Notable Art Happenings!

As always, there is an almost endless, inexhaustible amount of arts and entertainment in NYC. Below are some highlights!

Banksy, a well-known British street/graffiti artist, has an exhibit up in the West Village at The Village Pet Store Bar and Grill. It will stay up through Halloween, October 31, 2008. This is apparently Banksy's first show in NYC (apparently there have been many shows purportedly with Banksy's works previously, which have all been revealed as fakes... ), as well as his first time using animatronics. There is no graffiti or street art in the so-called "store," but rather a bizarre combination of "animals" to behold.

The gallery/store is open daily from 10 am-12 am., at No. 89, 7th Ave South, between W. 4th and Bleeker St. The entire store also is viewable through the storefront window.





Banksy's site can be seen here.

In other art happenings, the Williamsburg Gallery Association offers free events every second Friday of the month. I also recommend the Live With Animals gallery in Williamsburg, on the corner of Kent Ave (210 Kent Ave.) and Metropolitan Ave. The gallery is open 2 pm to 7 pm, Sat-Sun, and the current exhibit is Against Nature, by Sebastian Mlynarski. The exhibit, up until October 26, features photographs that examine and confront the difficult relationship between humans and nature. The evening of Sat October 18th features an evening of art and music, with Bill Bronson performing a piece inspired by the exhibition.

October 24-26 features the NY Art Book Fair free to the public, at Phillips de Pury & Company, at 450 W. 15th St. at 10th Ave, 3rd fl. A list of exhibitors can be seen here.

Friday: Art Time

This Friday I will be going to the American Folk Art Museum, on 45 West 53rd St, which I have never before visited. This museum features Free Music Fridays, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This Friday will feature:

LORRAINE LECKIE
MySpace: www.myspace.com/lorraineleckie

RICK SNYDER
MySpace: www.myspace.com/ricksnyder

THE LOOM
MySpace: www.myspace.com/theloommusic

In addition to these musicians (none of whom I am yet familiar with), the museum exhibits are open, including the exhibit "Dargerism: Contemporary Artists and Henry Darger" (closing September 21st). For those unfamiliar with Darger, see the Wikipedia entry on him. His outsider art has become relatively well-known and influential, and it should be well-worth it to see this exhibit!

After this, I plan on attending another art gallery, Canada, located at 55 Chrystie St. between Hester and Canal St. All I know of this gallery is what's on the website, specifically that it is hosting an Opening Reception this Friday from 6-9 pm.