It's quite well known in the art world that Michael Goldberg took over Mark Rothko's Bowery studio back in the 1960's, but until now we had never seen what it actually looked like when Rothko had it. The recent off Broadway Play - RED is set in the studio and way back then it was where Rothko painted the Four Seasons commissions. The red paint that he used remains scattered over the original studio floor. It was a sacred part of the history of the studio and Michael Goldberg avoided (for the most part) dropping his own paint over the areas splattered with what we referred to as the Rothko Red. Stanford University just happens to have images of the studio back then, with Rothko's paintings stacked up around the studio. We had to share them:    

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Built in 1884, 222 Bowery in SoHo was New York City’s original YMCA, complete with an indoor swimming pool and basketball court. TWFA artist Michael Goldberg was one of the legendary tenants who called this landmarked building home before his death in 2007. Goldberg inherited the space from the infamous abstract expressionist Mark  Rothko - whose red paint from the Four Season's commissions still smears the studio floor. William S Burroughs also called 222 home and artists Lynda Benglis, Lynn Umlauf and John Giorno still have studios in the building. Cavernous spaces like those within 222 Bowery are becoming things of the past as New York City evolves. Buildings like 222 Bowery that preserve the history of the city and its artists, are sadly being renovated and the studios replaced with luxury condos. Progress will be progress, and I wanted to share some photographs of Mike's studio at 222 Bowery with you, since it too, has been scheduled for renovation.      

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