The Center of Something

Living in New York is more or less a tale of two cities. It’s either a center-of-the-universe tourist trap or the place that millions of us call home. For city dwellers there are certain unspoken truths that are common knowledge, yet remain less apparent to those visiting. You can’t read about them on any “I Love New York” T-shirt or learn about them on any Grey Line tour bus. However, if you find yourself in town from May 30th from June 15th you might just gain some insight into the five boroughs from Chris Rubino’s The Center of Something Exhibit at Chashama on West 44th Street. The Brooklyn-based artist/designer (read more about him here) has created an installation highlighting an assortment of “souvenirs” that combine the fantasy of tourism with the realism of actually living here. In addition to souvenirs, Rubino also uses hand drawn screenprints of maps, advertisements, and signage to create a strange melding of both worlds. Catch the opening night reception on May 30th from 6 to 9 p.m, to get a first hand look … before the tourist throngs.