W 25th St - Glass Ceiling, Berlinscapes & Sound and Vision

ClampArt (­­521 W 25^th St), 1500 Gallery (511 W 25^th St, 6^th Fl) & McKenzie Fine Art (­­511 W 25^th St). Lunch at Txikito (­­240 9^th Ave at 25^th St).

There’s something totally unsettling about Jill Greenberg’s Glass Ceiling at ClampArt, like a tragic accident you can’t look away from. Ever interested in feminist art, Greenberg is here exploring (through gorgeous images, by the way) the absurdity of strong female athletes objectified in sexy footwear. Apparently she did a fashion mag shoot for which the US Olympic Synchronized Swim Team was styled in stilettos, and the absurdity of that styling choice left a lasting impression on the artist. I get it, and maybe I just watched too much Baywatch back in the day, but all I can think is that someone needs to rescue these beautifully toned, flawlessly outfitted women. They need help! ...and isn’t that the exact opposite of what feminist art should convey? I'm confused / completely enthralled!

Berlinscapes at 1500 Gallery is likewise beautifully eerie. Tuca Vieira, a Brazilian artist who just won that country’s top photography prize, presents Berlin by night. It is vibrantly alive yet simultaneously sleepy. Its fierce architecture and glorious monuments are cloaked in sensual light. This is an entirely unique view of Berlin. Its streets and buildings are completely devoid of people, but somehow their presence is known. 

On a brighter note (literally) there is Sound and Vision. The artists in this group show are heavily influenced by music and sound, and you can almost feel the reverb as you enter the gallery at McKenzie Fine Art. John Aslanidis paints incredibly precise overlapping and concentric bands that seem to pulse with the beat of the music in his head. The effects are mesmerizing.  

If you have time, indulge yourself in the authentic Basque cuisine at Txikito. Chef Alex Raij cooks up some of the most delicious and unusual dishes in NYC (which is no small feat). The El Doble Hamburger is incredible and it’s only on the lunch menu, so… 

 

Ingredients:

Venues: ClampArt; McKenzie Fine Art; 1500 Gallery

Artists: Jill Greenberg; John Aslanidis, Daniel Hill, Gilbert Hsiao, and Laura Watt; Tuca Vieira

Streets: W 25^th St between 10^th & 11^th Aves

Eats: Txikito

Map: 

E 70th St - Frick Collection - Bellini's St. Francis in the Desert

Last week’s scorching temperatures (which, by the way, are supposed to be back by the end of this week!) had me dreaming of the atrium at the Frick. A lunch hour spent there, listening to the flowing fountain, is wholly restorative. I’m telling you, this atrium is among the most serene, transportive places on the island of Manhattan. (Note: they don’t allow food or drink, so leave time to grab something afterward.)

As if the promise of this oasis weren’t reason enough to rush over to Mr. Frick’s 5^th Avenue Mansion, there is Giovanni Bellini’s extraordinary St. Francis in the Desert (c. 1480). This masterwork is considered one of the greatest Renaissance paintings in any museum in America. It has always been on display at the Frick, but it recently underwent a huge technical examination, and the new findings are so neat. Using infrared reflectography, experts could analyze Bellini’s groundwork, including where he made changes and where he spent time sketching in detail underneath the layers of paint. They also used photomicrographs to zoom in super closely on his brush strokes and application techniques, and, through this technology, they could even find the fingerprints of the apprentices who applied the primer by hand. How incredible is that?? 

Should you feel simply too comfortable in your central AC (no one is blaming you for that), there is a wealth of inspiring supplemental information on the Frick’s website. Plus, the “multimedia presentations” are silent, so you could probably get away with watching at your desk. Fair warning though, 30 seconds of exploration on Google Art Project, will make you want to venture out to see this masterwork with your own eyes. It is that good. 

