The Skinny on Art Events in New York:
Whether keen on juicy long reads or more inclined to picture-heavy texts, bibliophiles of all dispositions will be hard-pressed to shortlist which events they want to tackle this week. The seventh iteration of the NY Art Book Fair kicks off Thursday with a preview of this year's biblio bumper crop at MoMA PS1 and a constellation of talks and events orbiting it throughout its duration. And, if this week's bevy of book-centric events finds you fretting about the slow demise of old media, head over to the New Museum for an evening focused on what technology means for the future of culture and art.
- WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH -
Launch party for The Moiré Effect by Lytle Shaw at Cabinet magazine's event space, 300 Nevins Street, Brooklyn, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The quirky and delightfully offbeat arts monthly hosts a book launch and talk to celebrate the publication of New York-based critic and poet's book The Moiré Effect, the much-anticipated and sure-to-be-astonishing conclusion to a story originally appearing in Cabinet no. 7. Refreshments will be on hand as will be the author, who will sign copies of the book that will be available for purchase.
Christian Patterson at the SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, 7 p.m.
Artist Christian Patterson's 2011 monograph Redheaded Peckerwood, which received much critical acclaim, including being named one of the best books of the year by Art in America, the New York Times, Time, and the Guardian, is the springboard for a talk on the intersections of photography, narrative, and the book. Patterson will be joined by the Belgian-born, New York-based writer Luc Sante and edgy publisher Michael Mack.
Stand-up comedy at Marianne Boesky Gallery, 118 East 64th Street, rsvp at employee@luciefontaine.com, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
In conjunction with artist Lucie Fontaine's residency stint at the gallery, she invites fellow painter, sculptor, and stand-up comic Heather Guertin to fill the temporary environment at the gallery with an evening featuring her art-y comedic stylings.
- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH -
Preview of the NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Here's your chance to get a head start on one of this week's stellar events. Printed Matter plays host to the 7th iteration of the annual fair, which officially opens September 28th and continues on through the 30th. Call first dibs on limited editions or just take notes, perusing your options for the rest of the week at your leisure before the general opening.
Fall Member Preview and Reception at the Brooklyn Museum, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor, 1 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Current and newly recruited members are invited to an exclusive evening celebrating the museum's fall season, including Jean-Michel Othoniel: My Way, Materializing "Six Years": Lucy R. Lippard and the Emergence of Conceptual Art, and Brooklyn artist Mickalene Thomas's much-anticipated new Origin of the Universe show, opening to the public on Friday. Exhibition viewings for members take place from 1 p.m. - 10 p.m. and a special members reception will be held starting at 6 p.m. in the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion.
Opening reception for Body and Spirit: Andres Serrano 1987-2012 at Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, 37 West 57th Street, 2nd floor, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (through October 26th)
Critic and former editor of Artnet magazine Walter Robinson curates a show featuring a quarter-century's worth of works by the often friction-inducing Serrano, including his controversial 1987 Piss Christ, a photo of a crucifix submerged in yellow liquid that most recently made headlines when it was displayed in France and Christian radicals attacked it with hammers.
Closing reception for Leslie Johnson's Days to Go at Forever & Today, Inc., 141 Division street, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
The innovative exhibition space hosts a closing reception for the Swedish-American artist's politically-charged video installation focusing on the 2012 election. It's what they call "playing to the base."
Exhibition Talk: Materializing "Six Years" at Brooklyn Museum of Art, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor, 6:30 p.m.
Lucy R. Lippard leads a discussion with artists Luis Camnitzer, Jennifer Bartlett, Robert Barry, and Martha Wilson, who all have works featured in the "Six Years" show based on critic Lippard's seminal conceptual-art text. The conversation will center around the dematerialization and subsequent rematerialization of the art object in light of their own individual artistic practices. This is free with museum admission, but space is limited, so make an advanced reservation by emailing sacklerprograms@brooklynmuseum.org.
Opening reception for the Water Tank Project NYC at David Zwirner, 535 West 20th Street, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
(through October 6th)
In anticipation of the Water Tank Project, which will transform New York's rooftop tanks into works of art when it launches in May 2013, the gallery hosts a reception for an exhibition of works by public high school students from all five boroughs who participated in the Spring 2012 Art Competition for the citywide art initiative.
