The New New York Art Scene

By Alex Gartenfeld
Photography Robbie Fimmano

Ryan McNamara
Age: 30. Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona. Currently resides: SoHo. I have a theory that if you live in New York long enough, you get one apartment deal. This is my time. Medium: Video and performance. I recently had a show at APF Lab that’s a collaboration with a magician named Bernie the Magic Lady. Bernie is in his seventies. He’s a Cuban drag magician and we made a video together. Now we’re working on an installation and performance piece. What’s your dream project? To make a Broadway musical. What’s your studio like? It has lots of clothes, props, prosthetic limbs, liquid latex, and colored smokebombs. Today I set off the smoke detector while photographing the smoke bombs. Artist hero: Merce Cunningham. It’s amazing that he’s been dedicated to the project of human movement for 90 years. hobbies: I volunteer at Sage, a social services for gay and lesbian senior citizens. In fact, Bernie the Magic Lady performed there. Fill in the blank: The young New York art scene is disparate. Geographically, there’s no there.

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Scott Schneider
Age: 22. Hometown: Valatie, New York, south of Albany. Currently resides: BedStuy,Brooklyn. Medium: I use a lot of ink, but mostly I work on the computer, doing graphic design. I also play in a band called Ford & Fitzroy. I write the songs with my older brother and play bass. What’s your Dream project? Doing CD package design. Or maybe working on some reissues, like some awesome Joy Division reissues. What’s your studio like? It’s just my room, and I’m surrounded by CDs. I usually pull allnighters. It makes my brain go crazy. Always with a can of Coke. Artist hero: Saul Bass. It’s because of his posters for Hitchcock films that I wanted to be in design. Favorite youngerartist: Stephen O’Malley. He’s a designer who plays in a band called Sunn O))). He gets to design all the albums and is also in charge of the record label. Day job: I work at my brother’s bar in the Lower East Side. The best part is that I get to do all the design for the bar, like the menus and the storefront. If you could change one thing about the art world, what would it be? I left school at Pratt after three and a half years. I’d definitely change how schools handle kids. It can bring you down if you’re in a huge class. Fill in the blank: The young New York art scene is motivating. In the past two years I’ve gotten to see so many of my friends in gallery shows.

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Tarynn Wiehahn

Age: 24. Hometown: Born in Pretoria and raised in other parts of South Africa. Currently resides: Stuyvesant Town; Fort Greene,Brooklyn; and Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Medium: Film. I’m working on a documentary about Burning Man called As the Dust Settles. I’m in it with 11 other people who documented their experiences there. What’s your dreamproject? To film one of my dreams. I had this insane dream last night where these jumping fish were trying to bite me. What’s yourstudio like? Clothes all over the floor—disorderly. When I look at my space, I think it’s what is going on in my brain. Favorite younger artist: Kids. I like how unaware they are about their art. When we grow up, we become tooconscious. Favorite gallery: The Burning Man project in Nevada. It’s full of art. Fill in the blank: The young New York art scene is unknown to me. I’m not aware of it, really. I’m a believer in it, but I’m not a follower.

Thomas Ahlgren
Age: 26. Hometown: Born in Stockholm. Raised in Stockholm and San Francisco. Currently resides: Chinatown. I left Stockholm and moved to New York because of a broken heart. Medium: Currently abstract photography. I’m interested in studying artificial light and texture and constructivistinspired shapes and forms. Artist hero: Kasmir Malevich. He made me see the light. Favorite younger artist: Jac Debra Flaskö. She made me see the dark. hobbies: Sleeping, freeloading, going to dinners, drinking, and making out with girls. Day job: I’ve worked at a number of galleries. Since I moved here I’ve worked as much as I can as an artist’s assistant. I work shortterm as a “consultant” at Daniel Reich Gallery. I also answer telephones and do arthandling. Fill in the blank: The young New York art scene is a class I take on Tuesday evenings. After a year in New York I still feel like I just got here and I don’t know what it’s about. It’s something that I’m learning about every day.