Jewish Museum Has a Really Big Show-Modern Art & Birth of Amer TV

Hello Dali, and Matisse, Picasso, Mondrian and Ben Shahn & I could go on & on.  Revolution of the Eye:  Modern Art & the Birth of Amer TV just opened at the Jewish Museum & it is an eye opening, jubilant exploration of TV as a brand new medium along with modern trends in arts, design & entertainment.  Before the term "coach potato," with its negative connotation of passivity & numifying activity, TV was an exciting new frontier. The brilliant minds behind early TV brought the world into the home, bringing us into another dimension.  "A dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind…a land of both shadow & substance, of things of ideas."(R. Serling)  A symbiotic relationship flourished between modern artists and TV's corporate pioneers.  Both, recognized the powerful cultural impact of aligning together.  Artists flourished in their accessibility & the networks benefitted from an elevated aesthetic & intellectual content.  With the birth of TV, executives, writers and designers championed TV as cultural medium for creativity.  Also featured in this exhibit are surrealist, dada, minimalist & pop artist icons who influenced early television are: Duchamp, Sterling, Streisand, Warhol, and Friedlander.  Television pioneers that forged this new industry with business acumen & artistry included:  William Paley, Frank Stanton, William Golden & Ernie Kovacs. Note the Winky Dink & You interactive TV show from the early '50s.  This fun, fab, explosive exhibit is the fascinating inception of TV & its immersion with modern art.  Your boots were made for walking.  And, that's what they should do.  Walk over to see this phenomenal show.

An American in Paris Brings Ballet Beautifully Back to B'wy

An American in Paris is the most ballet-centric show to grace the stages of Broadway, giving both B'wy musicals & classical ballet a soaring jete' that lifts both art forms to a higher plateau.  Christopher Wheeldon, a former dancer for the Royal Ballet & NYC Ballet has choreographed ballets for top ballet companies throughout the world.  Tackling a much beloved Amer. musical was a leap of faith that proved you can improve on perfection.  Heresy to step into the shoes of Gene Kelly you say? I say, the choreography by Wheeldon borrowing from Balanchine, Robbins & Fosse rises to a new exhilarating height in artistry. The Gershwin brother's genius collaboration provides some of the greatest musical numbers ever written.  The talented cast of B'wy veterans were all wonderful & marvelous in their singing, acting & dancing.  The 2 exceptional leads, Robert Fairchild, a principal dancer NYC Ballet & Leanne Cope with the Royal Ballet brought so much elegance and rhythm to their demanding roles it gave me fidgety feet in the theater.  Wheeldon bowled me over with superlative dancing, artistic staging and clarity to what might have been a dated story.  You can't take anything away from legendary star Gene Kelly, but even he would feel this musical interpretation built on his role and paved a new stairway to paradise.  For the best in Broadway musicals, who could ask for anything more?          

Trenton Doyle Hancock @ Studio Museum-Skin and Bone

The exhibition of Trenton Doyle Hancock (b. 1947) is an extensive collection of drawings & collages from the prolific, graphic artist.  His drawings have a cartoonish & nightmarish imagery that is both repugnant & riveting.  Hancock also packs a punch in his social commentaries & abstract expressionist drawings.  The gallery is covered (literally floor to ceiling & everywhere in between) with his art.  One might spend hours immersed in his haunting drawings & readings his texts.  Or, dismiss his work as creepy (but not handily.)  Hancock pays homage to artist Philip Guston by using some of his imageries & adds biographical context referencing Guston's life.  Recurring figures for both artists are the "comical" KKK figures who are demeaned yet call to mind heinous cowards.  Hancock's drawings also call to mind works by artists Kiki Smith, Nancy Spero & Tim Burton.  Kara Walker shares a similar stinging sensibility.  The Skin and Bone show, works by Hancock may be an acquired taste.  As for taste, I question why he portrays vegans as villians.  I don't choose to acquire his works but I certainly don't dismiss their potency.  

Larry Kramer in Conversation "Rediscovering the Amer. People"

