spite of this fact Chelsea proves to be a very relaxed, calmed and open-minded place for those who can't conform to society's norms. Chelsea, now a safe haven, has a growing influx of gay population from Greenwich Village. The center of gay life is heavily concentrated along Eighth Avenue, where businesses, especially nightclubs and bars, are targeted towards gay people. The establishment of A Different Light in 1983, a gay and lesbian bookstore, further reaffirms the migration of the gay community into Chelsea. Splash, a gay club on 17th and 6th ave welcomes a majority of white men over the age of 21. About a block away is Heaven, another gay club that attracts a majority of black and hispanics. Other clubs are situated all around Chelsea such as Barracuda and Secret Lounge, as well as those that welcome both the straight and gay community such as Avalon. It is to no surprise then that Chelsea is a neighborhood full of diversity and a busy night life.

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