I’ve lived in the West Village for almost 20 years, so I’ve been watching with great interest the recent emergence of a gallery cluster in my neighborhood.  These galleries are more of a “cutting-edge” variety like the downtown gallery concentrations of Chelsea and the Lower East Side, not the more conservative-type galleries in the Upper East Side and Midtown.  It’s not a large enough cluster yet to merit its own gallery tour, but in combination with the remaining Soho galleries nearby, there are enough there for a very interesting tour.  And so I’m leading my first-ever West Village/ Soho gallery tour on Sat. March 5.

For decades the West Village has been one of the loveliest – and one of the more “artsy” – neighborhoods in New York City.  Originally an Italian-American working class neighborhood, in the mid-2oth century the West Village saw an influx of bohemians that made it “hip” and creative.  In 1969, the legendary Stonewall Uprising added to the West Village’s reputation as the gay epicenter of the world.  And the hugely-attended annual Halloween Parade has cemented the West Village’s reputation as a crazy place where anything can happen, even if its streets often teem more with “bride-and-tunnel” outsiders than with its actual residents.  Today, its enormous variety of restaurants, bars, and jazz clubs, and even a number of small theaters, has made “The Village” (as it is usually called) a go-to social and cultural destination.

However, until now there have been virtually no galleries in the West Village.  I’m pretty sure the main reason is cost.  Because the West Village is such a desirable neighborhood, it’s probably a lot more expensive to rent there, as compared to Chelsea and the Lower East Side (not that those neighborhoods are shabby themselves).  Nevertheless, in the last couple of years several galleries have managed to find affordable space in the southwest section of The Village, away from a lot of the hustle and bustle.  The most recent addition is Algus Greenspon, which moved from its 2nd floor Chelsea digs into a much more spacious gallery.  This is the gallery where we’ll be assembling for the tour.

Though there are still several gallery shows opening between now and the tour date, and so the March 5 itinerary is not yet finalized, it appears that half the shows we visit on the tour will be in the West Village, and the other half in neighboring Soho.  Soho is following exactly the opposite trajectory as the West Village.  That neighborhood used to be the world’s center for contemporary art, before a large percentage of its galleries moved (over the course of just a few years) to Chelsea.  The 20 or so galleries left in Soho are in a prime location, so when the real estate market recovers, I wonder how many galleries there will be able to afford to stay.

It remains to be seen whether the West Village will grow into an art neighborhood with enough galleries for its own tour, or whether Soho will remain a viable gallery destination, so take advantage of the March 5 event while you can.

Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D.
Founder and Director
New York Gallery Tours