“Alternative Spaces” used to exist in New York City. Artists could show in them via open calls or casual conversations that often led to fun/cobbled together group shows that were accessible and idea oriented. In 1990, when I first came to New York, it seemed as if there was no real barrier to entry to exhibiting without ever stepping into a commercial gallery.
There have been a few articles of late that discuss the birth of the “art industrial complex.” I’m not sure there are any articles on the “death of the alternative space.”
1. Patti Smith To Artists: Don't Come To New York: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/patti-smith-to-artists-do_n_560794.html
2. Saltz on the Death of the Gallery Show, Jerry Saltz: http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/saltz-on-the-death-of-art-gallery-shows.html
3. Lost in the Gallery-Industrial Complex, Holland Cotter Looks at Money in Art: http://nyti.ms/1cAFR6m
It feels like we’ve lost a lot without a funeral or ceremony to mark the cultural space. My question is how can we promote artists work along the lines of ideas in their work outside the market place without the spaces? Are there new alternative spaces I’m missing out on? Is Bushwick the new art epicenter? What are you thinking? Do you agree with my ideas about these institutions and their focus? Would you like to add any institutions or ideas (obviously my list is non-exhaustive)? I’ll gladly incorporate your ideas as a quotation or anonymously. Please email me liberally with thoughts.
Please see the list below:
|
Institution |
Status |
Institutional Exhibition Focus 1990s |
Institutional Exhibition Focus 21st Century |
1. |
ABC No Rio |
Closed |
Emerging artists & political art |
N/A |
2. |
The Alternative Museum |
Closed |
Emerging artists, Artists of Color/Diversity & political art |
N/A |
3. |
Apexart |
Open |
Emerging artists, open calls, Artists of Color/Diversity, studio/residency program & political art |
Emerging artists, open calls, Artists of Color/Diversity, studio/residency program & political art |
4. |
Art in General |
Open |
Emerging artists, group shows, mid-career solos & political art |
Emerging artists, group shows & mid-career solos |
5. |
Artists Space |
Open |
|
Mid-career European conceptual / Established (under-recognized) solos |
6. |
Chasama |
Open |
Performance Art, Emerging artists, studio program |
Studio program, Emerging artists & Performance Art |
7. |
Creative Time |
Open |
Public mid-career solo projects, emerging artists & open calls |
Public mid-career solo projects & Established solo projects |
8. |
Den of Thieves |
Closed |
Emerging artists |
N/A |
9. |
Drawing Center |
Open |
Emerging artists, Drawing Program & mid-career solos |
Emerging artists, Drawing Program & mid-career solos |
10. |
Dumbo Arts Center |
Closed |
|
N/A |
11. |
Exit Art |
Closed |
Emerging artists, Artists of Color/Diversity & political art |
N/A |
12. |
Eyebeam |
Open |
New Media Art, Emerging artists, mid-career solos |
New Media Art, Residencies, Emerging artists & DIY Labs |
13. |
Franklin Furnace |
Open |
Emerging artists & political art |
N/A (digital & performance project support via open call) |
14. |
Gigantic Artspace |
Closed |
Emerging artists & political art |
N/A |
15. |
Harvestworks |
Open |
New Media Art, Emerging artists, mid-career solos |
New Media Art, Emerging artists, mid-career solos |
16. |
Henry Street Settlement |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
17. |
Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity |
18. |
Just Above Midtown |
Closed |
Emerging artists, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
N/A |
19. |
Kenkeleba Gallery |
Open |
Emerging artists, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
|
20. |
The Kitchen |
Open |
Performance Art, New Media Art (video art), Emerging artists, mid-career solos |
Performance Art, Video art, Emerging artists, mid-career solos |
21. |
Longwood Arts Project |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
22. |
Momenta Art |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
23. |
The New Museum |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos & temporary permanent collection |
Mid-career solos, Established (under-recognized) solos & temporary permanent collection |
24. |
Public Art Fund |
Open |
Public mid-career solo projects, emerging artists & open calls |
Public mid-career solo projects & Established solo projects |
25. |
PS1 |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Mid-career / Established (under-recognized) solos |
26. |
The Remote Lounge |
Closed |
|
N/A |
27. |
Sculpture Center |
Open |
Emerging artists, mid-career solos |
Mid-career solos |
28. |
Smack Mellon |
Open |
Emerging artists, studio program & mid-career solos |
Emerging artists, studio program & mid-career solos |
29. |
Socrates Sculpture Park |
Open |
Emerging artists, open calls, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Emerging artists, open calls, mid-career solos, Artist of Color/Diversity |
30. |
Studio Museum in Harlem |
Open |
Studio Program, Emerging artists, Artist of Color/Diversity & political art |
Studio Program, Emerging artists, Artist of Color/Diversity |
31. |
Threadwaxing Space |
Closed |
Emerging artists |
N/A |
32. |
White Columns |
Open |
Emerging artists, group shows, mid-career solos & political art |
Emerging artists, group shows & mid-career solos |
33. |
Whitebox Art Center |
Open |
Emerging artists, New Media Art, video art, political art, mid-career solos & group exhibtions |
Emerging artists, New Media Art, video art, political art, mid-career solos & group exhibtions |
34. |
Whitney, Philip Morris (Altria) |
Closed |
mid-career solo projects |
N/A |
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03.17.14
Hello Kenseth,
There are galleries you did not mention NO Se NO, an alterative venue for performances on Rivingington
St, Lower East Side (no longer exists). NOW gallery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_Gallery) in the East Village (no longer exists), Storefront for Art and Architecture, which used to be much more open to a
variety of exhibitions on Prince St, now it is difficult to show there (still around different location), Fashion Moda, Bronx, El Borica, East Village & etc,….
