Metropolitan Museum Monday!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Holiday Monday is happening today! The MET is usually closed on Mondays but today "The Main Building of the Metropolitan Museum—select galleries, public restaurants, and shops—will be open Monday, December 29, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The cafeteria, Petrie Court Café and Wine Bar, and the Balcony Café will be open until 4:30 p.m. Please note that The Trustees Dining Room will not be open. Take advantage of this special Met Holiday Monday to enjoy exhibitions and programs at the Museum." So, take advantage of this opportunity to go to the museum with your family on your day off.

Happy Holidays at the Museum

Happy holidays! I'll be back in full blogging capacity on the 29th. This Friday begins Newark Museum's holiday fun week! "Enjoy art and performances with the family this holiday season. Enjoy holiday performances, art and science activities, treasure hunts and a laser lightshow in the Planetarium. Step into a Victorian Christmas celebration when you visit the Ballantine House exhibition, Feasting with Family and Friends. Enjoy tea, coffee and a selection of desserts at the Museum's Holiday Café." Here is the schedule.

New York. Why?

There's a great exhibit up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art titled "New York, N. Why? Photographs by Rudy Burckhardt, 1937-1940." It's completely photographs of New York City. But, the way some of the shots are taken, our beloved New York looks exactly the same. Close-ups of pedestrians make the difference between us and them indecipherable. Some shots of buildings do the same. The famous sidewalk skylights in SoHo appear with only the shot of a woman's legs. However, images that include storefronts and newsstands highlight the difference of time. A barber shop is pictured, a woman's clothing in front of Saks, etc. But it's fun to go through the photographs and try to figure out where the shot was taken. Also, to take note of the lack of gum on the sidewalks. Travel through New York's history with these stunning photographs at the Met.

Outsiders

Native New Yorker? No? Yes? Either way, the perspective of the New York "outsider" is always interesting to explore. Whether you are the one experiencing New York for the first time or watching someone else experiencing New York for the first time it is a time of discovery, judgment, and strength. At the Lumenhouse art space in Brooklyn there will be an exhibition of a variety of artists dealing with this very topic. "Integrating new artistic and technical approaches to image making with the historical traditions of various mediums, this exhibition explores perceptions of the city from 'outsiders' via the manipulation of word and image. The young artists represented in this exhibition have considered critical insights through collaborative and personal work to create an exhibition that is intended to draw the viewer into a dialogue between verbal and visual language. The work, created in a three-day collaboration, concerns itself with the process of encounters and relationships. The opening is tonight from 6-9 with complimentary beverages!

Oscillation: (For a minute there, I lost myself)

There is my favorite kind of collaboration going on tonight from 7:30- 9 pm at the Museum of Arts and Design (at 2 Columbus Circle). That's right, the kind that includes a poet. Visual artist Xaviera Simmons "combines audience interactivity, experimental electronic sound, photography, video, movement, and text work. This world premiere event is a part of the artist's continued exploration into landscape, history, performance, and play. Much of the inspiration of this work comes from Jibade- Khalil Huffman's newly published collection of poems, 19 Names For Our Band." This looks like it's going to be good guys. It's called Oscillation: (For a minute there, I lost myself) Call 212.299.7790 for reservations.

Sand

Tomorrow there will be an exhibition opening at the Sara Tecchia Roma New York gallery of artist Karina Wisniewska entitled "The Sand, the line and the Consequences: New Paintings.". "Wisniewska's continuously evolving oeuvre consists of lush abstract paintings of dichromatic calligraphic-like writings and monochromatic geometric motifs of a more structured nature. The artist gives chance plenty of "free rein" but states, "I constantly intervene in a consciously ordered fashion by keeping the wrist flexible and varying the pressure and speed. "Yet, the works appear deceivingly spontaneous with overlapping lines that free flow like a piece of music: chance occurrences and intentions mingle freely." She paints completely free hand with quartz sand. She explores the line and movement with effortlessly moving expression. The reception is from 6-8pm tomorrow night.

