Suicide While Being Evicted

Hotel Chelsea A photographer, Christian Belpaire, shot and killed himself as a marshal was trying to evict him from his Chelsea apartment. Belpaire, who did a lot of work in advertising, had kept to himself in the building, but a neighbor mentioned that he had a girlfriend, but she got pregnant then moved out West. According to the Post, it was not clear why Belpaire was being evicted. His apartment, at 208 West 23rd Street, puts him right near the Hotel Chelsea.

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By Jen Chung in News on September 12, 2003 11:09 AM

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Salvidicus

I would like to revise my comment above. This image was taken in and appeared in the Summer 1990 edition of Toronto Magazine.

John Savage

Gatineau, Quebec

November 29, 2008

Salvidicus

My belated condolences to those who were close to Christian Belpaire. I first met Christian in Toronto, when he was down at the Argonaut Rowing Club for a freelance photo assignment that appeared in the summer of 1989 edition of Toronto Magazine. On my suggestion, we met the following morning, as I was going to set up a photo opportunity for him to photograph my rowing partner and I in a double shell, stroking alongside a WWII destroyer, the Haida. Though we were not allowed to row there, we snuck in so that he could capture our siloette against the gleaming reflection of the sun rising against the massive, riveted hull of this ship. The picture was printed on a full page. My ex-fiance noticed it and was kind enough to send me a copy, which has inspired me in my own photography since. I was searching online just now to see if Christian may have had the negative still and would have been able to send me a copy. Sadly, Christian ended his life, obviously from a depression brought about from an anxious moment in his life. His legacy will be both his art and others' remembrance. I will remember this moment we collaborated on a shared vision that created a beautiful image that I treasure today.

John Savage

Gatineau, Quebec

November 29, 2008