The Aspen Arts Program featured award winning playwright (The Normal Heart) in conversation with Damian Woetzel, Dir. of the Aspen Art Program.  Kramer is an Acad. Award nom. screenwriter and Gay Activist.  He was named a Master Amer Dramatist by PEN/Laura Int'l Fdtn for Theater ('13.)  He is one of today's most prominent writers and activists.  This genius spoke on a myopic topic with anger directed at everyone for not being too complacent regarding hatred towards gays & a failure to cure AIDS.  Kramer is credited for bringing the AIDS to the forefront in the 80's at its inception, when AIDS patients were grossly mistreated.  I felt that Kramer's focus was directed backwards "to the 2,000 years of hatred" towards gay people, the misaligned or lacking history of the gay community.  Worst, is no cure for AIDS resulting from America's apathy.  I didn't know that Lewis & Clark were a homosexual couple nor did I know that Mark Twain was gay.  The point is, do I really need to know that (besides questioning Kramer's authority on the matter)?  And, as far as not having arrived at a cure - how about a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, ALS, cancer, the list is endless and growing. Unclarified strides for gays were begrudgingly given just in the last 2 decades.  Kramer has animus towards the NYT. The reason being Ben Bradlee gave his play a scathing review shutting down his play.  His opening comment was the most sagacious.  He said the leading London agent for playwrights told him "Don't pay any attention to what people say good or bad.  It just gets in the way of the work." Advice he admired but didn't take to heart.      

Bard Graduate Center-Fashioning the Body: An Intimate History of the Silhouette

The Bard Graduate Center is a jewel box of museum in a brown stone on 86th/CPW.  The Center is dedicated to the study of decorative arts & design in history. This accessible and lovely structure is very user friendly.  It feels private & welcoming.  The must see show on now features historic body contouring contraptions that will have you laughing & scratching your head.  Many will recall the bustles & corsets worn by American women in the late 19thC, (think Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind.)  The Europeans women in the 18th & 19th C also have their beguiling (what were they thinking) undergarments on display.  Women's dresses were so wide doorways needed to be expanded to allow passageway.  The ingeniuty of the designs which are demonstrated collapsing & expanding are astounding.  Least you think the breasts were overlooked, worry not.  The exposure of the décolletage had its highs & lows and varying means for pushing up, pinning down or pointing to a tip.  The sillouhettes of the bodystyle most in favor in an era are interesting to see & compare.  The most shocking (heaven knows how things goes) were the undergarments designed to confine & constrict the female form during pregnancy & the stature of young children.  These seemed as barbaric as feet-binding in Asia.  Men's fashions & peculiar body fixtures were not immune to display & ridicule.  Of course these men were known as Dandies with puffed up collars & padded calves.  I shudder to wonder how we will be viewed by future generations.  Perhaps we will be known for inserting body enhancing objects directly into the body.  Everybody should visit this intimate Bard Graduate Center and enjoy the "Intimate History of the Silhouette."

The Age of Adaline-Timeless Celestial Chick Flick

The theme of never growing old never seems to get old.  It is often fodder for stories, movies & contemplation.  Vampire movie fans need not attend, and there's little appeal here for men (other than the incredibly beautiful Blake Lively.)  Adaline is played by Lively who reveals her acting chops but nary a wrinkle in time or upon her gorgeous face.  The premise (& ending) could use resuscitating, but let be swept up with the concept of never aging a day from the time you are at the pinnacle of health & beauty.  Iron out the platitudes of "opening yourself to love" blah blah and allow for the quandaries of both the blessing & the curse of eternal youth.  I am endless sucker for this storyline.  The AGE of ADALINE will cause you to ponder the conundrums immortality.  Give yourself permission to embrace the wonderful wallop of emotions this film delivers.  The ensemble cast of older veterans, Ellen Bursten, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver & Kathy Baker lend their star power to help this movie move you.  The romantic lead is played by Michael Hussiman whose sex appeal is undeniable.  The AGE of ADALINE is not Plato or deeply philosophical for that matter.  All that truly matters is I was won over by this film.  Given the choice,  I'd opt for perpetuating the facade of eternal youth.    

The Woman in Gold, Klimt's Dazzling Paintings of History and Justice

The film The Woman in Gold, starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren & Ryan Reynolds, is the story of Maria Altman who escaped the atrocities of Nazi Germany in WWII.  The on-screen chemistry between Mirren & Reynolds is irrefutably disarming.  More than 50 yrs. after WWII, Mrs. Altman pursues legal channels v. the Austrian govt. to  reclaim the Klimt paintings stolen from her family by the Nazis.  The iconic painting "The Woman in Gold," is a portrait made of Maria's Aunt Adele.  Maria was raised in a combined household: Maria's sister & parents and her uncle & his wife, Adele; the woman Klimt etermanlized in the painting now hanging in the Neue Museum.  The movie traces Maria's from a young girl, to her joyous wedding & to the couple's harrowing escape from Nazi occupied Vienna leaving her beloved parents behind.  Maria & her husband fled Nazi persecution to join her sister who emigrated to America.  Fifty years later, widowed and bereft after her sister's passing, Maria discovers documents pertaining to the Klimt portraitures of her aunt.  She enlists the legal assistance of a friend's son to determine whether she has any claim to these paintings that have become imbedded in the psyche of Austrian's heritage.  This gleaming movie is a David v. Goliath story.  It is a poignant tale of loyalty, dignity, perseverance,  and strength.  It speaks to the heart of what life demands of us; justice, redemption and human dignity.  This is not a preachy, melodrama.  It is a beacon of humanity at its most brilliance.  See this movie, visit the Klimt paintings at Neue in NYC and remember the history imbedded in the canvases of these invaluable works.

