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PS's avatar

I knew Barton Benes. I still have some shredded currency from his memorial service (at which his friend and patron Larry Hagman spoke). His incredible Westbeth studio has been reproduced at the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks.

My BF in the early 80’s sublet a Westbeth studio from John Ashbery, who had moved to a larger place in Chelsea. He would dutifully pay John the monthly rent but John would often forget to pay it and eviction notices would regularly appear under the door.

I lived nearby in a building on Horatio called the West Coast. It was one of the earliest conversions of old meatpacking buildings to new rentals. I was told it had been used as a meat refrigeration warehouse before the renovation; despite all the modern trappings the roaches still ruled the roost.

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Kathryn Eastburn's avatar

Sincere thanks for this beautiful story. I needed reminding why we need art in our lives and this did it for me.

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