New York - July 09, 2004

Bow-Wow-Wow

Counter Culture Exhibit

There you go, making your downtown rounds, bopping from Tory to Missbehave, gingerly overstepping the Bowery, lest you trip on a stainless-steel kitchen sink.

Ease up, cowboy.

Time to lap up the scenery. “Counter Culture,” an exhibition organized by the New Museum, examines the skid-row history and uncertain future of the Bowery. Six artists have collaborated with locals to create the installations, which are located within a two-block radius.

Julianne Swartz built a bright-yellow periscope, which allows passersby to interact with residents at the Sunshine Hotel. Ricardo Miranda Zuñiga interviewed a restaurant supplier, an immigrant, and a flophouse resident for his project, on display at the new Silo Gallery on Freeman Alley. Jean Shin installed a Wishing Well at Public. Marion Wilson created merchandise with the homeless at the Bowery Mission and is selling the wares from a pushcart. Flux Factory sends viewers on a series of wacky missions from Bowery Martial Arts. (You need a password.) Before you go, download the show’s MP3, a self-guided walking tour.

You’ll never trip over the strip the same way again.

“Counter Culture,” is on view from July 10 through August 14, Tuesday-Saturday noon-6 p.m., at 235 Bowery, at Prince Street (and surrounding locations). For information and to download the walking tour, go to newmuseum.org.

  Artsy