Phoebe Washburn: Sculpture in the Rotunda

Phoebe Washburn, National Academy, Sculpture in the Rotunda, Cool installation, Nudes Housed Within Their Own Clothes and Aware of Their Individual-Thirst Descending  a StaircasePhoebe Washburn, National Academy, Sculpture in the Rotunda, Cool installation, Nudes Housed Within Their Own Clothes and Aware of Their Individual-Thirst Descending  a StaircasePhoebe Washburn, National Academy, Sculpture in the Rotunda, Cool installation, Nudes Housed Within Their Own Clothes and Aware of Their Individual-Thirst Descending  a StaircaseClick to enlarge

The National Academy here on NYC’s Fifth Avenue, initiated their Sculpture in the Rotunda series in 2011 in which a large-scale site-specific sculpture/installation is placed in the building’s beaux-arts Rotunda. Currently, and through September of this year, the installation Nudes, Housed Within Their Own Clothes and Aware of Their Individual Thirst, Descending a Staircase is by New York-based artist Phoebe Washburn constructed a 15ft high and 11 feet in diameter cylindrical tower perforated with colorful “wormholes” through which visitors can peer in as they walk up and down the spiral staircase. Washburn’s artwork is often made with scrap wood and repurposed materials that she finds around NYC and this installation is no exception speaking issues of recycling, environmentalism, consumable products and the waste created by the current consumer-driven society.

You can see other installations by Phoebe Washburn here, or visit Nudes, Housed Within Their Own Clothes and Aware of Their Individual Thirst, Descending a Staircase at the National Gallery through September 2013.

Photos courtesy of Zach Feuer Gallery

James Turrell: Aten Reign in the Guggenheim Rotunda

James Turrell Guggenheim, Aten Reign, Elliptical Skyspace, Guggenheim Rotunda, cool light installationJames Turrell Guggenheim, Aten Reign, Elliptical Skyspace, Guggenheim Rotunda, cool light installationJames Turrell Guggenheim, Aten Reign, Elliptical Skyspace, Guggenheim Rotunda, cool light installationClick to enlarge

The very much anticipated James Turrell exhibit at the Guggenheim opened this evening and we were fortunate enough to attend the exciting event. The impressive skyspace installation that occupies the seemingly reduced-in-size rotunda does not disappoint. Aten Reign, as the massive installation is titled, cycles through a spectrum of colors—with varying hues of each—in approximately an hour. From white light to deep shades of reds and purples and eventually to almost complete darkness, the central atrium of the museum glows in a mystical yet soothing array of colors, changing people’s skin tones and even playing with one’s eyes and perception of color in the exterior halls lit in their natural white light that seem to take on a pink glow when the rotunda glows green, and green when pink. The rest of the museum is virtually empty except for about 5 rooms containing older works by Turrell all in white light. The trickery in these works is amazing, causing one to doubt their depth perception on a consistent basis. That which seems flat, is actually an open space, and that which seems open is actually a flat wall with projected light. Same goes for a cube of light that is so convincingly 3-dimensional, when in fact it is completely 2-dimensional. But, back to Aten Reign the exhibit’s pièce de resistance: the multi-tiered scrim creates elliptical circle within elliptical circle, working its way up from the most intense shade to five shades lighter towards to skylight. The rest of the museum looks oddly cropped and bare sans art, but it makes you appreciate the James Turrell installation-filled rooms, all the more.

James Turrell will be on exhibit at the Guggenheim through September 25, 2013.

