The gallery business, like the world, is constantly changing. Foot traffic is less important to galleries as the internet and art fairs become sales drivers. However, the gallery still plays an important role in providing an in-depth look and context for the art and artists we represent. And so the experience of visiting a gallery needs to be both pleasurable and illuminating.
For these reasons – coupled with the rising rents and oversaturation of art in Chelsea, I decided to move my gallery to the Lower East Side at the beginning of this year. I had never expected to move to the LES. I had been shown spaces on the Bowery in years past which did not particularly appeal to me. However, when my director, Nera Lerner, told me about a space on 95 Rivington Street that was about to be vacated by a French gallery I dutifully went for a look.
It turned out to be love at first sight. I was not a frequenter of the LES but coincidentally had been to a benefit at the Indigo Hotel just around the corner from 95 Rivington the week before and was taken by how fun and pleasant and stimulating the neighborhood was. The streets were crowded and full of energy. Taking the element of kismet even further – it turned out that the soon to be vacated space had been designed by two young people I know extremely well from summers in Bellport – recent RISD graduates Adam Hyman and Georgia Read. I jumped on the space and signed a lease before the outgoing gallery (Christian Berst) had moved out. Three months in I have only gained enthusiasm for the space and the neighborhood.
The Lower East Side is now home to over 50 galleries in the area bound by Canal on the south side, Houston on the north, Clinton on the east, and the Bowery on the west. There’s the New Museum and coming in June the new ICP. In between are all manner of mixed use – restaurants, stores, a food market, tattoo parlors, and tailors who will hem your pants for $5 while you wait! It’s a friendly, funky, relaxed neighborhood. Brooklyn on Houston if you will. And many of the galleries are open on Sundays.
But the most important thing about the Lower East Side is that with the galleries spread out, but still in a manageable area, there is time to linger and to take in the art in a leisurely and contemplative way. It’s a joyful, stimulating place. Come and visit.
INFORMATION
Danziger Gallery
95 Rivington Street
New York, New York 10002
United States
Telephone 212.629.6778
Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Available by appointment only on Mondays
http://www.danzigergallery.com
