Every week, Artnet News brings you Wet Paint, a gossip column from original scoops. If you have any advice, email Annie Armstrong at [email protected].
AN ARTIST-RUN GALLERY EXPANDS ON HENRY STREET
Here in the Fresh paint universe, one of our favorite short stories is about an artist starting his own gallery. He regularly leads to exciting projects and imaginative programming. Obviously, the column had a a lot of pleasure with Jamian Juliano VillaniIt is freewheeling and overshooting space O’Flaherty’sand last fall Rachel Rossinthe project space in an abandoned place Dunkin’ Donuts-it’s called THE Dunkunsthalle—made his big debut and helped foster the fledgling scene in the financial district Since.
Starting this week, Wet Paint can now confirm that a third artist will be hanging a shingle, completing the trend. Down in the Group of rambling and imaginative galleries on Henry Streetthe famous text assembler Jack Pierson is about to open what I understand will be a mixed-use gallery/studio space.
“I heard it was going to be, like, an extended living room for him,” said a gallery employee in the area who has spotted Pierson around the neighborhood a lot lately. Another told me they had heard it would operate much like a vintage store, which makes sense given the artist’s propensity for collecting abandoned signs from the streets. In case you didn’t know, the artist debuted as a star in 2003 Whitney Biennial and is most associated with sculptures that spell out punky phrases or catchy names using colorful case letters. (A piece reading “GERTRUDE STEIN” from junkyard lettering is currently on display just up the street at james fuentes; Pierson’s main galleries are Thaddee Ropac, Lisson, Xavier HufkensAnd Regeneration projects.)
The artist takes over the lease of Leo Fitzpatrickwhose experimental space Public access To 105 Henry Street just hosted his last show after two years of occupying the space. According to dealers in the area, there was something of a space race to see who would get their hands on the lease, which is remarkably cheap at $3,000 a month. “There was a bit of drama,” a nearby gallery owner told me. “But we’re all eager to see what Jack will do with space.” Another said to me, “We wanted to make sure it wasn’t a hike coming into the neighborhood.
If the neighbors seem a little clicky, that’s fine with me. A walk through the neighborhood while returning this piece reminded me of how much the exciting energy of the community was stimulated there and how much interesting art there was to see, whether a gesture painting of Joe Messer To 56 Henrya critical portrait Dean Kissick by Sven Loven To No gallerythe buzzing and energetic paintings of Francisco Tavoni To ATM Galleryor the elaborate puzzles of Lucy Charlesworth Freeman To Will Shottamong many others.
Pierson hasn’t replied to me for further comment on what to expect, viz. his vision of space, but let’s stay tuned.
AN ART ADVISOR ENTERS A SANDWICHERIE
This is from the oddity department. For downtown gallery owners, Via Quadrano is a popular joint for a good lunch to break up the working day. It’s just a hop, hop and hop away from Frick, Nahmad Contemporary, Gagosian downtown, new Sotheby’sand the charming, close-memory Italian bistro is perfectly situated to serve affordable paninis and authentic pasta Milanese to their visitors and employees.
It was, recently, the consideration set that made an anonymous friend of Fresh paint interested in the restaurant recently so went to its website – in fact they accidentally went to the closed Via Quadronno website 88th Street and Madison location—and called the number listed to reserve a table. Imagine their surprise when the person on the line replies, “Hello, this is Schwartzman & Advisory Serviceshow can I help you?”
I tested and it is true. If you follow the number listed on the restaurant’s website for their now defunct spin-offthe number indicated will take you directly to the reception of the foundation New Museum staff member and former Sotheby’s rainmaker (I know, I know, tip #34) Allan Schwartzmanconsulting company.
“Unfortunately this happens a lot,” the front desk clerk told me on the phone when I asked how many people were calling to order a panini, reserve a table, or whatever. “We really don’t know how our numbers intersected.”
When I called Schwartzman to see if he knew what the deal was, I was met with a near-hysterical adviser. “I didn’t know that, and it’s just one more surreal part of my day now,” he said. He confirmed that it was not, in fact, an elaborate advertising ruse to appeal to the restaurant’s high-profile clientele. A potential unexpected benefit of confusion: “Maybe since we share a number, we can have the delivery delivered outside of their delivery area!”
WE HEAR
The T-shirt Chloe Sevigny worn in larry clarkIt is Children is exposed to Museum of the City of New York…the hum Dimes Square sushi restaurant Time firm (I mean a bar designed by Camilla Deterre maybe take his place?), but it didn’t stop Adam Alessi for having organized the afterparty of his solo exhibition at Clearing in space… the Italian Art Magazine museum is expanding by opening a new pavilion designed by Miguel Quismodo And Alberto Camp Baeza this summer… The Francis Bacon painting that is split by ARTEX MTF is the room that once lived in Roald Dahlthe collection… Francois Ghebaly opens up a new space Rome…
spotted
In classic Andrea Fraser style, the performer was passionate about her speech in support of Triple canopy poking himself in the face *** Arden Wohl, Eileen MylesAnd Lizzie Bougatsos read poetry for the public outside St. Mark’s Church *** Joe Nahmad got hitched in SardiniaAnd Simon de Pury, Leo Di Caprio, Venus And Serena Williams were all there for the party that would have racked up a $12.9 million score *** Matthew Higgs, Moulins MoranAnd Ivy Getty are part of the art world Swifties who walked to New Jersey for last weekend’s “Eras” tour *** MoMA famous Ellsworth Kellythe new local holiday namesake status (mark your calendars for May 31st as Ellsworth Kelly Day!), And Fred Everley, Rachel HarrisonAnd Wyatt Kahn were among the artists present to celebrate *** Michael Stipe to eat outside To Food before chelsea openings ***
⭐ ? ⭐ CALL FOR CASTING! ⭐ ?️ ?
We’re back, baby! This week, to win a Wet Paint Cap delivered straight out of my apartment, I challenge you to cast the following movie idea with Hollywood actors: Remember When Klaus Biesenbach professed his unrequited love for Marina Abramović at a dinner organized by the MoMA? I want you to choose Biesenbach, Abramović and Agnes Gund for a Mike Nichols-esque tearjerker that follows their two-decade prelude to heartbreaking confession (including their short-lived effort a cohabitation at the time). Email your responses to [email protected]
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