(image via Center for Book Arts)

Center for Book Arts Summer Exhibitions
Opening Wednesday, July 12 at Center for Book Arts, 6 pm to 8 pm. On view through September 23.

This Wednesday, The Center for Book Arts will unveil their two summer exhibitions, titled “Protest ≠ Profest: Global Burdens” and “Animation + Printing.”  Though the institutions focuses on books (obviously), the exhibitions themselves span a variety of disciplines. “Protest ≠ Profest” is their annual Artist Members Exhibition, with the timely concept of showing work dealing with activism and “current societal concerns.” In order to narrow down the type of theme that could easily fill multiple rooms worth of art (and to keep with the book focus), works on display will either be artist’s books or works relating to the book arts.

“Animation + Printing” is predominantly a short film showcase, but all films have been created using techniques typically applied to the creation of books, such as  etching, moveable type, and silkscreen. A whopping 50-ish artists will be partaking, and the exhibition theme invites a cross-discipline experience for many, as several printmakers will be attempting animation and vice versa.

(flyer via myplasticheart / Facebook)

Robots Will Kill and Friends
Opening Friday, July 14 at myplasticheart, 7 pm to 10 pm. On view through August 13. 

Start your weekend with a hearty dose of street art and more, as a mighty array of local artists belonging to the collective Robots Will Kill will gather under one roof to show what they’ve been up to. It’s not just street art; expect to see illustration and “toy art” as well. There’ll be something for everyone– at least, I assume so, given that 50 artists will be partaking.

If you’re inclined to be an early bird, you’ll have your chance to get a worm in the form of a free tote bag filled with artist-created stickers and prints if you’re one of the first 40 people in line. Also, one of the artists is named “DrilOne” and I’m going to blindly, illogically hope that there will be some reference to @dril, renowned Twitter master. There probably won’t be, but a girl can dream.

Image copyright Irma Bohórquez-Geisler, 2007. All rights reserved. (via Snug Harbor Cultural Center / Facebook)

Mexico/Staten Island
Opening Saturday, July 15 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanic Garden, 2 pm to 4 pm. On view through September 17.

Yes, if you want to take in this exhibition you’ll have to take a ferry to get there. The Staten Island Ferry. And if you really need some persuading, here’s a reminder that you can buy beer on the ferry. Although once you arrive at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Irma Bohórquez-Geisler’s photography exhibition documenting the borough’s Mexican immigrant population will be sure to sober you up.

The exhibition, curated by NYU art history professor Edward J. Sullivan, consists of 35 silver gelatin portraits depicting the everyday life of the Staten Island Mexican community, showing them shopping, attending church, socializing with family. It’s part of the artist’s ongoing social documentary project, titled “Simple Moments of an Emerging Presence.” Since Bohórquez-Geisler is also the founder of the Staten Island Día de Muertos and has been honored for her work to preserve the unique history of the borough, she seems refreshingly far from the type of artist to enter a community she does not belong to in an effort to capture their essence (and gain social clout for doing so.) Knowing that, the ferry ride will be well worth it.