Want to find things to do in New York City? We've gathered five events that might be of interest. All have an art or culture twist. Read on to discover this week's picks.
1. Artist Talk: Art as Agent for Social Change
Artists Dread Scott and Tania Bruguera engage in conversation in "Political Art is Uncomfortable Knowledge" on Thursday, December 10, at 7 p.m. at the Brooklyn Museum. Both artists use their art as a tool for social change Their discussion focuses on the political issues addressed in their art as well as strategies both employ to demonization of immigrants, institutionalized oppression, and police brutality. The talk coincides with the opening of the exhibition “Agitprop!” and will discuss the historical precedents of agitprop as well as the urgent issues facing society today. The talk is hosted by The Brooklyn Museum’s Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.
Free with museum admission. The event will also be available on Livestream. The conversation takes place in the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium on the third floor of the museum, located at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY 11238. www.brooklynmuseum.org.
Click here for event details.
2. Chamber Music Combining Piano and Spoken Word
Israeli pianist Daniel Gortler performs a chamber music concert combining piano with the sung and spoken word on Thursday, December 10, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Jewish Museum's Scheuer Auditorium. Soprano Lauren Flanigan and Baritone David Adam Moore both perform. The program features Brahms's Die schöne Magelone along with other 19th- and 20th- century classics dedicated to the word.
Tickets are $24; $18 for students and seniors; $14 for members. The Jewish Museum is located at 1109 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10128. www.thejewishmuseum.org.
Click here for event details.
3. A Retro-Modern Nutcracker at BAM
Mark Morris Dance Group presents "The Hard Nut," a retro-modern re-imagining of The Nutcracker at The Brooklyn Academy of Music this weekend. Performances will be held on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. with shows continuing through December 20. "The Hard Nut" combines E.T.A Hoffmann's original story with the comic book art of Charles Burns. The modern dance work features Morris's lyrical modern dance choreography with a story that transports the classical ballet from history to an unusual 1970s featuring dancing G.I. Joes, raucous parties and more.
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The Mark Morris Dance Group in "The Hard Nut." Photo by Stephanie Berger.
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The 53-piece Mark Morris Dance Group Music Ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's complete original score, conducted by Colin Fowler. Set design is by Adrianne Lobel, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting design by James F. Ingalls.
Tickets are $25 to $125. Performances takes place in BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House in the Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11217.
Click here for event details.
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The Mark Morris Dance Group in "The Hard Nut." Photo by Stephanie Berger.
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4. MoMA Film Festival: "Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You"
This weekend cinephiles can see several independent films—including works by visual artists—as part of the Museum of Modern Art’s 10th “Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You” festival. Running from Friday through Monday, most screenings include Q&As with the filmmakers immediately following the film. The festival is presented by MoMA’s Department of Film, Filmmaker magazine, and the Independent Filmmaker Project.
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"Bloomin Mud Shuffle." 2015. USA. Directed by Frank V. Ross. Courtesy the filmmaker.
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This year’s films are Bloomin Mud Shuffle, directed by Frank V. Ross; Bob and the Trees, directed by Diego Ongaro; H., directed by Daniel Garcia and Rania Attieh; In Transit, directed by Albert Maysles, Lynn True, Nelson Walker, Ben Wu, and David Usui; and Uncertain, directed by Ewan McNicol and Anna Sandilands.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students. Screenings take place at MoMA's The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters, 11 West 53 Street, New York NY 10019. www.moma.org.
Click here for event details, including screening times.
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" H." 2015. USA/Argentina. Directed by Rania Attieh and Daniel Garcia. Courtesy the filmmakers.
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5. Sesame Street Cast Reunites For Panel & Book Signings
"The Humans of Sesame Place" presents an afternoon featuring the Sesame Street's long-time cast on Sunday, December 13, at 1 p.m. Gathering to discuss their memories from the television program are McGrath (Bob), Sonia Manzano (Maria), Emilio Delgado (Luis), Roscoe Orman (Gordon), Alan Muraoka (Alan), and Alison Bartlett (Gina). The afternoon will also feature music and video clips and a discussion moderated by Craig Shemin, President of the Jim Henson Legacy.
Afterwards, Sonia Manzano will sign copies of her memoir, Becoming Maria, and Bob McGrath will sign his newest CD, Bob's Favorite Sing Along Songs.
"The Humans of Sesame Place" is part of a programming series exploring the work of Jim Henson and foreshadows an upcoming permanent exhibition on Henson and his art, planned for 2016. The exhibition will feature more than 500 objects donated by Henson's family, including character sketches, storyboards, scripts, historic puppets, costumes and production design material used in his television shows and feature films.
Event tickets are $15 and $9 for members. The Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35 Avenue, Astoria NY 11106. www.movingimage.us.
Click here for event details.
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From left: Bob McGrath, Sonia Manzano, Roscoe Orman, Alan Muraoka, Emilio Delgado, and Alison Bartlett—the "Human of Sesame Street"—will appear in person at Museum of the Moving Image on December 13, 2015. Image courtesy of Museum of the Moving Image.
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5 Things To Do event columns for New York City and The Hamptons / East End of Long Island are published weekly by Hamptons Art Hub.
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