Adventures in the New York art world

Somewhere over the ocean 2 hours from NZ
3:47am Australian time, 1:47pm NYC time

I managed to get to about 18 galleries on that last day in NYC all around the Lower East Side (LES).  The area feels a lot like Richmond in the Vietnamese section Victoria Street.  Lots of grocers, cheap tailors and restaurants ect ect.  And I remember thinking to myself that it smells exactly the same as its Melbourne equivalent.  Not a bad smell, but very distinctive. 

Once again a lot of the galleries were of the commercial gallery ilk.  And there were a few really stand out examples of Art wankers who were so engrossed in the work that they couldn’t be bothered acknowledging you.   One space had these two people, in full arts worker look discussing contacting some gallery or other while they stared at their giant Mac’s.  The whole time there was this Vietnamese father and his little son struggling to get the door open and calling out for help.  In another place the woman there asked me if my photos were for private use (I had already asked another staff member if I could take some shots) When I told her I was a teacher she was suddenly interested in where I taught. I promptly told her, some where in Melbourne.  Oh, Australia, she replied in a tone, and went back to her office.  At least she knew of Melbourne and where it was in the world, unlike some other people I have spoken too.

That said there were some nice and friendly people along the way as well, one woman reminded me so much of The Nanny (remember that sitcom) it was brilliant, she was lovely in a “I’m not sure what the answer is” right now...sort of way.  And there were a few smaller alternative spaces along the way as well.  One that had only just opened by a husband and wife team, which I was happy to have found.