A Moment in Time – WESTVIEW NEWS

By Bailey Lalonde

July 1st, 2023, I moved into a sweet little apartment in the West Village; a lifelong dream come true. Growing up, I heard my dad tell me countless stories of living in the village in his 30s; hanging out with Bob Dylan, Larry Ratso Sloman and countless legends from that time, listening to live music and running in the park. A week before I turned 30, my dream came true; an epic leap of faith. I moved with minimal savings and a vision of thriving in New York City arts and culture as a world class artist and curator. I found a place near Washington Square Park, sold my car and moved in before producing the biggest art exhibition of my life to date: CHAMPIONS.

CHAMPIONS is a series of art exhibitions dedicated to supporting retired boxers who struggle with health and wealth issues; through the initiative Taking Kare of Our Own. This movement was founded by my father, former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion boxer Donny Lalonde and me. The first show took place at Gleason’s Gym, featuring a selection of 80 fine art works created by 30 New York based and international artists, curated by artworld legend Anthony Haden Guest and me. CHAMPIONS I took place at Ideal Glass Studios, by Willard Morgan in the West Village. Between the two of these shows, this movement was featured in over 10 publications, uniting the creme de la creme of the boxing, fine art and live music worlds.

In 6 months of living in this majestic village, I saw and learned a lot; from showcasing my art in the park for the local community to exhibiting it in world renowned art shows in gallery spaces all around the city and village, reviewed by top art world experts. Often, I spent my afternoons painting, strolling through the park and charming streets, soaking up the creative expression and joie de vivre. Evenings were spent at local live music hotspots like Smalls and Bluenote, in the company of the city’s world class musical talent. A few of my favorite restaurants include Little Taco House, Arturo’s, Via Carota and EN Japanese Brasserie. The lively nature of Washington Square Park with its ever evolving roster of live musicians, artists, dancers, activists, students and passers by all surrounding the spectacular fountain in front of the arc, is truly a marvel of inspiration.

On January 1st, I gave up my precious sanctuary where I created over 50 works of art. Rent was not possible for me to sustain at that point without suffering monthly panic attacks. Pure magic overflowing from this sacred village is palpable. Imagining the days where Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and all of these legends lived here and played at places like Cafe Wha makes me wonder if it was then as it is now. I am eternally grateful for this moment in time where I was able to call the West Village my home; deeply honored that I will be able to share stories with my hypothetical future children, of the spectacular days I spent strolling through the village, feeling like a local, befriending the baristas and paparazzi. The hours spent talking about the meaning of art, in a world like this, with fellow creatives hustling with every ounce of vitality to be able to be here, creating and sharing it with the world. These are evergreen moments I will carry within me throughout this journey of life.