Cultural Calendar
NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, The New Museum, opens February 13
Focusing on all of the art created in 1993, this exhibit covers all five of the New Museum’s floors. Using the cultural and political world of the 90s as a backdrop, the exhibit reconstructs some artwork, and comments on other artwork of the time. The exhibit is accompanied by an installation at Studio 231, originally installed in a Harlem warehouse in 1993, and composed of 310 abandoned strollers accompanied with musical recordings and flattened fire hydrants. The subtitle of the exhibit is taken from an album by Sonic Youth from that same year, an album which connects underground and mainstream cultures, much like the visual art of the time. The viewer of the exhibit is given a chance to explore a single year in depth from an artistic perspective.
The Andy Statman Trio, Live at the Charles Street Synagogue, February 14
The best kept musical secret in New York City, in my opinion, takes place in a shul basement in the West Village, where amps compete for space with outdated alef bais books, and whiskey is passed around whenever there’s any left from the previous week’s Kiddush. Here in this dimly lit space Andy Statman, an Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn, one of the world’s finest mandolin players, and a 2012 National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, plays an eclectic, red hot mix of bluegrass and klezmer, backed by a drummer and bassist who give him the pocket he needs to burn. Watch him, and find yourself set alight as well. The shows and alcohol are free, but there is a requested donation. It’s earned.
Gojira and Devin Townshend, Live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, February 18
If you like guitars, and you like them loud, then boy does Brooklyn have a treat for you. French prog metallers Gojira are coming off their new, fiercely triumphant record L'Enfant Sauvage, an eleven song barrage of breakneck drums, subzero bass, and guitars that rage and charge like starved barbarians. Less seriously, but just as heavily, Devin Townshend brings his joyous, nearly cartoonish disco-folk-hard rock-metal genre salad back to town, this time touring on his 5th(!) album in 3 years, Epicloud. Bring your friends, bring earplugs.
Hit the Wall, Barrow Street Theatre, opens February 19
It’s summer 1969, and you’re gay. You’re hanging out at The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, when suddenly, the police storm the place, starting a riot. The Stonewall Riots ensue. In Hit the Wall, re-live the fear, passion, and anger of the riots that took place over the course of a few days. Ike Holter’s play uses a contemporary lens to look back on the few days of turmoil, rioting, and demonstration. We have high expectations for this play, from the theater which recently hosted Tribes. This new play with a historical twist looks to be potentially as heart wrenching and emotional.
You & Me, High Line Park, through February 28
Brave the cold weather and head to the High Line Park, an old train track above the West Side that has now been converted into a park. You & Me, a piece by Allen Ruppersberg, is now showing on the 25’ x 75’ High Line Billboard. The piece is a collection of bright, colorful posters that play with the words “you” and “me” in different ways. The bright linguistic manipulations are sure to add color to a winter walk overlooking the Hudson. The billboard is located at West 18th and 10th Avenue.
