February 25, 2010 -- THROUGH THE HEART OF IT ALL.  One after the next, they trudged through the horizontal-blowing snow on Thursday, most focusing more on the icy sidewalk than on the body of a naked woman, who stood in a gallery window in Greenwich Village.
Then, not long after the nude woman, Megan Hanford, assumed her pose, a patrol car rolled toward Chair and the Maiden Gallery.  The police vehicle rolled slowly, paused for a moment, and then kept going.  For full article
www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/nyregion/26naked.html

New York Post,  February 26, 2010
Manhattan artist Brian Reed, who created the shark egg and wire sculpture that is suspended over the model in the window, says that her nudity is an absolutely essential to displaying his art.  Police officers disagreed, and on Sunday stopped at the gallery to ask Megan to get out of the window.  But she was back yesterday, presenting herself to Christopher Street.  In a telephone interview yesterday, NYPD Deputy Comissioner Paul Browne said that police were not likely to interfere again.  For full article
www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/storefront_nude_art_or_tart
New York (AP) -- DECENT EXPOSURES AT CHAIR AND THE MAIDEN GALLERY. A New York City photographer gives himself 30 seconds to take 10 shots of nude models on the subway. Fearing arrest, Zach Hyman also keeps bail money handy, takes along a lookout for police and keeps his lawyer on speed dial. He also takes nude photos in Times Square and Chinatown. During a recent shoot on a subway car, one woman screamed while an elderly man started shaking. Most passengers, though, were blase. An exhibit of 14 of his images opens Thursday at Chair and Maiden Gallery in Manhattan. Hyman says he's inspired by nude paintings at the Met. He insists his photos aren't pornographic. People's private parts, he says, are "one of the unifying aspects of being human."
Friday, August 21, 2009 Thursday, August 20 Zach Hyman "Decent Exposures" at Chair and the Maiden 19 Christopher street, 6-8pm About a block away from the Stonewall Inn, the noteworthy Chair and the Maiden gallery, despite the 100-degree heat index, had a crowd spilling way out into the street in every direction. It could have been because of the free (& seemingly unlimited - tip your server well! - Grey Goose, but more likely was the explosion of media coverage that followed the morning New York Post page 3 article on Zach with the byline "Striphanger", featuring the fetching image of a gorgeous and naked young lady squatting on the floor of an L train. In fact, I found out about the show from peering over the shoulder of another straphanger on the morning commute, as were many others. And the gallery owners David Zelikovsky and John Dabu, as well as their attractive female assistants, the photographer, and his models were all the nicest damn people you could want to meet. A completely atypical Manhattan gallery experience. Photographers were running around snapping pictures of every group of people they could find, then asking who was who, hoping they got someone of note in the shot. Times art critic Roberta Smith was there and quickly began attracting her own flock, but the night belonged to Zach, and well deserved. The largish photos of men and women (all very fit and attractive) posing nude in public were striking and well composed, considering how quickly he works (30 seconds, 10 shots) and that he uses FILM, not digital. Of course, my camera's battery died in the dripping heat, hence I am relying on other's shots for this blog entry. Despite the exceedingly high quotient of beautiful people - 75% either were or could be fashion models - someone, perhaps stroking out from the heat and vodka, asked me (possibly the oldest person there by a decade) if I were a model. I thought about anwering, "Well, in my younger days, I was the face of Geritol!", but I knew they were way too young to get the joke. Quite the contrast at the next event. at “Iran Inside Out” (fundraiser Summer Soiree Series) Chelsea Art Museum
Shari Belafonte's New York City Exhibit David Zelikovsky With Shari Belafonte And John Dabu The other night at the opening of Shari Belafonte’s first New York art exhibition at the Chair and the Maiden gallery, guests enjoyed chocolate truffles and tails while perusing Mythostories, a series of 380 photographs. Bebe Neuwirth stopped by the exhibit as well as the entire Belafonte clan. Her father, Harry Belafonte was unable to attend Shari’s opening, however, he showed his support by purchasing two pieces from her collection. He will also be present, with his wife Pam, for the public fundraiser at the Chair and the Maiden gallery, featuring a performance by Sham El Nessim, on February 24, 2009.The Chair and the Maiden Gallery is displaying 22 key pieces of the next installment of photographs revealing the story of an autistic little boy who takes pictures across the universe. Shari Belafonte is a true renaissance woman. During her career she has worked as a producer, actor, singer, and model. She has graced the covers of hundreds of magazines worldwide, appearing five times on Vogue’s cover alone. She is actively involved with the Lili Claire Foundation for children who suffer with neuro-genetic birth conditions such as Williams Syndrome, Down Syndrome and Autism. She is also involved in special events for The ANIR Foundation, who raises awareness regarding issues affecting Southern Africa such as HIV/AIDS, homelessness, ecology, community, issues specific to children and women. Chair and the Maiden Gallery and Shari Belafonte are donating 20% of all proceeds from the exhibit to the Lili Claire Foundation and The ANIR Foundation. The exhibit is open to the public thru Sunday, March 15, 2009. Source: Shari Belafonte's New York City Exhibit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2009 Back by popular demand, Shari Belafonte returns to Chair and the  Maiden Gallery with the latest installation of her ongoing epic, Mythostories.  On May 3 the Janelle Reichman Group will help usher  in the return of Mythostories with a special performance of selected recently composed musical  works.

Mythostories is a continuing saga of Justin, an orphaned autistic  child and his chaperone, Djak, his cybernanny.  Together they travel  throughout the universe, recording every encounter with his trusty  camera.  The beauty behind Mythostories lies within its  assumption and demand that autism is not a handicap, but just a   different reality; its purpose to eliminate and "normalize" the  perception of these special children.

