Stuart Nicholson, Man of Our Time

..was memorialized yesterday by many many loved ones in his home/gallery on Van Brunt Street. It is an understatement to say that he is sorely missed.

This is a detail of some of the work he was doing just before he passed away. Seems he picked up a piece of this wire while he was diagnosed with cancer; then went on to make an amazing series of graphic work based on the/featuring the image.

Everyone pretty much admitted that he was in the room with us. People drank and smoke and told stories and the night went on.

I’d have to say that, though we weren’t close, he played a really important role in my getting out on my own after Pratt Institute. He started a gallery on the LES while it was a no-mans-land of drugs, back when no one went there. (Showing at Ridge Street Gallery was a really special thing, regardless. The vibe was grassroots–and good.) He organized numerous shows in other spaces, including his own.

Stuart was ever building community, for artists around him.

He was a gentleman and a talented guy. and his art rocked.

Honored to know him.

I hope everyone who was there takes note and does something great (a show? a documentary?) about him. This isn’t the last you’ll hear of Stuart Nicholson.