Photos: collabcubed

Richard Woods: A Maze for Yorkshire

Richard Woods, A Maze for Yorkshire, the Orangery, Wakefield, Faux cartoon stone wall mazeRichard Woods, A Maze for Yorkshire, the Orangery, Wakefield, Faux cartoon stone wall mazeRichard Woods, A Maze for Yorkshire, the Orangery, Wakefield, Faux cartoon stone wall mazeClick to enlarge

I’ve come across artist Richard Woods’ work over the years, but I don’t think I ever quite put it all together until now. The London-based Woods likes to substitute colorful faux cartoon-y textures for the real ones. Beginning about a dozen years ago replacing wooden floor slats in a house with their colorful cartoon counterparts, Woods has since made aluminum siding homes look like tudors, revamped brick homes with larger cartoon-like faux brick exteriors, and now, at the Orangery in Wakefield, Yorkshire, he’s created a maze titled A Maze for Yorkshire in shades of pinks and reds in what he describes as a ‘cartoon Yorkshire dry stone wall.’ The temporary labyrinth measures 10 meters square with an intimate performance space at its center. The maze has an accompanying soundscape as well.

A Maze for Yorkshire will be up at The Orangery through September 29, 2013.

Photos of maze by Jonty Wilde. Other photos courtesy of the artist.

via wallpaper

One Thousand Speculations: Michel de Broin

World's Largest Disco Ball, One Thousand Speculations by Michel de Broin for Luminato Festival, TorontoWorld's Largest Disco Ball, One Thousand Speculations by Michel de Broin for Luminato Festival, TorontoWorld's Largest Disco Ball, One Thousand Speculations by Michel de Broin for Luminato Festival, TorontoClick to enlarge

Canadian artist Michel de Broin adopts a critical and playful attitude towards common objects and ideas. For the Luminato Festival, going on currently in Toronto, Broin created his installation One Thousand Speculations, a 7.9 metre in diameter ball made up of 1000 mirrors that will be lifted 80-feet above the ground of David Pecaut Square each night of the Festival. The largest disco ball in the world will spin, twinkle, and reflect against the buildings around the square for the duration of the festival. Fun!

Photos courtesy Luminato Festival and Damn Cool Pictures.

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.

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 MaskLiu 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.

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.

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

NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/31

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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.

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.

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.

ALSO! Project: School of Visual Arts (SVA)

Also! Project, SVA students at Wanted Design Fair, The Tunnel, NYC 2013. Interactive carts.Also! Project, SVA students at Wanted Design Fair, The Tunnel, NYC 2013. Interactive carts.Also! Project, SVA students at Wanted Design Fair, The Tunnel, NYC 2013. Interactive carts.Click to enlarge

I stopped by Wanted Design this past weekend in NYC, a small fair showcasing product and furniture design from around the world, and one of several Design Week events going on in NYC right now. There was lots of interesting work (Design in Puerto Rico’s booth had an especially nice collection of objects) and the venue—The Tunnel—was an excellent choice with its designy atmosphere that integrates old and new NY so well. But it’s possible that, for me, the group that stole the show consisted of the SVA Product Design students and their ALSO! Project.

Hard to miss with their neon orange logos, these guys roamed the Tunnel with six interactive projects (several in carts) inviting visitors to view all the exhibits in unconventional ways. The stations included:
No. 1―BOOM -Objects would have a lot to tell us if only they could speak.
No. 2―HERE -Design moments, living unassumingly within the exhibition space.
No. 3―MASK – Ephemera into facade―catalogue to camouflage via die-cutting.
No. 4―TINY – How very different the world appears when scale is amplified.
No. 5―WARP – The show via kaleidoscope; composition through a variety of filters.
Bonus Track!―LIFT – Your telephone, on a journey, to and from a vantage point high above.

I personally only interacted with three of the projects but witnessed two others in use. The students were very engaging and enthusiastic, happy to explain their project to everyone interested and eager to get people to interact. With informative stickers at the ready to paste on your arm or leg, and kaleidoscopic interpretations of the surroundings, as well as viewfinders with images focusing on some of the unnoticed subtleties of the venue, these young designers were excited about the event and what their project brought to it. And rightly so. The Also Project showed creativity, interactivity, and focused on product design from function and form, through to branding, uniform-design, gadgetry and teamwork. Not to mention fun. Hats off to instructor and industrial designer Sinclair Smith of SVA’s Products of Design MFA program for taking his students on this great design journey.

You can read more about the Also Project here. Wanted Design is on through today 5/20 at 7pm.

NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/17

Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. 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 (5/17/13 to 5/19/13)
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/17/13 to 5/19/13) Walks, talks, music, art, architecture, theater, film,
1. ART/FILM/VIDEO: All weekend & through 5/25 Video_dumbo at Eyebeam.  8th annual festival & exhibition of contemporary moving image artwork, will include fourteen video screening programs, alongside eight installation works under the title Re-Return to Sender. Individual screenings $5; day pass $10 (access to all screenings in one day);  festival pass $20 (access to all festival screenings); Exhibition entrance is free. See schedule.
2. MUSIC/FOOD: Fri 5/17 – Great GoogaMooga Kickoff Concert featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Flaming Lips & The Darkness with 85 Food Makers, Brews and Wines. Prospect Park 4pm to 10pm. $54.50 (Not exactly cheap but ticket also includes admission to either Sat or Sun entry to the festival)
3. TALK/MUSIC: Fri 5/17 – An evening with Fab 5 Freddy. 7pm FREE
4. FILM: All weekend – 3rd Annual Art of Brooklyn Film Festival $10 ($50 all-access pass)
5. THEATER: All weekend & through 6/3 – Colin Quinn’s Unconstituional, a unique comedic perspective on our national character. Use code BSTCQU for $35 tkts except Sat@8pm shows.
6. TALK/ART: Fri 5/17 – Suhail Malik presents the next installment of “On the Necessity of Art’s Exit from Contemporary Art. 7pm $5 at Artists Space Books & Talks
7. BOOKS/READINGS/FUN: Sat 5/18 – Lit Crawl NYC Brooklyn. A night of readings, sing-alongs, impromptu writing exercises, and games at various locations around Smith Street  See schedule for locations and “phases” 5pm on. FREE.
8. DESIGN: All weekend & through 5/20 – Wanted Design in The Tunnel: a lively, interactive destination for the design industry and its devotees. $15 online $25 at door.
9. ARCHITECTURE/WALK: Sat 5/18 – Modern Architecture in the West Village and Meatpacking District. 10:30am to 12:30pm. $15 to $25.
10. ART/WALK/ARCHITECTURE: All weekend & through 7/20 – Carol Bove’s seven large-scale sculptures at the Rail Yards Section of the High Line, the third and final section. Advance reservations required for walks. FREE
11. PERFORMANCE/MUSIC/FOOD: All weekend – The 37th Annual Ukrainian Festival. Three days of festivities on East 7th Street plus over 18,000 pierogi! Starting Fri at 6:30pm. FREE
12. ART: All weekend & through 9/2 – EXPO 1: New York at MoMAPS1 with works/installations by Adrian Villar Rojas, Olafur Eliasson, Meg Webster and more. $10
13. MUSIC: Sat 5/18 – Earthman Experience: Haitian-born vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Richard “Earthman” Laurent presides over this nine-piece fun ensemble. Fela Kuti-inspired Afrobeat meets tribal house jams. 9pm at BAMCafe. FREE
14. ART/DESIGN/TECHNOLOGY: All weekend & through 5/24 – Parsons Festival 2013. Several impressive student exhibits on view in Media, Design, Art & more. 2 West 13th St. Mostly 12pm to 6:30pm but check hours for specific events. FREE
15. FILM: Sat 5/18 – Stan Brakhage at Anthology Film Archives. Six of Brakhage’s early films from 1950s. 3:45pm $10
16. ART/CRAFTS/MUSIC: Sun 5/29 – Pop Souk. A one-day pop-up marketplace that brings together DJs, drag queens and other downtown creative folk. Noon to 6pm at the Standard High Line Biergarten. FREE.
17. ART/DESIGN: Sun 5/19 through 5/26 – reMADE Pop-up gallery project featuring work of local artists and designers. Four shows will run two nights each throughout the week of May 19–26.
18. ARCHITECTURE/COMPETITION: All Weekend & through 6/13 – Van Alen Institute’s Ground/Work Competition Call for Portfolios: an international architecture competition seeking innovative designs for a new street-level venue to house Van Alen’s work space and public programs.
MORE…
CONFERENCE: Fri 5/17 – Uncubed Meet Founders Learn Skills & Join one of NYC’s exciting StartUps plus a Party! 2pm to 7:30pm. $30
DESIGN: All weekend – Home in the Woods in Soho: featuring work by masters and progressive designers and artists with a Nordic connection. 12pm to 8pm, with daily “talks & delights” between 6pm & 7pm. FREE
ART: All weekend with cocktail party on Sat 5/18 from 9pm to 11:30pm – Gallery R’Pure presents “Off the Grid” featuring new pieces from Brooklyn based French born François Chambard and New York based Frederick McSwain
DESIGN: All weekend and through 5/21: ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) at the Javits Ctr. Open to Trade all weekend. FREE with registration.
MUSIC: All weekend – Look & Listen Festival. Vital new music presented by youthful virtuosos surrounded by contemporary art in a casual setting. FREE

