Though it may seem that Armory Week and Frieze Week get all the action, the reality is that there is never a dull moment in the New York art world. From the East Side to the West Side, there’s always something happening at the city’s museums, galleries, and various event spaces. This week was no exception.
Free Arts Day at the Brant Foundation in Greenwich, Connecticut
As part of its mission to help under-served New York City schoolchildren through arts-based mentor services, Free Arts NYC and the Department of Homeless Services took 91 children on an art-making field trip to the Brant Foundation on October 1. It was the foundation’s third consecutive year hosting the volunteer-led event.
Jonathan Horowitz, the subject of the private museum’s current exhibition worked with the kids to help them create “self-portrait mirrors, tote bags, passion projects, duct tape food, and collaborative glitter flags” inspired by the show.
Guests at the Brant Foundation’s Free Arts Day. Courtesy of Samantha Deitch/BFA.
A child examines an art project at the Brant Foundation’s Free Arts Day. Courtesy of Samantha Deitch/BFA.
Jonathan Horowitz at the Brant Foundation’s Free Arts Day. Courtesy of Samantha Deitch/BFA.
PULSE Contemporary Art Fair Panel Discussion “Leaning In: Olympics of the Art World” at 37 East 12th Street
At this packed event on October 6, Pulse Contemporary Art Fair director Helen Toomer moderated a lively discussion between four distinguished panelists: artnet News’s own Sarah Cascone (full disclosure), who is also founder of the organization Young Women in the Arts; Justine Ludwig, director of exhibitions at Dallas Contemporary; Marina Garcia-Vasquez, editor in chief of the Creators Project; and Bahia Ramos, arts program director at the Knight Foundation.
They discussed a wide array of issues, including challenges faced by women in the art world, and delved into questions about what it means to be a feminist. The event took place at a sprawling multi-level and art-filled penthouse apartment that (hint) just happens to be on the market with Douglas Elliman. artnet and Art|Real, an art and real estate company started by Elliman broker Ali Ebrahimi, co-sponsored the evening.
Helen Toomer and Ali Ebrahimi at PULSE Contemporary Art Fair’s panel discussion “Leaning In: Olympics of the Art World.” Courtesy of Tad Mask.
PULSE Contemporary Art Fair’s panel discussion “Leaning In: Olympics of the Art World.” Courtesy of Tad Mask.
Sarah Cascone, Marina Garcia-Vasquez, Justine Ludwig, Helen Toomer, and Bahia Ramos at PULSE Contemporary Art Fair’s panel discussion “Leaning In: Olympics of the Art World.” Courtesy of Tad Mask.
Preview Cocktail Party for “Beloved Country,” the 2016 Performa Gala, hosted by Cultured Magazine
The pre-gala party? Apparently it’s a thing, and Performa held their’s on September 30 at Neuehouse. Performa director and chief curator RoseLee Goldberg served as the evening’s co-host, along with artist Rashid Johnson, collector Richard Chang, and Sarah Harrelson, editor of Cultured Magazine.
The evening, which featured specialty cocktails with a South African twist thanks to Casa Dragones Tequila, offered a preview of the November 1 event, which honors curator, museum director, and writer Okwui Enwezor. (The gala sets the stage for the South African-inspired Performa 17.) Among those in attendance were Wangechi Mutu, Todd Bishop, Cecilia Dean, Roya Sachs, Cole Akers, Stacy Engman, and Maria Brito.
Performa director Roselee Goldberg and Wangechi Mutu at the preview cocktail party for Beloved Country, Performa Gala 2016. Courtesy of photographer Elise Gallant/Performa.
Job Piston, Maria Brito, and Chandra Johnson at the preview cocktail party for Beloved Country, Performa Gala 2016. Courtesy of photographer Elise Gallant/Performa.
Performa director RoseLee Goldberg, Stacy Engman, Todd Bishop at the preview cocktail party for Beloved Country, Performa Gala 2016. Courtesy of photographer Elise Gallant/Performa.
New York Film Festival premiere of Jean Nouvel: Reflections at the Lincoln Ristorante
In celebration of the New York Film Festival premiere of Matt Tyrnauer’s documentary short Jean Nouvel: Reflections, members of the film and fashion industry gathered at Lincoln Ristorante on October 6. The film goes behind the scenes as the Pritzker Prize-winning architect works on such high-profile projects as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Museum of Modern Art‘s expansion tower, 53W53, in New York.
Jean Nouvel at the premiere of Jean Nouvel: Reflections. Courtesy of BFA.
Sandra Uribe, Brandon Haw, Gary Pomerantz, and Gustavo Oliveira at the premiere of Jean Nouvel: Reflections. Courtesy of BFA.
Matt Tynauer, Jasmine Mir, and Corey Reeser at the premiere of Jean Nouvel: Reflections. Courtesy of BFA.
Swale Soiree with 2016 A Blade of Grass fellow Mary Mattingly
Mary Mattingly’s collaborative floating food project, Swale, currently docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park, held a reception on October 3. The artist has transformed a 130-foot by 40-foot barge into a floating edible garden with the support of the nonprofit A Blade of Grass. The sustainability-minded project asks the question, “What if healthy, fresh food could be a free public service?”
Following remarks by Mattingly and Swale programming coordinator Amanda McDonald Crowley, guests enjoyed food and drinks prepared by Lighthouse BK, who turned to the food grown in the Swale garden as inspiration for the menu.
Swale Soiree. Courtesy of Mary Mattingly.
Swale Soiree. Courtesy of Mary Mattingly.
Ramaya Tegegne, Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz (New Jerseyy) at the Swiss Institute
The Swiss Institute welcomed guests to its new, temporary Tribeca home on October 5 for a lecture performance by Ramaya Tegegne. The Geneva-based artist presented her collected oral testimonies from New Jerseyy, a now-defunct artist-run space in Basel, Switzerland.
“It is a part of my research observing gossip in the context of group dynamics specifically within artistic communities,” said Tegegne of the piece, which is based on the discussion between seven people who were involved with the shuttered institution.
Ramaya Tegegne performs Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz (New Jerseyy), at the Swiss Institute. Courtesy of the Swiss Institute.
Ramaya Tegegne performs Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz (New Jerseyy), at the Swiss Institute. Courtesy of the Swiss Institute.
Additional reporting by Eileen Kinsella.