Published each Monday, Happenings is Gallerist’s guide to events in the New York art world each week.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14
Lecture: Peter Eleey at the School of Visual Arts
The MoMA P.S 1 curator behind that museum’s current “September 11” exhibition, one of the most talked about shows of the year, “discusses the challenges posed to art by the image culture of the post-9/11 era,” according to the listing for this lecture. SVA lectures have a tendency to fill up quickly, so arrive early. — A.R.
School of Visual Arts Theatre, 133/141 West 21st Street, Room 101C, New York, 6:30 p.m., free
Show: Half Mythical, Half-Legendary Americanism
As part of Performa, Friends of the High Line present a dance-theater work by Tyler Ashley and the SARAHS that reimagines 18th century sporting events and Russian Constructivism as a Jane Fonda workout video. — M.M.
The High Line Chelsea Market Passage near 16th Street, 5:30 pm
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Book Party: Julia Reyes Taubman Book Launch Party at the Whitney Museum
One of the founders of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit celebrates the release of her book of photographs Detroit: 138 Square Miles, a comprehensive collection of images about the city as it is today. — M.M.
Whitney Museum of American Art 945 Madison Avenue, 6:30-8:30
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Opening: Michael Wiliams, “Montgomery’s Tubercles,” at The Journal Gallery
After swooning over Michael Williams’s show of elegant new paintings at Canada earlier this year, we shuddered to think about how long we would have to wait for his next outing. Thankfully, the Journal team has come through, handing Mr. Williams another one-person show. One painting is said transform an outline of his foot into a turkey. — A.R.
The Journal Gallery, 168 North 1st Street, Brooklyn, 6–9 p.m.
Talk: Matthew Day Jackson “Public Art Fund Talks”
The Public Art Fund Talks rarely disappoint and Matthew Day Jackson is an artist who is working at the forefront of several frontiers, regardless of the medium. A deep understanding of modern media and utterly mind-boggling variety ensure that Mr. Jackson will not run out of topics to discuss. — D.D.
Parsons (The New School – Tishman Auditorium), 6:30 p.m., $10.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Lecture: Peter Schjeldahl at the New School
The U.S. chapter of the International Association of Art Critics has tapped The New Yorker critic for its fifth annual distinguished lecture. Mr. Schjeldahl’s talk comes with a tantalizing title—”The Critic as Artist, in 2011: Updating Oscar Wilde”—and an equally tantalizing promise: the Q&A after his talk will be “open season,” with the critic fielding “questions, comments, and attacks” from the audience members. — A.R.
The New School, Tishman Auditorium, 66 West 12th Street, New York, 6:30 p.m.
Opening: Roy Nachum “Blind” curated by Joseph Nahmad
The first show by Joseph Nahmad, of the well-known art dealing family, promises to be a doozy. Prolific restaurant designer (Southern Hospitality, 5 Napkin Burger, and more) and artist Roy Nachum presentes a series of paintings with braile embedded into the surface. Well worth a look. — DD
Book Party: Ai Weiwei
Paul Kasmin launches his new 2500 square foot gallery space in Chelsea by hosting a book launch for Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals and the premier of Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Gold, Ai Weiwei’s brone sculptures. — M.M.
515 West 27th Street, 6:00-8:00 pm
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Opening: Spencer Sweeney “The Pharaoh’s Lounge – Party Paintings and Sauna” at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise
Spencer Sweeny, the painter (featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial) and nightlife impresario (he’s part-owner of Santos’ Party House) plans a party for Gavin Brown’s. “The painting as an advertisement with a time and a price and a location. The event? A party. A reason to live. A reason to live in New York City.” Need we say more? — DD
620 Greenwich Street, 6 – 8 p.m.
All images courtesy of galleries, events, or Performa.