The Forgotten History of Storefront for Art and Architecture

A show commemorating the 40th anniversary of the downtown Manhattan institution conjures up its ethos as a scrappy advocate for public space

On a beautiful September afternoon in downtown New York in 1982, a crowd cheered as the artist Tehching Hsieh – his hair matted, his clothes dirty – entered his apartment at 111 Hudson Street. It was the first time he had stepped indoors for an entire year, and this ceremonious moment – the conclusion of his One Year Performance 1981–82 – was commemorated by a gathering of folks organized by Storefront for Art and Architecture, a new artist-run project space located at nearby 51 Prince Street.

Hsieh’s performance was a gonzo investigation into what it means to live outside. Part activism, part research and a little comedy, it is a good example of the kind of itinerant urban strategy at the intersection of art and the built environment that Storefront was fostering at the time – and continues to promote today. The event was part of ‘Performance A-Z’, Storefront’s inaugural programming series, comprising 26 consecutive nightly performances – most of which took place on the sidewalk in front of the gallery – by a range of artists, including Des Refuses, R.L. Seltman, Arleen Schloss and Carolee Schneemann.

The gritty, chaotic energy of those early days is now the subject of an exhibition at Storefront’s Kenmare Street location – a space it’s occupied since 1986. ‘Public Space in a Private Time: Building Storefront for Art and Architecture’ is an archival exhibition featuring more than 200 artefacts illustrating the history of the institution. Architects at the forefront of art-adjacent and speculative practices – including Storefront founder Kyong Park, Michael Sorkin and James Wines – worked in dialogue with artists to bring fresh perspectives to issues concerning public space and urban architecture. The flyers, letters, writings and artworks on display are illustrative of how Storefront has always bridged the gap between architecture and art.

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Author: Matt Shaw

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