“Accumulations” are what Yayoi Kusama called these multiple soft sculpture phalluses that she patiently sewed and placed in rooms, in platforms mounted on floors and walls, and even in two rowboats. Kusama made these pillow-esque, polka-dotted, cartoon-like, engorged phalluses as a way to get over her fear of sex – and one vintage 1960s photo […]
Accumulations, Courtesy of Yayoi Kusama Read More »
November 10, 1930 Frida and Diego arrive in San Francisco, where he has mural commissions to work on. November 10, 1943 The New York Times reports “Unique Collection of Art Treasures Taken Away by Germans in Italy,” referring to the trucks carrying artwork for Goring’s birthday party. November 10, 1936 Arshile Gorky’s painting Organization is
November 9, 1943 Jackson Pollock’s first solo show opens at Peggy Guggenheim’s Art of This Century gallery. He has not yet painted the dripping works for which he’ll be most famous. November 9, 1966 John Lennon meets Yoko Ono at her art opening at Indica Gallery in London. The work above impresses Lennon; after climbing
October 11, 1987 The AIDS Quilt is displayed for the first time on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. I saw a piece of it for the first time on the UC Berkeley campus in the late 80s or early 90s, and it remains one of the most moving sights I’ve ever seen.
365 Days of Art: October 11 – AIDS Quilt is Displayed for First Time Read More »
Three events today, about women in the art world: July 26, 1971 Diane Arbus commits suicide. She is a photographer, known for her black-and-white, usually head-on photos of folks that might make other folks cringe: a man in rollers and make-up, presumably half-way through his transformation to drag queen (this photo is spat on by
July 3, 1963 Tracey Emin is born. She is known for confessionally incorporating her personal life into her work, and use of text, particularly wordplay (and spelling errors). One of her best-known pieces is a tent that displays the stitched names of–literally–Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995. This isn’t pure exhibitionism but rather about
365 Days of Art: July 3 – Tracey Emin is Born Read More »
February 2, 1916 Hugo Ball writes in his Dada Diary about the formation of Cafe Voltaire in Zurich. He includes a press notice which says: Cabaret Voltaire.Under this name a group of young artists and writers has been formed whose aim is to create a center for artistic entertainment. The idea of the cabaret will
365 Days of Art: February 2 – Dada Diary Announces Formation of Cafe Voltaire Read More »
January 31, 2012 Mike Kelley, described variously as “one of the most influential American artists of the past quarter century and a pungent commentator on American class, popular culture and youthful rebellion” by the New York Times, and as a proponent of “clusterfuck aesthetics” by the Village Voice (which I think was a compliment), commits
365 Days of Art: January 31 – Mike Kelley Dies by Suicide Read More »
I’m still thinking about the recent show at Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation which by the way, was just transformed into the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art –congratulations to them! The exhibition was The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History, in its second incarnation. Earlier in 2011, it popped up in a Brooklyn
The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History Read More »
I attended the Electronic Arts Festival in various locations on Governor’s Island, my new favorite place to look at art. In the Trinity Chapel there, we participated in Blue Morph, an interactive installation about “nano, not color”, by Victoria Vesna and James Ginzewski. The installation is set up this way: you enter the chapel, which
Electronic Arts Festival, Governor’s Island Read More »
I spent a day at Governor’s Island over the holiday weekend, and it was a treat. The island has gone from military installation to art destination in a few short years, and it’s a great place to relax, get away, and indulge in some art. Let’s get this out of the way first–it’s incredibly easy
Governor’s Island, New Art Destination Read More »
Check out these red female figures that float and twist on posts above eye-level on Broadway in the Fashion District. This project by Joan Benefiel seems to add light to Broadway from the inside of these figures, radiating out. Anything that adds a little light to NYC is a great thing.
Public Art: Fashion District Read More »
New Yorkers always tend to look down as they speed around town, probably to avoid stepping in anything nasty. But there’s lots to see when you keep your eyes above street level. This sculpture of Andy Warhol, by Rob Pruitt, is located at the northwest corner of Union Square Park, outside of the building where
Public Art: The Andy Monument Read More »
As I was walking down the street the other day, I saw a large banner that proclaimed a new museum opening, right in my neighborhood. This was news, and how could I not have known about it, just three blocks from my place? It’s called the Museum of Motherhood. I wandered over and poked my
The Museum of Motherhood Read More »
Still celebrating Pride here in NYC! Monday brings Broadway Sings for Pride, a benefit concert for The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in NYC. Musical performances will feature cast members from Broadway’s The Book of Mormon, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Rent, Wonderland, Mamma Mia, Anything Goes and many more! The program will feature one
Broadway Sings for Pride Read More »
The orphaned portraits were on the move Saturday, as the paintings rejected by the Slater Museum were moved from their current storage space in a kitchen to the Wauregan Gallery in Norwich. The Lincoln Orphans Exhibit will be on display at the Wauregan Gallery, 200 Main St, Norwich, CT. The showcase of creative Lincoln interpretations,
The Abe Lincoln Debacle: Procession of the Orphans Read More »
