The Arts in New York City

Pop Art & Poetry: Jim Dine & Vincent Katz in Conversation

Internationally renowned artist Jim Dine speaks with poet and critic Vincent Katz about printmaking, poetry, and the current exhibit in the Graduate Center’s art gallery, entitled Jim Dine Selected Prints, 1996 – 2006. Diane Kelder, Professor of Art History at the Graduate Center and the curator of the exhibit, will moderate the conversation.

October 2, Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:00pm, Martin E. Segal Theatre, CUNY Graduate Center

See the Grad Center for info on this event

Also, the Jim Dine print exhibit opens October 1 in the Art Gallery in the ground floor of the Graduate Center. See the GC Art Gallery for more info on the exhibit

Lu Huang Assignment #1 Due Sept 19
The big-draw event, I think it really is over-exaggerated by the organizers. Overall, I think it is a poorly schemed event.
First of all, its locations were arranged in an inconvenient way. It was a good idea to offer people different locations with different options. But each spot was located too far away from each other and some places were totally blocked by the trees. I mean it’s not supposed to be a treasure hunt. I spent approximately 30 minutes walking at a faster than average speed from one spot to another (American Indian Natural Museum to Battery Park City). So basically I’ve already been exhausted by the distance without even participating in the event yet. And I really had a trouble finding the Battery Park City. Eventually, an old lady guided me there. It was like a normal classroom-size and surrounded by tree. The old lady also commented it was really hard for a stranger to find that place.
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When I first received this assignment, the first places I thought of going to were the classic Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Modern Museum of Art. However, at the end I decided to try to do something different and more fun in my perspective. I traveled to 42^nd Street – Times Square and embarked on my journey through the wicked Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. This was my first time ever stepping in to the place even though I’ve lived in New York City all my life. The first room that I visited was filled with the traditional A-list superstar celebrities. There were actors such as Morgan Freeman and singers such as Bono. Britney Spears was also there in action with the other wax figures. What contributed to the atmosphere of celebrities in the room was the environment and scenery that encompassed the room. The ceiling was fashioned to resemble a night starry sky. The place where all these celebrities were was glamorous, matching their statuses. There were Roman pillars in the room along with a fountain in the center of it all. It was uncanny how real these wax figures looked. If I didn’t know beforehand that this was a wax museum, I would have been fooled by these figures. Read the rest of this entry »

Van Gogh, Picasso, Leonardo usually the first names that come to mind when thinking about artists that have enriched the world of art. The Sistine Chapel, a tremendous piece of art that blows ones mind when first observed by the eyes. The Starry Night encompasses one instantly to a dream world that is at the mercy of ones imagination. Three Musicians, a work that catches the eye forcing the viewer take a step back, breathe, and comprehend.

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What comes to mind when you think of art? Is it the colors or expression of characters put into a piece? Perhaps it is the meaning or experience when you view the art? We had talked about what is art in our IDC class but you can only really understand those words mean when viewing art.

So, for my first event I went to the Museum of Modern Art. I am not really the art-type and have not been to an art museum in several years. Read the rest of this entry »

On September 8, art enthusiasts (mainly children and parents) from all around New York City gathered at various venues in lower Manhattan for a full day of hands-on activities during the second-annual “The Big Draw” free event. Divided into four different sites (laser tag at the Graffiti Research Lab was cancelled), it lasted from 11AM to 4PM. Participants could pick up a free sketchbook and start drawing right away without registration. Art materials including easels, pencils, and paintbrushes were provided at each location. Free bus services took passengers from one site to another for convenience, though I personally decided to walk. Read the rest of this entry »

It was a Friday afternoon and what better than to spend the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Well, not exactly. Growing up in New York, I had been to the Met a countless number of times. Every year, I would go as a part of a class trip and when I was younger, I was extremely excited. But having gone year after year to the same place, the Met lost its exquisite feel. I would find myself bored. I would walk pass each painting and spend at most a minute on, not understanding how all these people surrounding the painting were mesmerized by it. Were we looking at the same thing? Read the rest of this entry »

The Big Draw, part of the River to River Festival, is a free annual art event in Lower Manhattan that is sure to interest both young and old. Spread out over several locations, all accessible by foot or provided bus, The Big Draw offers five unique artistic experiences ranging from traditional observational drawing to even laser tag. Although attending as many events as possible was on my agenda, I was only able to attend two of the five events, but had fantastic time nevertheless. Upon arriving at an event, stalls set up along the sides provide you with a sketchbook, which features the locations conveniently marked off on a map, a schedule of when they take place and descriptions of the activities. Read the rest of this entry »

Repicturing the Past/Picturing the Present at MoMA NYC
(Running from June 13–November 5, 2007)

Just by walking up the first flight of stairs in the recently built and state-of-the-art Museum of Modern Art you get the idea that you’re in for a special treat (may I add that it is an even better treat for CUNY students who get in free). Now, once you reach the first floor you might be quickly attracted by the Richard Serra sculpture exhibit, but on the opposite side of the floor, in what is almost a little niche there is the Repicturing the Past/Picturing the Present exhibit. This exhibit examines how artists from the late 1800’s to today have explored contemporary concerns by challenging, redeeming, or personalizing historical subjects. Many of the works take a narrative approach, referring to events in history, ancient mythology, the Bible, or centuries-old fables. Now this was something that seemed like it could be interesting; art with a meaning behind it everyone can understand, instead of some rusty circular sculptures or blank canvases. This exhibit has the capability to entertain the everyday art admirer as well as the professional art critics with pieces that relate to historical events. Read the rest of this entry »

Anna Cymerman September 14, 2007

The Arts in New York City- Review # 1

Hippies, drugs, sex, music, flashing lights and bright, neon colors basically define the Whitney museum’s exhibition entitled, “Summer of Love- Art of the Psychedelic Era”. After visiting this exhibition I was left with feelings of satisfaction, awe, and especially dizziness. “Summer of Love” which runs until September 16^th is an enormous collection of various artwork from 1965-1970 or, “The Psychedelic Era” The artwork ranges from photographs of Woodstock and celebrities of the time such as The Beatles and Mick Jagger to CD covers and concert posters. A very popular theme throughout the exhibit is the anti-war movement which was the basis of most of the artwork and music made throughout the era. Although the Vietnam War brought upon grief for many Americans at the time, they chose to turn grief into pacifism and happiness, hence the popular usage of drugs and colorful designs found in the artwork.
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