Chelsea Galleries 101

Chelsea Galleries 101

Good art, bad art, edgy art, downright disturbing art -- it's all here waiting to please and provoke in the contemporary art capital of the world. For the uninitiated, the concentration of more than 250 galleries within a seven-block radius can be overwhelming, and the sometimes cool receptions upon entering, intimidating. Art galleries are not exactly famous for their customer service skills, but they're free, and you don't need a degree in art appreciation to stare at a canvas. Wear your walking shoes, leave your preconceptions of what's art behind, and don't be intimidated -- at the very least your gallery experience will provide some interesting dinnertime talk.

There's no required code of conduct, although most galleries are library-quiet. Don't worry, you won't be laughed at if you mistake the fire extinguisher for a cutting-edge statement and you won't be pressured to buy anything; staff will probably be doing their best to ignore you.

Galleries are generally open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Gallery-hop on a Saturday afternoon -- the highest traffic day -- if you want company. You can usually find a binder with the artist's résumé, examples of previous work, and exhibit details (usually including prices) at the front desk. If not, ask. You can also ask if there's information you can take with you.

You won't be able to see everything in one afternoon so if you have specific interests, plan ahead. You can find gallery information and current exhibit details at www.galleryguide.org (you can pick up a free hard copy at any gallery desk). Sift further through your choices by checking the "Art Guide" in Friday's weekend section of the New York Times and the Chelsea Art section of Time Out New York magazine. You can also learn more about the galleries and the genres and artists they represent at www.artincontext.org.