PopRally

There appears to be an interesting event tonight at PS1. "PopRally kicks off the winter season at P.S.1 with a program featuring the exhibition NeoHooDoo: Art for a Forgotten Faith and a performance by Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber." But, you have to be 21. If you are 21 this is very good news. Also good news: "Under the guidance of conductor Greg Tate, Burnt Sugar, “a territory band, a neo-tribal thang, a community hang,” bridges the gap between digital music making and live orchestral performance. Be sure to view the exhibition before Burnt Sugar starts at 8:00 p.m.—considering they “never play anything the same way once.” I think it's going to be a great show. You will even receive a free print from Brooklyn based artist Susanne Cerha. The show's from 7-10, be there.

The Guggenheim is the Place to Be

So, after looking extensively for places to tell you about today, I have decided that I should tell you to go to the Guggenheim if you haven't gone already. There are just so many great things going on there. Just look at the website and watch the videos of the different exhibitions going on and you will be propelled. There's a photography exhibition of Catherine Opie, the anyspavewhatever collaboration of artists, a revolving hotel room, and the ongoing collection (Kandinsky, Thannhauser Collection, etc.). I should have gone this weekend but was unable to make it. So, before next Monday, we should have all been to the Guggenheim. RIGHT?! Right.

Heaven is in Brooklyn --Tonight!

This exhibition caught my eye because of the title "Designing Heaven". Everyone has tried to imagine what the afterlife looks like. John Giglio has presented to us a series of drawings that propose what he thinks the afterlife may look like. What will our forms be? What will we do in heaven? He challenged himself to design something "completely intangible". Giglio states "In short, could I simply do the job of designing heaven? While the answer to most of those questions may very well have turned out to be 'No, I can’t', the product of a sincere and even obsessive effort can be seen in over sixty drawings that make up the show." So, take a peek at heaven tonight at Art moving Projects at 166 N. 12th street in Broolyn from 7-9.

Fold Your Thoughts

Tonight at the Perry Rubenstein Gallery there is an opening of Peter Callesen's "Folded Thoughts". It features his paper-cutout sculptures and centers around his large-scale piece Human Ruin "Made entirely of paper this sculpture depicts the shadow of a figure whose outline is formed by the ruin of a temple like structure." Callesen makes these whimsical fairy tail pieces transforming the pop-up into a magical medium. "Callesen's paper works and performances bring situations and stories to life that belong to the fantastic realm of fairy tales or children's games and usually enter the everyday world only temporarily, if at all. In his tragic-comical performances Callesen has erected wooden castles on the water and in a park and inhabited them as a king or swan. Using fictional characters as a basis for the exploration of public space, Callesen exposes hidden desires and gender clichés." Travel into your magical childhood and check out the opening reception tonight from 6-8 at the Perry Rubenstein Gallery on West 24th street.

I Found Myself Alone

There is a great exhibit opening tonight by artist Nathalie Djurberg at the Zach Feuer Gallery. She uses sculpture and stop animation to create a nightmarish film. It is beautiful however quickly increases in intensity. "Her narratives begin seemingly innocent but quickly turn into intense studies of human behavior that force one to confront their darkest nightmares and deepest fears." For example, in her film "I found myself along" we watch small ballerina dance among a giant tea set. "As she dances her way through the enormous tea set, wrecking havoc, tension between the young girl and the objects builds. Without someone present to intercede on her behalf, the young ballerina is overpowered by the objects and drowns in candle wax dripping from candelabra." Come see this film plus the sculpture of the tea set tonight from 6-8 pm.

A Collection for the Departed

Ever been to New York's Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn? Amazing architecture. But, now they have started collecting the works of artists who are buried there. "The 170-year-old cemetery is the final resting places of many prominent New Yorkers...Cemetery officials have identified more than 200 artists who are buried there, both well-known and obscure." Now, they are creating a collection of their work! Read the full article from Fox News and check out a photograph of the cemetery here.

Big Names in Photography at the Guggenheim Tonight

Tonight there is a conversation on photography at the Guggenheim Museum at 6:30. Big photographers Catherine Opie and Gregory Crewdson will discuss their individual approaches to the art as well as their thematic choices. "On Monday at the Guggenheim, curator of photography Jessica Blessing moderates a conversation between Catherine Opie and Gregory Crewdson. Opie and Crewdson will discuss their distinct approaches -- high-production values and carefully staged images in the case of the latter, documentary photography in the case of the former -- in relation to a common thematic interest in the American suburb. Catherine Opie's exhibition at the Guggenheim will remain on view through 7 January, 2009." I've been hearing about this from friends, the photographs seem frightening, true, and extraordinary.

