CHELSEA ART: The New Thirty-Something Block ... - ARTisSpectrum

C h e l s e a Ar t :The New Thirty-Something BlockPartyArticle and photos by Donna L.ClovisYoung artists, plus young collectors,plus newly established galleriesand the love of art equalthe cultural phenomenon sweepingthe Chelsea art district, asthirty-something art enthusiastsflock to galleries. Has the artworld spawned a new generationof young, hip, savvy art aficionadoswho are destined to becometomorrow’s well informed art collectors?The Chelsea art community is boasting ofthe new involvement with the thirty-somethingcrowd. Texting your friends aboutthe newest opening and exhibition is easy.With new artists and emerging galleriesexperimenting with various concepts andideas, the diversity of Chelsea has now cateredto this new audience and market givingnew energy and vitality to art spacesfor creativity.Melissa Sarti, a 32-year-old graduatestudent from Hunter College stands onthe corner of West 25th and 10th Ave. text8 ArtisSpectrummessaging a friend about an art exhibitionthis Thursday night. “Hey Carl, meet meat 6:30 at White Box,” she wrote. “There’san awesome installation I want to see andsome friends I want you to meet.”The Chelsea corner where she standsseems to be a remote one with a taxi stand,a gas station and a crumbling warehousejust below an old, elevated railroad line.But she stands on the edge of the Chelseaart world, the largest museum-likespace of contemporary art in the world.The sidewalk crowd builds as she walkstoward the gallery spaces. She passes alarge glass gallery window and movescloser to get a better glimpse of the hugespace within an old brick factory. Melissapeers through the window. She sees them,clutching glasses of champagne and wine,as the crowd of young guests inside marvelat a new contemporary painting.From Manhattan to Queens, the youngtrendsetters are coming out in droves, andnot just for the wine. Last month at a receptionat Agora Gallery Mary Ellen Hendersonand Daniel Cavazos interviewedand photographed some of the hipsters thatfrequent the gallery. “I like to know what’sgoing on in the galleries in the neighborhood.It’s kind of like for business andpleasure” answers Christina Freeman, aphotographer, when asked why she madea point to come to the reception. “We’reartists by nature; some of us are fashiondesigners, so we have an interest in art.We can truly appreciate it”.Erin Walker and Bren frequent the gallerieson a regular basis, so what keeps themcoming back? “It’s a good chance for usto catch up with each other, and also lookfor inspiration”. However, The Chelseagalleries are not just for those looking toenhance their knowledge of up-and-comingdesign trends in the contemporary artworld. “I like to be able to come out on theweekends, and be able to go from galleryto gallery to gallery. Make an afternoon ofit and go to brunch. Get a group of friendstogether to do something more interestingand define my own taste in art”, offeredJennifer Grace, a publishing assistant fromWired Magazine.