FRIDAY, MAY 8
Opening: From the Ruins… at 601Artspace
This should be a lively show from Brooklyn-based live wire curator and writer Jane Harris. From the Ruins… mixes legendary artists like William Eggleston with fantastic emerging newbies like Abigail DeVille in a meditation on our world that seems “perpetually on the brink of disaster.” The downer subject will be curbed by 601Artspace’s festive drinks and hors d’oeuvres, so come early.
601Artspace, 601 W 26th Street, room 1755, 17th floor, 6-9pm
Talk: ‘The Performative Museum’ at The Storefront for Art and Architecture
The latest in their Salon Series, this establishment has managed to procure the legendary Hal Foster to talk with a small panel composed of artist Sarah Oppenheimer and Artforum contributor Julian Rose about today’s museum reenactments of performance works from the 60’s and 70’s and the phenomena that might occur because of institutional liberties . Listen, I’m not saying you have to be smart to go to this, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt.
Storefront for Art and Architecture, 97 Kenmare Street, 6pm
SATURDAY, MAY 9
Opening: Gilbert & George: The Early Years at MoMA
Mr. S––t and Mr. C––t get an important 3rd floor show, as the museum pulls out their trove of G & G related materials for the masses. MoMA curator David Platzker promises some very early charcoal-on-paper works as well as some significant ephemera–yes, ephemera!–for our collective viewing pleasure. Should be weird in only the best of ways.
MoMA, 11 W. 53rd Street, 10:30am-5:30pm
Opening: Jessica Jackson Hutchins at Marianne Boesky
Rocker Stephen Malkmus’ better half is sure to deliver again with her funny yet elegiac mixed media sculptures and wall works. It’s Boesky’s second suggested opening in a row (last week we suggested Dean “Deaner” Levin’s jam at the downtown branch) so Marianne must be doing something right.
Marianne Boesky Gallery, 509 W. 24th Street, 6-8pm
Opening: Rawhide at Venus Over Manhattan
What’s more timely than a cowboy-themed art show? How about everything? Despite that annoying fact, this should be a super-sized bash, as established money (collector Adam Lindemann) fuses with young money (collector spawn Dylan Brant) to bring you some pretty fantastic artworks. And even though my invitation has probably been revoked at this point, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go.
Venus Over Manhattan, 980 Madison Ave., 6-8pm
SUNDAY, MAY 10
Opening: Caragh Thuring at Simon Preston
The British painter with a sure hand and a throaty name brings her ever-evolving typographic window portraits to Preston’s establishment. It will be both liney and limey. Get it? Thuring should be one of a few impressive openings happening on the Lower East Side this night, so throw on some sneakers and check it out.
Simon Preston Gallery, 301 Broome Street, 6-8pm
Rob Pruitt 50th Birthday Bash at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center
Happy Birthday, Bobby! Brant’s private twice-yearly event will celebrate the 50th birthday of Generation X’s Andy Warhol, along with Pruitt’s exhibition of the same name at the colossal Brant Foundation. It should be exactly as amazing as all the events Brant throws, but don’t try to crash or a team of gentle Pruitt pandas will tickle you into submission.
The Brant Foundation Art Study Center, 941 North Street, Greenwich, CT, private
Mommy Dearest at the W Downtown
Is your Mom a Donna Reed — or a Joan Crawford? W Hotels Downtown will give guests and visitors to its Lobby Bar a taste of the latter this weekend. They’ve brought in performance art drag queens to do scenes from the 1981 film classic Mommy Dearest throughout the day. The substitute Moms will also join visitors on Skype or Facebook calls to their actual Moms, and guests of the hotel can arrange for a nightly tuck-in from the nightmare parent.
W New York – Downtown, 123 Washington Street, all day
Opening: RE(a)D at Nathalie Karg Gallery
This brilliant and handsome curator (who also happens to write witty and engaging prose for the Observer, this story included) has put together an incomparable group of artists for this spinoff of Bob Nickas’ famous Red exhibitions, including both heavyweights like Ed Ruscha and Lawrence Weiner and rising stars like Andrew Brischler and Nathlie Provosty. You should definitely go bearing gifts but autograph-seeking is discouraged.
Nathalie Karg Gallery, 291 Grand Street, 6-8pm