Category: Art

Manhattan Museums: Art & More

JWF Leave a comment

Whitney Museum of American Art

An every two year occurrence, the Whitney Biennial is designed to showcase trends in art and both emerging and established artists working in a variety of genres.  Many of the artists in this year’s biennial are under 40 and their work gets at social, political and racial issues in both understated and more direct ways.  I went expecting to find most of it too strange or ugly or outrageous for my taste, and some of it was not aesthetically pleasing—at least not to me. But when I looked over the photos I took, I found that there were more pieces I liked than I thought. What follows is a sampling of some of what we saw. 

“Bananas” 2018 by Lucas Blalock
“Incoming,” 2016-17 by Keegan Monaghan
“Stick,” 2019 by Simone Leigh
Detail, “A Lesson in Longing,” 2019 by Jennifer Packer

Society of Illustrators/Museum of Illustration

The Chief Penguin and I like to explore small museums and historic homes.  The Museum of Illustration, home to the Society of Illustrators, is just such a place, a gem of colorful artwork that transitioned from being a private club to a tiny museum with a most attractive bar and café on its upper floor.   Located on E. 65 Street, it sponsors changing exhibits, invited talks and workshops, and an annual student competition along with displaying works from its permanent collection.  

“Virgin Planet” by Ed Emshwiller, 1957

The special exhibit was “Masters of the Fantastic,” an array of sci fi and fantasy illustrations, along with a short film about the making of the 1950’s horror film, “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” The range of artistic styles was impressive and I enjoyed it more than I expected.  Definitely a museum to re-visit with the perfect spot for a simple lunch!

“A World of Her Own” by Michael Whelan

Roosevelt House

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt lived in a house on E. 65 Street. Today that house, which FDR’s mother bought for them (she lived in the other half), belongs to Hunter College and is home to a public policy institute.  But the house is also open to the public for free.  Here, you can read about Eleanor’s connections to the college and her involvement with its students.  Also on display is a set of personal letters Franklin wrote to his cousin Daisy Suckley.  They enjoyed a warm friendship, and she frequently visited him in Warm Springs, Georgia.  There are also public lectures such as an upcoming one by Brenda Wineapple about the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Note: Photos by JWFarrington. Header photo is of a work by Japanese fantasy artist, Kuniko Craft.

Manhattan: The Jewish Museum

JWF 1 Comment

COHEN AND THE JEWISH MUSEUM

The unseasonably cold weather and days of rain have kept us inside and a bit lazy.  More time for reading and the occasional museum.  Last week we paid a visit to the Jewish Museum especially for the Leonard Cohen exhibit,  “A Crack in Everything,” which an acquaintance recommended. 

If you’re my generation, then mention of Cohen’s name immediately brings to mind his song, “Suzanne,” which was popular in my college years.  Cohen died in 2016, and the exhibit, a collection of videos, recordings, and film clips, is both a memorial and a testament to his work.  Individuals have collected his music and writings in tributes, and in a room of beanbags with bands of color cycling on the walls, you can flop down and listen to more than twenty of his songs.  I had not appreciated how wide ranging and extensive Cohen’s oeuvre was and was impressed with what was on display.

While there we also wandered into the permanent collection where there are both traditional self-portraits as well as more jarring contemporary works.

[Untitled] by William Anastasi

One example is the rainbow flag of gay pride with a Star of David embedded in it by Ross Bleckner; another is William Anastasi’s “jew” off center on a white canvas; and yet another is “Venus Pareve,” a colorful series of small sculpture.

“Venus Pareve” by Hannah Wilke, 1982-84

I also liked Louis Ribak’s “Self Portrait” from 1924.

DINING FIND

Sel et Poivre

This Upper East Side eatery has the feel of a comfortable shoe and seems to appeal to a neighborhood crowd.  We were early for our reservation and it was already nearly full of diners.  Wait staff are all male of a certain age (not young) and the greeting was pleasantly brisk.  The 3-course prix fixe menu was reasonable at $34.95 with a nice selection of choices.  The Chief Penguin ordered the green bean salad to start (best he’d ever had!) and then the steak frites.  I tried the mesclun salad with a mustard vinaigrette (tangy in a good way) and the roasted chicken with mashed potatoes.  Both entrees were very good and the desserts, profiteroles and raspberry sorbet, also.  We liked the overall ambience and will definitely go back.

Note: All photos by JWFarrington. Header photo is “Self-Portrait” by Anna Walinska (1928).

Manhattan Musing: Campy

JWF Leave a comment

Camp: Notes on Fashion

This year’s Fashion Institute exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is all about camp from the early days of dandyish gay men to its adoption by women in outlandish and outrageous gowns and shoes.

There’s low camp and high camp and camp that is somewhat subtle and that that is deliberate. This exhibit, with its rosy pink halls and its black gallery with mannequins in colorful light boxes, is exuberant, fun, and even silly. Everyone should find something to enjoy including in the background a recording of Judy Garland singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”

One man, a staff member perhaps, dressed in sweater and shoes to match the walls.

Is she dressed to emulate the lampshade? Probably.
Style a la Warhol




Genderless fashion
Enough said

One example of the light boxes
A particularly beautiful gown



Manhattan Nibbles: Art & Food

JWF Leave a comment

Snippets of Art

MoMA will be closing in June for about 4 months for a slight re-do.  We opted to take advantage of our membership and walked the 20+ blocks from our apartment. Since we like their café on level 2, we had an early lunch of paninis—an Italian one and the chicken with cheese one. 

Opus 217…Portrait of M. Felix Feneon in 1890 by Paul Signac

With little in the way of special exhibits, we headed to the 5th floor for a tour around some of the permanent collection.  New since our last time were some gifts from David Rockefeller’s estate including a whimsical, punchy one by Signac that caught my eye.  

Portuguese Market by Delaunay-Terk

I was also taken with one by Sonia Delaunay-Terk as well as The Olive Trees by Van Gogh.  

The Olive Trees

Also here are his Starry Night, some bathers by Matisse, and a gallery showing off Monet’s water lily panels.  It’s a veritable treasure trove!

Felice 64 Wine Bar and Restaurant

On First Avenue, this restaurant is small and a bit cramped in feel, but obviously popular as it quickly filled up.  The roasted tomatoes (instead of the usual sliced ones) with fresh mozzarella and basil were luscious, and the pasta dishes very satisfying.  The Chief Penguin tucked into gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce and walnuts (one of his most favorite dishes) while I indulged in an order of pappardelle in a beef chunk ragu.  Thus sated, we appreciated the tiny plate of complimentary biscotti and cookies to finish.  There are a number of wines by the glass including some special pricier ones.

Note: All photos by JWFarrington. Header photo taken in Rockefeller Center.