A Medium for All

There are many different kinds of artists. Tomorrow there is an exhibition opening for every kind of artist. It will strip away your need to place yourself among a medium or a genre. The collage combines all forms and includes the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, and the ordinary. Tomorrow night, "Ripped and torn" is exhibiting over 22 artists who explore medium. "Collage is the perfect medium for our fast-paced, information packed times. Since the beginnings with its first champions, Kurt Schwitters and Max Ernst, this humble art form has become the darling visual expression for writers. Recently, Pulitzer Prize winning poet John Ashbery received enormous attention for his collage show." Even the granddaughter of Max Ernst (pioneer of collage and one of the greatest artists of all time) will be there. It's at 532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel on west 25th street. The reception is from 5:30 to 8:30.

Abstractions

When you think about abstract painting what do you think of? Can you see it? Can you remember how you felt when you saw it? What was in it? There's an exhibition opening tonight by an artist who explores through painting the way the mind interacts with abstract painting. Jessica Snow believes "This outward projection constitutes a self-organizing map, and in this it becomes a “representation” of selfhood. A painting is a diagram of subjectivity which interacts with the viewer, and through its outward projection of meaning becomes organized as a subject." In her paintings you can make out figures resting calmly and identifiably. These are then combined with abstract forms of movement. "Calmness and chaos hang in the balance in my paintings, and it is this balance which usually determines the success of the work. It is in this state of simultaneously held oppositions that we can discover for a moment that ever-elusive enigma of self-hood." The opening reception is tonight from 6-9 pm at Merge Gallery on West 20th street.

The National Arts Club

Does everyone know about the National Arts Club? It's an artistic fixture of New York. It is a dream home/ mansion of creativity. It was founded in 1898 by Charles de Kay who was a literary and art critic for The New York Times for 18 years. Some distinguished artists and patrons desired a place to gather and show artwork. It was first established in a townhouse on 34th but today is located at Tilden Mansion at 15 Gramercy Park. It was built in the 1840s and its original appearance has been preserved with added Gothic Ornamentation. The interior is more amazing than you can imagine; stained glass ceilings, beautiful gigantic paintings, chandeliers, exquisite upholstery, sculpture, decor, rugs, book cases ( I can't describe it... take a tour here). It's a place you want to stay in forever, wander it's halls, and make it your own. It hosts some of the most exciting events in New York- art unveilings, award dinners, film screenings, lectures, dances, and anything else! Some of its members have and do include Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, famous literary figures, sculptors, musicians, and modern celebrities. It is a place you just want to be in or near. Pure magic.

"Behavior" in the NYC

There is an important exhibition for the NYC opening today. Nayland Blake was born and lives in New York. His work from over 25 years will be up at Location One on Greene st. The works featured will be "some thirty pieces from every aspect of Blake’s career as a painter, sculptor, illustrator, performer, and installation artist. They include the iconic Magic (1991), Heavenly Bunny Suit (1994), a restraint piece, Jim (2000), as well as a generous selection of works never before exhibited in NYC." His works are magical and bizarre and includes a history of culture. "Over the past twenty four years he has exhibited widely throughout the world. He has had one-person exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; University Art Museum, Berkeley; Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, and the Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College. His works are in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Brooklyn Museum, The Studio Museum in Harlem, and many others." Go see the New York artist's work today.

Small Talk with Big Art

There's an interesting talk going on in New York's art community tomorrow night hosted by Bumble and bumble. The artist "Tom Sachs's art reveals obsession and labor, but is also characterized by the sense of playfulness and exuberance that infuses each of his objects. His work largely consists of complex contraptions and scale models hobbled together from found and collected materials. Pieces such as Chanel Guillotine, Unité (a foam core reproduction of Corbusier's Unité d'habitation), and “Vader” (a plywood-and-glass refrigerator), all share a uniquely hand-crafted aesthetic as well as Sachs's sense of humor and cultural insight. Sachs's work has been collected by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou, San Francisco MoMA, and the Astrup Fearnley Museet for Moderne Kunst, Oslo." His work is very intense, especially the Chanel Guillotine. His talk is definitely worth attending. It's December 2008 6:30–8:00PM at the Bumble and bumble, 3rd floor auditorium 415 West 13th Street.