Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/9-6/15
In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers!
Warm weather is here and there are plenty of fun, outdoorsy art activities to keep you busy and inspired. Grab a drink and chill outside for Saya Woolfalk’s trippy film, which enlivens Times Square each night this month. The Van Alen Institute presents four days of design events for their annual Spring Festival, while the Welling Court Mural Project returns with a chance to see artists in action during a fun block party. Artist Peter Gronquist presents a departure from his taxidermy works and a foray into painting at Joseph Gross Gallery, and Miya Ando shows off two new bodies of work inspired by her Japanese heritage at Sundaram Tagore. Drew Conrad’s beautifully brash dystopian installations take residence at Kustera Projects in Red Hook. Head to Brookfield Place with the family to test out The Swings, a kinetic installation that plays music when you swing on it. Finally, the event I look forward to all year, the Philip Johnson Glass House Summer Party which invites guests to picnic amidst the mid -century modern gem.
Saya Woolfalk’s ChimaCloud for June’s #Midnightmoment ↑
Times Square screens
Every night in June from 11:57pm-Midnight
Saya Woolfalk’s rainbow colored ChimaCloud takes over the Times Square screens every night from 11:57 to midnight for the entire month, thanks to Times Square Arts. ChimaCloud takes New York commuters from a fantastical transport hub to a dreamy and trippy utopian society. Check it out for free each night!
Miya Ando, The Nature of Perception ↑
Sundaram Tagore Gallery, 547 West 27th Street
Thursday, June 9, 6:00-8:00pm
Miya Ando’s beautiful work is combines elements of her heritage as a descendant of Bizen sword makers who made weapons for the royal samurai in Japan, with her experience growing up in Buddhist temples in both Japan and California. Her two new series will debut tonight, one continuing her metal paintings with an exploration of iridescence; the other uses the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi to mend broken things with gold joinery.
Refuge, New Works by Peter Gronquist ↑
Joseph Gross Gallery, 548 West 28th Street
Thursday, June 9, 6:00-8:00pm
Known for his taxidermy-meets bling weaponed sculptural works, Peter Gronquist explores a more contemplative side of his artist mind, using a series of color field paintings to address the role of technology in our lives. Refuge will also continue his signature infinity mirror pieces.
The Swings: An exercise in Musical Collaboration ↑
Brookfield Place, Waterfront Plaza, 230 Vesey Street
Friday, June 10 through Thursday, July 7
Arts Brookfield brings another great interactive installation to the waterside office building and shopping center. For a month, visitors can have fun on a kinetic work consisting of a series of musical swings that when used all together, they compose a musical piece in which certain melodies emerge only through cooperation.
The Philip Johnson Glass House Annual Summer Party ↑
199 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT
Saturday, June 11, 12:00-4:00pm
The annual party welcomes guests to romp all over the mid-century modern property designed by Philip Johnson. Picnic by the Glass House or by the pond and enjoy an auction of world class art and a special installation by Yayoi Kusama.
Drew Conrad, The Cold Wake ↑
Kustera Projects Red Hook, 57 Wolcott Street
Saturday, June 11,6:00-8:00pm
Drew Conrad’s epic installations are a peek into my dystopian day dreams; thick dust-covered sculptural works of decayed Americana, soiled strings of pennant flags, bent weather vanes, rotted architectural figures, faded framed photographs ripped from walls and the occasional taxidermy stag head, all unified in the continuous color palette of soot. The Cold Wake is a new site-specific experience that you absolutely cannot miss.
Disruption, Van Alen Spring Festival ↑
Saturday, June 11-Thursday June 16
Various locations
This year the Van Alen Institute’s annual festival focuses on the dramatic effect that the rapid advancement of technology has on all aspects of our lives, from transportation to career. Lectures, panels, screenings, workshops and special events will get you enthused and interacting well into next week.
7th Annual Welling Court Mural Project ↑
11-90 Welling Ct, Astoria
Saturday, June 11, 12:00-5:00pm
The annual live painting/block party enlivens Astoria with artists from around the country, live music and food. Spend the day to see the artists’ techniques in the flesh.
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Lori Zimmer is a writer, curator and founder of Art Nerd New York, an off-beat art history guide to the city. Lori also recently released her first book through Rockport Publishers, The Art of Cardboard: Big Ideas for Creativity, Collaboration, Storytelling, and Reuse. Follow her on Twitter @LoriZimmer.