"What's Wrong With Technological Art?" panel discussion at New Museum, 7 p.m. $8 General public, free for members
Join Rhizome executive director Heather Corcoran, art historian and second-order cybernetics scholar Judith Rodenbeck, Northwestern University new media art scholar Gloria Sutton, and Bard College film and electronic arts professor Paggy Ahwesh for a conversation exploring the limitations and possibilities of high-tech art.
- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH -
Lucas Samaras "XYZ" at the Pace Gallery, 508 west 25th street, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (through October 27th)
To inaugurate its fourth New York gallery, a reception will be held for the opening of an exhibition of 20 new digitally-manipulated, hyperreal works by the reclusive artist in his 33rd show for Pace.
Open Studio at ICP-Bard Studios, 24-20 Jackson Avenue, 3rd fl, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The annual show presents work from young artists groomed by the visionary artists and professors at the Annandale-on-Hudson college. Refreshments and music will keep the eveing in full swing.
Book launch: "A Disagreeable Object" at SculptureCenter, 44 - 19 Purves street, Queens, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
To celebrate the release of the catalogue for its current "A Disagreeable Object" show as well as the launch of the NY Art Book Fair, a reception and walkthrough of the exhibition (6:30 p.m.) will be held at the center.
- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH -
Art in General's Annual Fall Party for Young Patrons, Allegra LaViola Gallery, 179 East Broadway, 9 p.m. - midnight, tickets $125.00
This year's annual soiree in support of the nonprofit space which supports emerging talent will feature an open bar, a raffle, beats by DJ Patrick Luis Matamorors, and a light projection and interactive drawing performance with Shantell Martin. Artistic feats by Jennifer Catron and Paul Outlaw will top it all off.
Opening reception for Kerstin Brätsch's "Maler, den Pinsel prüfend" and Thomas Bayrle's "Strippenzieher, Big Block," two new exhibitions at Gavin Brown's Enterprise, 620 Greenwich Street, at Leroy Street, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
For those of the early-to-bed-early-to-rise inclination, starting October 2nd, Gavin Brown's Enterprise will be open Tuesdays - Saturdays, beginning at sunrise (that's 6:53 a.m.) to sunset for "Maler, den Pinsel prüfend," a solo show of new glass works by German artist Kerstin Brätsch intended to only be illuminated with natural light. The opening hours for the show will shorten as the season progresses, so that when the show closes on October 27th, the gallery will shut shop down at 5:59 p.m. Tonight's reception for Brätsch's show will include an outdoor performance by Das Institut, which she cofounded, and the United Brothers duo at 6 p.m.
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- WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH -
Small Talks at the Wattis Institute, San Francisco Campus, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Head over to the Wattis for a short but sweet tête-a -tête between model Rena Montero and artist Andy Vogt, model makers for the institute's current exhibition "When Attitudes Became Form Become Attitudes," as part of its mini lecture series promoting dialogue surrounding artistic practices in conjunction with the exhibit, held every Wednesday.
- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH -
Peter Doig inaugurates Michael Werner Gallery's new location, 22 Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, London (through 22 December)
The blue-chip gallery will open its new space in foggy London town with a clutch of new works featuring the artist's characteristically dreamy palette.
Preview of Rashid Johnson's "Shelter" at South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (through November 25th)
The New York-based artist launches his first solo show in London with an entirely new body of large-scale paintings, hanging plants, Persian rugs, and day beds, the sum of which explores the possibilities of a utopian society in which psychoanalysis is a free and readily available drop-in service for everyone in the gallery's main space.
- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH -
South London Last Fridays, various locations, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
South London Art Map (SLAM) ushers in the new art season with the return of Last Fridays, with late-night openings of galleries in south London every last Friday of the month.
- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH -
Lecture: "APG: An International Perspective" at Raven Row, 56 Artillery Lane, 6:20 p.m.
In conjunction with the opening of a new exhibition entitled "The Individual and the Organisation: Artist Placement Group 1966-79"
(on view September 27th - December 16th), Barbara Steveni, who conceived the group in 1965, will convene with Rolf and Ros Sachsse and former APG director Nicholas Tresilian for a panel discussion about the influential APG and its ties to Germany, including key figures such as Joseph Beuys and Jürgen Harten. This event is free but reservations are essential. Email info@ravenrow.org.