Rain Room at MoMA: Random International

rain room at MoMA, X1, immersive installation of rain that doesn't get you wet, cool art, Rain Room at MoMA, X1, immersive interactive installation with falling water that doesn't get you wet. cool art. Fun in NYC Rain Room at MoMA, X1, immersive interactive installation with falling water that doesn't get you wet. cool art. Fun in NYC Click to enlarge

It’s been a weekend of wall-to-wall art and design here in NYC with art fairs small and large, from Pulse, to Nada, to Collective, to Frieze and, of course, the opening of Rain Room at MoMA, the interactive and immersive installation by rAndom International that first debuted at the Barbican Centre in London last October. I will be featuring some of the highlights, for me, from these events in the next few days but here, for starters, is the amazing Rain Room.

Rain Room is a large-scale environment (in the case of MoMA, it’s a separate entity outside the museum on 54th Street) with a field of pouring rain whose flow is suspended detecting the presence of bodies, allowing visitors to wander around the room amidst the beautifully highlighted drops, without getting wet. Injection moulded tiles, solenoid valves, pressure regulators, 3D tracking cameras, custom software and steel beams are involved in the production of the installation. Definitely fun and cool, making for some stunning photographs (better ones if you opt for camera over phone) and lots of kids running fast trying (and mostly succeeding) to get wet.

But, as with all fun and cool NYC activities, there are long lines. If you’re a museum member the wait is slightly shorter, but even early on the first day, while there were probably many still unaware of the exhibit, the wait was about an hour and a half. So, go prepared and avoid peak hours. There are early morning members-only hours from 9:30 to 10:30am but getting there by 9am is likely to be a good idea.

Rain Room is part of EXPO 1: New York and will be on view through July 28, 2013.

