The Week in Art: SculptureCenter’s Annual LIC Block Party and MoMA PS1’s ‘Night at the Museum’

Queens was the place to be this week.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

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 (and, in the summer, out on Long Island’s East End), there’s always something happening at the city’s museums, galleries, and various event spaces. This week was no exception.

The SculptureCenter‘s Annual Long Island City Block Party
Spilling out of the museum and onto Purves Street, the SculptureCenter’s annual block party on Saturday, August 20, was a hit. Activities included a quilt-making project by Emma Banay & Dave Scanlon’s Quilt Music group, and a food stand by artist Sydney Shen, who invited guests to fill brown paper bags with chocolate, dried fruit, and candied worms.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

LIC Block Party 2016. Courtesy of Christine Butler for SculptureCenter via Facebook.

The Sonic Garden Party at the LongHouse Reserve, East Hampton 
Billed as an “exploration of sound and community,” the LongHouse Reserve hosted a musical event on August 20 curated by National Sawdust featuring sonic sculptures, including Harry Bertoia‘s Sonambient.

Guests were encouraged to bring their own instruments to take part in the evening’s “sonic finale,” which followed performances by Bora Yoon and Colin Self. The night also featured a sonic sculpture art silent auction, featuring works by Fitzhugh Karol, Nick Martin, Nico Yektai, and Scott Bluedorn.

Sonic Garden Party. Courtesy of Dawn Watson.

Sonic Garden Party. Courtesy of Dawn Watson.

Sonic Garden Party. Courtesy of Dawn Watson.

Sonic Garden Party. Courtesy of Dawn Watson.

Sonic Garden Party. Courtesy of Dawn Watson.

Sonic Garden Party. Courtesy of Dawn Watson.

MoMA PS1‘s “Night at the Museum: Closing Party for Summer Exhibitions
Hundreds flocked to MoMA PS1 on Thursday night for the closing party of “Forty.” With sets by DJ Rupture and courtyard video installations by artists Maryam Hoseini and Tom Kneller, the throng of guests wandered the grounds, beers in hand, and surveyed the exhibitions—from Cao Fei‘s full-scale retrospective, to “FORTY,” a group show featuring works dedicated to the museum’s founding mission. Artist Meriem Bennani held court on the platform area outside, which featured video art that complimented her work, FLY, which was on view inside.

Related: The 20 Most Fashionable Women in the Art World and The 15 Most Fashionable Men in the Art World

MoMA PS1's "Night at the Museum" party. Courtesy of Sara Wass Photo.

MoMA PS1’s “Night at the Museum” party. Courtesy of Sara Wass Photo.

MoMA PS1's "Night at the Museum" party. Courtesy of Sara Wass Photo.

Installation view of Meriem Bennani’s FLY. Courtesy of Sara Wass Photo.

MoMA PS1's "Night at the Museum" party. Courtesy of Sara Wass Photo.

MoMA PS1’s “Night at the Museum” party. Courtesy of Sara Wass Photo.

Installation view of Ba-O-Ba Fluorescent by Keith Sonnier in FORTY. Image courtesy MoMA PS1. Photo by Pete Deevakul.

Installation view of Ba-O-Ba Fluorescent by Keith Sonnier in FORTY. Image courtesy MoMA PS1. Photo by Pete Deevakul.

Installation view of VITO ACCONCI: WHERE WE ARE NOW (WHO ARE WE ANYWAY?), 1976 at MoMA PS1, 2016. Image courtesy of Acconci Studio and MoMA PS1. Photo by Pablo Enriquez.

Installation view of VITO ACCONCI: WHERE WE ARE NOW (WHO ARE WE ANYWAY?), 1976 at MoMA PS1, 2016. Image courtesy of Acconci Studio and MoMA PS1. Photo by Pablo Enriquez.

Additional reporting by Rain Embuscado. 

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