Ladies: Why Art Gallery Walks Need You!

Posted on 30. Sep, 2009 by Lissette Barros in Entertainment

Those of us new to New York, actively seek out various outlets and venues to enlighten our minds while entertaining our eyes. We are peculiar creatures (as women) and either tend to over think things a bit or play the complacent card when looking for weekend activities — especially if we’re looking for a future mate. I moved to New York earlier this year and was overwhelmed by the amount of things there are to do in such a small amount of hours.

As a lesbian, I wanna do “cool things” while meeting the ladies. I thought of various ways to meet women who were interesting, passionate, not to mention my age range (30’s)! Women who preferred the coffee house conversation over standing-by-the-bar-thing. Now, don’t get me wrong, I occasionally enjoy stepping into the club but for the most part, I know I will probably over compensate the anxiety by drinking waaay too much - and I don’t deny it. I know ya’ll do it too ‘cuz I’ve seen your Facebook postings saying, “Uggghhhh, Hangover!!!” and “I shouldn’t have drank that last tequila shot last night” or “Pounding headache!!!” Why are we so overindulgent when it comes to unhealthy behavior? We say we want something new but gravitate towards the monotony of last weekend. Even if we’ve had fun, as queer women, we don’t actively seek out the intellectual and cultural side of our MINDS. Yes, there ARE many cultural events to attend but we are not “there” in our conscious. And unfortunately, not too many of those events are specifically geared towards gay women, and that is an important factor while seeking not only representation but a level of intimacy & safety we deserve with our partners and/or girlfriends.

I want to share one of the most exciting activities I’ve encountered since I’ve been here. A few months ago, I took a visit to the Gay & Lesbian Center. I walked around looking for flyers, pamphlets, etc. to find something to do that would connect to my spirit. As an artist, I tend to look for events that revolve around underground movies, Indie stores, outdoor concerts, and museums. So when I saw the words, “Gay & Lesbian Art Walk” on a flyer, I instantly connected and knew it would be a wonderful way to meet cultured gay folks while getting schooled on Contemporary Art - via an amazing Tour Guide. And I was not disappointed! I learned a significant amount of information about the art that I would have possibly “not gotten” if I had gone alone. It makes a big difference understanding what the artist has presented rather than assuming its strange meaning….like they say, ignorance is bliss.

The Gay & Lesbian Art walk consists of a large group of queer men and women who walk to and from 7-8 different galleries in Chelsea’s Art District. You register at said location and pay a nominal fee (which is well worth the time). You walk around for about 2 1/2 hours, spending about 20 minutes at each location. Your guide who is a Ph.D Professor, speaks about the artists process, symbolism, the involvement behind their work and sometimes about the gallery itself. The ONLY part that I feel needs fixing is the lack of attendance by our queer sisters! It’s disappointing to think that Gay men could possibly care more about feeding their minds then women. We should take a look at our schedules the next time we look for weekend activities. The Gay & Lesbian Art walk is a monthly venue worth attending and I highly recommend it for a 1st date! It’s a very unpretentious environment with good people around you. Go and show your future wife there is meaning behind those beautiful eyes!

If you would like to attend this Art Walk, please contact: Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D., Director New York Gallery Tours. 212-946-1548, www.nygallerytours.com / nygallerytours@yahoo.com