BANKSY in NYC

Heyo.

The hip of the New York City hip are all-a-chatter as London’s most mysterious and popular street artist, BANKSY, has come to town—or has he? (truth is, no one knows who he is, except for Brad Pitt and people like that.)

BANKROBBER, Banksy's latest show—his first in NYC—is showing at the Vanina Holasek Gallery (502 W. 27th St. @10th Ave, Manhattan) from December 2 thru December 29th. BANKSY’s iconoclastic graffiti prints, agitprop and signature rat-traps (lining the railings!) are on display in the Gallery's converted three-story apartment building. Make sure you look at the scrawled pencil prices next to each piece (if you can afford $115,000, maybe you'd like to buy one for me?).

While you’re there with your friends, take the time to do some more “gallery-hopping” in the Chelsea area. Pop in-and-out of the galleries along 27th St. and see what's happening in the art world today—walking through the gallery doors is totally FREE, making it event cheaper a High 5 Museum Pass.

enjoy!
~eric

Vanina Holasek Gallery
502 W. 27th St. (@ 10th Ave.), Manhattan
Hrs: Tues-Fri: 10:00-6:00 p.m.; Sat: 11:00-6:00 p.m.
A, C or E to 34th St./Penn Station

2 questions to always considers....

#1
What is the art trying to accomplish?

#2
Does it succeed?

Keeping the art in mind, you can never go wrong in your reviews. You will avoid the pitfalls: "i didn't like it. it was good. i liked it. it was bad..." blah, blah. The interesting stuff is in the WHYs and the WHATs! Why did it succeed in parts, but not as a whole? What was it (the dance, the play, the painting, the song) trying to accomplish? Did it do more or less? Are you cool with where it went?

And tell us what you think! A little interpretation/a little context (do some research!) is always nice for your readers. Remember to keep them - US, your readers - in mind.... Or, just write for you. I carry a small notebook with me everywhere I go. Writers write. You are all writers because you write. That's the only requirement. :)

Open hearts, open minds.
The most important thing I want you to take away from TRaC is to be open to things foreign to you. Crain your neck, your ears, your brain to understand. Get excited, and bring people along!

Art is communication and communion.
That's what makes this fun....

happy december.
~eric

Outing This Wednesday, Nov 21!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Visual Arts TRaC outing this Wednesday, Nov 21! We will be seeing several good shows in Chelsea, including Thomas Ruff at Zwirner (top picture above) and Do-Ho Suh at Lehmann Maupin (bottom picture above). We will meet at 4:30 at the first gallery on the list (Zwirner) and then move on rather quickly to the others on the list. Be sure to call me (646-765-3388) if you're going to be late so that I can tell you where we are, as we may have moved on from Zwirner!
Here's the list -- print it out and bring it with you:

Zwirner (519 W 19 btwn 10 & 11)
Leslie Tonkonow (535 W 22)
303 (525 W 22)
PPOW (555 W 25)
Roebling Hall (606 W 26)
James Cohan (533 W 26)
Lehmann Maupin (540 W 26)

Kara Walker at the Whitney!

This Friday's Outing
at THE WHITNEY MUSEUM
945 Madison Ave at 75th Street
4:30 pm directions and information- click here

Meet on the street in front of the Whitney Museum. Call me (646-765-3388) if you need directions or get lost. Also PLEASE, PLEASE call if you can't make it.

We will be seeing a new exhibition:

Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love

First Visual Arts TRaC Outing -- this Monday at 5:30!

A visit to The Elizabeth Foundation (323 W 39th Street, between 8th & 9th Ave, 11th floor) to see:

The Price of Nothing
curated by Jason Murison, Freelance Curator and Director of Friedrich Petzel Gallery

Jason will talk about this show and the relationship between real estate and artmaking.

Remember to meet at 5:30 (an hour later than we normally meet) at the Elizabeth Foundation, not at the Guggenheim!

Visual Arts TRaC starts tomorrow!

When and where to meet tomorrow....
You'll be meeting tomorrow in the Sackler Center for Arts Education at the Guggenheim Museum from 4:30 - 6:30.


The Guggenheim is located at 1071 5th Avenue (between 88th and 89th Streets). You will be going in the staff entrance to the Sackler Center through the 89th Street entrance. It's just around the corner from the main entrance past the big garage door. Sign in at the security desk, take the elevator down to the Lower Level and proceed through the double glass doors into the Sackler Center.

Getting there...
By Subway: To reach the museum by subway, take the 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street. Walk west on 86th Street, turn right at Madison Avenue and proceed north to 89th Street and turn left. The staff entrance is on 89th Street just before 5th Avenue.

By Bus: To reach the museum by bus, take the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus on Madison- or Fifth Avenue.

Not sure which subways you need to transfer to? Use www.hopstop.com
Just put in your starting address and copy the Guggenheim address. It'll give you detailed directions.

Make sure to arrive 10 – 15 minutes early!
Casey Ruble, your instructor, will meet you at the staff entrance on 89th street, so make sure to be there before she heads down at 4:30. Call Eric if you get lost. In the future, get in touch with Casey!

(I suggest printing this out so you have all the information at hand.)

Your first outing will be Monday, Oct. 22nd at the Elizabeth Foundation. More details in class tomorrow and posted here before the weekend....

And don’t forget to bring a pen and a notebook!

Enjoy
~eric