Photos: Joe Holmes; rAndom International; and collabcubed

NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/10

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Free& Cheap things to do 5/10/13 to 5/12/13
Free & Cheap things to do in NYC this weekend (5/10/13 to 5/12/13). It’s an especially good weekend for fans of art and design…
1. DESIGN/ART: Fri 5/10 & Sat 5/11 – Collective Design Fair at Pier 57 – will present a cohesive, curated selection of contemporary design and historical pieces from galleries around the world. $25 Fri 11am to 9pm; Sat 11am to 5pm. Register in advance.
2. ART:  All weekend & through 9/2 – Subliming Vessel: The Drawings of Matthew Barney $15. Also Fri 5/10 Film No Restraint by Barney at 7pm. Morgan Library. FREE Friday Evenings.
3. ART/DESIGN:  All weekend – PULSE NY at the Metropolitan Pavilion.  11am to 8pm $20 to $25
4. MUSIC: Fri 5/10 & Sat 5/11 – Downtown Music Festival  Full day passes between $25 and $45
5. DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE/TALKS/ART:  All weekend & through 5/21 – NYCxDESIGN inaugural citywide event to showcase and promote design of all disciplines. Events will be staged across all five boroughs,from convention facilities and galleries to design schools and public parks. Most events FREE
6. ART: All weekend – NADA NYC: creatively reinventing the experience and presentation of art in a fair enviornment. at Basketball City at Pier 36 on the East River. See hours FREE.
7. FILM/COMEDY:  Fri 5/10 –Kevin Geeks Out about Rip-Off Cinema. Comedy-variety show hosted by Kevin Maher. Vintage clips and videos, games and curiosities. 8pm $10
8. DESIGN/ART: All weekend  – Brooklyn Designs annual exhibit of local designers work in furnishings, lighting, and accessories made or designed in Brooklyn.  Fri open to Trade. Sat 10 to 7pm, Sun 11am to 6pm. $15 to $20.
9. DESIGN CONFERENCE: Sat 5/11 – Counter/Point: the 2013 D-Crit Conference. 12:30 to 7pm. at SVA theater. FREE with Registration
10. ARCHITECTURE WALK/TOUR:  Sat 5/11 – AIA Roosevelt Island: 1970s “New Town In Town” to FDR Four Freedoms 11am to 1pm $15 to $25
11. ARCHITECTURE/TALK: Fri 5/10 – Diller Scofidio in conversation with Dimendberg Vidler and Polan about Lincoln Ctr., 6 to 8pm. FREE with RSVP
12. ART/PARTICIPATORY: Sun 5/12 through 7/28 – The very cool installation that doesn’t get you wet: The Rain Room opens at MoMA $25 admission. FREE Friday evenings and first 100 visitors on Tuesdays in May.

NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/3

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Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/3/13 to 5/5/13)
It’s going to be a perfect Spring weekend so here are plenty of suggestions to keep you out and about with culture and fun. Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/3/13 to 5/5/13) Walks, talks, music, art, Ideas Festival, Pen World Voices Fest, Red Bull Music Fest, Nuit Blanche events, Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and so much more!
1. THEATER: Fri 5/3 and all weekend – Blondie of Arabia. Monica Hunken’s one-woman show on her odyssey biking through 3 countries in the Middle East weeks before the Arab Spring. A quirky comedy. Monica talks after the Fri 5/3 and 5/10 performances. 8pm. $25.
