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Funk You Too! May 28, 2023

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Funk You Too! Humor and Irreverence in Ceramic Sculpture brings together 50 artworks from the 1960s to the present day that highlight clay as a compelling tool of critique and satire. In the exhibition, pieces by artists of the originating Funk Art generation are placed next to work by contemporary artists who are expanding on Funk’s legacy of humor, subversion, and expressive figuration. Funk ceramics first emerged on the West Coast in the 1960s, created by a group of artists who shared an anti-establishment viewpoint towards expectations of “good art.” While conscious of the irreverent attitude and aesthetics of their predecessors, the new generation of artists featured in Funk You Too! are examining the potential for humor in clay through a rainbow of perspectives. Carrying Funk into the future, these artists are tapping into the power of a good joke to address some of the most pressing social and political issues of our day’.  The Museum of Arts and Design is one of my favorite places in NYC. There is always something unusual and interesting to see. This exhibit is on thru August 27th. Be aware that there is also a Taylor Swift exhibit at the Museum and it might be overflowing with ‘swifties.’

Sink or Swim May 7, 2023

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I was walking on Park Avenue last Tuesday headed to the AKC’s Museum of the Dog when I came upon the strikingly realistic work of  artist Carole A. Feuerman. A series of nine of her hyper-realistic swimmer sculptures are on display along Park Avenue from 34th Street to 38th Street in Manhattan. Feuerman is credited as being one of the founding members of the hyper-realistic art movement which started in the 1970s. Today, she is the only female artist who creates hyper-realistic painted outdoor sculptures. Bright vibrant colors make the sculpture pop against the streetscape and skyline while metallic and reflective accents make them glisten in the sun. By the way, the Dog museum is closed on Tuesdays. LOL

Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style April 30, 2023

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 Truth be told I am not a fan of Hip Hop. I was sure 50 years ago when it all began that it was a passing fad. Whoa! Was I ever wrong. Why am I not a fan? Mostly because I never understood a word in the songs. The fashion, however, was definitely something that caught my eye. Not enough to stop my wearing black all of the time but definitely eye-catching. Another truth is that I saw Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style at the Fashion Institute of Technology in February. The photo folder got lost amidst all of the other clutter on my desktop. So even though this exhibit ended last week I thought I would share what I saw. From the website (link above): ‘Over the last half century, hip hop has taken over the world. Its beginning is marked by Cindy and Clive Campbell’s (aka DJ Kool Herc) legendary back-to-school party held in the recreation room of  their apartment building in the Bronx on August 11, 1973. Since that time, hip hop has spread around the globe, lending its influence to innumerable spaces. Style is one of the most pervasive and visible manifestations of the culture, and twenty-first century fashion, from luxury labels to everyday dress, owes a debt to hip hop. The genre’s artists and fans transformed and popularized streetwear, athleisure, and logo-mania, to name only a few significant and enduring fashion movements.During the 1980s and 1990s, many brands distanced themselves from the hip hop market. A watershed moment occurred in 2004 when Sean Combs won the Menswear Designer of the Year Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He was the first Black designer to achieve this honor and showed the industry that hip hop fashion was not only different from what they expected, it could not be ignored. The status of hip hop in fashion did not change overnight, but in 2023, hip hop references are pervasive, hip hop artists lend relevance and exposure to fashion brands, and designers steeped in the culture, from Virgil Abloh to Pharrell Williams and Rihanna, are well-respected in the industry’.

All in Good Time March 12, 2023

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It is that time of year when we spring our clocks forward one hour.  There are lots of opinions about this issue. I don’t have an opinion about changing the clocks – I just love clocks. I have more clocks in my house than I need and I like looking at them. And by the way – I am never late. My sister Terry alerted me to The Horological Society of NY because she knows how passionate I am about clocks. Located in a beautiful old building in midtown Manhattan it is a gem of a find. The collection on view now is from James Arthur. Lots and lots of pocket watches. Wonder if the ladies of the day had watches. Did they even have pockets? Tempus fugit my friends.

