Daniel Peterson’s friends like drugs. — Photo by Mark Taylor

Living room galleries are popping up all over Bushwick. It’s tempting to be snooty about these spaces because they’re not “real” galleries, maaan. But, for a number of reasons this would be unfair. They are a much needed antidote to an overly professionalized New York art scene. They are an opportunity to merge art and life. They are part open house and part gallery. And the way they collapse show, opening, and after-party into a single event is more fun than conventional gallery openings. I went to two such spaces this past weekend, one on Saturday (The Laundromat) and one on Sunday (Subletters Gallery). Both shows were one-night only events.

I found the work of Patrick Cuffe, Ben Godward and Scott Wilson at The Laundromat. Kevin Curran did a fine job curating the show. He’s the director of this space (a loft on Melrose Street above a laundromat). He also lives there with his girlfriend, Amy Lincoln (currently a resident artist at Pocket Utopia). Godward’s sculpture/installation, constructed out of a kiddie pool, large rubber balls, black light and splashes of neon foam, made me think of Lynda Benglis on bad acid! Cuffe’s sculpture, nicely crafted in wood evoked for me the real estate market bust — it looked sort of like a bomb with giant house-like warts. And Scott Wilson’s napkin-drawings of perpetual motion machines made me think of Da Vinci’s notebooks and Aleister Crowley. But Wilson clarified that he’s more interested in pataphysics than metaphysics.

Sunday’s show at Subletters Gallery was my second visit to the space. Both times there was an understated but earnest vibe. Sunday’s show featured the charming weirdness of Christian DeFilippo, Daniel Peterson and Emily Harris. I was told they’re the upstairs neighbors of Emma Spertus, director and resident (with her boyfriend, Mark Taylor) of this Stockholm Street loft space. I really liked Ms. Harris’ goofy little banana pieces and Mr. DeFilippo’s colorful, pattern-obsessed figurative drawings but it was Daniel Peterson’s drug piece that captivated my attention. A photograph of a chalkboard with the names of a bunch of Peterson’s friends and all the recreational drugs each had done is the type of piece you initially overlook.

Subletters next show is on Friday, December 19th. Mark your calendars.

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