Mythostories will be on exhibition at Chair and the Maiden  Gallery, 19 Christopher Street, NYC through May 24.  Twenty percent  of all proceeds will benefit the Lili Claire Foundation, a
foundation  addressing issues of neurogenetically affected children and their  
families that has been staunchly supported by the late Danny Gans and  The Anir Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating Southern   Africa on many issues, AIDS being
one of them.
June 30, 2009 12:52PM EDT

The Art Gallery on Christopher Street Looks Back
The Chair and the Maiden Art Gallery displays an exhibit on Stonewall history. By Julia Dunn The Chair and the Maiden Art Gallery, near the Stonewall Inn, portrays Suzanne Poli's work from the Stonewall Riots 40 years ago to today's pride parades and held a reception for the artist on Thursday June 25 while displaying the images the week leading up to the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.  The house was packed for the artist reception Thursday evening. Many viewers gazed for long periods of time at the black and white photos Among other colorful images were characters in costumes confronting the NYPD. The photos prompted a lot of discussion and strong reactions from viewers. A unique celebration of images took place on Thursday June 25 to commemorate and look back over the history of the gay rights movement and the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. “It was a different time, the passions of people were far greater in a way. It was different, you had more stake in the time and in what was going on then,” said artist Suzanne Poli. The Chair and the Maiden Art Gallery, on Christopher street just feet from the Stonewall Inn, displayed the work of Poli last week. Poli’s collection displayed pictures taken from the very riots themselves, and other events following including protests, pride parades and demonstrations that occurred over the last 40 years. Poli’s vast collection of images, both filled with bright colors and in classic black and white, displayed a history and a legacy that the LGBT community celebrated globally on the exact date June 28. The collection portrayed images from the original riots in black and white, and progressed through time with colors and parades and was filled with celebration and exuberant color. The range of emotions Poli captures is truly stunning. Owners of the gallery and curators of the exhibit David Zelikovsky and John Dabu were extremely excited to be hosting the show and displaying some of Poli’s work. “It’s amazing how she really has caught New York,” Dabu said. Zelikovsky was very excited to be hosting the special showing the week of the 40th anniversary of the riots and to look back on a different time period. “The idea is to always remember the roots and where its from and the progression,” Zelikovsky said. Zelikovsky and Dabu founded the gallery two years ago outside of the Chelsea art gallery circuit and outside of the mold. Zelikovsky explained that the gallery has an open door policy, and that he will personally advise anyone who walks through their doors regardless of whether it turns into a shot or not. “The idea was to host emerging artists, and we’re kind of anti-establishment,” Zelikovsky said. Zelikovsky spoke about the need for an exhibit to capture the original anger and rebellion of the Stonewall Riots to remind a community of its past. “Most of the corporations know it’s a celebration, but they don’t know why they’re celebrating, they don’t know where it comes from,” Zelikovsky said. “It came from fire and broken glasses, how many people you interview now would even have an idea, they think of it as a celebration and more of a pride thing than a history thing.”“The photos really are a snapshot of things that you may not have seen but you just think that you’re a part of it, you can always imagine that ‘I was there too,’” DAbu said.
February 15, 2009 Last Thursday night at Chair and the Maiden Gallery on 19 Christopher Street, there was an opening of Shari Belafonte's Mythostories. It was a reunion of sorts for the whole Belafonte Family including Harry Belafonte. Invited guests include Bebe Neuwirth, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Whoopi Goldberg. The exhibition runs through March 15th.
Opening of Mythostories by Shari Belafonte Mythostories by Shari Belafonte. On February 12, 2009, Chair and the Maiden Gallery held an opening for Mythostories, the first New York exhibition by Shari Belafonte, daughter of famed actor Harry Belafonte. Mythostories is a series of 380 pieces, 42 of which are installed in the Danny Ganz Center at the Lili Claire Foundation at Las Vegas, Nevada School of Medicine. The Chair and the Maiden Gallery is displaying 22 key pieces of the next installment of photographs revealing the story of an autistic little boy who takes photographs across the universe. Chair and the Maiden Gallery and Shari Belafonte are donating 20% of all proceeds from the exhibit to the Lili Claire Foundation and The ANIR Foundation. The exhibit will be open to the public through Sunday, March 15, 2009.
History as Texture
GOODBYE BABYLON
Chair and the Maiden Gallery
19 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
January 6, 2009 8:00 PM - 8:45 PM

Sham El Nessim is a three-piece mixed-media mindfuck.  Dru Barnes pours sulfuric acid on records, literally melting sonic history as he spins it.  Brian Lindgren waxes discordant and sometimes sweetly on his viola; the end result is ambient terror and occassionally tonal relief.

The turntable and strings serve as commentary on Tim Rusterholz's stunning future-past computer music.  Using nothing more than a shitty Compaq laptop, the ancient BASIC computer language, and a pallette of 256 colors, Rusterholz makes chips sing and dance in their own language and gestures.  The animation and the music are randomly generated within pre-programmed constraints.

By far Sham El Nessim's strongest piece is "Bird."  Rusterholz's computer randomly sings what appear to be two pulsating towers of color onto the monitors--and onto the walls, LCD screens, and street outside.  Barnes provides ominous, dissipating static from the turntables--soul records and old-timey folk melt as he pours more acid on.  Lindgren punctuates it all with sharp viola stabs.

Then the towers disappear, and all you see are flying colors.  From the turntables, white noise and twentieth-century music wrestle with one another.  The viola is something baroque.

The packed gallery is silent.  The people who've gathered on Christopher Street outside are silent.  It is January 6th, 2009.

Goodbye, Babylon.


 

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