Patti Smith Criticized For Upcoming Hotel Chelsea Show
Posted by Joseph Lee on 01.11.2012
Is she selling out?
Those who live at the Hotel Chelsea in New York are upset with Patti Smith because she plans to play a show there tomorrow in the hotel's ballroom.
They are accusing Smith of selling out by playing the show. All residents have been invited, including the 30 that are being evicted by the new owner Joseph Chetrit. Some are saying that the new show is evidence that she is supporting Chetrit and their plans to revamp the hotel and evict residents.
Ed Hamilton, author of Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living With Artists and Outlaws in New York's Rebel Mecca and current resident said: "As a Patti Smith fan, I'm disappointed that she would support the developers who are destroying the Chelsea Hotel for future generations. Will a nice, stirring rendition of 'People Have the Power' make the tenants feel better about the ongoing destruction of the hotel and the eviction of permanent residents? I seriously doubt it."
Smith lived at the Hotel Chelsea herself twice: in the 1960s with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and in the late 1990s after her husband Fred Smith of MC5 passed away. Other former residents include Janis Joplin, Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Sid Vicious' girlfriend Nancy Spungen was found stabbed to death in the hotel in 1978.
Patti Smith made a statement on her website yesterday about this. Here it is:
HOTEL CHELSEA
My current involvement with the Hotel Chelsea began some.
months ago when I heard rumors that the hotel would be.
leveled. I was devastated and entered in a dialogue with the.
architect, through a mutual friend.
He assured me this was not the case and every effort would.
be made to save and restore the building, which was greatly.
deteriorating. Having witnessed the demolition and.
redevelopment of much of our city I was at least hopeful.
that the hotel would stand.
Since then my few efforts on behalf of the Hotel have been.
unofficial and uncompensated.
My dialogue has continued with the architect. My personal
objectives have always been:
— To offer uncompensated advice as to the aesthetics.
of the renovation project.
— To council all concerned to develop positive.
communication with the rightful tenants.
— To be available in the future, without fee, in.
participating in the development and preservation of the.
artistic cachet of the hotel.
— To participate in the development of a possible.
artists-in-residence program.
My small performance for the tenants was my own idea. My
hope is that we might have a nice evening and the.
opportunity to communicate directly.
I am an independent person, not owned or directed by anyone.
My allegiance is to the Hotel itself, and I have done.
nothing to tarnish it. It is very difficult for me to.
embrace change, but my great hope is to witness the Hotel.
Chelsea find a strong and positive place in the twenty-first.
century.
Posted By: Carol Green (Guest) on January 12, 2012 at 08:02 AM
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