FUN HOME on B'wy-You Can Never Go Home But You Can Always Look Back

FUN HOME is on B'wy after an acclaimed run at the Public Theater.  It is based on the memoirs of Alison Bechdel growing up & coming of age in the 60's & 70's in an unconventional household.  Their home served as a mortuary run by their father, Bruce, who also taught English at the local high school.   The musical has 43 yr. old Alison looking back on her unorthodox & confusing childhood.  She also revisits her college years when she fully embraces her lesbian sexuality.  While a co-ed, Alison shares her sexual orientation with her parents (starting with letters.)  Her father's closeted homosexuality is uncovered following her revelations.  Just months after skeletons come out of the closet, her father kills himself.  In the play, Alison focuses on her past writings, drawings & memories to re-examine her life & her father's.  Her search for self-discovery is a fascinating & engaging journey.  The timelines are blurred, past & present are overlayed in intricate stagings.  Some scenes have 43 yr. old Alison on stage  observing herself as a college sophmore & pre-teen, standing alongside her younger personas.  At times she reads aloud from her own diary, letters & drawings.  Bechdel is best known for her long running commic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For." The musical numbers allow levity to offset the gravitas.  The funeral parlor by the young siblings was fun & the joy of "majoring in Joan" was infectious.  The roller-coaster of emotions: happiness, confusion & regret are geniune.  FUN HOME works on many planes, as a paradigm to understand where one fits in with the captions acceptance & tolerance underlined.

Doc. Film DIOR & I-Fascinating Look Behind the Scenes of Haute Couture

DIOR & I is a doc. film that is fascinating not only for the fashion but for the inside look at the creative processes that goes into the design & creation, the colloborative operations and the history to this legendary house of haute couture.  The I in DIOR & I is the relatively new design head for Dior, Raf Simons  The long history to the Dior founded in 1946 by Christain Dior just after the war.  Dior passed away only 10 years later.  The structure of the film overlay Mr. Dior's words from his memoirs into the current context of the film with incredible impact & artistry. The company has maintained its place at the pinnacle of high fashion for decades.  It has had turbulence. Galliano was at the helm for 17 yrs. until 2011 when he was dismissed for his public anti-Semitic rants.  Simons was brought on as head designer in April of 2012 at which time he was given the unimaginable task of creating & presenting the fall line in just 2 weeks.  This doc. is a whirlwind of emotions, artistry, camaraderie along with enviable glimpses into a world of glamour & consummate beauty.  Simons (b. Belgium) was head designer for Jill Sander's when he was chosen to take over at the helm for Dior.  I'm curious why he was chosen from the minimalistic, pret-a-porte clothing to run the elite, glamorous Dior Fashion House; known for its highly stylized and structured couture.  The decision has been a resounding success.  Simons' decisions are what guide the fashion but this is not accomplished without many skilled ateliers we see arduously working until the last minute. Simons' methods for communicating and nurturing creative input are extraordinary. The devotion & pride that goes into every last stitch is inspiring.  I thought DIOR & I would be designed for a narrow audience of fashion fans.  This intelligent, engrossing film will appeal to everyone.  I left admiring Simons & the people working behind the scenes of Dior and wanting to see more.  I say yes to Dior & yes to the dress.      

FINDING NEVERLAND with Matthew Morrison Never Soared

Johnny Depp & Kate Winslet starred in the touching & magical movie this new musical is based.  The cast includes musical TV & Bwy stars Matthew Morrison (Glee, South Pacific) & Kelsey Grammer (Cheers, La Cage aux Folles.)  Morrison plays J.M. Barrie, the famed British playwright best known for writing Peter Pan.  Grammer plays Charles Frohman the Amer. producer who brought Barrie's plays to the London stage in the 19thC.  Barrie's relationship with a British widow & her 4 sons (one named Peter) are believed to have sparked Barrie's imagination for his beloved creation.  This musical can boast many charming & entertaining components:  Morrison's beautiful singing voice & acting talents to the role and Grammer, his dramatic gifts.  The 4 boys & especially their mother (Laura Kelly) were all wonderful in their roles.  I liked the impish, balletic dancing by Pan and the humorous choreography by the servants.  There were several musical numbers that were stellar:  "The Dinner Party" & "Something About This Night."  Sadly, the majority of numbers sunk and the melodrama was murky.  Too much fairy dust & fanfare overshadowed the play.   The 2 boys in my row were asked if they liked it, they shrugged their shoulders & 1 said "I don't know."  NEVERLAND felt like a ship highjacked by pirates.  It never steered on course despite its bright stars.              