Ease yourself slowly back into the reality of this oppressively hot summer in the city with an authentic Milano Panini from Via Quardronno. Enjoy the fresh ingredients and let your mind drift back to the extraordinary selection of flora in Bellini’s Italian landscape. Heaven on Earth!                                                                                                                      
Ingredients:

Venue: The Frick Collection

Artist: Giovanni Bellini

Streets: E 70th St & 5th Ave

Eats: Via Quadronno

Map:

W 57th St – Damnatio Memoriae (or) Creating Memory, Arabesque & a second chance

Laurence Miller Gallery is doing you a big favor and presenting a greatest-hits-esque compilation of works from their past season. So, Danis Darzacq’s incredible stop-action photos of b-boys “floating” through super markets are back in the gallery, along with Ray K. Metzker’s “Autowackies” and so much more. I mean, when life gives you these second chances, you’ve just got to jump on them, right?

Nearby the music of piano playing wafts through the air, and, though you are on the right block for it, it is probably not coming from Carnegie Hall. This music likely drifts from Marian Goodman Gallery where Dara Birnbaum’s Arabesque fills the front of the gallery space with a multi-screen mash-up of YouTube footage of pianists playing two different opuses. Apparently husband-and-wife composers Robert Schumann and Clara Schumann wrote these opuses for one another, and Birnbaum’s amalgamation of the two works is compelling. Major bonus: in another section of the gallery space, there is a selection of some of Birnbaum’s earliest works, including a super cool piece about JFK and Jackie O set to “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”

Around the corner at Greenberg Van Doren, thanks to their Fulbright Fellow staff member Kristen Lorello, there is a group show of Italian artists whose work is rarely seen in the US. The show’s title, Damnatio Memoriae (or) Creating Memory, refers to the ancient Roman custom of erasing any record of someone who has disgraced the state. These artists used a wide range of materials to explore the complexities of both personal and historical recollection. I’m particularly drawn to the complexly entwined yarns and ropes of Sissi’s faceless “portraits.”

Stick with the Italian theme and check out PizzArte. Not only do they serve Neapolitan, wood-fired pies with awesomely unexpected toppings like zucchini blossoms and truffle oil, but they showcase budding Italian artists on their walls. So if you order enough for leftovers, you just might be taking home a Lello Esposito piece with that doggie bag. 

Ingredients:

Venues: Laurence Miller, Marian Goodman, Greenberg Van Doren

Artists: Daniz Darzacq, Ray K. Metzker, Simone Rosenbauer, Stephane Courtier, Burk Uzzle, Jessica Backhaus, DoDo Jin Ming, Toshio Shibata; Dana Birnbaum; goldiechiari, Sissi, Cesare Pietroiusti, Giacinto Occhionero

Streets: W 57^th St & 5^th Ave

Eats: PizzAtre

Map:

Ludlow St - Persistent Illusions, Lotus Pods & Panama

Your previously learned associations will be prodded from the moment you enter Discursive Arrangements, or Stubbornly Persistent Illusions. Even if you don’t catch the curators’ nod to Einstein in the show’s title, your subconscious will. From digital prints of ancient wall reliefs to Plexiglas display boxes filled with hair gel, this show challenges the way your brain processes familiar images. I am especially drawn to this watercolor by Allyson Vieira. Such a violent, raging fire; such a picturesque, glorious sunset; such intricate detail throughout, yet with a reminder down the side of the page that this is but paint on paper. It is simply incredible. Seriously, get yourself down to Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery ASAP, and see this show!

As you walk down Ludlow St, take a moment to notice where you are in the world: New York’s storied Lower East Side, the archetypal Melting Pot. On the northern end of Ludlow (at Houston St) is the famous Katz’s Deli (If you can stomach a GIANT pastrami sandwich, go!). At the southern end is Les Enfants Terribles, bringing you a French-colonial vibe with the flavors of the Ivory Coast. In between these bookends you are technically in Chinatown (come back for dinner at Kuma Inn), but, with so many great gallery shows on the block, it feels more like Chelsea. Stop in Blackston where the current show, You Have Left Your Lotus Pods on the Bus, is likewise exploring how we experience and interact with our geographical location. Plus, they have the AC blasting in there, as if they want to nudge you that much harder to notice your environment, so stop in to cool off and take a look around. 

