Monday, May 14, 2012

Field Trip #5 Guidelines

HUA101.1064

Field Trip #5: Chelsea Galleries

DUE: 5/21


The galleries in Chelsea represent the art marketplace. Unlike the museums and other non-profit art spaces that we have visited, the majority of these galleries are commercial spaces. This means that their primary function is to make money. They do so by selling artwork. Galleries generally have a list of artists whose work they represent. The galleries regularly change their shows to display work by each of their represented artists. 

For this reaction, you will assume the role of an art collector. Collectors are part-investors, part-art lovers. Their big-money purchases help keep commercial galleries in business, and by proxy, help keep their favorite artists making work. However, the art market is a fickle beast…an artist whose work is fashionable today may be all but forgotten in ten years. This is why the best advice for any collector is to buy what you like. Even if your investment doesn’t make any returns, at least you have something that you like to look at!

For your writing, select exhibitions from two galleries: one artist whose work you would like to collect, and one artist whose work you would not like to collect. For each show, consider these questions: What do you like/dislike about this artist’s work? Why do you think that this artist’s work is/isn’t a good investment? Would you want to display the artwork, or keep it in storage?  Describe two examples of artwork from each exhibition to back-up your decisions. Also, make sure to reference the gallery names as well as the artists’ names in the body of your writing. Your writing should be at least 350 words and posted to your blog under the heading “Chelsea Galleries Reaction” with the label “Field Trip 5”. At the end of your post, cite your four artworks in the following format:

Artist’s Full Name

“Title of Work” (written in quotations)

Year Completed

*At most galleries, this information is available at the reception desk.


Most galleries in Chelsea are open Tues – Sat, from 10am – 6pm, which unfortunately means that we cannot go during class time. If you are available this Thurs, from 11am – 12pm, I will be there with another class. You may meet me then for extra credit. Otherwise, you will need to go sometime on your own.


There are literally hundreds of galleries to see in Chelsea, so here is a short list of galleries that I recommend. However, you are free to explore and find galleries on your own. A list of galleries and exhibitions can be perused online at: http://www.artcat.com/neighborhoods/1



Gallery: David Zwirner Gallery

Location: 533 West 19th St.

Artist(s) on Display: Yan Pei-Ming


Gallery: Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

Location: 521 West 21st St.

Artist(s) on Display: Ernesto Neto


Gallery: Gagosian Gallery

Location: 522 West 21st St.

Artist(s) on Display: Richard Avedon


Gallery: Sonnabend

Location: 536 West 22nd St.

Artist(s) on Display: Gilbert & George


Gallery: Matthew Marks Gallery

Location: 522 West 22nd St.

Artist(s) on Display: Brice Marden


Gallery: Barbara Gladstone Gallery

Location: 515 West 24th St.

Artist(s) on Display: Anish Kapoor


Gallery: Metro Pictures

Location: 519 West 24th St.

Artist(s) on Display: Cindy Sherman


Gallery: Lehmann Maupin

Location: 540 West 26th St.

Artist(s) on Display: Gilbert & George


Gallery: Greene Naftali

Location: 508 West 26th St.

Artist(s) on Display: Rachel Harrison