Collaborative Projects Inc. (Colab), the artists coalition, launched the 1980's by breaking into a vacant city owned building at 123-125 Delancey St. on December 30,1979 and installed the Real Estate Show on New Year’s Eve questioning city policies on housing and development. The police closed the exhibition Jan. 2, 1980.
Negotiations with Colab artists and the City led to the NYC Dept of Buildings exchanging another city-owned building at 156 Rivington St to the artists as an alternative to 125 Delancey. Colab artists developed 156 Rivington as the ongoing arts space ABC No Rio which is still running after 34 years. 125 Delancey is now a vacant lot waiting to be developed by the Essex Crossing/ Seward Park Urban Renewal (SPURA) which will include a new Warhol Museum. To commemorate this affirmative history between artists, NYC City and our new Mayor, the following galleries are presenting exhibitions:
"The Real Estate Show, Was Then..... Is Now” exhibition of the original 1980 Real Estate Show artwork; opening Friday April 4th: 6-8 pm James Fuentes Gallery 55 Delancey St (Allen/Eldridge Sts), New York, NY 10002. www.jamesfuentes.com
“RESx: Real Estate Show Extended” opening Weds. April 9th, 7-10pm, ABC No Rio 156 Rivington St (Suffolk/Clinton Sts), New York, NY 10002. Open call to artists to bring disposable real estate related art through April, including media events. contact steven@abcnorio.org for dates & times: www.abcnorio.org
“No City An Island” opening Thursday April 10, 6-8pm, The Lodge Gallery at 131 Chrystie Street between Delancey and Broome Sts on the Lower East Side. www.thelodgegallery.com
“The Real Estate Show, What Next: 2014” opening Weds. April 18, 5-7pm; Cuchifritos Gallery/Essex St Market 120 Essex St, New York, NY 10002; art show and performances. Contact jodi@artistsallianceinc.org for event times, artistsallianceinc.org/cuchifritos-gallery-2/cuchifritos
"In and Around Collaborative Projects" at Spectacle Theater, 124 South 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211, real estate show related film screenings in May 2014contact rachelvalinsky@gmail.com for dates/times, www.spectacletheater.com
Photo: Julie Harrison, “Guatemala.” 2014, installation view at Cuchifritos Gallery, New York City.