52 Exhibits

Exhibit 52. Katey Red and Ricky B. Derrick Freeman’s World Be Freeman all-star band Location: d.b.a bar, 618 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA. (and yes, this is the same d.b.a. that is in the east village) Link: http://dbabars.com/dbano/ is the venue. The band doesn't have a website. Either that or their SEO is terrible. Price: $5 Hours: This specific show was 10pm, Dec 29th, 2011. The bar itself is open from 5pm "until the wee hours" (their words, not mine) Background: The building dates back to the 1880's, & musicians say the all cypress wood music room is one of the warmest sounding rooms in New Orleans. They feature live music nightly. You would think a band would be easy to google. I found nothing about them in all of cyberspace. Sorry for the lack of background info on the band.

Exhibit 51. The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936– 1951 Location: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St. (subway: 4-5 to 86th / 6 to 96th) Link: http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/photoleague Price: $12 adults, $10 seniors, $7.50 students, children under 12 free Hours: Mon-Tue, Fri: 11am-5:45pm, Sat-Sun: 11am-8pm; thru March 25, 2012 Background: This cooperative of men and women—among them Berenice Abbott, Lisette Model, Aaron Siskind, and Paul Strand—was like a nerd-cool Justice League, armed with cameras as weapons against rich guys and sentimentalists. The Radical Camera presents the contested path of the documentary photograph during a tumultuous period that spanned the New Deal reforms of the Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. Thoughts: I'd never been to the Jewish Museum before. Actually, I hadn't even heard of it. But there is more security here than the MET. Upon walking in, my purse was checked and I had to empty my pockets and walk through a metal detector. Once inside, I took off my coat, and the security guard said I couldn't hold it; I had to either wear it (and it was about 80 degrees in there) or tie it around my waist. You can imagine how awkward this looked with a large puffy northface winter coat. Anyway, the exhibit itself was a lot better than I had originally expected. The majority of the photos were taking in NYC and it was especially interesting to see where.

This one below was on Wall St. in 1915, in front of the new JP Morgan building at 23 Wall St.  (Photographer: Paul Strand)

  This one was also photographed by Paul Strand, called "Swastika (aka Hitlerism)" in 1938. It's a rare photo that was originally published in the journal Theatre Arts Committee in 1939.

This last one below was my favorite - for a few reasons. It makes me happy to know that there was a time that you could get pasta for 25 cents in a New York City restaurant. You'll also notice it says "Ladies Invited" in the window. During this time period, unescorted women were not always allowed to dine in public establishments. This was taken in 1945. (Photographer: Ida Wyman)

Exhibit 50. Scanwiches by Jon Chonko Location: JS55 Gallery, 55 Clinton St. (subway: F to Delancey / JMZ to Essex) Link: http://jsx55.com/pages/02-scanwiches Price: Free Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-8pm thru Dec 18 Background: Scanwiches by Jon Chonko, is the detailed discovery of ingredients, culture and memories through the scanning of sandwiches using a standard flatbed scanner. Jon has been scanning sandwiches for the past 3 years, and in November of 2011 released a book with powerHouse Books under the same name. For JS55 Gallery Jon has created signed, limited edition giclée prints of 11 of his favorite scanwiches at various sizes. Thoughts: I'd seen the website for this before and always thought it was such an awesome, unique idea. Featured sandwiches on display included a hamburger, a BLT, a lobster roll and a few others. The gallery space was extremely tiny and the exhibit itself was a lot smaller than I'd expected. I really wanted to see more of these things... there are a ton of them on the website and I feel like the in-person experience didn't really live up to that.

Exhibit 49. The National, with Sharon van Etten Location: Beacon Theater, Broadway & W. 75th St. (subway: 123 to 72nd) Link: www.bowerypresents.com/event/64897/ Price: $52.50, Loge 1, row F Hours: Dec 13th, 8pm Background: This was a concert I've been wanting to happen for a while even before it was announced. The National is one of my favorite bands, and I discovered Sharon van Etten probably about a year or two ago and fell in love with this song. Around the same time, I had noticed that SVE and the National were touring together in Europe... I tweeted this back in January: And Sharon was all for it. So I'd like to take full credit for this concert. You're welcome. Thoughts: I left this show wishing I had bought tickets for more than one night (since they are playing Mon thru Sat of this week). I think I could sit through a 5 hour show of theirs if they had one. I took a lot of video for this one, so enjoy! (I had to upload the videos as separate posts, so scroll below this one) Highlights: - Being pleasantly surprised by how fantastic my non-orchestra seat was - How much more awesome Sharon van Etten sounds in person, as well as her new songs - The epileptic lighting effects - Matt Berninger with a personal bottle of wine on stage, chugging it from a glass in between singing Lowlights: - The awkward girl dancing to every song that wasn't slow. By herself. You're not really supposed to dance to the National. It's not a Rihanna concert. Sit down. You're blocking my view. (you may see some of her in the video clips) - Whenever Matt B. yells... Squalor Victoria, parts of Abel, parts of Mr. November. Anyone who's ever seen the National live knows what I'm talking about. He doesn't scream like that on the albums. It really disturbs me. Setlist: Start A War Brainy Bloodbuzz Ohio Squalor Victoria Afraid Of Everyone Conversation 16 Rylan Abel Lit Up Wasp Nest Sorrow Anyone's Ghost I Need My Girl England Mr. November Encore: Think You Can Wait Fake Empire Terrible Love (shown above) Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (they did this one with only 2 acoustic guitars, and voices with no microphones...or at least what appeared to be no microphones.) Setlist for SVE: (I missed the first 3. I blame the MTA) Love More One Day Save Yourself Don't Do It Peace Signs Give Out Serpents* All I Can* *with Aaron Dessner, of the National

