Art by The Ferry III
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It almost didn’t happen. But thanks to the intervention of Community Board One, Art By The Ferry’s exhibition of local art works did open to the public.
Artists v. developers?
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
The third annual Art By The Ferry event spanned two weekends — June 5,6 and June 12,13 — and ran along Bay Street from the Staten Island Yankees stadium to the Everything Goes Cafe opposite Tompkinsville Park. The event featured spoken word and performance art, visual arts, music and crafts. And all of it was free. But the exhibition of juried art set up in the Lighthouse Plaza art gallery almost didn’t happen.
The exhibit was located next to the ferry terminal
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
On Friday, June 4, the Fire Department of New York inspected the art gallery, next to the St. George ferry terminal, and said all was well. But on opening day, Saturday, June 5, city inspectors showed up and shut down the exhibit, citing a regulation that required the exhibitors to have four fire marshals in place. Exhibitors questioned the need for four fire fighters in a one floor, one room building, fully staffed by volunteers — with easy access. The ensuing discussion briefly grew heated.
Photographer John Skelson documented the conflict
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
Local photographer and print maker John Skelson videotaped the exchange between inspectors and exhibitors — these videos are available on YouTube. Skelson later told NLN that some in the artist community theorize that local developers don’t want the space utilized by the public — it is prime real estate. Unfortunately the buildings in Lighthouse Plaza are in a state of disrepair and one structure has a tree growing out of the second floor. Like West Brighton’s Smith Infirmary and the historic New York Farm Colony on Brielle Avenue, the structures are crumbling, dying a slow death from neglect. Using the buildings for museum space seems in keeping with their historic status — but not everyone is invested in this approach and the slow decay continues. The battle over the art gallery may indeed be one front in the struggle between developers and community members, including the artist community.
Historic buildings in disrepair — a symptom of overdevelopment?
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
In the end, the artists delined to roll over. After some phone calls to Community Board One, the exhibit re-opened, the following week. NLN photographer Thomas Good was there to capture some of the sprawling event.
The City shut down the art installation…
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
..but the exhibit re-opened
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
