Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 8/20-8/26
In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top end of week picks for 6sqft readers!
Manhattan gets a brand new landmark today: a fantastical undersea adventure in the form of a swirling, sparkly carousel! Katya Grokhovsky lets viewers experience the fruits of her one-month residency at Soho20, while the Guggenheim welcomes guests for a full 24 hours for Agathe Snow’s latest project. Remember why you loved New York to begin with (because of its unabashed weirdness) and go see Blazes and his light-up suit, or try on the clothing made at an exhibition called “Small Town Sex Shop.” Finish off the week by getting outside your comfort zone, and head over to Staten Island for a unique and design-fueled potluck party.
SeaGlass Carousel at The Battery Opening ↑
The Battery, enter at the corner of State Street and Peter Minuit Plaza
Thursday, August 20, 1:00pm-12:00am
Lower Manhattan is getting a new landmark, a throwback to the aquarium once located in The Battery. Designed by WXY Architecture + Urban Design, where iridescent sea creatures come together under a giant nautilus shell in a swirling undersea adventure!
Katya Grokhovsky: “Unresolved,” Open Studio and Performance ↑
Soho20 Chelsea Gallery, 548 West 28th Street, Room 333
Thursday, August 20, 6:00-9:00pm
Peeking into an artist-in-residence’s space is often like getting a glimpse into the artistic mind. More raw than a polished gallery exhibition, open studios give art lovers a more intimate and personal experience. On Friday, Katya Grokhovsky shares the fruits of her month-long residency at Soho20 Chelsea Gallery, coupled with a performance.
Agathe Snow: “Stamina” ↑
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Avenue
Thursday-Friday, August 20-21, 6:00pm
Back in 2005, Agathe Snow and a bunch of hip friends staged an impromptu downtown dance party in post-9/11 Lower Manhattan and filmed it. Now ten years later, it’s about to become a 24-hour film coupled with live music and performance at Guggenheim for an all night affair. Guests can stay however long they wish with the last tickets sold at 5:15 on August 21. Booze will also be for sale until 4:00am!
BLAZES Live at Coney Island’s Surf Pavilion ↑
3029 Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn
Friday, August 21, 8:00pm
Keeping New York weird is an increasingly arduous and under-appreciated task. Performer Blazes is a Coney Island advocate who also rocks hard in his signature otherworldly light-up suit. You gotta catch him before there’s nothing authentic left in the city.
Katherine Hubbard and Savannah Knoop: “Small Town Sex Shop” ↑
Recess Art, 41 Grand Street Manhattan
Saturday, August 22-29, opening party August 22 6:00-8:00pm
For this cycle of Recess Art’s Session series, Hubbard and Knoop will transform the organization’s public space into a clothing-shop-meets-sculptural-installation complete with garment samples and an array of “modular straps” that guests can try on. Considering the show title, I’m guessing these “straps” could be quite interesting.
Design Trust for Public Space Potluck on Staten Island ↑
Pier 1, Staten Island
Tuesday, August 25, 6:00-8:00pm
Design Trust’s Public Space Potlucks activate areas in the five boroughs in brand new ways by presenting an informal dinner party for mixing and mingling. Bring a dish to pass and get into the social spirit, and then explore a place you probably rarely go: Staten Island. Past potlucks have been held on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Grand Concourse of Grand Central and Roosevelt Island.
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Lori Zimmer is a writer, curator and founder of Art Nerd New York, an off-beat art history guide to the city. Lori also recently released her first book through Rockport Publishers, The Art of Cardboard: Big Ideas for Creativity, Collaboration, Storytelling, and Reuse. Follow her on Twitter @LoriZimmer.
