A Bermudian in a New York state of mind
When you talk to artist Peter Lapsley he sounds a little breathless. He’d likely attribute it to the pace in New York City — when they say it’s fast, they mean it.
Not only does Peter run his own art studio, but he is also facilities manager at Parsons The New School for Design and an arts professor at City University in New York.
He left Bermuda for New York in 2006 to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts from Parsons. He then stayed there to see how far he could take his career.
The move has worked out well for him. He has Peter Lapsley Studios in Brooklyn and has had many exhibitions elsewhere. He currently has work in a show called Radiant Geometries, in the Skylight Gallery in Manhattan. His art has also been seen in shows in Switzerland, Turkey and Germany and can be seen at home, in the Bermuda Biennial 2014. Although happy in the Big Apple, he insists that one day he’s coming home again.
Q: What does a hectic day look like for an artist in New York?
A: I have to supplement my job as an artist with another job as well. I am the facilities manager at Parsons. I oversee 25 employees. Having access to Parsons’ facilities pushes my art. They have tools there that I can use that I just don’t have in my own studio, such as welding equipment. You have to do a patchwork quilt of things to make one’s life feasible in New York. I don’t know many artists who are just making art. I teach as well.
Q: Has being in New York changed your art at all?
A: I think it is very difficult to live in New York and not have your art set against the New York art world. I came here initially to have my work become part of the New York art conversation. My work is becoming more abstract.
Q: Is being from Bermuda a disadvantage?
A: No. One of the things about being Bermudian is that you have the opportunity to exhibit your work in a way you don’t get anywhere else. At home, I had exhibitions, solo shows and group shows. I realise now, it gave me great opportunities. I went to graduate school with people who had never shown their artwork anywhere. That blew my mind. Coming to New York I have seen my work evolve. I think of myself predominantly as a sculptor. Even when I make works that look like paintings, they are usually leaned against a wall and I use materials such as gold leaf and glass.
Q: Was it easy making the transition to New York?
A: It was challenging, but I love it. That’s not to say that every day doesn’t have its challenges. You are a very small fish in a very big pond. If you work hard, and you are persistent, some things do pay off. I have had opportunities to show my work in many different places. That came out of having a studio in New York. It is great to have the opportunity to show to a larger audience. If someone is really driven to do it, I think they should try life in New York, but one has to be realistic. It takes a long time to get your career going. It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. You have to do other jobs and do what it takes to carve out enough time to make your artwork.
Q: Do you plan to stay out there?
A: I don’t think I will be here forever. New York is a hard place and I miss Bermuda a great deal. When Hurricane Gonzalo went through Bermuda, I was talking to my family on the phone the whole time, giving them updates on what was going on because I had internet access. I am back as frequently as I can be. Bermuda is in my future, absolutely.
Manhattan is a great place to visit if you love the arts, particularly the visual arts. The art season is September to June.
There are many trendy art neighbourhoods in Manhattan — Chelsea, Tribeca and Soho are packed with art galleries. After Labour Day, the streets of Chelsea are often so packed with art lovers that vehicles struggle to pass along the street.
How to get there: Four airlines offer nonstop flights between Bermuda and John F Kennedy Airport — United Airlines, JetBlue, American Airlines and Delta. Visit their websites for details.
Mr Lapsley’s favourite attractions: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art are predominant museums in New York. El Greco: Spirit and Paradox, an exhibition commemorating the 400th anniversary of the death of the Spanish Renaissance painter and sculptor is the hot show on now at MOMA until February 1. Also, try the Museum of Art and Design in Columbus Circle. Chelsea is one of Mr Lapsley’s favourite arty neighbourhoods. It can be found between 19th and 30th Street and 10th and 11th Avenue. There are edgier art galleries on the Lower East Side around Orchard Street and SoHo. One of Mr Lapsley’s favourites is Room East at 41 Orchard Street.
“I like their programmes and the work they produce,” he said.
Where to stay: Mr Lapsley recommends staying somewhere south of Union Square and 14th street in Manhattan. One of his suggestions was The Standard High Line (www.standardhotels.com/high-line/) in the Meatpacking District. This 21-storey building is known for its panoramic views of New York.
Often overlooked: See the Cloisters on 180th Street, owned by the MET. This is a beautiful park and building in the style of a 15th Century monastery.
“It is fantastic,” Mr Lapsley said. “It sits on a hill in north Manhattan and looks over the Hudson River. There are art exhibitions there every year. It is quite lovely.”
He said another often overlooked attraction was Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the people behind Central Park.
“It’s a beautiful park with the Brooklyn Museum on one end and the Prospect Park Botanical Gardens on the other,” he said. “The gardens have a cherry blossom festival in March. When you live in a giant city you try to take advantage of the parks and I am always amused during the summer when people head to the parks with towels and swimsuits to lay out in the sun. It becomes a sort of urban beach.”
To see Peter Lapsley Studios in Brooklyn by appointment, e-mail him peter.lapsley@gmail.com.