It’s a Small World After All February 26, 2023

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 Run, don’t walk to see this wonderful, fun, inspiring exhibit that opened this week in Manhattan (718 Broadway). Small is beautiful, Miniature Art presents 32 international artists and their work. ‘It is an incredible journey and a unique experience that offers behind-the-scenes access to small-scale universes full of artistry and poetry, whose only limit is the creative vision of their authors’. I left my own reflection in some of these photos so you can see how very small the artwork is. This is a delightful voyage inside creative minds and their worlds. It is suitable for the entire family. Don’t forget to watch the video towards the end of the exhibit. And of course you exit through the fun gift shop. They told me it will be there through August.

Let Me Entertain You February 5, 2023

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I assure you we were most definitely entertained by this fun exhibit at the National Museum of American History On my recent visit to DC we were fortunate to be there on opening day. ‘Through the National Museum of American History’s extraordinary collection of theater, music, sports, movie and television objects, the exhibition Entertainment Nation will feature a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences. Through the objects and their stories, the exhibition will explore how, for over 150 years, entertainment has provided a forum for important national conversations about who we are, and who we want to be’. The museum has 1.8 million objects that document our culture. Next time you are in DC I encourage you to visit. It is lots of fun and filled with nostalgia.

Outsider Art January 8, 2023

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 I attended art school (RISD) and appreciate the academic side of art but I am drawn to Folk Art for its singular vision, cultural heritage and diversity. NYC’s Folk Art Museum is one of my favorite spots. Their latest exhibit Morris Hirshfield Rediscovered is marvelous. I went when it first opened in September and returned over the holiday season. You can still catch this visionary art thru January 29. Did I mention the museum is free?

‘Tis the Season December 11, 2022

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 I go to this fun exhibit every year. The NYC Parks’ annual Wreath Interpretations exhibition returned to the Arsenal Gallery (the Arsenal is near the Central Park Zoo). This year’s collection of wreaths was created by artists, designers, and creative individuals of all ages who have used inventive and unexpected materials to re-envision the traditional holiday decoration. Wreaths included in this year’s exhibition use a wide range of unusual materials, including caution tape, traffic light reflectors, safety pins, bath sponges, rulers, Mardi Gras beads, and sugar meringue. They explore a wide range of themes, such as family history, volunteerism, endangered animals, and chemistry. Each wreath is accompanied by a short artist statement that tells gallery visitors about the meaning behind the wreath. The Arsenal Gallery is located on the third floor of NYC Parks’ Headquarters in Central Park, on Fifth Avenue at 64th Street. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., except holidays. Admission is free.

The Tree (no, not that one) December 4, 2022

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The Rockefeller Christmas tree steals all of the hype and publicity but my favorite holiday tree is at the Metropolitan Museum. The ornaments and figurines were donated in 1964 by private collector Loretta Hines Howard. The crèche is much older than that. It was made in the 18th century by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino from Naples.The magnificently lit 20 foot blue spruce looms over the 18th century Neapolitan Nativity scene surrounded by an abundant array of lifelike figures with robed angels hovering above. You can see this beauty thru January 8 2023. New York City’s first public Christmas tree was actually located in Madison Square Park in 1912. The tree arrived in Madison Square Park on December 21,1912, measuring 60 feet tall. The tree was draped with 2,300 colored electric bulbs donated by the Edison Company. Emilie D. Lee Herreshoff. She proposed a way that would allow everyone, even those who couldn’t afford their own tree, to celebrate the holiday season and participate in the tree lighting.

The Great Five Boro NYC Bake-off November 20, 2022

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The Museum of the City of New York has begun a great tradition with the Five Boro Gingerbread Bake-off. Bakers from each of the five boroughs were tasked with creating a gingerbread display from their neighborhood home borough. I was very excited to see that not only was my neighborhood represented for Manhattan but my actual building was featured as well (directly across for the Flatiron building). Other than the overwhelming smell of gingerbread it was a fun experience. It is on display until January 8th.