Vast are the cultures and traditions of Africa. Josef Mueller began collecting pieces of African art over a century ago and now they are for all to see at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. From headress to sculpture, the Congo to Western Sudan you will be sent to a whole new world. The exhibit opens Tuesday, June 2nd and will stay until September 27th, 2009.
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival begins next Thursday, June 11th in Manchester, Tennessee. The lineup is vast and is sure to include at least one band you enjoy, in an attempt to preview the event we have picked out a few of the great bands playing on each day, for a complete lineup and schedule check out Bonaroo’s site.
Thursday- White Rabbits, Chairlift, and Passion Pit
Friday- Animal Collective, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tv on The Radio, Grizzly Bear, The Dirty Projectors, St Vincent, Santagold, Ani DiFranco, David Byrne, Gomez, Phoenix, Crystal Castles, Girl Talk and Pretty Lights
Saturday- The Mars Volta, Of Montreal, The Decemberists, Bon Iver, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Sunday- Citizens Cope, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, Neko Case, Okkervil River, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
The Metropolitan Art Museum has a rare and extremely fascinating exhibit on Pen and Parchment: Drawing in the Middle Ages. These are drawings that will, most likely, never be seen again as they are hidden away in the great monasteries and libraries of England. Dating from 800 to around 1340AD, the exhibit covers the intriguing combination of scribes and illustrators ranging from religious works to the secular.
The early works are all found in books and were thought of as the highest form of artwork. These illustrations are final products and not a means to another idea, as art is often used today. Line drawing was appreciated and works, such as the Psalms, were illustrated literally although the text so often was metaphorical.
As the age progresses medieval scholars began using illustration as scientific work. The exhibit contains books of physiology and anatomy as seen in the early 12th century. Displayed, most fascinatingly, are anatomical diagrams of the nervous, arterial, skeletal, and muscular systems which monks drew as way to preserve texts that would not survive.
I found the collection fascinating and inspiring. What may seem at a quick glance to be simple sketches, when looked at more closely are exquisite works. Some of the parchments are uncut, so much so that you can actually see the spine of the animal.
The exhibit opens Tuesday, June 2nd and lasts through August 23rd. Outstanding!
In a world that is currently plagued with budget cuts and job loss it was incredibly refreshing to experience something new and exciting. The Obie Awards went down last night like a crazy runaway circus, in a good way, and for the first time ever running tandum to the Village Voice theater Awards was the Creative Block. The Creative Block was a sort of showcase for artists, and performers and gave the Obie’s that extra umpth to set it apart from all other award shows.
Martha Plimpton and Daniel Breaker co-hosted the awards portion of the night, Plimpton claimed the venue brought back memories of her first cocaine use and losing her virginity. Presenters like Anne Hathaway and Karen Olivo gave out awards to Stephen Sondheim for Music and Lyrics, David Cromer for Direction of Our Town, and Francois Battiste for Performance in The Good Negro.
Hot shirtless men walked around showcasing artwork by Michael Breyette, musical performances by Joey Arias, and Project Jenny Project Jan, burlesque so hot and steamy it made the venue smell like dirty crotch, a woman who could fling herself around on a rope, two girls called “Gravity plays favorites” that could pole dance like non other, made up some of the acts to keep the night going.
Webster Hall was enthusiastically charged and rightfully so. The OBIES celebrate the countless talent of all those involved in off-broadway productions. It’s a night to remember, a night to dazzle, and a night to inspire.
A group of 30 artists have brought 160 works from 1974-1984 together in the experimentally playful exhibition, The Picture Generation. Hosted at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the collection features photograph, primarily, but also touches upon painting, sculpture, film, and audio, exploring how images mold our perceptions on individuality and the world around us. These politically and socially charged works are on display through August 2nd.
The woman known for bringing us some of the best “street photography” in the history of American Photography died last month at the age of 95. With breathtaking dexterity her photos of life on the streets in New York City captured a familiarity about the subject that made them feel like family.
Born and bread in Brooklyn, Levitt dropped out of highschool and taught herself photography. In 1943 Levitt’s first solo exhibition opened at The Museum of Modern Art entitled “Helen Levitt: Photographs of Children,” and continued to create inspired works until the 1990s when sciatica prevented her from being able to stand for long periods of time. The woman who claims her talent was purely luck has left a huge hand print on the world of photography.
See what happens when the man behind Gallery Beat and one of today’s most notorious female artists get married in this compelling documentary. In Theaters Friday, March 27th, 2009.
The Fashion Institute of Technology is a world renown school of high fashion located on seventh avenue at 27th street in Manhattan. In 1967 the institute created a museum “dedicated to advancing knowledge of fashion through exhibits, programs and publications. The MFIT has over 50,000 permanent garments and accessories from the 18th century to the present. Exhibits change periodically and classes, book talks and signings are also offered.
From now through June 16th you can see “Seduction”, a fascinating exhibit on the definition of the word and how it continues to be redefined throughout the centuries. Often carrying a negative connotation, “Seduction” presents the idea that it’s meaning is rather something of charm and of appeal to the senses. Garments and pieces of lingerie are on display dating from the present back to the very early 1900′s.
As is the sad truth for countless artists, Martin Kippenberger did not receive wide recognition until after his death from liver cancer at the young age of 44. Known for his “live fast and drink hard” life style, this German artist created a vertiginous range of works that have been since featured at prominent art museums such as the Tate Modern in London and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Now Kippenberger’s pieces are being featured as a new retrospective exhibition in the Museum of Modern Art. Starting March 1st the 6th floor of the MOMA will be filled with Kippenberger’s paintings, sculptures, works on paper, installations, multiples, photographs, posters, announcement cards, books, and music. Make your way up to see all the brilliance and don’t forget about Target Free Fridays.
Elisabeth Charlotte Rist, nicknamed Pipilotti, is well known for her colorful and musical super 8 films. The subjects of the films vary but remain linked to issues like sexuality, gender, and the human body. The exhibit at the MOMA is found in the grande atrium in order to give the visitor’s a sense of space so their bodies can breathe and stretch. Projectors play her films all along the walls and a large seating area, also designed by the artist, is available for on-lookers to sit and relax. The exhibit is open until February 2nd, 2009. Dont forget, every Friday at the MOMA is free from 4-8!
