Friday Oct 17, 2025 at 7pm
Westeth Community
155 Bank St
(enter through courtyard)
New York, NY 10014

and a second launch
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025 at 6pm
sponsored by Village Preservation
at Westbeth Community Room
This talk will concentrate on the architecture of Westbeth.
For more info about this free event Village Preservation

” From legendary photographer Diane Arbus and conceptual artist Hans Haacke to avant-garde theater pioneers like Joe Chaikin and Gloria Miguel, Westbeth has nurtured some of the most influential voices in contemporary art. Beyond its creative legacy, the residence has been a hub for social change. Its artists played leading roles in the anti-Vietnam protests, LGBTQ+ rights movements, feminist art collectives, and urban preservation efforts.

In Creative Ozone, Miriam Chaiken offers a rare insider’s look at this extraordinary community. Drawing on intimate interviews with multiple generations of Westbeth residents, including those who grew up in the building as “feral children” immersed in art from birth, Chaiken captures the spirit of a place where creativity and activism are inseparable. She explores how Westbeth artists have weathered gentrification, economic upheavals, and major historical events, from 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy to the ongoing pandemic, revealing the resilience of this one-square-block artistic village. Blending vivid storytelling with cultural history, Creative Ozone is a tribute to the artists who shaped, and were shaped by, New York City.

Rich with character-driven narratives, this book will captivate art lovers, history buffs, and anyone fascinated by the creative life. Whether you’re drawn to the bohemian legends of Greenwich Vil­lage, the evolution of urban spaces, or the intersection of art and activism, Creative Ozone offers an unforgettable portrait of a community like no other.”
– Fordham University Press

Miriam Chaiken
Miriam’s earlier writing derives from her years of anthropological field research in Africa and Asia, focusing on poverty and hunger alleviation, gender equity, and the welfare of children. She has published many articles and co-edited two books on international development and community resilience.

After extensive research on three continents, she pivoted to her most eo ic site yet – Greenwich Village in New York. Three members of Miriam’s family were long-time residents of the Westbeth Artists’ Residence, which opened doors when she turned her anthropological gaze to this community. After three decades of research in villages in sub-Saharan Africa, she realized that Westbeth is a vertical village, with all the drama and intrigue of any village. Her book Creative Ozone: The Artists of Westbeth (Empire State Books from Fordham University Press) recounts the history of the Westbeth community, and focuses on the intriguing characters that called Westbeth home.

Miriam was formerly Dean of the Conroy Honors College and Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at New Mexico State University. She lives with her husband and fellow anthropologist Tom Conelly in southern New Mexico.