FRIDAY MAY 1
Performance: Judy Collins at the Met
Boomers alert: Seductive septuagenarian songstress Judy Collins will be performing her renowned folk renditions of classic hits by Dylan, Joni, and other 60’s icons at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dropping acid is definitely not encouraged (but likely not frowned upon, either.)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., New York, 7pm.
Opening: Robert Motherwell at Andrea Rosen Gallery
One day in his studio, Bob Motherwell noticed a smaller canvas leaning against a bigger one. It looked so nice to him that he decided to trace part of the smaller canvas onto the larger one, beginning what we all now know to be the “Open Series”. No one knows for sure what narcotic Bob took that day, but the rest is history. Wily art dealer Andrea Rosen somehow managed to amass more “Open Series” works than we have seen together in over 20 years, and the exhibition promises to be ‘museum-caliber” just like the one I reviewed last year. Go judge for yourself.
Andrea Rosen Gallery, 24th Street, New York, 6-8pm.
Symposium: Afrofuturism: Designing new narratives to empower the African Diaspora at The New School
A three-day conference on African identity that will include a series of art happenings, performances, lectures, panels, workshops, theater pieces, film, music, and community events. It will be free to New School Students and $25 for the general public.
Tishman Auditorium, 63 Fifth Avenue, Room U100, New York. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
SATURDAY MAY 2
Opening: Magali Reus, Michael E. Smith, and Erika Verzutti curated by Ruba Katrib at SculptureCenter
If you prefer art that really takes advantage of all three dimensions, then Sculpture Center is the place for you. Hand selected by curator Ruba Katrib, these three artists come from all over the globe, so it’s sure to be an eclectic opening.
The Sculpture Center, 44-19 Purves Street, Long Island City, New York, 6-8pm.
Event: Kentucky Derby Party and Art Auction Benefit at Smack Mellon
The party that put Smack Melon on the map and the event that put Kentucky on the map (just kidding Kentucky, don’t shoot!) Not only will there be crazy drinks and crazy hats, you also are guaranteed to take home an original work of art. And remember: No horses were harmed during the typing of this post.
Smack Mellon Studios, 92 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, New York. Opens at 4pm.
SUNDAY MAY 3
Opening: Dean Levin “A Long, Narrow Mark” at Marianne Boesky East
Deaner! The Keanu Reeves lookalike was profiled in our paper by the late great Nate last fall, and now the world is apparently ready for more Dean. Is he a Zombie Formalist? Will he break out with a new body of work? Who is he dating? All of these questions are sure to be answered Sunday.
Marianne Boesky East, 20 Clinton Street, New York.
Opening: “The Future is Forever: Ten Years of the ICP-Bard MFA Program” and “Choice Works” at Mana
They say that too many cooks spoil the broth, but the exceptions to that rule should be “The Future is Forever” and “Choice Works,” just two of the ten–COUNT THEM TEN–new exhibitions opening at the massive Mana Contemporary. Along with the million square foot space, Bard, ICP, Sotheby’s, and Planned Parenthood have joined forces for one purpose: to get you to go to New Jersey. Seriously though, there are tons of great artists like Cecily Brown and Ryan McGinley participating, and the charity auction will benefit Planned Parenthood, which is very cool.
Mana Contemporary, 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey.