Tim Rollins, 62

Artist Tim Rollins Has Died at 62
by Benjamin Sutton, Hyperallergic, December 27, 2017

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Barkley L. Hendricks, 72

Painter Barkley L. Hendricks Dies at 72
by Jill Steinhauer, Hyperallergic, April 18, 2017

Barkley L. Hendricks, Portraitist of a New Black Pride, Dies at 72
by William Grimes, The New York Times, April 22, 2017

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New World Disorder: Nothing Normal Here

Why the Art World Must Not Normalize Donald Trump’s Presidency

Since the election, many people have called for a return to business as usual and pledged their support for the president-elect, but these attitudes are dangerous for artists, arts workers, and many, many others. (click to read)

by Noah Fischer, Hyperallergic, November 15, 2016

In review: "the skeleton architecture, or the future of our worlds"

Cast of the skeleton architecture, or the future of our worlds
(photo: Ian Douglas)

Read reviews of the skeleton architecture, or the future of our worlds, an evening of site-specific improvisation curated by Eva Yaa Asantewaa, part of Danspace Project's Lost and Found platform at St. Mark's Church, Saturday, October 22, 2016.

Click to read:

Maura Donohue, Culturebot

Alexis Clements, Hyperallergic

Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone, The Dance Enthusiast

Gia Kourlas, The New York Times

For information on remaining Lost and Found events, 

now through November 19, click here.

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Thornton Dial, 87

Artist Thornton Dial, an American Genius, Dies at 87
by Edward M. Gómez, Hyperallergic, January 26, 2016

Oh, Canada!

Eh, Canada! Your new Prime Minister is gorgeous, progressive and supports the arts, too?

Why Canada’s New Prime Minister Might Be Good for the Arts, Eh?
by Gabriella Santiago-Vancak, Hyperallergic, October 20, 2015

They've got a theory: If Old Masters wrote artist statements today

The Artist Statements of the Old Masters
by John Seed, Hyperallergic, August 4, 2015

Mainstream museums lack Native expertise in curating Native art

In Mainstream Museums, Confronting Colonialism While Curating Native American Art
by Sheila Regan, Hyperallergic, June 26, 2015

Transatlantic trade pact could threaten arts funding

Transatlantic Trade Agreement Could Spell Disaster for Culture
by Benjamin Sutton, Hyperallergic, June 26, 2015

Chris Burden, 69

Chris Burden dies at 69: artist's light sculpture at LACMA is symbol of L.A.
by Christopher Knight, The Los Angeles Times, May 10, 2015

Also see:

Chris Burden, Pioneering Performance Artist and Large-Scale Sculptor, Dead at 69
by Benjamin Sutton, Hyperallergic, May 10, 2015

On the nature of climate change: Karole Armitage at AMNH

Two scenes from On the Nature of Things by Karole Armitage
(photos: Julieta Cervantes)

Elizabeth Kolbert wrote in Field Notes From A Catastrophe, "It may seem impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that is what we are now in the process of doing.

Problems such as climate disruption, toxification of Earth, loss of biodiversity, loss of ecosystem services are solveable, but to do so human behavior must be basically altered.

In the twenty-first century we have created a civilization that is way out of step with the realities of our planet. 

--Paul Ehrlich, from text for On the Nature of Things

So our beloved American Museum of Natural History has funding from that climate change-denying Koch brother (click here). Well, last night's world premiere of On the Nature of Things, staged beneath the museum's iconic blue whale, felt like nothing short of an exorcism.

Choreographer Karole Armitage (Armitage Gone! Dance) filled Milstein Hall of Ocean Life with a multi-generational corps, including dancers from Manhattan Youth Ballet, as Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich, performing live narration, laid down the science in layperson's terms. The message? Uncompromising: Climate is changing, we are responsible for it, and we are responsible for it.

And, no, I'm not merely repeating myself. We did it. Now we have to fix it.

Armitage and Ehrlich--a longtime friend of the choreographer's father, a biologist--fervently agree that the only way to engage most people with the complex science around climate and environment is through the heart, hence through the power of the arts. In that light, On the Nature of Things serves more as a supportive underscore, I think, than as educator or motivator--at least, up there on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The piece was made for the museum, but imagine the public service Armitage could do by touring it around the heartland and southlands before our next elections.

As a visual phenomenon, the work benefits, first, from its unique setting which places its uniformly-costumed dancers--a subliminal message in that coral color scheme?--in the midst of the museum's displays, encircled by onlookers there and on balconies. Armitage handles the hall's broad open floor with dramatic force, her deployment of dancers suggesting rising population, mounting tensions, collisions, competition for space and dominance. Her movement technique--a fusion of modern and ballet, meticulous, often showy--can hold the eye without necessarily spelling out matters spoken by Dr. Ehrlich. Unfortunately, the narration-dance overlay does not work. Luckily, I had the script and time to read it beforehand.

One wonders at the presence of a few dancers en pointe, especially when they use those pointe shoes for the clever but weirdly distracting trick of a quick slip across the floor. The dancers, though, are all in. They accomplish a handsome, coherent performance culminating in the choreographer's vision of serenity, hope and healing that we have yet to earn.

On the Nature of Things will continue with performances tonight and tomorrow at 7pm. For information and tickets, click here.

American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West and 79th Street, Manhattan
(Enter at 79th Street underneath staircase.)
(map/directions)

******

Other American Museum of Natural History presentations of interest:


Our Earth’s Future: One-Day Course
Saturday, April 11, 9am–4pm
Free with application, available on amnh.org

In a special one-day offering, Dr. Debra Tillinger will lead an in-depth exploration of the science of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and how changes in these two critical areas of Earth indicate and catalyze the impacts of climate change. Participants will hear from guest speakers on the geology, biology, and cultures of these beautiful and fragile parts of the world. They will also engage in discussions, take Museum hall tours, and enjoy a challenging game of geopolitics—SMARTIC, in which players must enact real-life solutions to the potential large-scale problems anticipated by the impact of climate change in the polar regions. Refreshments will be served.

Milstein Science Series: Sea Turtles

Sunday, May 3, 11am–4:30pm 

Free for Members or with Museum admission

Sea turtles are simply astounding! They lived alongside dinosaurs 150 million years ago, and still survive today. Playing a crucial role in our oceans’ ecosystems, this incredible animal group is now endangered due to climate change, poaching, habitat destruction, and accidental capture in fishing gear. Learn more about these resilient aquatic creatures and the conservation efforts in place to protect them with Eleanor Sterling, Chief Conservation Scientist, Center for Biodiversity & Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History; Wallace J. Nichols, scientist and New York Times-bestselling author of Blue Mind; and Michael Coyne, executive director of seaturtle.org. The event includes a live music performance by Bash the Trash, playing instruments made out of reused and repurposed materials.

For additional information, call 212-769-5100 or visit the Museum’s website at amnh.org.

More on bias and privilege in the arts sector

The Hypocrisy of the Artistic and Critical Left
by Beca Rothfeld, Hyperallergic, February 23, 2015

Saner's "Primitivo": indigenous imagery and perspective

In the Face of Violence, a Mexican Artist Finds Sanity in Stereotypes
by Julie Schwietert Collazo, Hyperallergic, January 30, 2015

BLACK LIVES MATTER matters

At the LA Art Book Fair, a Missed Opportunity to Address Race
by Abe Ahn, Hyperallergic, January 30, 2015

In the works: Brer Rabbit for a new Brooklyn

Original artwork by LaRonda Davis
for Brer Rabbit The Opera
(image courtesy the artist)

Some rabbit ears, eh?

Brer Rabbit The Opera: A Funky Meditation On Gentrification [Work-in-Progress] won't get reviewed here now since it's incomplete, but I can tell you that the sold-out showing I attended last night at BRIC House gives me hope for good things to come.

This collaborative effort, developed during a BRIC Fireworks residency--with Aisha Cousins and Greg Tate with his Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber leading a totally amazing team--strikes the right balance between fun and serious dissection of an issue of the moment. And it strikes it consistently and without pretension.

That's why I'm hoping Cousins and Tate will do two things: 1) trim the two hours down a bit; 2) work on making the dialogue and lyrics (especially in the opening scene) more clearly audible.

Read more about Brer Rabbit The Opera here:

Brooklyn’s Own Briar Patch: A Funk Opera Takes On Gentrification by Alexis Clements, Hyperallergic, January 22, 2015

Attend BRIC's Town Hall meeting, Brooklyn For Sale: The Price of Gentrification, A Community Town Hall, January 28, 7-9pm (free). For information, click here.

For general information on BRIC's Spring 2015 season, click here.

Leslie Lohman Museum celebrates what others have censored

Displaying Three Decades of LGBTQ Art Censored by Museums
by Allison Meier, Hyperallergic, January 19, 2015

The cupcake-ization of New York: Penny Arcade speaks out

Penny Arcade on the Professionalization of Performance Art
by Geraldine Visco, Hyperallergic, December 31, 2014

New film documents peril for Brazilian street artists

A Brazilian Street Art Community Wracked by Tragedy
by Laura C. Mallonee, Hyperallergic, January 1, 2015

Save the art of protest!

A Scramble to Save Protest Art, from Ferguson to Hong Kong
by Laura C. Mallonee, Hyperallergic, December 12, 2014

Batsheva BAM opening protested

50 Protest Batsheva Dance Company Opening at BAM
by Mostafa Heddaya, Hyperallergic, November 13, 2014