Exhibit 48. Art Basel | Miami Beach Location: Miami Beach Convention Center  Link: http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/ Price:  One-Day Ticket $40 / Permanent Pass $85 / Evening Ticket (valid from 4 p.m.) $28 / Reduced One-Day Ticket (Students with ID, Senior Citizens aged 62 and above, Groups of 10 or more) $23 Hours: Public Show daily from noon to 8pm, Sunday until 6pm, Dec 1-4 Background:  Miami Beach hosts the 10th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, the most prestigious art show in the Americas. More than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa will take part, showcasing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Thoughts: Big art festivals like this one are always the hardest ones to write about. And looking back, this is actually my first (and only) exhibit outside of New York.  As I was walking through one of my final exhibits, I was brought back to one of my first...#2 Jim Campbell's scattered light. This particular exhibit was called "Exploded View" ...And this whole light thing is much better as an outdoor installation in the park. Another exhibit I had seen before were these polaroids below by Andy Warhol from the Danziger Gallery. Exhibit 6. Let me reiterate that this festival is HUGE. The way most of it is set up is giant warehouses and convention centers filled with art from all over. To see it all, you really need the full 4 days. We made it to Red Dot and Pulse (two of these many giant warehouse spaces). Here are some favorites of mine from both. 1. Artist: Umberto Ciceri, "Colours-Being" These 9 square images were almost like holograms. A still photo, like the one below doesn't do it justice. As you walked from left to right, the ballerinas twirled (you can see some of this effect happen in the middle one, which seems to have been captured in transition). 

2. Artist: Rodo Padilla These were adorable and I wish I had taken more photos. These tiny ceramic statues resembled little buddhas. Rodo Padilla lives and works in Mexico. The statue below is called "Listening" and stands 29 inches tall.

  3. Mori Yu Gallery I don't have much information on this project. The only take-away available was a business card and it was all in Japanese. But I had to include toy truck sushi in this post. It's too cute.  4. Artist: Rubem Robierb Each one of these art pieces were made out of money. Even the "wallpaper" which I can't even comprehend how much thought and work could have possibly gone into this. 

Exhibit 46. "Desert Rooftops" by David Brooks Location: Times Square, The Last Lot, 46th Street & 8th Ave (subway: A,C,E to 42nd) Link: http://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/current-upcoming/david-brooks-desert-rooftops/index.aspx Price: Free Hours: thru Feb. 5th Background: The installation examines issues of the natural and built landscape by comparing the monoculture that arises from unchecked suburban and urban sprawl with that of an over-cultivated landscape – creating a work that is “picturesque, familiar and simultaneously foreboding.”  As housing communities devour more and more land and resources each year the outcome is equivalent to the very process of desertification. David Brooks is an American sculptor and installation artist, whose work considers the relationship between the individual and the built and natural environment. Thoughts: It's kind of odd. To walk through this part of the city, steps from times square and in the middle of the theater district, and see rooftops sprouting from the ground. And that's really all it is...rooftops sprouting from the ground. It might be more interesting if it weren't gated, but understandably so, since everything would most likely be vandalized. I think it makes an interesting statement about "housing communities devouring land" because here, the land is physically devouring the housing community. If you happen to be in the area, I'd suggest checking it out, but don't go out of your way.

Location 2: 84 King St. (subway: 1 to Houston) Background: The Paradise Garage, greatest incarnation of the inclusive spirit of Mancuso’s Loft and Siano’s Gallery, created just as Studio 54 flipped that idea to create a velvet-roped starfuck-fest. Thoughts: I've walked past this dozens of times when I worked on Varick & King. I also chose this location because the article used the word "starfuck-fest." Although I could not find the actual address on this building, judging from the other addresses surrounding it, I was pretty sure this was it. Ironically, it's an actual garage.

Location 3: 195 Chrystie St. (subway: F to 2nd Ave) Background: Talking Heads’ first loft space. Rent: $250 per month. Thoughts: This must be the place. Today, 195 Chrystie is a large, nine-story building which houses a mixed bag of artist studios and offices. And upon arriving, I'd realized I'd been here before, as it also houses the Hendershot Gallery. I chose this one because of the monthly rent at the time. $250. Considering it was the Lower East Side in the 70s, it was probably a rat-infested, dangerous neighborhood....but still.

Location 4: 213 Park Ave South (subway: 4,5,6/N,R,W to Union Square) Background: Max’s Kansas City: preferred hang of Lou Reed, Andy Warhol, and others. Patti Smith opened for Phil Ochs, Bob Marley and the Wailers for Bruce Springsteen, etc. Thoughts: I chose to come here because it would be awesome to hang out with Lou Reed and Andy Warhol, and standing outside the soon-to-be Bread & Butter market is the closest I will ever get to that.

Exhibit 44. Issa Salliander and Richard Starbuck: "The Cow & Angels" Location: Hendershot Gallery, 195 Chrystie St. (subway: F to 2nd Ave, J-M-Z to Bowery) Link: http://www.hendershotgallery.com/exhibitions/current/ Price: Free Hours: Tues - Sat 11 am to 6 pm, Sun 12 pm to 6 pm, thru Dec 9 Background: Salliander contributes irreverent large-scale oil paintings, including two works from the post-apocalyptic fantasy series Brand New Angel, while Starbuck offers us a British perspective of America through his drawings of UFOs and cow mutilation. Thoughts: I came across this gallery accidentally, and these days whenever I come upon a gallery, I usually go in. Especially since the last exhibit that I saw here was so interesting. Salliander's large oil paintings (above) were in a sort of finger-painted style that I wasn't a big fan of. Starbuck's work (below) was definitely the more interesting of the two. His work is very odd and mysterious. Starbuck says he has "always looked to America for strange stories." Glad we could inspire you, Richard. You're welcome.

Richard Starbuck, Black Cow Dog II, 2011, Oil on oil paper, 21.5 x 29 inches

Exhibit 43. Feist Location: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Howard Gilman Opera House 30 Lafayette Avenue (subway: 2-3, 4-5, B, Q to Atlantic Ave, C to Lafayette) Link: http://www.bam.org/feist Price: Tickets: $54, 47.50, 40 Hours: Wed, November 2, 8pm Background: Leslie Feist wrote her fourth studio album, Metals, over three autumn months in 2010 in a tiny garage behind her house, after a year away from the spotlight. This was her first NY show since 2008.

Exhibit 41. Supertall! Location: Skyscraper Museum 39 Battery Place (subway: 4-5 to Bowling Green, 1/R to Rector) Link: http://www.skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/SUPERTALL/intro.htm Price: Adults $5 / Students and Seniors (65 years +) with valid ID $2.50 Hours: Wed–Sun 10am–6pm, thru Jan 2012 Background: This exhibit is an international survey of superlative towers featuring projects that have been completed since 2001, are under construction, or are expected to top out by 2016. This recent generation of giants, generally 100 stories or higher, represents a new paradigm of slender mixed-use towers that explore innovative approaches in engineering, curtain-wall and construction technologies, energy efficiency and sustainability, and concepts of vertical communities.

Exhibit 40. Pop Objects and Icons from the Guggenheim Collection Location: Guggenheim Museum (Annex Level 5) 1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)(subway: 4-5-6 to 86th & Lex) Link: http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view/pop-objects-and-icons Price: Adults $12 / Students and Seniors (65 years +) with valid ID $10 / Children under 12 Free / Members  *prices reduced due to renovation Hours: Sun–Wed 10 am–5:45 pm, Fri 10 am–5:45 pm, Sat 10 am–7:45 pm, Closed Thurs. September 30, 2011–February 8, 2012. The ramp reopens November 4th Background: Pioneered in Europe in the late 1950s, the American Pop art movement took off after finding support from critics such as Guggenheim curator Lawrence Alloway. Encouraged by the economic vitality and consumerist culture following World War II, artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and Andy Warhol explored the image world of popular culture and took inspiration from advertisements, pulp magazines, billboards, movies, television, and comic strips. This focused exhibition demonstrates various artists’ engagement with Pop art and the Guggenheim's ongoing interest in the legacy of the style.

Thoughts: I am a huge fan of the Guggenheim. In fact, it's without a doubt, my favorite museum in the city. Museums are overwhelming. In any of the big ones like the MoMA, I always feel like I missed something. Although the Guggenheim is still fairly large, it's circular design takes you in a spiral, through several levels, and you easily can't miss a thing. Frank Lloyd Wright was a genius. So of course, I was extremely disappointed to discover that the circular ramp was closed (shown below, from the outside).