I do agree with you Kenseth. I will send something else to comment in a later email.
There were many more venues like the ones above in the 1980's and 1990's but many disappeared.
Need to look through my files to remember their names. Many of them I”ve shown at. Good project!!
…
Galeria El Bohio, East Village (not Borica, no longer exists)
Longwood Art Project, Bronx (in a different form)
P.S.1/ClockTower, when it was in Chinatown area, NYC (Only PS1, Queens now)
Neither/Nor Gallery, East Village (no longer exists)
450 Broadway Gallery, NYC (no longer exists)
494 Gallery, NYC (no longer exists)
Todd Ayoung
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03.10.14
Hi K -
Sadly I don't really have the bandwidth to fully expand on this, but from my point of view, and the
thesis we came up with at Cleopatra's and Vox Populi in Philly is that there is a new model - it's self-organized and a bit more professionalized than the artist-initiated group shows of
yesteryear but the projects are looser and more free and untethered than the arguably tricky non-profit status of today’s institutions on your list…
Your list feels a bit dated and excludes a lot of new forms that seem relevant today; I would also argue
a bit with all the instances of 'political art' dropping off as that could be contested, particularly White Columns stands out as showing politically minded art, to me, but it's not on your
docket.
Introduced here:
http://www.pcah.us/grants/self_organized_spaces_on_their_own_terms
discussed a bit further here:
http://www.pcah.us/posts/considering_the_alternatives_talking_with_andrew_suggs_of_vox_populi
Bridget Donahue
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03.09.14
Hi Kenseth,
Interesting effort to summarize shifts in the artworld. I would add a couple of things and make a
couple of corrections. And have an overarching question which I / you may want to chew on.
Adds:
The next few may not be worth listing, but perhaps
New spaces to adds (I think that many younger artists are getting started in these spaces and older artists like you and me still show there—they’re just not in Soho, Chelsea or LES):
Corrections:
Longwood Art Gallery (not Long Wood, […] and I think that though it is Project of Bronx Council, the gallery space is actually called a Gallery)
Two things to think about:
1) With the extreme rise of the commercial side of the artworld, the alternative ship sailed. There are some and I’m glad that they are there. But I think that in NY many young and emerging
artists are showing in commercial galleries. So I’m not sure that trying to rebuild the scene of Exit Art, Franklin Furnace and Threadwaxing space is all that viable.
2) Who cares about NY? Internationally many cities have interesting and important art scenes. And this is true in the US as well. Several artists have left NYC (for Philly, Newark, Houston…)
cause it’s too damn expensive and many aren’t coming and there are good and interesting art things happening around the US. Houston, Chicago, Philly, Miami, Minneapolis, Kansas City and
Charlotte all have really interesting things going on. And that is having national impact—just check this year’s Biennial. And LA has cool things too, but I think that this is changing as some of
the vibrancy that existed 10 years ago is being sucked into the same commercial vortex that ate NY.
Dread Scott
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03.11.14
Hi Kenseth,
Oh yeah and yes, it's all in Bushwick now. You haven't mentioned Brooklyn spaces, Momenta Art, for instance… very important.
…
hey! Been working on a catalog for Momenta where an essay will appear by Maureen Conner. Thought you might be interested as its on the topic on alternative spaces.
…
Franklin Furnace is not closed!
…
some new spaces/efforts
http://www.chashama.org/locations/current
http://nolongerempty.org/
…
04.08.14
Just looking at your list again. I wonder about your inclusion of museums which do NOT have an open
curatorial/submission for artists?. . .
Also this list is missing APEX and White Box. Maybe others will come to mind too...
Sarah Vogwill
http://www.sarahvogwill.com