Racer, stuntman Stanton Barrett has an eye for art
NASCAR driver and Hollywood stuntman Stanton Barrett has opened an art gallery in lower Manhattan, but don’t drop in looking for photographs, paintings or sculptures of car crashes, stunts or other Hollywood-ish endeavors.
In addition to the works of Barrett, the Stanton Barrett Art Gallery currently includes pieces from artists such as Meredith Ostrom, fashion photographer Walter Chin and Matty Thompson.
Barrett, a second-generation racer with nearly 200 starts in NASCAR’s Cup and Nationwide series, says art is just one of many things that have held his interest. And opening his own gallery, he says, was a logical move.
“Everybody’s got to take risks,” Barrett, 36, says. “I think that’s my story. I’m always taking risks to try to get to the next step."
The gallery, he says, is “something I’ve always wanted to do. I just didn’t know the timing, how to go about it or anything like that.”
But with the help of a few friends and other artists, the gallery became a reality.
Barrett’s usually on the other side of the lens. The gallery is his effort to showcase what he, and others in the world of art, see from their perspective.
“Between racing and movies and all the traveling, I meet a lot of different individuals,” he says. “Everyone has a friend who is an artist or knows an artist. You just look at the pieces and see what you think might have an edge ... what’s their background, what they have to offer.
“I want to try to keep a diverse style of art going through there that’s high quality and unique. You want to meet different consumer needs as well, but each artist wants to send a message, so that’s important.”
His hope is for the gallery to feature a different artist each month. And a portion of the proceeds from sales are earmarked for charities endorsed by the various artists.
“It’s a fun concept when you can tie in helping people, helping artists,” Barrett says, “and having the resources to give to charities.”
