Inured to Gentrification

From an article in the New York Times about the Chelsea gallery scene.
Daniel Reich, another Chelsea dealer, has opened a second space at a place that so far seems inured to gentrification: the Chelsea Hotel. Called Daniel Reich temp., it will reopen in March with a group show organized by Nick Mauss. (Source: NYTimes, Jan. 13, 2006)  Well, we sure hope we're inured to gentrification, though there have been some ugly rumors floating around lately.  Maybe Andy Warhol's ghost, who visited Daniel Reich's temp space back in November, has some further information.  Perhaps if we study his comments we can glean some insight into this issue.

On November 10, the Grand Ballroom of the Chelsea Hotel was a setting reminiscent of The Factory.  Thirty-nine new mattresses were artfully stacked around the room and covered with tattered shawls and afghans.  The event curator, Dean, clad in a leather skirt, drug bottles of beer from the bar to the beds.  On a stage littered with roses and empty bottles of Jack Daniels, Jack Doroshow (Flawless Sabrina), rang up Andy Warhol, whom I assume is comfortably situated somewhere in the Grand Ballroom of the Beyond.   Flawless brought Andy up to speed on what’s been going on:

JD:  Hello Andy, I’m in the Chelsea Hotel.

JD:  Yes Andy, the Chelsea is still standing.  I know, it’s beyond human comprehension.

JD:  No, Andy, it’s not a Shining Palace on a Dark Street No More, its bright sign has been eclipsed by all of these monstrosities.

JD:  Gawd Andy remember all of the fun we used to have in the lobby.  You don’t? Well I do!

JD:  Yes Andy, I know that Valerie Solanas used to live here in the Chelsea, but I didn’t want to bring that up.