Sultans of Deccan India, 1500-1700 Opulence & Fantasy @ MET

The diamond laden southern peninsula of India in the 16th & 17th C drew int'l trade from Africa, Turkey and Europe.  The exhibit of fine baubles & bright shiny things was just not my thing.  There are dazzling jewels and ornate objects on view that I'm not giving its due.  The relics all started to blend from beginning to end.  I was most taken with the beautiful drawings of colorful, exotic birds.  Otherwise, I flew through the show.  I opted out of the fantasy which didn't spark much interest for me.

NY RANGERS -White Towels Waved in Surrender to PENGUINS

It's the NHL playoffs.  A spirit booster from the MAD MARCHNESS doldrums. Thursday night the Rangers came out fierce scoring just 30 seconds into the game.  WOW!  The Rangers went on to a solid 2-1 victory over the Pittsburg Penguins.  I wasn't at MSG Thurs night but I was there last night for the Ranger's disappointing 3-4 loss to the Penquins.  White towels with Rangers' blue were handed out to everyone entering MSG. Half of the NY Giants were on hand to root for their home team along with NY CSI's Mariska Hargirtay.  Leaving the Garden, fans had the melancholy blues.  Here's where I see red.  Rangers had 7 Power Plays.  They converted none, zip!  The Penguins benefitted by a poor referee call v. the Rangers which they pounced on and scored.  One potential Ranger goal was a measly, painful hair from crossing the Penguins' goal line; ouch!  Nevertheless, not turning 7 Power Play opportunities into a goal is like having the Yankees go 7 innnings with their lead off batter left on base. The Ranger/Penguin series is at 1 game apiece.   Let's not put our hands up and surrender.  There will be more white banners at the door.  NY RANGER fans, let's hear you roar!

Iranian Artist Monir Farmanfarmain's 1st US Exhibition @ Guggenh. MUST be EXPERIENCED

This is the 1st Amer. exhibition of Iranian artist (b. 1924) Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmain's (Monir) arousing collection of mirrored sculptures.  The exhibit also features large mirror sculptures, geometric strucutres, drawings & mirrored crystal balls.  The crystal balls in particular, bedazzle the eye.  The crystal mirrored ball with emeral green adornments was gifted to the museum by Warhol;  a close friend & confidant.  Flying mainly under the radar, Monir, came to the US from Iran 1945-57 and fraternized with many prominent artists of that era such de Kooning, Newman, Mitchell & Pollack.  Monir's oeuvre is known as geometric minimalism.  She calls her mirrored reliefs and large mirror sculptures "geometric families."  I'd certainly like to take home a number of her breathtaking works. (How did she create most of her works?)  The craftsmanship & ingenuity is utterly bewildering. The galleries housing her art radiate a surreal celestial atmosphere.  The light reflecting off her art is spellbinding and awe inspiring.  Monir returned to Iran in 57 and was exiled in '79 when she returned to the US.  Her work which is only now being shown on a large scale in the states reflect her Iranian heritage and culture.  The exhibit entitled Infinite Possibilities is endlessly fascinating.  It is a show that must be experienced, repeatedly.        

W. Marsalis' Jazz Orch @ Linc Ctr Celebrate Joe Temperley

Joe Temperley was being honored by Wynton & members of his orchestra.  The real honor was being in the audience to hear one of the most phenomenal jazz artists working today.  Born in Scottland in 1929, Temperley at 85 plays with the majesty and command that most musicians hope to maintain at their peak.   Joe's age or rather timelessness, was a running joke from Wynton & his bandmates.  Or, as Joe put it "we're a band of brothers."  The respect, the love and the unmitigated admiration from members of the Jazz Orch were shared.  Members of the Orch rose to speak fondly with humor & humility of their relationship with Temperley; an original members of Marsalis' Jazz Orch.  During Temperley's early career in the states he performed & recorded with many jazz legends: Ellington, Herman, Rich.  Temperley played for the B'wy show Sophisticated Ladies & on the soundtrack for the film Cottonclub.  The evening's program consisted of compositions by Ellington, Marsalis & Carter. The arrangements were made by members of the orchestra.  I was delightfully surprised that Temperley played the for the entire program and the full warmth & richness of his alto sax playing shone on every piece.  The "Band of Brothers" played great jazz last night. They paid a joyous tribute to the talents and attributes of a highly respected musician & individual.  It was a cool evening of jazz and a warm celebration.  The Jazz Orch @ Lincoln Ctr. is world renown for their musical virtuosity.  The "Band" should also be acknowledge for their graciousness & humility.  It was a privilege to be caught up in the windfall of stupendous music and shared memories.  