Finally, acquaint yourself with artists from Panama in The Pleasure's All Mine at Lu Magnus where, in collaboration with Diablo Rosso, they are celebrating globalization and art as the common language. There is even a gift-shop-like postcard installation from which you are invited to take. My favorite piece is a video by Jonathan Harker in which a made-up, puzzle-like game is played out. It’s strangely compelling, as if you know you could figure out the rules of this game if you just watched it played one more time…

Top off your “roots” tour with a nosh from the old world Kossar’s Bialys. In a city teeming with culinary fusions, it is a refreshingly authentic treat.  

Ingredients:

Venues: Klaus von Nichtssagend; Blackston; Lu Magnus

Artists: Mathew Cerletty, Devon Costello, Timothy Hull, Ryan Mrozowski, Thomas and Renée Rapedius, Sean Raspet, Ruby Sky Stiler, Sophie-Therese Trenka-Dalton, Allyson Vieira; Davide Balula, Ellie Ga, Gelitin, Fritz Henle, Babette Mangolte, Corey McCorkle, Glynnis McDaris; Jonathan Allen, Fabrizio Arrieta, Tofer Chin, Maria Raquel Cochez, Miky Fabrega, Jonathan Harker, J. Ivcevich

Streets: Ludlow St

Eats: Kossar's Bialys; Katz's Deli; Les Enfants Terribles

Map:

6th Ave - Limelight Marketplace & Grimaldi's Pizza

In the mid-1800’s the architect Richard Upjohn helped bring the Gothic Revival movement to the US. One exquisite example of his work, a gorgeous brownstone church building in the Flatiron District, is now a trendy shopping mall. (Really!) For about a century this building was the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Then, it was a wild nightclub called The Limelight. Now it is Limelight Marketplace, a sanctuary for art and design.

Stepping inside off of busy 6^th Avenue is a little like sliding down Alice’s rabbit hole. This place is strange and magical and entirely unique. Bypass the racks of summer dresses (or don’t!), and check out Orbit Gallery Space. They showcase POP! Art, so you’ll find icons like Andy Warhol, Keith Harring and SHAG next to newbie painters, animators and graffiti artists. Luckily, if all that POP celebration of consumerism puts you in the mood to shop, there are plenty of ways to spend your money here!

Head upstairs to Old Hollywood. They have an incredible selection of vintage and vintage-inspired jewelry, clothing and collectables. Plus, they offer limited edition prints, sculpture and so much more, like this Beetle & Flor porcelain beaver skull.  Bonus: it’s art for a good cause!

As you wander through Limelight, be sure to stop and note the incredible painted-glass windows, which have been fully restored to their church-day splendor. Honestly, the chance to get up close and personal with these windows is reason enough to stop by. Well, that and Grimaldi’s! I mean, Grimaldi’s is some of the best pizza in all of New York, and now you don’t have to trek to Brooklyn for it. Hallelujah!  

Ingredients:

Venues: Limelight Marketplace; Orbit Gallery Space

Artists: Various

Streets: 20^th St & 6^th Ave

Eats: Grimaldi’s

Map: 

W 19th St -The Kitchen, The House Without the Door & The Edible xClinic

If you’ve never been to The Kitchen, now is the perfect time to get acquainted. In honor of their 40^th anniversary, The Kitchen is celebrating its rich history as a haven and incubator for experimental performance art, music, dance and video. Check out The View from a Volcano: The Kitchen’s Soho Years, 1971-85! You will not believe the laundry list of artists who got their start at/in The Kitchen. (In 1971 the gallery was literally in the kitchen of the old Broadway Hotel.) Vito Acconci, Laurie Anderson, Karole Armitage, Robert Ashley, Charles Atlas, Beastie Boys, Dara Birnbaum, Eric Bogosian, Trisha Brown, Rhys Chatham, Lucinda Childs, Tony Conrad, Simone Forti, Philip Glass, Gary Hill, Joan Jonas, Bill T. Jones, Mike Kelley, George Lewis, Arto Lindsay, Robert Longo, Christian Marclay, John Miller, Meredith Monk, Matt Mullican, Tony Oursler, Charlemagne Palestine, Arthur Russell, Carolee Schneeman, Cindy Sherman, Stuart Sherman, Sonic Youth, Elizabeth Streb, Talking Heads, Woody and Steina Vasulka, Lawrence Weiner and many more.

If you don’t recognize these names, get yourself to The Kitchen (now in Chelsea) for a formal introduction! Keep an open mind; some experiments take several tries to perfect... And, if you’re intrigued, pick up a calendar of upcoming performances, and make plans to see upcoming artists who are guaranteed to be some of tomorrow’s stars. 

 

Then, stop in David Zwirner Gallery across the street for a whole different type of group show. The title, The House Without the Door, comes from an Emily Dickinson poem, and, like Dickinson’s writing, these works explore feelings of reclusiveness and isolation. Particularly beguiling is Maureen Gallace’s Summer House / Dunes. It simultaneously presents the peaceful serenity and frightening solitude of a beach house, at once sweetly inviting and without doors. Indeed, this show will leave you thinking about your home in a whole new way.

Head eastward across W 19^th Street to Socarrat PaellaBar. Their chilled Andaluz Tomato Gazpacho is the perfect indulgence on a hot, humid day like today. Along the way, don’t miss Natalie Jeremijenko’s xClinic Farmacy on the façade of Postmasters Gallery. It is a pretty wild variation on the urban farming theme. Jeremijenko designed special “AgBags,” which hang vertically from the building’s exterior and grow produce that is being sold at the green market throughout the summer. Then, next time you’re in Union Square counting how many Campbell’s soup cans have been left upon the Andy Monument, stop and pick up something edible that grew off the side of a building in Chelsea! 

Ingredients:

Venues: Postmasters; David Zwirner; The Kitchen

Artists: Adel Abdessemed, David Altmejd, Francis Alÿs, Mamma Andersson, Louise Bourgeois, Michael Brown, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Maureen Gallace, Isa Genzken, Robert Gober, Mona Hatoum, Toba Khedoori, Charles LeDray, Thomas Ruff, Gregor Schneider, Luc Tuymans, Jeff Wall, and Rachel Whiteread; Vito Acconci, Laurie Anderson, Karole Armitage, Robert Ashley, Charles Atlas, Beastie Boys, Dara Birnbaum, Eric Bogosian, Trisha Brown, Rhys Chatham, Lucinda Childs, Tony Conrad, Simone Forti, Philip Glass, Gary Hill, Joan Jonas, Bill T. Jones, Mike Kelley, George Lewis, Arto Lindsay, Robert Longo, Christian Marclay, John Miller, Meredith Monk, Matt Mullican, Tony Oursler, Charlemagne Palestine, Arthur Russell, Carolee Schneeman, Cindy Sherman, Stuart Sherman, Sonic Youth, Elizabeth Streb, Talking Heads, Woody and Steina Vasulka, Lawrence Weiner and many more; Natalie Jeremijenko

Streets: W 19^th St

Eats: Socarrat Paella Bar

Map:

W 36th St – Natural Selection & Contemporary Slavery

Any way you look at it, getting over to 10^th Avenue in Midtown is a schlep. Grab some outstanding arepas (Venezuelan sandwiches) at Shachis Arepas To Go on 35th & 8th (or order online for delivery!) and keep hoofing it westward. Once you get there, you’ll find some pretty incredible things. First, there is Christopher Adams’ Natural Selection at Hosfelt Gallery. It’s like visiting the Hall of Biodiversity without all the taxidermy. To me, Adams' work suggests those cool microorganism replicas on display in the Spectrum of Life section, and it turns out there is good reason for that. He studied evolutionary biology at Harvard, and his ceramic sculptures are meant to represent what happens when a common structure evolves in unique, varied ways. They are awesome even if you’re not into science.