2. LITERATURE/READINGS:  Fri 5/3 – PEN World Voices of International Literature’s Literary Mews. Nestled among the cobblestone streets of NYU’s storied Washington Mews, this day-long “festival within the Festival” will feature writers’ workshops in the morning and readings in the afternoon. FREE
3. ART:  Fri 5/3 & all weekend through 6/20 – Holton Rower Focus paintings, Pour Paintings two bodies of work side by side. Diverse results achieved by the artist through his innovative and deceptively simple process of pouring hand-made acrylic paints over wood. Rower will also introduce a new body of work titled “Focus paintings” which are amazingly out of focus! Opening Fri 6 to 9pm. FREE
4. FILM: Fri 5/3 & Sat 5/4 – New York Indian Film Festival $15  See schedule.
5. ART/ARCHITECTURE/URBAN STUDIES/DESIGN/FOOD: Fri 5/3 & Sat 5/4 –Ideas City is a biennial Festival in New York City of conferences, workshops, an innovative StreetFest around the Bowery, and more than one hundred independent projects and public events that are forums for exchanging ideas, proposing solutions, and accelerating creativity. So much to do so check schedule to pick. A few events that caught my eye: Creation 3D; Human Hotel; and Murals on the Bowery. 9am to Midnight. FREE
6. MUSIC: All weekend & through 5/31– Red Bull Music Academy. An amazing amount of music events all around town ranging mostly from FREE to $20. Check events on their site.
7. WALK/ARCHITECTURE:  Sat 5/4 – The Great Saunter. A 32 mile walk around Manhattan’s Shoreline.7am to 7pm $20
8. ART/VIDEO/LIGHT: Sat 5/4  – Nuit Blanche presents Change of State. Site-specific projection on the facade of the New Museum.  And Mulberry Street Night Fest where the street is converted into a series of cool light, projection-mapping, and video installations. 8pm to midnight. FREE
9. ART/PARTICIPATORY/FUN: Sat 5/4 & Sun 5/5 – The Institute for Psychogeographic Adventure: Experiment 17 – DUMBO Individuals (or pairs) sign up for a personalized journey that remixes history, memory, the everyday and the spectacular. A multitude of performers will be scattered through the neighborhood to lead you through a series of unexpected and fabulous DUMBO encounters. Noon to 5pm $10.
10. ARCHITECTURE/WALK/TOUR: Sat 5/4 – Made in LIC: A Jane Jacobs Walking Tour of Long Island City 12pm at The Clock Tower. FREE
11. MUSIC: Sat 5/4 – Brooklyn Flea Record Fair at Smorgasburg 11am to 6pm. FREE
12. ARCHITECTURE/WALKING TOUR: Sat 5/4 – Hudson Yards: Design(in) The New Heart of NY. OHNY. Exhibit and architect-led tours. 10am to 3pm. Register. FREE.
13. MUSIC/ART/FUN: Sat 5/4 – Earth Day Rockaway: Free activities, live music by Il Collectivo, art-related booths, kite-making, recycling olympics and much more. 12 to 4pm. FREE
14. FUN/SPECTATOR: Sat 5/4 – Kentucky Derby watch sites
15. THEATER: All weekend & through 3/19 – The Pulitzer Prize winning play ‘Night, Mother by Marsha Norman. General Admission $18
16. MUSIC/DANCE/PARTY: Sun 5/5 – Cinco de Mayo with Body Language. Dance Party at Glasslands Gallery. 8:30pm. $10 to $12
17. MUSIC/ART/INSANITY: Sun 5/5 – The National perform their song “Sorrow” for 6 hours straight as part of Ragnar Kjartansson’ A Lot of Sorrow at PS1 in the VW Dome $15 Tkts
18. FOOD/DRINK/FIESTA: Sun 5/5 – Roberta’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Tacos, Cervezas. Tequila, music, pinatas! 2pm to 10pm

Get outside and enjoy!

NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 4/26

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Free& Cheap things to do
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (4/26/13 to 4/28/13) from participatory art events, to music, dance, talks, a design conference, outdoor garden and cherry blossoms, oh and food! Fun and interesting events all weekend long, ’cause it’s spring and spring in NYC is the best (after summer, of course.) Click through on images above for official event pages with more info or in the descriptions below.
1. FOOD/TOUR: Fri 4/26 & every Friday: Free Chinatown Food Tour – sample tasty fried dumplings, tapioca bubble tea, sticky buns, candied crabs and more. You choose what treats you would like to taste and how much you would like to spend. Suggested amount for snacks $7 to $10. 1pm to 3pm. Reservations required.
2. PARTICIPATORY ART/PHOTOGRAPHY:  All weekend & through 5/10 – JR’s Inside Out Project Photo Booth in Times Square! (see post) FREE
3. DESIGN:  Fri 4/26 – Bordo Bello NYC through July 2nd. A skateboard art show at the AIGA National gallery. FREE.
4. ART: All weekend & through 9/8: Orly Genger’s monumental installation of hand-knotted brightly colored nautical rope takes over Madison Square Park. Much cooler than the rendering on the site. FREE.
5. ART/PERFORMANCE/PARTICIPATORY/TOUR:  Fri 4/26 – Concrete Escort I, II, III, IV at the Guggenheim. Ei Arakawa’s performance-based work. Axe-wielding man, participatory sprinting down the museum’s spiral walkway and other activities/performances. 6pm and 8pm. $20 to $25.
6. MUSIC: Fri 4/26 – Catch-Pop String-Strong: This duo come from Serbia and Kosovo, play viola and cello, often singing. they are both intense and full of humor. 6:30pm FREE w/RSVP
7. MUSIC:  Fri 4/26 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr indie-pop duo at Music Hall of Williamsburg. 8pm $18 to $20
8. DANCE: Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27  – Anna Sperber – The Superseded Third 8pm $15
9. ART/TECH: Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27 – Alchemy & Art – Part I. Features 3D prints from Lily Su and Heidi Lee In addition, there will be live demonstrations, including Kinect body scanning and 3D printing with Ultimaker and Up! desktop printers. Opening Fri 7 to 9pm. Sat 4pm to midnight including party. FREE
10. DANCE: Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27 – Comedy in Dance Festival. All shows at 8pm. $12 to $15.
11. DESIGN/CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP: Sat 4/27 – DIY Days is about the accessibility of ideas, resources and networking that can enable creators to fund, create, distribute and sustain. 9:15 to 6pm with Social Mixer from 6:15 to 8pm. FREE
12. MUSIC/FOOD/FUN: Sat 4/27 – F.O.R.T: CSAA’s interactive multi-tiered garden opens with all day music, food, and general merriment. 12 to 7pm at the Silent Barn. FREE
13. MUSIC: Sat 4/27 – The Losers Lounge perform selections from the Music Division’s historic Brill Building lead sheet collection, with commentary by division chief George Boziwick. at NYPL 7pm FREE
14. PARTICIPATORY/FUN: Sat 4/27 – Flux Factory’s Tween Dweam Social with YouTube Karaoke, Viva Bodyroll and dancing. 8pm $10 to $12.
15. PHOTOGRAPHY/WORKSHOP: Sun 4/28 – Pinhole Camera Workshop, Picnic & Bus Trip. $25 includes travel, film & loaner camera for the day, plus picnic. Sign up.
16. ART/PARTICIPATORY: Sun 4/28 – Photographer/Videographer Laurel Nakadate invites you to PS1 to confess, detail, and atone for shameful acts of the past publicly in the VWDome. 4 to 6pm. $10.
17. PERFORMANCE/FUN/MUSIC: Sun 4/28 – Sakura Matsuri, the annual cherry blossom festival offers over 60 events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Brooklyn Botanical Gardens 10am to 6pm. $15 to $20.
18. NEXT SUNDAY/MUSIC: Sun 5/5 – The National at PS1 performing their song “Sorrow” for 6 hours straight. Get tickets now: $15.
MORE…
FOOD/CRAFTS/FUN >> Sat 4/27 & Sats thru 10/26– Hester Street Fair kicks off their season. 10am to 6pm. FREE
ART >> All Weekend & till next April– Busted – the High Line’s latest commission. Figurative sculptures, celebratory portraits, and commemorative monuments installed on and around the High Line. FREE
ART >>  Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27 and through June 22nd – Here and There. New work by Maya Lin exploring environmental issues at Pace 57th St. FREE
ART >> All Weekend – Fashion Center Space for Public Art, a vibrant series of public window displays which showcase the work of local artists. This month through May: the paintings of Diane Englander. 215 West 38th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue) FREE

Jim Hake: Crystal

Sculpture made with upcycled cds, Jim Hake, The Crystals, doo-wop singer sculpture made with welded cds, cool artSculpture made with upcycled cds, Jim Hake, The Crystals, doo-wop singer sculpture made with welded cds, cool artSculpture made with upcycled cds, Jim Hake, The Crystals, doo-wop singer sculpture made with welded cds, cool artClick to enlarge

Toronto-based artist Jim Hake (previously here) has completed his first piece in a series made using upcycled CDs. Music has always been very important to Hake and now he’s bringing it into his work by welding pieces of CDs together, in this case honoring the forgotten musical idols of the ’60s that he grew up with. As he tells it to Weld Art Collective:

This is the first piece in the series and it’s based on a conglomeration of features and hairstyles from the band The Crystals. In terms of the portraiture, I wanted it to be more about the glorification of that particular moment and also taking the idea of the ‘60s female, black doo-wop singer and portraying her in a classical pose in a very positive and glorified way […]”

The prismatic quality gives it a bit of a disco ball look which adds yet another dimension to the music theme. If you’re in Toronto, you can see Jim Hake’s Crystal at the Lonsdale Gallery through May 12th.

Photos courtesy of Jim Hake