The Plains Indians: Artists of the Earth & Sky @MET, Painfully Beautiful

The artwork of the Plains Indians in the 19th C represents the works of a nomadic people whose possessions were valued for their practicality and necessity.  The ingenious and remarkable  collection of clothing and objects on display are awe inspiring for their craftsmanship and imagery.  The robes & dresses made from animals hides are resourceful & of the highest artistry.  The articles on display serve duo purposes.  Items of clothing depict images that record a culture, history & respect for nature.  Utensils & weapons incorporate proud imageries of animals; note an exquisitely carved bowl & a shield bearing a buffalo. Therein lies the remorse conjured by confronting a not so distant past, if not present, of America's indigenous people whose crime was living on coveted land American settlers purloined.  Note the progression of clothing & headdresses, their storytelling become more ornate by incorporating buttons & beads used as barter.  The stunning beauty in this exhibit cannot mask the treachery & massacre inflicted on the Plains Indians.  The shameful irony of an intricate, magnificient horse mask is decorated with the the Amer. flag.  The 4th of July became the holiday observed on resigned Indian reservations by decree and abolishment of native ceremonial customs. The film footage of American "Western" shows popular in Europe in the early 20thC are painful to watch for their exploitation and the disintegration of a distinguished heritage.  Some of the contemporary artworks at the end of show pose acute social commentary.  I was left with feelings of both admiration and shame.      

CHURCHILL a One Man Show at New World Stages

I just finished reading Citizens of London by Lynne Olson.  Citizens depicts the dire situation in London under the German blitz in WWII.   Olson's book faults Americans for being way too slow in standing alongside England against the Germans.  In the one actor biopic play CHURCHILL, the actor   speaks directly to the audience about his life & darkest period in history in a cozy "fireside chat" style.  Churchill identifies the audience as American.  He has the utmost admiration for Americans (except for Joseph Kennedy) for their heroic efforts and sacrifices.   I found fault with the play.  Ronald Keaton (Churchill) used an American accent more often than not.  Keaton failed to make a compelling & convincing Churchill.  He played him as amiable and clever but not with the pugnacious, obdurate commander qualities Churchill possessed.  Keaton adapted the play based on The Life & Words of Winston S. Churchill but this adaption of our darkest hours in history felt mundane.  I was never  indebted enough in the play to owe this show a strong recommendation.  

Bjork @ MoMA-Why? What am I Missing?

In the lobby of the MoMA is an interesting largescale mechanical structure I found intriguing.  I asked the MoMA employee at the entrance if this was part of the Bjork exhibit. "Yes," she said, "not many people realize it's part of the exhibit.  It's a gravitational pull."  Large swaying limbs sway back & forth with a hypnotic power while emitting varying musical strains.  "Do the sounds & movements keep changing?" I asked. "Yes, the constant shifts in movement causes constantly differentiating sounds."  Not many stopped to admire the installation & its melodic chants.   The 1st floor is where the Bjork exhibit continued.  Perhaps, this might prove more interesting than I anticipated.  I entered a large darkened rom with large screens on 2 opposing walls.  The identical film which appeared on both screens simultaneously was of Bjork in a dark cave singing.  The room was covered with speakers and black structures reminiscient of stalagmites.  Bjork was singing with her eyes appearing blank. The volume was way too loud (for me.)  I found the lyrics inane about being held captive and being blind. Water was dripping onto Bjork.  I thought the effect might be simulated in the room we were standing.  I found the whole experience ridiculous and left after a few minutes.  I did stop to watch the "gravitational pull" on the way out but felt as though someone was pulling my leg with Bjork's video.  

A Must See Doc. Film 3 1/2 Minutes-The Life & Murder of FL Teen Jordan Davis

You may remember Jordan Davis was the victim of a fatal, vicious shooting by a "thug" who was upset by the loud music coming from his car.  In 2012, 17 yr. old Jordan Davis was with his 3 friends on the Friday after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" when he was gunned down in the back seat of his friend's car.  Jordan & his friends were at a gas station in FL when Michael Dunn pulled in & told the teens to turn down their loud music.  When they didn't comply Dunn pulled out a gun and shot repeatedly into the boys vehicle as they tried desperately to pull away.  This tragedy never should have happened and yet it keeps on happening.  The painful anguish and senseless grief of Jordan's parents transcends every semblance of the sanctity of humanity.  Justice for Jordan does not rest with Dunn's sentence of life without parole, his worthless life is virtually ended.  Mr. Davis said "you make another day because you've just got to go on."  We cannot go on another day, another minute and be complacent when our young men of color are being murdered under the false pretense of self-defense.  Why is it okay to kill someone whether you perceive a threat or not?  Jordan's legacy lies with the impact this doc. wields to open our hearts, our sensibilities and our voices.          

