By Melanie Brooks
In honor of Asian Pacific American History Month, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and The Asian American Arts Centre hosted a reception this past Monday to kick off a month-long art exhibit in the Borough president’s office at 1 Centre Street.
The exhibition, called “New York Eviction Blues II,” calls attention to the citywide problem of housing for artists and art organizations. The original New York Eviction Blues exhibit took place in the spring of 2005.
Bidding on the displayed art, which was donated by artists who have supported the A.A.A.C. over the years, will raise funds to assist the Centre in paying back extensive legal fees incurred in 2004 to prevent eviction from 26 Bowery, its home of almost 30 years. The art ranges in proposed value from $300 to $2000 and will be on display until June 9.
Founded in 1974, the A.A.A.C. works to promote Asian and Asian American culture through the arts. Its programs include performance presentations, exhibitions, folk arts research, and education. The A.A.A.C. was one of the early Asian American community organizations created to affirm and help build an Asian American cultural presence on the East Coast.
“Most of these artists have been evicted,” said Robert Lee, executive director for the A.A.A.C., gesturing around the exhibit space. Akiko Kotani, for instance, created a piece of artwork for the cause that she believes reflects the vulnerability and emptiness she felt when being evicted from her West Village apartment in the 1960’s. The mixed media piece, Untitled #1, already has a bid of $350.
Yoshiki Araki has six pieces in the exhibition, and all but one are up for auction. In 2000, Araki was evicted from his home and studio in where he had lived for over 10 years. The stress and tension of being evicted landed Araki in the hospital, where he died shortly thereafter at the age of 50. His mixed media pieces are all valued at $2000 — though bidding starts at $750.
The Borough President’s office regularly hosts public events to promote and foster Manhattan’s reputation as being home to one of the most vibrant art communities in the world.
“This is an important issue for the Borough president,” said Eric Pugatch, director of communications for the Borough president’s office. Unfortunately, due to rent increases over the years, these New York City artists have had to leave Manhattan for the suburbs to find affordable housing and studio space, Pugatch said.
According to the A.A.A.C., the affordable housing issue for artists calls for creative solutions for with savvy leadership, and the collaboration of government and developers — solutions that Stringer has pledged to work towards.
Stringer believes that the greatest power to leverage change in Manhattan comes from the people living in the borough. Stringer is exploring ways to reform and empower Manhattan’s community boards, the most local unit of government, so that groups like artists have a seat at the table on major decisions affecting the borough. One of Stringer’s ideas to combat the rising price of affordable housing is to create Task Forces to strategize with the community on new affordable housing initiatives.
It’s been a year and a half since the A.A.A.C. was served with eviction papers and almost six months since their new lease was signed. The deal that was struck between the A.A.A.C. and their landlord allows a gradual rent increase between $500 and $1000 per year for the next four years. In 2009, the rent will have quadrupled but will still be slightly below the market value for the area.
Nevertheless, the cost to stay in the 2,500 square foot space has already become too high for the non-profit arts centre. And since the building at 26 Bowery is independently-owned, the city has no way to negotiate the ownership, as they have with other arts organizations like La Mama, the Off-Broadway theater the city sold this winter to founder Ellen Stewart for $1.
“It’s likely we will move before the lease is out,” said Lee, who plans on keeping the A.A.A.C. in Chinatown, though in a smaller space they could afford. It would mean no gallery for the permanent collection, no exhibit space, and no room for performance events, but Lee recognizes the A.A.A.C., and many artists, have no other choice. “The market is too big of an enticement [for developers] for artists to be able to stay in Manhattan.”
The exhibit and auction continue through June 9 at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, 1 Centre Street, 19th Floor South, open 9 AM to 5 PM, (212-669-8300). For more information on the A.A.A.C., visit www.artspiral.org.
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