The Women of Coenties Slip: Art, Connection, and Place

Step into the creative world of Coenties Slip for a special evening premiering three short On This Spot documentaries celebrating pioneering women artists Agnes Martin, Lenore Tawney, and Chryssa.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a group of artists transformed a quiet stretch of Lower Manhattan—right down the street from where the Seaport Museum is today—into a vibrant hub of experimentation and exchange. Renting former maritime warehouses for as little as $45 a month, they created an unlikely artistic community defined by sweeping waterfront views, rooftop gardens, and a shared spirit of independence. Though their lofts lacked modern comforts, they offered something far more powerful: space to create, connect, and redefine American art.

This program brings that moment to life, tracing how Martin, Tawney, and Chryssa shaped and were shaped by this tight-knit, often queer creative community. Martin, the renowned proto-minimalist painter and “earth mother” of the group, lived in an un-permitted loft at 3–5 Coenties Slip. Nearby, Tawney worked in a light-filled loft at 27 South Street, its polished floors housing her looms and disciplined weaving practice. Chryssa, the Greek-born artist, never resided at the Slip, but was deeply embedded in its community.

Together we will see how this tight knit group of artists shared an ethos drawing inspiration from nature, visionary writings, and each other. Their personal and artistic lives were inseparable from the place they inhabited, capturing the quiet, transformative power of Coenties Slip.

Engaging conversations with leading scholars will follow each screening to offer further insight into the legacy of Coenties Slip and the artists who made it extraordinary. Experts include Kalliopi Minioudaki contributor to Chryssa & New York, Dia Chelsea, Prudence Peiffer author of The Slip: The New York City Street That Changed American Art Forever and Kathleen Nugent Mangan Director of the Lenore G. Tawney Foundation.

Sign up today to join this evening of film and discussion that uncovers the quiet, transformative power of place—and the women who helped shape a movement. Preregistration is encouraged for this event. Walkups will be accommodated as possible. Access requires walking up six steps, with wheelchair access available via a platform lift.