Nat'l Historic Soc. LINCOLN & THE JEWS, some of his best friends were...

I visited the Nat'l Historic Soc. yesterday on the 150th anniv. of the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln to see the exhibit "Lincoln & the Jews."  The entrance of the show is a large circular installation with a photo of Lincoln in the center surrounded by concentric circles of Jewish names with his closest friends in the inner sanctum - all 5 of them;  It is pointed out the census of Amer. Jews comprised only .5% of the population.  And, "Many Americans of that time did not know Jews personally, yet Lincoln did." This auspicious intro does not bode for a vast or close kinship between Lincoln and the Jews.  The galleries contain articles from news publications with strong anti-Semitic sentiments, (1860): "Wherever there is a chance for profitable trade, they {Jews} have insuated themselves." "These people {Jews} naturally cowardly are tempted by the immense profits which they realize on their merchandise"  Lincoln's "closest Jewish friend & political ally" was Abraham Jonas. Jonas' photo is captioned "Although Jonas was not an observant Jew, there was no mistaking his Jewish identity."  There is no mistaking that however well intentioned, this exhibit is a manifesto of anti-semitic attitudes in the 19thC.  The major Generals of the Union, McClellan & Grant (the future US Pres.) are documented for their discrimination & vitriolic attitudes to the Jews.  Grant's only regret was expressed in his letter worried his attitudes may hurt him during the pres. election.  It was annotated  3,000 Jews served in the Confederacy & 2,000 Jews served in the Union.  Jonas had sons fighting on both sides (brother v. brother.)  Lincoln abetted the escape of Jonas' son who as a Confederate prisoner. (This would be interesting to explore.)  The $2 Confederate currency has the only Jewish person to ever have appeared on US currency.  There are numerous jaw dropping treasures & relics from the Civil War and letters written by Pres. Lincoln's letters to be seen.  A horrific rendering of the execution of 5 deserters from the Union Army atop their coffins facing the firing squad allows Pres. Lincoln granted the Jewish prisoner the right to meet with a rabbi while the other 4 soldiers met with clergy.  LINCOLN & THE JEWS is an impactful historic exhibit that also felt like an assissination of the Jewish people during this epoch.  

Philanthropy Talks @92Y with Leonard Lauder & Chris Huges

Last night's talk at the 92nd Y was WHY WE GIVE: Philanthropists on the State of Philanthropy.  The facilitator for the panel was Darren Walker, Pres. of the Ford Fdtn. The panel consisted of Lulu Wang, CEO of Tupelo Captial Mgmt.. Leonard Lauder, chairman emeritus of the Lauder Cosmetics Co., and Chris Hughes, co-founder with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook.  The panel was comprised of very different social & ethnic backgrounds.  All shared the commitment to making an impact by sharing.  Memorable comments:  Mr. Hughes- Giving directly to individuals has been proven to improve their livelihood as supported by data.  GiveDirectly focuses on 2 countries in Africa.  An important follow-up question would be how do you prioritize needs outside the U.S. over domestic issues.  Mr. Lauder said his biggest mistake in giving is yet to be determined with regard to having relocated the Whitney to  the HighLine. He was not in favor of the decision but was financially supportive despite holding the minority view.  I was curious to know his reservations.  The biggest concern discussed by all three had to do with the financial inequality in our country.  Ms. Wang spoke in praise of capitalism but stressed  her concern for the rapidly growing disparity.  The most important topic of what measures are needed to mitigate this most pressing issue was sorely missed from the discussions.

MoMA's Contemporary Collection: Scenes for a New Heritage

The recently installed exhibition at the MoMA, Scenes for a New Heritage is a collection of works belonging to the MoMA that have been collected over the past 30 years.  The artists represented are from 30 different countries. This exhibit will on display through next March.  This show shares a similar exploration of patterns of migration and their causes with the Jacob Lawrence Migration Series. Scenes for a New Heritage is far broader in geographical expanse and mediums.  Still, there is the poignant emphasis on destruction, oppression, and displacement.  The clever use of text, paintings, sculpture and installations have piercing social & political content.  Amer. born artists Kara Walker & Mark Bradford are represented in the New Heritage exhibition.  Walker's silhouettes cover an entire wall as does Bradford's series of 14 etchings.  These works are that connect with the legacies associated with Lawrence's Migration Series.  The Contemporary Collection suspends a large fishing boat impaled with hundreds of arrows "Borrrowing Your Enemies Arrows" by Cai Guo-Qiang (b. China 1957.)  The subterfuge in combat is signified by unmanned ships used as decoys to lure the enemies' weapons to be used in retaliation.  Some of the artists represented in this show are from Croatia, Argentina, China & Japan. The artworks in Scenes for a New Heritage represents significant events &  developments with similar of histories of destruction & assimilation.          

