Weekend Guide: Princeton Art Museum

So, I know it's only Monday, but anyone who doesn't start their week looking forward to the next weekend obviously doesn't find much enjoyment in going to brunch with your favorite lush, getting more than a bit tipsy on unlimited Mimosas and then spending the rest of your collective afternoon watching the Real Housewives of New York marathon on Bravo. I mean, really. Who doesn't live for a weekend like that?

But, I digress....

For all you City weary New Yorkers who want to take a day trip out of the hustle and bustle (and the unlimited mimosa brunch culture) and see some FREE Masterpieces (i.e. actually get some culture), I recommend taking the NJ transit and heading to the Princeton University Art Museum located in Princeton, New Jersey (Yes, yes. I know I just mentioned heading to Jersey, but its not that bad. This isn't the place where Tony buries the bodies. It's too posh for that.).

The campus itself is gorgeous and full of Gothic architecture. Walking around this campus makes one feel quite regal among its grandeur (well until you see the freshmen sauntering around in their jimjams). Then you come across what would be considered a benign building if it didn't have a bunch of headless walking sculptures in front of it, the Princeton University Art Museum. Once inside there is a variety of art, from European to Contemporary to Asian and even some beautiful mosaics. For a University art museum it is quite encompassing. Plus, its art for FREE!

Can't make it to the Museum? View the Princeton University Art Museum eMuseum online here.

WEEKEND GUIDE: Fountain Art Fair!

This weekend by the NYC Hudson River Piers is the annual Armory Show: International Fair of New Art. This art extravaganza showcases the best in contemporary art from all over the world. Of course, to view this high end art there comes a price. A single day ticket is $30 ($10 for students, how I wish I still were one) and a 4 day pass is $60! That's a pretty hefty price.

However, for those of you who still want to get their "art" on, but Cheap Chic style, check out The Fountain Art Fair. This fair "is a guerrilla-style art event – under the radar, independent and highly influential – where young, Brooklyn-based galleries showcase fresh work without official booth spaces or selection committee juries. Launched in New York March 2006, Fountain is designed to create leverage and support for independent galleries overlooked by the larger, corporate-sponsored art fairs." It sounds exactly like the sort of event a rabble-rouser like me would enjoy (that is if I am not overrun by Hipsters! Eek!). Best of all an ALL WEEKEND PASS is only a $5 suggested donation!

Also tonight you can party to your heart's content and meet the artists from 7pm-11pm. MC Chris will be performing at 11pm.

Fountain NY 2009
Pier 66 at 26th St in Hudson River Park NY, NY 10011
Telephone: 917.650.3760
Dates: March 5-8; 11am–7pm
Reception for public to meet the artists: Friday, March 6; 7pm–midnight
Cost: Suggested donation of $5 at the door for all weekend access

Art and the Sex Doll

Last year, I fell in love with an endearing movie about a man who had a relationship with...well...a sex doll. While, the film, Lars and the Real Girl, was one of fiction, I always wondered if there was someone in this world who fashioned their life in a such a way. Well, guess what? There is.

Now exhibiting at the hpgrp gallery in NYC is a new photography series by Becky Yee entitled More Than a Woman. This somewhat voyeuristic exhibition invites the viewer into the life of a technically single (albeit "married in his mind") computer engineer who lives outside of Tokyo with his harem of Dutch wives (e.g. sex dolls). The photographs invoke questions about society's conceptions on intimacy, loyalty and relationships.

Is is possible for an inanimate object to be loyal?
Does one need a human connection to form intimacy?
Are relationships about real interactions between people
or can they exist solely in one's own mind?

"My ladies are always there for me," he said. "They never talk back, they are completely loyal, and if I get bored, I can just change the head." (Being the NYC dating scene, this doesn't sound half bad to me!)

More Than a Woman-FREE at the hpgrp gallery through March 15, 2009.

hpgrp gallery

32-36 little west 12th street, 2nd floor, new york ny 10014

(between washington st. & ninth av.)

tel. 212.727-2491 / fax 212.727-7030

Subway:	A, C, E, L 14th street
Bus:	M14 (9th ave. at 14th street) M20 (8th ave. abington street) M11 (bethune / hudson street)

hours: Tue-Sat 11am - 6pm / Sun 12pm - 6pm

Art, Love and Tourists....

One of the City's most romantic institutions will probably be packed to the gills this weekend, not only because of the tourists, but because of VD. However, if you want to woo your lover (15th century style) then take them to the Met for the last weekend of the exhibition entitled:

Art and Love in Renaissance Italy

Click on this link for more information on visiting the Museum.

SUNDAY GUIDE: The Frick Collection

This is the place to see and be seen on Sunday midday. The Uppercrust of the Upper East Side loves a deal, especially on some of the best European Art in the World. And you can take part in this deal as well, with PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH Sundays at The Frick Collection from 11AM-1PM, Every Sunday.

This stately mansion, built exclusively for Henry Clay Frick, is a true testament to the Gilded Age and all of its grandeur. If you would like, I would suggest dressing for the occasion as wandering through the galleries makes one feel quite stately and lends to the splendor of your visit. And don't forget your FREE Artphone that explains many of the paintings, sculptures and rooms of the mansion.

And for those of you looking for a great Valentine's Weekend activity, this is the romantic of all the Museums in NYC. It is also located right across the street from Central Park, so afterwards why not go on an afternoon stroll or a picnic with your sweetheart. I guarentee you, you will be in the mood for love.

For more information please visit http://www.frick.org/.

(Note: There are only two American artists featured in the whole Frick Collection. The first is Gilbert Stewart, whose portrait of George Washington was most likely acquired for patriotic reasons. However, it seemed as if Mr. Frick thought Whistler was esteemed enough to hang with the Old Masters and bought many of his works).

Update: Taschen Warehouse Sale

I gallivanted down to the store this morning, right around 11am in fact, just so I could make sure I would get the best browsing selection.

There were about five table tops filled with a mixture of books. From The Big Book of Breasts to The Book of Plants- The Complete Plates to History of Men's Magazines, Vol. 5 to Michelangelo, Complete Work, there was an interesting (and somewhat erotically focused- lots of photography books of naked women and sexual exploits) selection. The prices ranged from 99c to $99. Most books ranged around the $7.49 to $29. There was this beautiful tome on Da Vinci, but it weighed in at 25lbs and I believe it would break my coffee table (well, if I actually had one).

Anyway, it wasn't as fabulous as I expected, but it's worth a look if only to see people's reactions when they catch you browsing through a book full of muffs and puffs (and then slyly reach for said book when you are finished, buy it with downcast eyes and then scurry out the store).

Taschen Warehouse Sale!

Okay, so usually I don't like to share when it comes to my absolute favorite art book publisher, but I thought it was only fair to give everyone the heads up (if only for karmic reasons) about the Taschen Warehouse Sale going on this weekend in NYC.

TASCHEN Store New York

107 Greene Street, NY 10012

Tel: +1-212-226 2212Fax: +1-212-226 2218

store-ny@taschen.com

January 23 - 25, 2009

Friday, Saturday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sunday 12:00 to 8:00 pm

Obama's Free Art Gallery

Starting Inauguration Day a new exhibition opened up at Danziger Projects* all about.....(did you guess yet?)...everyone's FAV, Just-became-pres, Bam Man, Barack Obama.

So go support the NYC art scene and a soon to be "back to reality" presidency.

Can & Did

GRAPHICS, ART, AND PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN

JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 28, 2009

Danziger Projects

521 West 26th St.
New York, NY 10001

Phone: 212-629-6778

*Special Thanks to Lexis for the heads up!