Chelsea During ABMB

Many galleries in Manhattan's Chelsea contemporary art district will have been left sparsely staffed this week, as much of the art world partakes in the winter respite and bacchanal that it is Art Basel Miami Beach (ABMB). What's it like holding down the fort in the ghost town of the West 20s? Figure Painting asks the staff of four bold-face galleries.

Jeffrey Rowledge, Gallery Assistant/Receptionist, Paula Cooper Gallery

Figure Painting: Is it dead in Chelsea this week?
Jeffrey Rowledge: It's been really, really quiet. Mainly just groups from schools and stuff. Not really collectors or consultants.

FP: Do you wish you were in sunny Miami instead of in this deep freeze?
JR: Considering the weather, yes. It's so cold here.

FP: When the cat's away, do the mice play?
JR: It's pretty tame here. It's a good week to catch up. That's what I've been trying to do. Catch up on some archiving.

Ryan Milliken, Gallery Assistant, Paul Kasmin Gallery

FP: Do you wish you were in sunny Miami instead of in this deep freeze?
RM: Absolutely.

FP: Do you end up "working" at ABMB from afar?
RM: Yes. We deal a lot with that stuff — looking up clients, sending stuff they need to them, sending images of works.

FP: When the cat's away, do the mice play? Or is it pretty tame?
RM: It's pretty tame.

Peter Cross, Registrar, Stellan Holm Gallery

Figure Painting: Is it dead in Chelsea this week?
Peter Cross: Not completely, but it's slow...There have been a couple of serious collectors, but only two or three.

FP: Do you wish you were in sunny Miami instead of in this deep freeze?
PC: I try to avoid the sun whenever possible, but I'm sure most people would love to be down in Miami.

FP: When the cat's away, do the mice play?
PC: We'd love to, but we can't. We're just too busy. There's just too much stuff that has to get done.

Vincent de Sarthe, Gallery Assistant, Tony Shafrazi Gallery

Figure Painting: Is it dead in Chelsea this week?
Vincent de Sarthe: It's pretty quiet. I wouldn't say dead, but not as much as usual.

FP: Do you wish you were in sunny Miami instead of in this deep freeze?
VdS: Not really. Miami's not for me.

James Cohan and Andrea Rosen may be the brightest crayons in the box — they closed this week to installation their next shows. That's what Jane Cohan of the former gallery calls good planning.

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