THE LAST OF THE CHELSEA HOTEL RESIDENTS: Merle Lister, Choreographer and artist talks life, art, NY
Published 2023-01-12
Merle made her life about art and dance. Her and her husband, a lighting technician, spent may years creating dance shows around the world. Although Merle is a Canadian, New York became her home. She talks about old New York and how it has now been cleaned up. "I miss the bookstores, there used to be bookstores". I don't blame her.
Manhattan is a great place but even as a visitor, behind the amazing large buildings and straight streets, the chain shops have moved in and the soul has been removed, much like a lot of Central London. Life is now found outside in the boroughs. You can't create things on Manhattan like you used to. The money moved in.
Merle has worked with many renowned artists and has seen the city develop, having moved from Canada, where she studied and was brought up. We chatted in her room in the Hotel. She had been moved several times from room to room as a new housing company slowly did the place up for luxury apartments. The hotel was once known to let rooms out to artists for the price of their art. Things have changed. But they kept Merle and some older residents, who still sit in the corridors and stroll out with their strollers.
Again, I am lucky to have been able to meet a New Yorker like her, with her mixed Canadian and New York accent, and to meet her in such a legendary place where the likes of Leonard Cohen hung out too.
You can see her in the amazing documentary "Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel"
Filmed in September 2018 by Marcus Hessenberg
See more of my work at www.marcushessenberg.com
I am a videographer and photographer based in London, creating short films as I travel. Please do subscribe for more films.
All Comments (12)
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This lady is so charming and interesting ❤
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I was staying at the Chelsea. When I saw Merle sitting in the lobby, she had a glowing purple aura. I’ve never saw anything like that before or since. Everyday I was at the hotel we hung out. She’s glorious. Thank you for the precious interview.
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i just love the old new yorkers of those times. my kind of people. too bad it has changed so tremendously new york is not new york like before.
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I could listen to this sweet lady speak all day! I love her stories. I love her spirit, her heart. ❤
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I used to know someone who had a studio apartment in the Chelsea; in fact, I stayed there a few nights to watch her cats when she went out of town. This would've been in 1986 and there were a LOT of roaches. Stanley Bard was running things back then.
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The interview is very interesting but all you really see is a close up of this person's face - would have loved to see a tour since the hotel is a one of a kind landmark...
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My children are third generation native New Yorkers ( from NYC) and so they love the arts. From a very young age I loved the theatre, music, art, and literature and so I introduced the same to my children. I could listen to Bohemian, artsy people forever..My eldest son enjoys his visits to museums on his days off.......
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Love Merle's stories from back in the day.Such an amazing place the Chelsea Hotel was and still is. I've always loved this place.
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Bless her heart! Thank you kindly for sharing.
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Thank you for this interview. I saw her on the Dreaming Walls documentary and just wanted to know more about her. She's lovely.
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sorry, i want to ask, is msg kosher?
