(image via The Kitchen)
Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter: Holiday Screening & Reception
Monday, November 28 at The Kitchen, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Sondra Perry: Resident Evil on view through December 10.
Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter, aka BWA for BLM, is a fairly self-explanatory “collective force underground” group formed in July 2016 in response to the continual systemic violence perpetuated against black bodies in America. This evening, the group is taking over experimental performance and art space The Kitchen to show a series of videos, both archives of past performances the group has done and videos created by members of the group, all while beats by DJ LotusMoon infiltrate your ears.
This one-night reception event is happening in conjunction with Sondra Perry’s video installation Resident Evil, which opened at the beginning of November. It utilizes the framework of the Alien franchise to investigate how the powerful react when those they mean to control reject the behavior they are told is correct and begin to reimagine their own set of rules. The piece takes cues from the “respectability” that white people so often ask of black people, and why such expectations should not be supported.
(image via Con Artist Collective / Facebook)
Kill Or Be Killed
Opening Wednesday November 30 at Con Artist Collective, 7 pm to 11 pm. On view through December 5.
LES art rebels at Con Artist Collective seem to be big fans of the quick n’ frequent art show. Where some galleries enjoy the luxury of keeping a show up for months at a time, Con Artist prefers shows that go up and vanish in a week or two. Sometimes these shows price their art so affordable they fly off the walls. Their latest venture, Kill Or Be Killed, errs a little more on the dangerous side. Well, at least in imagery. The prompt that guides all works in this show is simply: “weapons.” The definition is up to the artist, so it’s unclear we’ll see depictions of violence at the hands of weapons of all sorts, pieces of art that can function as weapons, or something stranger entirely. Or all of the above. But if the current political climate is good for anything, it’s getting people angry. Might as well channel it into art while that’s still a viable option.
Installation view of “We are the (Epi)Center…” (image via P!)
Domusplinth
Friday December 2 at P [exclamation], 6 pm to 8 pm. On view through December 22.
Since November 11, artists from all over the world brought together by the Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies have been setting up varying degrees of projects as part of the show We Are the (Epi)Center…. The exhibition attempts to create new models of how one can show art in an exhibition, consisting of several short-term showings, performances, discussions, and more. Rather than existing as a set display, the show will transform on a weekly basis, often building on what is already there.
Friday’s change to the space will be Domusplinth a “gallery intervention” and event organized by Brussels-based artist Richard Venlet. His inclusion in the exhibit seems fitting, as his work typically focuses on purposefully modifying the architecture of existing exhibition spaces, making the typical ways to display art appear strange or new to the viewer. In the past he’s used tactics like changing the floors or adding a wall, so there’s no telling what odd or intriguing ways he will “intervene” at the Broome Street P! gallery space, which is currently a bright orange inside and outside.
a canary torsi, “Performance | Portrait” (image via The Invisible Dog)
Wonderland
Opening Saturday December 3 at The Invisible Dog, 6 pm to 10 pm. On view through December 30.
Multidisciplinary arts center The Invisible Dog, often a space for performance work, music, and installation, presents another edition of its annual Wonderland art show. The exhibition showcases work by over 20 artists new and old alike, as well as a specially featured video installation piece, a canary torsi’s PERFORMANCE | PORTRAIT.  The piece is designed to engage the individual, featuring 4 different performers that have been recorded “maintaining their focus on a future audience.” The concept might ring a little Ambramovic-esque, but perhaps more relevant in today’s digital age. It’s interesting to ponder how someone can request and keep your focus while behind a screen. Such a thing may seem less powerful than, say, an in-person encounter, but consider the screens you gaze at daily. It’s already happening. Wonderland also features work by a slew of other artists in all disciplines, from painting and illustration to sculpture and photography and everything in between. Plus, it’s open through Christmas, if you’re looking for gift ideas.