While you’re at Hosfelt, with thoughts drifting to the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side, Jeremy Stenger’s work reminds you that you’re in New York’s Historic Garment District. Stenger's gorgeous acrylic canvases are inspired by antique textiles, contemporary bedding and cloisonné (aka multi-step enamel metalworking), among other things, and they are bursting with rich colors, patterns and textures. Still, the way these patterns seem to flow and meld and undulate might keep you mindful of Mother Nature.   

By the way, if you ever find yourself obligated to frequent the Javits Center, break free for a few minutes and check out what’s new at Hosfelt. There is almost always something worth seeing there… 

Down the block at Exit Art is a far more somber and highly alarming show called Contemporary Slavery. Did you know, according to the UN, “It is estimated that more than 27 million people are enslaved worldwide?” That is simply mind-blowing to think about! In an effort to raise awareness, Contemporary Slavery, organized by the Social Environmental Aesthetics program, presents a collection of images from photojournalists documenting the horrific reality of the various forms of slavery worldwide. It is down right baffling. 

By Jodi Cobb

Hopefully, this exhibition is a step towards prevention. Kudos to the photographers for helping document this gross tragedy. Their images are haunting and provocative, and they are not easy to take. At least you'll have that hefty walk back from 10th Ave to digest and recover...

 

Ingredients:

Venues: Hosfelt Gallery, Exit Art

Artists: Christopher Adams; Jeremy Stenger

Streets: 36^th St & 10^th Ave

Eats: Sachis Arepas To Go

Map:

Bowery - Smile, FriendsWithYou & Museum 52

Today, in honor of our official “launch,” head down to The Bowery! It is probably not the first place you’d think to look for art, which is the crux of Inspirational Lunch’s raison d'être. This city has so much to offer. Go off the beaten path and explore it!
 

Start with Museum 52 on 2nd St & Bowery. Their current exhibition, Leidy Celeste Nicole, is an appetizer sampler of drawings and paintings by Leidy Churchman, Celeste Dupuy-Spencer and Nicole Eisenman. (Mozzarella sticks not included.) Dupuy-Spencer’s paintings are dramatic representations of young artists’ disenfranchisement. Eisenman’s drawing and doodles present a sort of scattered diary across 15 years. And, Churchman gives us raw emotion in the form of a massive, abstract floor painting with an accompanying video of the process.

When the disillusionment becomes too much for you, seek asylum in Smile! at The Hole. This playful show by FriendsWithYou, of Rainbow City fame, is guaranteed to make you flash those pearly whites. From the twirling neon lights in the gallery's windows to the giggle sticks, Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, the artists who make up FriendsWithYou, aim to fill your entire being with energy and light, and they succeeds on all fronts. They have been building a following since they formed their collective in 2002. Go now, so you can say you saw them when!

If you’re in a hurry, stop for nourishment at Think Coffee. Delicious lattes and sandwiches abound. If you have a little more time, stick with that cheerful feeling, and have lunch at The Smile. It’s a friendly little unpretentious general store and restaurant with an out-of-this-world roast beef sandwich on the lunch menu (among other things). Should you happen to stop in for dinner, get the roasted butternut squash salad with dandelion greens, and then stroll down The Bowery for After Hours: Murals on the Bowery. It's a group show of 18 murals on storefront gates presented during the Festival of Ideas for New City by the Art Production Fund and the New Museum. The murals have been up for two months and are coming down July 7th, so go ASAP!

Ingredients:

Venues: Museum 52; The Hole; Storefronts on the Bowery
Artists: Leidy Churchman; Celeste Dupuy-Spencer; Nicole Eisenman; FriendsWithYou; Judith Bernstein, Matthew Brannon, Ingrid Calame, Chris Dorland, Elmgreen & Dragset, Amy Granat, Mary Heilmann, Jacqueline Humphries, Deborah Kass and pulp, ink., Glenn Ligon, Adam McEwen, Barry McGee, Gary Simmons, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Lawrence Weiner 

Streets: Bowery btw 2nd & Grand Sts 

Eats: Think Coffee; The Smile

Map: