In the hamlet of Narrowsburg, an everyday necessity is getting an unexpected upgrade.
Starting this weekend, businesses along Main Street will host a month-long art crawl called “The Sh!t Show,” featuring installations inside public restrooms. The project transforms bathrooms into temporary galleries filled with video work, paintings, interactive pieces, and sound installations.
Curator Charles Wilkin says the idea began with a simple observation about a less-than-inspiring bathroom at his business, Two Queens Coffee.
“For years I’ve been saying, let’s bring in some artists to have fun with it,” Wilkin said. What started as a casual idea quickly grew into a townwide project involving more than 20 artists and multiple businesses.
Humor at the center
Wilkin says the exhibit was designed with humor and levity in mind, shaped by what he described as a broader climate of “doom and gloom.”
“There’s a lot happening in the world,” he said. “We could all use some humor.”
The response so far, he added, has been immediate—people laugh when they hear about the concept.
Art inside a working bathroom
Artists were asked to work within a simple constraint: the bathrooms must remain fully functional. Beyond that, they were free to respond to the space.
Some incorporated sinks, mirrors, and stalls directly into their work. Others installed video pieces or traditional paintings in unexpected places. One installation uses AI-generated music accessible through a small in-bathroom jukebox.
Wilkin said the goal was not provocation but “joyful, intimate moments” in an unexpected setting.
A private way to experience art
Unlike traditional galleries, restroom installations are typically experienced alone, a shift Wilkin sees as central to the project.
“It creates a more intimate experience,” he said. “You can take your time and engage with it privately.”
An art crawl across town
Each participating restroom includes the artist’s name and a QR code linking to a map of all installations. The exhibit runs for four weeks, encouraging visitors to explore at their own pace.
“I can’t imagine everyone doing all the bathrooms in one day,” Wilkin said. “Unless you really have to go.”
Looking ahead
Wilkin says he hopes the concept could expand beyond Narrowsburg in the future, possibly becoming a recurring or traveling event.
For skeptics, his pitch is simple: “If you don’t have a sense of humor, this isn’t for you.”
Image Credit: Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce