Category Archives: Art

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Chema Madoz: Virtual Reality

Chema Madoz, Surrealy photographs, Contemporary Spanish PhotographyChema Madoz, Surrealy photographs, Contemporary Spanish PhotographyChema Madoz, Surrealy photographs, Contemporary Spanish PhotographyClick to enlarge

Photographer Chema Madoz finds the surreal in the everyday. Not suprisingly Madoz is from Spain, where surrealism seems to run thick in the veins with predecessors like Dali and Buñuel setting a similar tone and sensibility years back. Madoz’s photographs make you do double-takes, with seemingly unrelated objects he fuses together in the most surprising ways that somehow make sense and often make you smile. All in black and white, with each one more clever than the next.

You can see many more of his photographs on his website.

via lost at e minor

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Iconoclashes: Berglin & Valla

Iconoclashes Erik Berglin and Clement Valla, ArtHack Day, Metropolitain Museum of Art public web archive, Mulherin+PollardIconoclashes Erik Berglin and Clement Valla, ArtHack Day, Metropolitain Museum of Art public web archive, Mulherin+PollardIconoclashes Erik Berglin and Clement Valla, ArtHack Day, Metropolitain Museum of Art public web archive, Mulherin+PollardClick to enlarge

I went to galleries on the Lower East Side this weekend here in NYC, and had it not been for my friend Eric, I would have definitely walked on by the Mulherin + Pollard gallery having glanced through the window quickly and seen a room full of oversized photographs of classic sculpture. Once inside, there was something a little off about these photos. Fortunately, one of the gallery owners came over explained the process behind the images, which I ended up really liking. Iconoclashes, as this series of works is called, was created by artists Erik Berglin and Clement Valla at Art Hack day (an event that had intrigued me at the time) a few months back. Berglin and Valla used images from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s public web archive that were tagged with the keywords ‘God’ or  ‘Religion’. Using an algorithm in Photoshop, the works were randomly grouped and digitally merged, resulting in surprisingly odd, and in some cases surreal, statues. Because the Met shoots all of its art with the same background and lighting, the melding of the objects is more believable. The clashing of these objects from various time periods and cultures make for some very interesting and unlikely artworks. Even the white space on the right of the images is a result of a clash between vertical and horizontal images, confusing photoshop into leaving an irregular edge.

I found the whole concept fun, as well as technically curious, and, at least that top image, makes a nice sculpture in its crazy combination.

Iconoclashes showed  at Mulherin + Pollard through June 9th, but you can see many more of these visual mash-ups here and here.

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NYC Culture on the Cheap

Culture on the Cheap, NYC, Free and Cheap things to do in NYC, New Site, AnnouncementIf you’re here looking for our regular NYC Culture on the Cheap post, we have exciting news for you. Starting today, Culture on the Cheap will be its own separate site offering links to free and cheap things to do in NYC in art, music, design, film, theater, dance, food, architecture, talks, tours, and general fun. It won’t focus specifically on weekends anymore, though most activities may still be weekend-centric. So go take a look! You can sort by Event Date, Price, Genre, or even a specific date on the calendar.

If you like what you see, please share it with you friends and lovers! Sisters and brothers! Like our page on facebook or follow us on twitter.

It’s just up today, so please bear with us if any glitches should arise.

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Liu Bolin: Hiding in New York

Liu Bolin, Hiding in New York, Hiding in the City, Mask Exhibit at Eli Klein GalleryLiu Bolin, Hiding in New York, Hiding in the City, Mask Exhibit at Eli Klein GalleryLiu Bolin, Hiding in New York, Hiding in the City, Mask Exhibit at Eli Klein GalleryClick to enlarge

In preparation for his 5th solo exhibit at New York’s Eli Klein Gallery titled Mask,  Liu Bolin (previously here and here) had a live performance where visitors could witness the creation of a new photograph in his Hiding in New York series. Emma and Daniela went over to check it out with some friends and took a few photos of the process. The performance started with Bolin wearing a pre-painted suit with matching images of the rifles and peg holes on the wall behind him. With assistants all around him busy at work for the whole two-hour period, Bolin’s suit was touched up and perfectly positioned to blend in with his backdrop before they moved on to his vaseline-covered (or so it appeared) face where they painted each detail for the final disappearance.

The show Mask opens today at the Eli Klein Gallery in Soho and runs through July 21, 2013. We assume the in-progress rifle photo will be included in the show along with many more of his Hiding in the City series and the JR collaboration that took place last year.

Photos of Liu Bolin by Ana Slade. All other photos courtesy of the artist and Eli Klein Fine Art.
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Paulius Nosokas: SPAMspace

SpamSpace by Paulius Nosokas, lines of spam converted to graph-like images and installations.SpamSpace by Paulius Nosokas, extracted lines of spam converted to graph-like images and installations.SpamSpace by Paulius Nosokas, extracted lines of spam converted to graph-like images and installations.Click to enlarge

Currently Berlin-based, Lithuanian-born artist Paulius Nosokas has a touching and inspiring childhood story, braving it independently from an early age and coming to the US at the age of 18 where he worked in, and learned on the job, graphic design and screen design. He combines these skills in his art being a firm believer that behind every good work of fine art is good design.

In his series of works titled SPAMspace, Nosokas collected 3-year’s worth of actual spam subject heads that appeared in his 5 email inboxes. He took a small fraction of them and designed them into stripes of color, dividing them into 7 sets — one for each day of the week — placing each line on its side, taking on a graph-like appearance. Together, they tell a story of the power of the written word to seduce, and become a clear representation of the internet and its invasion of privacy. Nosokas chose sexual spam, but could have just as easily  chosen non-sexual lines. SPAMspace is designed to fit in the space at hand, traveling up and across walls. I’d like to see this as a wallpaper selection. Maybe in the pastel tones of pink and blue. Maybe even in a baby’s room! Just kidding…

You might want to check out the rest of Paulius Nosokas’s work that ranges from light drawing to beautifully animated geometric shapes.

All photos courtesy of the artist.
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Even in Fear: Zhou Xiaohu

Even in Fear, Zhoun Xiaohu, Contemporary Chinese Art installation, White Rabbit Gallery, Smash Palace, exploding balloonEven in Fear, Zhoun Xiaohu, Contemporary Chinese Art installation, White Rabbit Gallery, Smash Palace, exploding balloonEven in Fear, Zhoun Xiaohu, Contemporary Chinese Art installation, White Rabbit Gallery, Smash Palace, exploding balloonClick to enlarge

As part of their current exhibit Smash Palace—a group show surveying the reactions of some of China’s best contemporary artists to the shock of the new century—White Rabbit Gallery in Sydney, Australia, included Zhou Xiaohu’s ominous Even in Fear. Consisting of a weather balloon that swells like the pressure of modern life, then collapses only to swell again, slowly increasing in size over weeks until it is wedged between floor and ceiling until the point of bursting, creating a building sense of anxiety that goes hand-in-hand with a possible thrill. According to the gallery, the balloon did finally burst yesterday, much to the relief of some of the gallery attendants.

This is not the first time Xiaohu’s Even in Fear has been exhibited—I believe the first time was in Shanghai in 2008—but definitely the latest. If you’re in Sydney and were apprehensive about visiting the show due to the imminent explosion, it’s safe to go back in. Smash Palace, runs through August 4th.

Photos courtesy of White Rabbit Gallery; Blouin ArtInfo; and SpaceStation.
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Miranda July: We Think Alone

Miranda July, We Think Alone, Email project starting July 1, 2013. Private emails of Celebrities will be sent out to subscribers. Conceptual art. Fun, Strange, Goofy. VoyeurismMiranda July, We Think Alone, Email project starting July 1, 2013. Private emails of Celebrities will be sent out to subscribers. Conceptual art. Fun, Strange, Goofy. VoyeurismI’m not a twitter person. I usually dash in and out to tweet about the latest post on this blog and while there I’ll peruse the 20 or so latest tweets streaming in that minute. I find it a little overwhelming. But every once in a while I hit something in that very moment that I’m happy to have found out about and Miranda July’s latest project, We Think Alone, is a prime example. The quirky, funny, incredibly appealing writer/performance artist/filmmaker/actress has created the email-inbox-only project as part of a Swedish exhibit titled “On the Tip of My Tongue”. A collection of private emails from celebrities and public figures (some friends of July) that include Lena Dunham, Kirsten Dunst, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be sent out every Monday between July 1st and November 1st to anyone who signs up to receive them. The previously written emails from the sent folders of these people will deal with the subject-of-the-week selected by the artist. July’s first subject is “Money” and those emails will arrive on July 1st. It sounds a bit conceptual, definitely odd and, of course, voyeuristic but, based on Miranda July’s past projects, I have faith that it will be interesting and subscribed last Friday.

If you’d like to read more about the project and/or sign up to receive the emails yourself, you can do that here. If you’re not familiar with Miranda July’s work, you might enjoy this website, or just look through the many projects on her main site.

via @Miranda_July

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/31

01-TheLonelyIsland_TheWack02-TheHotelColorsThe Dandy Warhols - US AdMat - Square04-RockspotBikeTour205-HowlFestival06-BushwickOpenStudios-201307-The_Cloisters_Medieval_Art_Garden-day08-Nametag-day09-TimesSquareJillSobule10-EAT-LABANY electronic arts Festival12-jellio_lab213-PopFest201314-NYCFunnySongsFest15-DayLifeFestival16-SingForHOpePianos_jamesAlicea17-RooftopFilms18-MYO-MAkerBot

Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/31/13 to 6/2/13)
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/31/13 to 6/2/13). It’s going to be hot hot hot this weekend, but there are plenty of outdoor or indoor (if you prefer) activities in art, music, food, architecture, theater, film, design, comedy and general fun. Check out some of our picks for this weekend in NYC…
1. MUSIC/TALK: Fri 5/31 – Meet the Musicians: The Lonely Island, “The Wack Album” 7:00 p.m. FREE
2. THEATER: Fri 5/31 & Sat 6/1 – The Hotel Colors Six travelers spend one night in a rundown hostel in the outskirts of Rome. Speaking in direct translation from Italian into English the eccentric voyagers form a temporary community and unexpected friendships as they fail–and flail–in their attempts to communicate. 8pm $18.
3. MUSIC: Fri 5/31 – The Dandy Warhols: Featuring 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia In Its Entirety! $30 8pm
4. TOUR/BEACH/FUN: Sat 6/1 – Rockspot Bike Tour: Interactive tour that explores sites of environmental and historical significance along the Rockaway Peninsula. 11am to 2pm. FREE with registration
5. ART/MUSIC/DANCE/THEATER: All weekend – Howl! Festival – Presenting poetry, music, dance, theater, fine art, and intersections of popular culture, new technologies and artistic expression that defy easy categorization. Fri 4:30pm to 7pm. Sat & Sun 11am to 7pm. FREE
6. ART: All weekend: – Bushwick Open Studios – 3 days of arts and culture festival that celebrates the community’s vibrant art scene. 615 shows/studios! FREE
7. ARCHITECTURE/GARDENS: Sat 6/1 – Garden Day at the Cloisters. 10am to 4pm. Pay what you wish, suggested $25.
8. FUN: Sat 6/1 – Nametag Day! Imagine everyone in New York City wearing a nametag. On June 1st, we’ll be giving them out at sites all over the city. FREE
9. THEATER/MUSIC: Sat 6/1 – Times Square the musical at Joe’s Pub by Jill Sobule and Robin Eaton 9:30pm $20
10. ART/MUSIC/FOOD: Sat 6/1 & Sun 6/2 – EAT LABA Arts Festival: an exploration of the power of food in ancient Jewish texts. Art, music, performances, teachings and tastings. Sat 8:30pm Sun 3pm at 14th St Y. $25 to $35.
11. ART/TECH: Sat 6/1 & Sun 6/2 through 7/31 – New York Electronic Art Festival. A summer series of concerts, workshops, and exhibits centered on the cutting-edge work at the intersection of art and technology. FREE
12. DESIGN: All weekend & through 8/16 – Toy Chest: a design exhibit of furniture and objects inspired by toys. A Lincoln Logs chair, a Banana Split Bench… Jellio Design Lab. Noon to 5pm. FREE
13. MUSIC: All weekend – NYC POP Fest: Music festival various bands and venues. $10 to $20
14. COMEDY/MUSIC: All weekend – NYC Funny Songs Fest. Professional entertainers whose acts consist of jokes, songs and/or satirical sketches intended to make an audience laugh, which also incorporate the use of a musical instrument. FREE to $12. See schedule.
15. FOOD/FASHION: Sun 6/2 – DayLife – 3-block special event that covers Orchard Street in astroturf and pushcarts, and includes the best in LES food and fashion vendors. FREE
16. ART/MUSIC: All weekend & through 6/16: 88 Sing for Hope Pianos as public art pieces all over town. Play one or listen to others play. Sat & Sun only you can request a tune via twitter to Stanley the player piano at Chobani in Soho.
17.  FILM: Fri 5/31 & Sat 6/1 – Rooftop Films. “Trapped” (Short Films) on Fri and “The Dirties” on Sat. 8pm. $13.
18. DESIGN/TECH/CLASS: Sun 6/2 – Make Your Own MakerBot 3D object. They’ll have a selection of Dad-themed objects for you to make on a MakerBot® Replicator 2® Desktop 3D Printers, all made with MakerBot PLA Filament. Participation is $10, pre-paid upon registration.

MORE…
ART/PERFORMANCE: Sun 6/2 – Attend a live performance by Liu Bolin and witness the creation of a new photograph in his Hiding in New York series. 4pm to 6pm at Eli Klein Gallery, 462 West Broadway. FREE.

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SpY: Humorous Street Art Interventions

SpY, street art from Spain, humorous interventions with an edge, for security reasonsSpY, street art from Spain, humorous interventions with an edge, for security reasonsSpY, street art from Spain, humorous interventions with an edge, for security reasonsClick to enlarge

Spanish street artist SpY from Madrid creates interventions with a humorous surprise twist many of which include a cutting social and/or political edge. In his series For Security Reasons, SpY installed security cameras in the most unlikely places: pointing at a pile of bricks or garbage or even straight up at the sky. Other, less subversive, interventions include replacing the handset on a payphone with a banana, adding a multitude of diagonal lines to a tennis court, and painting a skate ramp to look like a soccer field. I would imagine he enjoys himself as much as anyone that comes across his work.

via katowice street art fest

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Zimoun: Sound Installation in a Toluene Tank

Zimoun sound installation inside of a Toluene Tank in Switzerland. Cool art installation. Sound art.Zimoun sound installation inside of a Toluene Tank in Switzerland. Cool art installation. Sound art.Zimoun sound installation inside of a Toluene Tank in Switzerland. Cool art installation. Sound art.Click to enlarge

This must be pretty incredible to see in person. And noisy. And possibly smelly if they haven’t gotten all the paint thinner smell out of the tank. Swiss artist Zimoun has been creating “architecturally-minded platforms of sound” for several years. I saw one of his cardboard box installations over a year ago at the Bring to Light Festival here in NYC. His latest work is a permanent installation utilizing 329 prepared dc-motors, wires, cotton balls, lights and a circular bench all inside of a former toluene tank in Dottikon, Switzerland. The contrast between the loud sounds of the interior and the quiet of the snowy exterior are emphasized in the video below. There’s a chaotic order to the installation. It’s exciting to see this next dimension to Zimoun’s work and the interesting repurposing of an abandoned tank. (Here’s another repurposed tank in Spain.)

You can see many more of Zimoun’s installations on his website and this one in action in the video below:

via colossal

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Lichtenstein/Barneys Collaboration

Roy Lichtenstein, Pop art in the Windows at Barneys NY. Collaboration of Lichtenstein and product design available at Barneys. Fun window displaysRoy Lichtenstein, Pop art in the Windows at Barneys NY. Collaboration of Lichtenstein and product design available at Barneys. Fun window displaysRoy Lichtenstein, Pop art in the Windows at Barneys NY. Collaboration of Lichtenstein and product design available at Barneys. Fun window displaysClick to enlarge

Attention Roy Lichtenstein fans! The Pop Artist’s estate has collaborated with Barneys New York and the Art Production Fund creating a limited edition collection of home goods with some of the artist’s iconic images from the 60s and 70s. From beach balls to trays and tableware, paper cups and bags, it’s sure to please even the Lichtenstein-ignorant. What caught my eye, however, were the store’s windows when passing by a few nights ago. Oversized reproductions of the items hang colorfully behind the glass, as if Lichtenstein’s painting have come to life. Watch the video below if you’d like to see the installation process; an art in itself.

Definitely on the pricey side, but 25% of all the sales of the collection benefit the Art Production Fund which supports public art projects, so there’s that.

Photos courtesy of The Art Production Fund.
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Clemens Behr: Sculptural Street Art

Clemens Behr, German street art, 3d street art, sculptural street art and graffiti art. Cool art.Clemens Behr, German street art, 3d street art, sculptural street art and graffiti art. Cool art.Clemens Behr, German street art, 3d street art, sculptural street art and graffiti art. Cool art.Click to enlarge

German street artist Clemens Behr “scours cities and sites for spots to build installations” much in the way other street artists look for walls to spray on. Behr’s origami-like structures are made with simple recycled materials, converted into geometric forms. Though some of his work is in the form of murals, most of Behr’s interventions are 3D sculptural objects, in many cases mural-like, emanating from walls or corners. It’s always fun to see artists push a genre in a different direction.

You can see more of Clemens Behr’s installations on his site and his blog.

via idn

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Atelier Ted Noten: Provocative Design

Ted Noten, Dutch Design, Jewelry and Accessories with an edge, provocative.Ted Noten, Dutch Design, Jewelry and Accessories with an edge, provocative.Ted Noten, Dutch Design, Jewelry and Accessories with an edge, provocative.Click to enlarge

Like them or not, it was hard to ignore Atelier Ted Noten’s designs at the Collective Design Fair a couple of weeks ago here in NYC. Placed on a light table, these provocative accessories and jewelry pieces by the Dutch designer—such as the leaping rat in an acrylic case, a goldplated firing pistol within a fur-topped acrylic purse, and his Fashionista Golden Girl necklace made up of a bunch of high-heeled shoes—glowed within the dimly lit pier. What does it all mean? I’m not sure it means to do much more than grab your attention and at once intrigue and repel, but I leave the analyzing to you.

Ted Noten expanded from jewelry and accessories to interior design and installations in 2011 when he formed Atelier Ted Noten. You can see much more of their work here and a video of his controversial “7 Necessities” project below.

Photos: collabcubed & bottom three courtesy of Ted Noten.
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Peel: Mehmet Ali Uysal

Mehmet Ali Uysal, contemporary Turkish Art, Peel, fun art installation, IstanbulMehmet Ali Uysal, contemporary Turkish Art, Peel, fun art installation, IstanbulContemporary Turkish Art, Mehmet Ali Uysal, PeelClick to enlarge

Turkish artist Mehmet Ali Uysal (whose lawn-pinching clothespin sculpture Ten/Skin you may be familiar with) created this fun installation (or is it more of a disinstallation?) where he transformed the white walls of the Nesrin Esirtgen gallery in Istanbul into his artwork. Peel, as the exhibit was called, seemingly cut into the walls of the space and, well, peeled the gallery ‘skin’ away in slabs that bent, slouched, and recoiled from the walls. Love it.

via Pi Artworks

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/24

Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.

Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/24/13 to 5/27/13)
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/24/13 to 5/27/13). It’s Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer! Usually a quiet weekend in NYC and perfect for strolling around and enjoying a slower pace.
1. ART: Fri 5/24: Chuck Close Photo Maquettes. FREE
2. ART/TECH/PARTICIPATORY: All weekend – Karen Finley’s Sext Me if You Can – an interactive performance installation, limited edition of paintings inspired by “sexts” that she receives from participating patrons. 3 to 6pm. FREE
3. ART/PHOTOGRAPHY: All weekend & through 9/8 – ICP Triennial: A Different Kind of Order – focuses on artworks created in our current moment of widespread economic, social, and political instability. Includes 28 international artists who employ photography, film, video, and interactive media, many of which have been featured on this very blog (Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Sohei Nishino, Walid Raad, Subotzky/Waterhouse, to name a few). FREE Fridays 5 to 8pm. Other times $14
4. FOOD/DRINK: All weekend – Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club at South Street Seaport right on the water with views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
5. ART: Fri 5/24 & Sat 5/25 – Volumes for Sound by Melissa Dubbin & Aaron S. Davidson. New works influenced by the geometries of sound. Funneling, folding and porting sound requires physical structures.
6. MUSIC: Fri 5/24 – David Grubbs celebrates the release of his recent collection of songs and forthcoming 75 Dollar Bill. 8pm FREE
7. ART/VIDEO: All weekend – Ende Tymes Novo Apocalyspe. A festival of noise, video, art, and experimental liberation at The Silent Barn. all events – $15/night, $35/weekend.
8. ART/MUSIC/FUN: All weekend – Opening weekend on Governor’s Island with music, performances, LMCC’s Open Studios, biking. Varying activities from 11 to 5pm. FREE.
9. MUSIC/ART: All weekend – Brian Eno: 77 Million Paintings. A constantly evolving sound and image-scape. Brian Eno brings his acclaimed audio-visual installation to the former location of Café Rouge. A generative work – making itself as you watch it – which explores a vast set of permutations of visual and sonic elements made by Eno. $5 suggested donation. 145 W. 32nd St.
10. THEATER/PUPPETS: All weekend – Labapalooza Festival of New Puppet Theater from the Lab. Times vary. $20 to $25
11. ARCHITECTURE/TOUR: Sat 5/25 – West Side Story: The Evolution of Lincoln Center from its origins as a Robert Moses urban renewal project up to its reimagining by Diller Scofidio and Renfro. AIANY Tours 10am to 11:30am $15 to $25.
12. ART: All weekend – Ellsworth Kelly’s Chatham Series at MoMA. FREE Fridays from 4 to 8pm.
13. FOOD/DRINK/FILM: All weekend – See/Change at South Street Seaport, an initiative to get people back to the Sandy-stricken area. Smorgasbar, Front Row Cinema, performances and more. This weekend is a preview of what’s to come the rest of the summer. FREE
14. TRANSPORTATION/FUN: Mon 5/27 (Memorial Day) – Citibike! Preview Week begins for Annual Members
15. MUSIC: Sat 5/27 – Mon 5/27 – NY Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert at St. John the Divine. 8pm. FREE
MORE…
All weekend: Beaches! It’s the start of the beach season and there are plenty of nice beaches just a subway or train ride away. We’re partial to the Rockaways though it’s still boardwalk-less post-Sandy and there may be a shuttle bus involved along with the subway for now, but Coney Island, Brighton, Long Beach, Sandy Hook, and Jones Beach are other options. $5 to $16 (transportation).
All weekend in Art: Ugo Rondinone’s installation Human Nature at Rockefeller Center. FREE
TV/FILM: Arrested Development Screening Marathon. 12:30 to 6pm. $8 to $10.
FILM/FUN: Fri 5/24 & Sat 5/25 – Rooftop Films. 8pm. Fri “Love Hurts”; Sat “The Kings of Summer”. $13.
Plus ongoing – Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. Hester Street Fair on the LES. Last weekend for Madison Square Eats.
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Anne Lilly: Temporal Tincture

Anne Lilly, Interactive kinetic stainless steel sculptures, mechanical sculpture, temporal tinctureAnne Lilly, Interactive kinetic stainless steel sculptures, mechanical sculpture, temporal tinctureAnne Lilly, Interactive kinetic stainless steel sculptures, mechanical sculpture, temporal tinctureClick to enlarge

I first saw Boston-based artist Anne Lilly’s beautiful interactive kinetic stainless steel sculptures at Scope NY a few months back and thought they were among the best pieces at the show. More recently, I saw more of them at the very intimate Beth Swanström Gallery where the artist herself was present. She spoke enthusiastically about her switch, years ago, from architecture to sculpture and the thrill she got the first time she entered a metal workshop surrounded by all the lathes and other tools.

Lilly’s sculptures have a fluidity and elegance that rival that of the most graceful dancer. The cool, mechanical, minimalist steel pieces (many of which remind me of some of my favorite Blomus housewares) need only a slight push and off they go in an incredibly smooth movement where collision seems inevitable, yet never occurs. Trust me, it’s worth watching the videos below to get the full effect, or as much of a full effect that one can get online.

Photos & videos courtesy of Anne Lilly and Galerie Swanström
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Somos Luz: Boamistura

Boamistura, Panama City, Somos Luz, We are Light, Street Art, CommunityBoamistura, Panama City, Somos Luz, We are Light, Street Art, CommunityBoamistura, Panama City, Somos Luz, We are Light, Street Art, CommunityClick to enlarge

The folks of Boamistura (previously here & here) were at it again, doing what they do so well: fostering pride and community in impoverished neighborhoods with their street art interventions. Their latest participatory urban art project Somos Luz (We are Light) took place this past March in Panama City. Invited by the Panama Art Biennial and as part of their own Crossroads project, Boamistura enlisted the help of the inhabitants of the Begonia I building in El Chorrillo to paint the phrase “Somos Luz” on the façade of their building. Each apartment (50 total) was responsible for painting their own home including corridors and stairways. The concept was based on a color grid that, when seen from up close, looks like abstract shapes but, from a distance, spells out their proud bright message. It’s win-win all around. The building got a much needed coat of paint (see ‘before’ in third photo down from top.) The community, down to the young children, were included in the project. And a sense of well-deserved pride was instilled in all who live in the Begonia I building. Nice work as usual Boamistura!

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Ugo Rondinone: Stonehenge-y Sculptures

Ugo Rondinone, Soul, Gladstone Gallery, NYC, Stone Sculptures, Stone human figures, Human Nature, Public Art Fund, Rockefeller CenterUgo Rondinone, Soul, Gladstone Gallery, NYC, Stone Sculptures, Stone human figures, Human Nature, Public Art Fund, Rockefeller CenterUgo Rondinone, Soul, Gladstone Gallery, NYC, Stone Sculptures, Stone human figures, Human Nature, Public Art Fund, Rockefeller CenterClick to enlarge

I happened upon Swiss-born, NYC-based artist Ugo Rondinone’s Soul exhibit in Chelsea the other day to my great delight. Walking into the Gladstone Gallery and seeing a sort of unhinged Stonehenge in the form of human figures created by stacked bluestone lit naturally from the above skylight is really a treat. Visitors walk between the primitive-looking (and pretty cute) works, oddly blending in. At the same time, uptown, at a completely different scale, Rondinone has created Human Nature, a public art installation at Rockefeller Center consisting of nine colossal stone figures ranging in height from 16 to 20 feet and weighing up to 30,000 lbs each. A forest of mythic stone giants!

Soul will be at Gladstone Gallery at 21st Street through July 3, 2013. Human Nature will be on view at Rockefeller Center through July 7th.

Photos: collabcubed & Public Art Fund