Upcoming Events

Lecture series through the 92^nd Street Y in New York City. By Miriam Chaiken. All sessions begin at 2:30PM EST and are delivered by zoom. For more information or to register see https://www.92ny.org/classes.

 

19 April 2023 – Creative Ozone – The Westbeth building has the unique distinction as having twice been placed on the National Register of Historic places, first for its history as Bell Labs, and second as Westbeth. This session will discuss the history of the building and the hundreds of technological advances pioneered by scientists such as Turing and Einstein at the Bell Lab. Innovation continued as the building was repurposed as housing and creative space for 400 artists by then fledgling architect Richard Meier. Westbeth is the first conversion of industrial space to residential lofts in the US, and the spirit of creativity an innovations from its earliest days acts like creative ozone, inspiring work by the artists who now call Westbeth home.

 

26 April 2023 – You say You Want a Revolution — The first generation of artists had impact on their respective art genres, but also on the social and political movements of the era, especially the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights movements. This session will discuss the experiences of some of the original Westbeth residents as they engaged in political and artistic activism, and their intersections with notable New Yorkers including John Lennon, Andy Warhol, and Gloria Steinem.

 

3 May 2023 – Art and Innovation – Actor Vin Diesel and painter Keith Haring launched their careers at Westbeth, and past and current residents have won Pulitzer Prizes, Pollack Krasner Awards, exhibited at museums around the world, performed with the biggest name musicians, and written for stage, screen, and press. This lecture will document some of the notable artistic achievements of the artists of Westbeth

 

April 2023 – Presentation of the Miriam Chaikin Award for Writing, and reading by authors. At Westbeth Artists’ Residence Community Room

 

Lecture at Village Preservation (formerly known as Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation) – TBD

 

Book Reading at the Community Room at Westbeth Artists’ Residence – TBD