By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CHELSEA — The emergence of Chelsea as a hothouse for cutting edge art in the 1970s is being celebrated at a new exhibit.
"112 Greene Street: The Early Years (1970-1974)" at the David Zwirner gallery pays tribute to artists including Gordon Matta Clark and Richard Serra, who changed the art scene by turning a rundown loft into one of New York's first alternative arts venues.
Their space at 112 Greene Street later moved and became Spring Street's "White Columns" gallery.
Art historian Thomas Crowe credits Clark’s movement with helping make the neighborhood a sprawling gallery center.
The artist "quickly moved to occupy the social and inspirational center of [112 Greene Street] as his range of artistic endeavor began to extend over a whole neighborhood (and beyond) with his repertoire of spaces, both interior and exterior, expanding all the time," Crow said in a release.
The exhibit also shows work by artists like Girouard, Harris, Highstein, Miller, Nonas, Saret, and Richard Serra, and marks the first time all the pieces will be shown together since their original installment.
The original gallery was eventually forced to move to 325 Spring Street by increasing real estate prices.
112 Greene Street: The Early Years (1970- 1974) will show at David Zwirner on 533 W. 19th Street from January 7 through February 12, 2011.
