GOWANUS — An artist who's tired of New York's "grueling" gallery scene has cut out the middleman and opened a retail space of his own to sell his work.
Neil Powell, who makes art out of discarded book covers, opened The Studio of Neil Powell at 489 Third Ave. (between 10th and 11th streets) in late April and held a grand opening May 12.
Powell will use the space as a combination work studio and store where the public can walk in off the street to meet him, see him work and buy his art.
Powell said he decided to launch his own space as a way to eliminate one of his least favorite parts of the art-making process: marketing.
"As an artist, you really have to be in that social realm of going out every Thursday night and being networked and knowing someone who knows someone who will look at your work," Powell said. "It's a bit grueling."
Powell shows his work at Cheryl Hazan Contemporary Art in Tribeca and C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, Conn., but his new Gowanus storefront puts him in the driver's seat.
The Studio of Neil Powell at 489 Third Ave. Photo by Neil Powell.
“I love galleries, but I felt like there’s maybe a new model in which I'm in total control of what I put in my space and I’m the arbiter of what I think is good," Powell said.
Powell wants to show work by other artists in his new space, and it will also function as an office for his graphic design and interior design business. This summer he'll host kids' classes for children ages 8 to 12.
So far his plan seems to be working. Curious people spied Powell's art through the storefront's window before the space was even officially open and have been buying his work, he said.
"I've sold more work here in the last six weeks than the last previous six months, so I know it's going to work," Powell said.
Other recent comings and goings on the local restaurant and retail scene include the following:
► The owners of Park Slope restaurant Henri on Fifth will take over the space previously occupied by Pickle Shack at 256 Fourth Ave. and Carroll Street, Park Slope Stoop reported. The new venture will be called Henri's Backyard and will have a "Vietnamese/German fusion" menu with some vegetarian and vegan dishes (in a nod to the Pickle Shack's veggie-heavy menu).
► A co-working space for freelance journalists will open June 1 at 200 Sixth St. (between Second and Third avenues), the New York Observer reported. Study Hall is designed specifically for working journalists and will allow users to make phone calls and conduct interviews, according to the Observer. It costs $150 for part-time access (three days a week) and $250 for full-time use.
► A pop-up taco shop and market will take over the backyard of The Pines (284 Third Ave. and Carroll Street) starting Friday, the New York Times reported. Josephina will serve tacos on handmade tortillas (no prices are listed on the menu). Most of the food will be made with ingredients provided by upstate New York farmers. There will also be a small market selling "New Age-inspired products," according to the Times.