Once upon a time, New York’s Chelsea neighborhood was know for factories, homosexuals, and struggling artists. Fast forward decades of gentrification later, and you have the Chelsea of today, known for the High Line, Google, and art galleries. It’s one of the city’s most expensive parts of town. Sure, it’s where art is sold in NYC, but you have to wonder…
Is anyone still creating art in Chelsea anymore? Or is it safe to assume a complete artist exodus to Brooklyn?
Walking down 25th Street one Thursday evening, I stumbled across this sign:
In front of a nondescript building, I easily could have passed this by (especially having listened to too many episodes of My Favorite Murder). However it was Thursday night and the neighborhood was bustling with people. I felt emboldened to pop in and see what this “open studio” was all about.
An elevator ride and following more printed signs through hallways, I arrived at Mel Smothers’ art studio.
Mel is a painter who rents the space is Chelsea to focus on his craft. Artists do still work in Chelsea! He’s a real sweetheart and unlike the New York cliché he genuinely loves connecting with people and learning their stories. He gets lonely working to long by himself so he often puts out the sign downstairs inviting anyone who wants to up into his space.
How cool is that?
Sure, sure, it’s easy to think he does this in the hope that people will buy his art or follow him on Instagram. But the man invited me to sit against the backdrop of his colorful paintings and we just chatted. About California where it turned out we both are from, about my sputtering acting career, about pursuing your passions, and the colors of the water in Key West.
This was the most authentic conversation I’ve had with a stranger in a long, long time. I left feeling rejuvenated. My faith in humanity, that my daily subway commute decimates, felt remarkably restored.
For me, painting is about the journey. That needs to be said. Validation comes and goes. What remains is the visual road map created by the struggle of painting. The story of pushing paint around, and as the years go by, finding it is the reason to get up in the morning. – Mel Smothers
If you’re ever in Chelsea on a Wedneday-Saturday afternoon, go see if Mel’s put out his OPEN STUDIO TODAY sign on 25th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. Or check his Instagram where he shares his art, posts pictures of people who drop by, and lets followers know if the studio is open. To see Mel’s vibrant, colorful art online and learn more about his Andy Dialogues, visit melsmothers.com.
This is really cool! We have an open studio festival in Cambridge – I loved speaking with all the different artists last time.