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Ryan Tomorrow: Chelsea Reeks and Seeths

Although Ryan, who recently celebrated his birthday in Room 112 of the Chelsea, may not know it, this room has been immoraltized in verse. In Angels Knocking on The Back Door, by Carol Greenberg, we read:
Jake the bellhop delivered
We all got drunk hooray
Someone walked on the ceiling
Fell down in room 112
We collected the plaster
Called it "Destruction"
It hangs in a musem somewhere

What do you do?

I’m an Art Director for a company in NYC called The Barbarian Group. I also run a brand called Youth Rt112 of Tomorrow (www.youthoftomorrow.net), and work as Photo Editor for Box Magazine. In addition, I’m a photographer. (Photos from Ryan’s Hotel Chelsea flickr set.)

Has your art been influenced by any former or current residents of the Hotel?
Hmm- that’s a tough one. I mean, The Sex Pistols have been a vague influence on my youth, which helped shape my art…but at the same time, they’re not the best example of a Chelsea Hotel ‘resident’.

What inspired to conduct your photo shoot at the Hotel Chelsea?
It was my birthday, and my girlfriend came down to the city to spend it with me. I’d never stayed at the Chelsea, and now that I live in Brooklyn I don’t have much need for a hotel. But this was a special occasion – she was about to go on tour, and we were going to be apart for months.
She’s got a classic style, and it fit very well with the room we were given (#112, right off the garden – a Rt1122 ‘quiet’ room for the couple provided by the management.). We had been out on the town, and when we got back we decided to do an impromptu shoot. Not much setup or planning, really. She brought the dress and the smile, I provided the lens.

Do you think the Chelsea has a creative spirit?

It positively reeks of creativity. On our way out the next morning, we ran into a film crew on their way in. It’s hard to imagine one building so seething with that old New York verve.

What was the best/worst thing that happened during your photo shoot at the Chelsea?

Hmm…I guess there really wasn’t a ‘worst’ thing…besides dead batteries. It just came together so fluidly. One of the shots I really wanted didn’t come out, but i got so many I liked.
As for the ‘best’ part?…well, I’m a gentleman. I’ll leave it at that.

What’s your favorite Hotel Chelsea story?
I have to admit, Leonard Cohen’s "Chelsea Hotel #2" played more than once during our shoot. That’s a pretty great little story right there.

Will your Chelsea photos be published in the future?

I’m not sure. Really, my photography is my own, and I’m glad that so many people seem to like it, but as of yet I haven’t been pursue to publish. I would like, one day, to have some prints done up.
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