ZUMBA class at Ailey easy to make fun of, not so easy but fun to do

Try poking your head into an Ailey Zumba class and see (mostly women) moving about to a hot latin beat.  It would look a little out there. Then, dare to try a class.  Be forewarned, bring water, your sneakers & don't underestimate how much & how fast you are going to move.  I don't think an hour of boot camp could be more exerting, well maybe, but not by much.  And, as far as enjoyment goes - Zumba would win the battle hands down.  Get up off your seat, try moving your feet to choreography with a Latin beat.  Then, see whose laughing.  You'll see plenty of smiles around the room.  The hot male dancing instructor is easy on the eyes.  Keep watching him, the choreography is constantly changing & you've got to keep moving.  Not so easy but so much more fun than expected.

Alma Thomas' Paintings are on View @ Rosenfeld Gallery in Chelsea

Alma Thomas' show entitled Moving Heaven & Earth is a collection of her paintings that do just that - moves you with the joy & splendor of nature.  Thomas' captures earth & sky with its colorful & vibrant essence.  This collection of works by Amer. painter Alma Thomas (1881-1978) should be seen at the art gallery in Chelsea.  Her use of vivid, colorful abstract brush strokes form loose geometric forms. Her iconic 1968 untitled ring of circle captures the oscillating beauty of an iris & arial view an arranged floral garden.  This body of work is a rainbow of color that dazzles and soothes.  A few paintings, as in Cumulus ('72) overlays a whitewash on colorful hues giving us the floating, subdued vision of slowly moving clouds.  The seasons and the soloar system are also represented in her illuminescent paintings.  Look for Jupiter Glow ('74) and Winter Pond (74).  Her fascination with the outdoors & our solar system is seen in her inventivet painting of the Appollo 12 Splashdown.  Here she uses her colorful strokes to depict the ocean, sky & blazing affect of the lunar capsule.  Her works are celestial with a gravitational pull.  My 2 favorites are Deep Red Roses Chant, ('72) and Scarlette Sage During a Whirling Dervish.  The later is a large scale painting of bold red brushstrokes that form twirling images.  Her robust colors & glowing images are gifts of nature not to be missed.    

Doc. of Photographer Salgado "The Salt of the Earth" Transports Us Everywhere on Earth

Brazilian born photographer Sebastiao Salgado's amazing work & life are brought to the big screen in a  dazzling, nat'l geographic fashion. His nomadic adventures take him from his home in Brazil to all regions of the world; Africa, Arctica, along the Amazon, and the Galapagos are but a few.  He captures powerful images of humanity in war torn countries, during political unrest and labor struggles.  The film   brings takes us on his journeys to areas & populations that are rarely seen.  Many images, particularily of the starving people of Ethiopia are painful to behold, but they will hold your eye and jolt your conscious.  Salgado established himself as a potent social photographer.  He's also acclaimed for his portraitures, landscapes and animal photos.  The film was co-directed by a colleague and his son.  The son, Sebastiao Jr., wanted to connect & understand his mostly absent father. Wisely, the son stays in the background allowing his father to narrate.  Salgado is a skillful & convincing storyteller.  He provides background information & personal reflections on the images he's captured.  He describes the missing elements of sound, movement and tactility his photographs lacked.  More importantly, he elucidates on the power of capturing an image for eternity and shaping a way of seeing and responding.  The camera is compared to a potent weapon and an instrument that draws lights & shadows.  The visions on screen are breathtaking & impassioned.  A photo "is nothing without composition" Salgado tells his son during filming.  I highly recommend seeing this extraordinary documentary.  

