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Artists Up in Arms!

Nahhhh…. I’m not talking about some crazy creative protest, I’m talking about the spectacular hotel in New York, The Carlton Arms Hotel. If you haven’t experienced this hotel (because trust me, it is an experience) then you must go. In the words of David Herndon, New York, Newsday: “It’s a riot of visual cacophony – each room is a site-specific installation, each hallway a trip through somebody else’s dreamspace”.

Over the years, artists from all over the world have been invited to come and paint their own visions in the rooms of this 100 year-old, five story building. From their site:

The Carlton Arms Art Project, started in the late 80′s when a small group of creative people decided to paint the rooms of , at the time, a dark and ill shelter for prostitutes, drug addicts, outlaws and the hopeless.

Today, everyone of the 54 rooms and 4 hallways are painted or decorated by artists that came from all over the world, brought their craft and passion and transformed the rotten hole into an unique Manhattan site where the walls explode with color and art.

Check out some of the rooms here. (Photos are a bit grainy, unfortunately).

I’ve stayed in this hotel, so I know of what I speak. Not only is it an inexpensive place to stay, and very close to downtown Manhattan, it’s like rooming in a museum/art gallery that continually changes. When I arrived with my friend, we were given three keys to three different rooms, and told to check each one out and then decide where we wanted to stay. We were also able to explore all around the hotel to see what other artists had created, as long as no one was staying in that room. The Egyptian-themed hallway on the fifth floor is a definite must-see. An inexpensive mind-altering experience, without any of the negative side-effects of street drugs.

  • http://www.duvekot.ca/eliane eliane

    This one is not bad either:
    http://www.hotelfox.dk/xlarge.html
    I go there all the time.

  • http://www.duvekot.ca/eliane eliane

    This one is not bad either:
    http://www.hotelfox.dk/xlarge.html
    I go there all the time.

  • http://www.duvekot.ca/eliane eliane

    This one is not bad either:
    http://www.hotelfox.dk/xlarge.html
    I go there all the time.

  • http://www.charliecampbell.net/ Charlie Campbell

    It’s no lie, the Carlton Arms is a fantastic place. During my stay, I was even lucky enough to meet an artist at work (top tier of the stairwell). The place is certainly alive. It may not have the amenities of other hotels… but who cares!?

  • http://www.charliecampbell.net Charlie Campbell

    It’s no lie, the Carlton Arms is a fantastic place. During my stay, I was even lucky enough to meet an artist at work (top tier of the stairwell). The place is certainly alive. It may not have the amenities of other hotels… but who cares!?

  • http://stormsillustration.com/ Patricia

    Exactly, Charlie. Why do you come to NYC? To hole-up in a swank and expensive hotel? No way! You’re there to go out and explore. All the more reason to bed in an inexpensive, but way funky and fun hotel.

  • http://stormsillustration.com/ Patricia

    Exactly, Charlie. Why do you come to NYC? To hole-up in a swank and expensive hotel? No way! You’re there to go out and explore. All the more reason to bed in an inexpensive, but way funky and fun hotel.

  • http://stormsillustration.com Patricia

    Exactly, Charlie. Why do you come to NYC? To hole-up in a swank and expensive hotel? No way! You’re there to go out and explore. All the more reason to bed in an inexpensive, but way funky and fun hotel.

  • danO

    i think there is a hotel like this in San Francisco too. the name escapes me…
    anyone?

  • danO

    i think there is a hotel like this in San Francisco too. the name escapes me…
    anyone?

  • danO

    i think there is a hotel like this in San Francisco too. the name escapes me…
    anyone?

  • Fabrice

    Since when is there something wrong with grainy photos now?
    This looks very nice!
    Has anyone heard of
    http://59rivoli.org/
    It’s in Paris, for a while they’re closing it because the mayor wants it safer (it’s a very old building like most French buildings!). If you’re in Paris stop at metro Chatelet (exit rue de Rivoli) or Hotel de Ville – the place is sometimes open on Saturday or Sunday exceptionally! They’re very friendly artists who squat the building and create there as well as transform the place. I strongly advise you to pay a visit – at least to their various artists websites (links on the site above).
    Fabrice

  • Fabrice

    Since when is there something wrong with grainy photos now?
    This looks very nice!
    Has anyone heard of
    http://59rivoli.org/
    It’s in Paris, for a while they’re closing it because the mayor wants it safer (it’s a very old building like most French buildings!). If you’re in Paris stop at metro Chatelet (exit rue de Rivoli) or Hotel de Ville – the place is sometimes open on Saturday or Sunday exceptionally! They’re very friendly artists who squat the building and create there as well as transform the place. I strongly advise you to pay a visit – at least to their various artists websites (links on the site above).
    Fabrice

  • Fabrice

    Since when is there something wrong with grainy photos now?
    This looks very nice!
    Has anyone heard of
    http://59rivoli.org/
    It’s in Paris, for a while they’re closing it because the mayor wants it safer (it’s a very old building like most French buildings!). If you’re in Paris stop at metro Chatelet (exit rue de Rivoli) or Hotel de Ville – the place is sometimes open on Saturday or Sunday exceptionally! They’re very friendly artists who squat the building and create there as well as transform the place. I strongly advise you to pay a visit – at least to their various artists websites (links on the site above).
    Fabrice