(flyer via Mia Schachter / Facebook)
Co//Modified: A Showcase of Design Artists
Opening Monday October 3 at The Living Gallery, 7 pm to 10 pm. One night only.
In this one-night-only show curated by Mia Schachter, eight artists who “straddle the line of intention between utilitarian design and art” will make their way to Bushwick’s The Living Gallery to show their work. Many of these artists make work that they predominantly try to sell as useful objects, like hyperstylized papier-mâché percussion instruments, ceramic mugs or pots, and embroidery. This show seeks to lay their salesperson spirit to rest momentarily so they can merely show off their creations as art. But if you’d like to go home with a piece or two, you’ll be able to do so as well.
(image via MOCA)
Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy: Stories of Chinese Food and Identity in America
Opening Thursday October 6 at the Museum of Chinese in America, 11 am to 9 pm. On view through March 26.
Swing down to Centre Street for the opening of MOCA’s latest show and “imaginary banquet”—that day, as well as every first Thursday of the month, you can get in for free rather than the usual $10 ($5 for students). While opening day gives you ten entire hours to stop by, consider coming on a regular day, as it seems there will be a lot to consume. This show chronicles 33 Chinese and Asian-American chefs—from home cooks to restauranteurs—and their experiences relating to both their personal and culinary histories. To turn histories into tangible, viewable objects, a large and immersive video installation has been created, and in the center of the gallery is a massive dinner table decorated with artifacts each chef has chosen to represent them. Some are from their kitchen, others are unique ceramic creations reflecting regional culinary traditions. The exhibit’s name refers to the balance of flavors traditionally found in Chinese cooking as well as “the ups and downs of life.”
Drawing by Hunter Kaczorowski (image via Dirty Little Drawings)
Dirty Little Drawings
Opening Friday October 7 at the Leslie-Lohman Prince Street Project Space, 6 pm to 8 pm. On view through October 9.
While these drawings are little, this show certainly is not: what began as a small but mighty showcase of queer eroticism in 2003 has transformed into a massive display of work by over 60 artists from the Leslie-Lohman studio. The show may have grown in scope (it’s so popular they’re electing not to offer refreshments at the opening in an effort to keep “overcrowding” at bay) but the work remains affordable; each 5 1/2″ by 5 1/2″ piece will sell for $60. While the notion of queer art has expanded more and more as years go by, this show is more specific, focusing on masculinity and the male body as an “object of desire,” rendered in whichever way feels best to the artist, from more symbolic sexuality to more explicit eroticism. It may be getting chilly outside, but it’ll be plenty steamy up in here. For the extra-curious, you’ll be able to see the artists sketching a model live on Sunday from noon to 6 pm.
(image via Academic / Facebook)
How To Purposefully Forget Things
Opening Friday October 7 at academic, 6 pm to 9 pm. Performance begins at 7 pm. On view through October 29.
In this unique “performance lecture” and research-based installation piece at the Long Island City gallery space known as academic, artist/educator/labor rights activist Stephen Sewell riffs on an online self-help article and explores “suggested methods for forgetting.” His talk will touch on the history of memory as an art and the European Court of Justice’s recent “Right to be Forgotten” ruling, which grants individuals the right to request removal of certain online search engine results that contain “inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant, or excessive” information, on a case-by-case basis. Those who will miss the opening needn’t despair: there will be a performance at 4 pm every Saturday for the rest of the exhibition. I can only hope you don’t forget, purposefully or otherwise.