MoMA's One-Way Ticket: Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series-A Must See

There is so much to take in from this expansive exhibit that attempting a succinct overview is futile and would not do it justice. Suffice to say, this mulit-media show is a profound, insistent experience.  The 60 panels from Lawrence's entire Migration series made in 1941 are assembled.  These paintings would be significant standing on their own. The momentous historic storytelling and artistic genius provide a powerful & painful narrative of the poverty & persecution that drove a mass migration of rural, southern blacks to northern urban cities seeking refuge.  The desolate, sombre paintings depict a vivid exodus of the desperate millions seeking solace in the north only to find parallel conditions of racial segregation & oppression. The somber, dark colored palette of brown, black & green evoke a dire agricultural existence and a feeling of displacement in urban environments.  The lines of segregation and oppression are evident in both the north and south.  Lawrence's faceless, figurative paintings are flat with prominent linear shapes.  The strong compositions draw you in and keep you at a distance simultaneously. Blind subjects are a recurring image in many of his works.  The millions who pulled up and left were oblivious to the harshness that pervaded in the north.  The millions living in the cities chose to remain blind to the plight of the migrants except to exploit cheap labor.  Lady Justice is posed as blind which is blatant lie.  The timelyness of this multi-media exhibit comes at a tipping point in our nation. Other important artists, musicians, writers whose brilliance contributed to the artistic renaissance of this epoch are also included.  The black/white photos paints an irrefutable reminder of the times.  ONE-WAY TICKET requires multiple viewings and earnest contemplation.                  

The Hungarian Film WHITE GOD-Is God Awful

This Hungarian import by dir/screenwriter/actor Kornel Mundruczo is so malicious it was impossible to sit through until the end.  Despite the disclaimer at the start that no animal were hurt making the film,  heaven forbid this should not be the case it was too uncomfortable to watch.   Anyone who is an animal lover will find this film offensive.  The animal cruelty depicted and cold heartedness of the film is utterly dismal.  The only semblence of humanity comes from the young heroine, Lili, who cares deeply for her dog Hagen.  Lili is being left with in her father's care while her mother (the couple are split) will be traveling for 3 months. Her austere father shows little compassion for his daughter & even none for her "mutt."  He abandons Hagen on the side of the road despite Lili's tearful pleas.  Left to fend for himself, the movie follows the harrowing, harsh treatment Hagen receives from various vile neanderthals. The gentle, loving Hagen is coerced into becoming a vicious, fight to the death dog for betting purposes.  Michael Vick served time in prison for this abhorrent practice.  Sitting through this movie was too  grueling and I left (along with several others) before the movie ended.  For God's sake - don't go see this painful picture.  Instead, get yourself a hagen daz.  

The Film "When We Were Young" Grows Old Quickly

Dir./writer Noah Baumbach's (The Squid & the Whale '05) film had a lot going for it at the start but then starts to gnaw on you.  Naomi Watts and Ben Stiller play a childless couple in their 40's who find themselves at a crossroads with their lives, their careers (doc. filmmakers) and their choices.  Neither feel fulfilled and both feel themselves getting older; regretting their fading youth and ambitions.  There are clever observations on the generational divide: loss of spontaneity, freedom, fashion, music  and drive.  Added to the widening barrier divide from the younger generation is their alienation from friends  now embracing parenthood.  Along comes a young couple played by Adam Driver (TV: Girls & film: This is Where I Leave You) & Amanda Seyfriend (Chloe opposite Julianne Moore) who ingratiate themselves into their lives.  Driver & Seyfriend spark a rejuvenation & excitement into their staid lifestyle. Charles Grodin plays Watt's father, a highly regarded doc. filmmaker.  Grodin is an old pro who adds a lot of heart to the film.  In fact, the ensemble cast are excellent except for Stiller.  Stiller is slow to realize he's being manipulated and his character turns annoying.  Stiller can phone in the role of a whiney, self-absorbed schlub.  Watts bemoans the loss of new love.  I wonder when Stiller is going to outgrow his wearisome personna on film.  Whatever charms the movie held grow tarnished by the end.  

ON KAWARA: Silence-Not Much Worth Viewing

On Kawara (b. Japan 1932-2014) is a conceptual artist whose art seems more symptomatic of a compulsive disorder than an insightful concept.  Identified with his Today paintings of dates: month, day & year on that date.  These "Today" paintings are in various sizes; the dates are all in white on monochromatic backgrounds of black, blue & red. Many artists inspire me to think "why didn't I think of that?"  With Kawara's "art" I think why did Kawara become so obsessed with painting dates, sending postcards & organizing lists.  Knowing that stencils were not used to make his paintings only makes me think how much time & effort went into something which is so effortlessly obtained.  I borrowed the headset to gain some insight into the art or artist.  An enraptured voice informed me that the paintings present "a euphoric meditation."  That's not what I'm saying.  I'm saying that for all his painstaking work, I shrugged my shoulders and discerned neither calm or joy.  Perhaps, his most poignant work references the Viet Nam War.  Three simple word paintings do hold a significant protest for a time that should not be forgotten.  Otherwise, the short time I spent there was not worth my time:  Apr. 6, 2015.