For much of the mid-1980s the center for exciting new art was New York’s East Village (E.V.) The Fun Gallery (1981) and Gracie Mansion Gallery (1982) were the first to open. After that, in quick succession nearly one hundred galleries set up shop in what was still considered a marginal neighborhood. The E.V. gallery boom would be short-lived. An economic downturn caused most of the galleries to close, and worse yet, critical opinion turned sharply against the art. However, it is surprising how many major artists (you can start with Basquiat, Haring, Wojnarowicz, and Koons) came out of the E.V. scene. A re-evaluation of the phenomenon is now likely in the works.
Gallery 98 features here three unusual items that capture the East Village art movement during its early height. We also have large collections of ephemera connected to Semaphore, Pat Hearn Gallery, International With Monument, Hal Bromm and other East Village galleries. Also of interest is our East Village – Periodicals and Books page.
The Missing Children’s Show: 6 Artists from The East Village on Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky, catalogue and press portfolio, 1985
The Missing Children’s Show: 6 Artists from The East Village on Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky, 1985. This six-page catalogue comes with a press portfolio that contains a flyer, pin, sticker, and xerox reviews of the exhibition. Designed by Kris Paradis and Creative Production House Inc. Catalogue size: 11.5 x 17.5 inches – Portfolio size: 9.5 x 11.75 inches
Riding a wave of publicity, East Village art popped-up in many far-flung cities. This exhibition took place in a vacant industrial building in downtown Louisville that was about to be converted into apartments. Much of the art in the exhibition was made on site and proceeds benefited a local charity for abused children. The six-page color catalogue includes text by all the artists: David Wojnarowicz, Futura 2000, Judy Glantzman, Kiely Jenkins, Rich Colicchio, and Rhonda Zwellinger.
Artists Space, New Galleries of the Lower East Side, foldout brochure, 1984
Artists Space, New Galleries of the Lower East Side, foldout brochure, 1984.
Size: 6.25 x 9 Inches (Folded) 23.75 x 9 Inches (Unfolded)
This brochure is unique in that it features photographs of all seventeen galleries included in the exhibition. To quote Helene Winer’s short essay: “There are currently some 25 galleries in and about the Lower East Side, the majority of which (nine in this exhibition) opened this season (Fall 1983) and the earliest less than three years ago (Fun and 51 X)… All the galleries are in storefront locations, and most are owned by artists.”
“Artropoly,” a board-game poster created to promote the book East Village 85: A Guide. A Documentary, 1985
“Artropoly,” a board-game poster created to promote the book East Village 85: A Guide. A Documentary, 1985. Art by Mark Kostabi: Text by Carlo McCormick (in collaboration with Walter Robinson and Paul Benney). Size: 19 x 25 inches.
Roland Hagenberg’s East Village 85 was one of the first publications about the East Village galleries. The “Artropoly” poster, a Monopoly-style board game designed to promote the book, was the work of two of the scene’s most prolific proselytizers, artist Mark Kostabi and writer Carlo McCormick. With its snide references to E.V. galleries and artists the poster perfectly captures the gossipy humor and the unapologetic commercialism of an art scene that was always more fun-loving than intellectual.
