The Chelsea Beat and Free Booze Review tears Chelsea a new one... and leads you to a few exceptions

So obviously if your a person in the know this is the down time for most of Chelsea as collectors, artists and dealers have, for the most part, all split the scene for the beaches of South Hampton or Miami to exercise their bank accounts and generally posture for impressions while catching a few rays and severely damaging their livers. Of course those left behind here in the stink and burn of the city are treated to the summer group shows which are pitched as the opportunity for curators and gallery owners to experiment and throw caution to the wind. That always looks good on paper and in print but as you can see for yourself most spaces end up falling into the trappings of pushing the same concepts year after year or building uneven shows to sell that either leave you wanting more or worse, disappointed. Its that same feeling you get when someone says they are going to meet you with a wonderful surprise and they forget to bring the wonderful surprise.  One of my biggest pet peeves is the “survey” which requires no more creative energy than it takes to fry an egg, pour a glass of water or turn on the radio. I like ideas and I want to see some sophistication. This week’s adventures into the goings on around town left me feeling deflated and fearing for the future. With few exceptions there’s not much out there in Chelsea to salivate over this summer.  Most of the good stuff I’ve already written about so instead of going off on just one I thought this week I would switch it up and give you a little of my twist on a few of the best and the worst that opened last night. Im gonna do my best to focus only on the good things I've seen…

Exhibition Lab @ Foley Gallery & Sasha Wolf Gallery

the Exhibition Lab exhibition
July 15 - August 13
Opening reception for the artists:
Thursday, July 15, 2010 6 - 8 

Artists:

Malu Alverez, Baldomero Fernandez, Peter Hoang, Amy Finkelstein, Matt Licari, Keren Moscovitch, Landon Nordeman, Marcy Robinson, Irina Rozovsky, Matilde Soligno, Jesrey Walz, Kat Westerman, MaryLynne Wrye, Carl Wooley

Refreshments: Keg of PBR

Rating: Best in Town

Gimme Shelter

July 15- August 20 2010

Artists: Zachary Buchner, Kevin Cyr, Matthew de Leon, Jonathan Durham, Jonathan Ehrenberg, Kate Gilmore, Angelina Gualdoni, Eric Heist, Nicholas Johnston, Dimitri Kozyrev, Fawn Krieger, Caitlin Masley, Jaclyn Mednicov, Ryan Sarah Murphy, Lisa Ross, Nicolas Rule, Suzanne Song

Mixed Greens presents the group exhibition Gimme Shelter. While shelter is traditionally defined as a structure that provides protection, these seventeen artists present a more complex, multifaceted understanding of the concept. More specifically, the works in this show investigate the delicate balance of perception: whether a space is inviting or uninhabitable, comforting or crumbling, being constructed or consumed.

Refreshments: Modello in a can 

Rating: Like the gallery says, Mixed Greens. A little of the best and worst of everything you love and hate- B+

PAULA BARR CHELSEA

Line Dreaming, a solo show featuring the work of Paul Fernandez-Carol 

west chelsea arts building

508/526 west 26th street · 9G

New York NY 10001  

Line Dreaming presents exquisite drawings with a surrealistic tone that will enchant the viewer. The finesse of the work reminds us that in the shadow of each great painting, a great drawing is hiding. Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres said, "Drawing is the honesty of art. To draw does not mean simply to reproduce contours: drawing does not consist merely of line. Drawing is also expression, the inner form, the plane and modeling." PaulaBarr chelsea is proud to present the work of an artist who gives a sound meaning to Ingres' words.

Refreshments: Mulderbosh in glass and plastic

Rating: Art- C+

            Booze A +

The nose of this wine smells like a bunch of freshly cut strawberries and is a perfect summertime refreshment. The wine itself is very well balanced. I found the bite of acidity refreshing. When the rest of NYC is serving up the cheapest swill they can afford you can always capture my attention and illuminate my imagination with a quality beverage like this one. Seriously I was blown away to see this exceptional Rose. Ten thumbs up!