In the Museums: Fall 2010 in New York

Clockwise from top left: Tomaselli at the Brooklyn Museum; Abstract Expressionism at MoMA; Cuba Revolution-era photography at ICP; Richter at the Drawing Center; Baldessari at the Met; and the internet-ready Free at the New Museum.

This fall is a great time to be in New York. The always interesting Teri Tynes over at Walking Off the Big Apple has compiled a select (but extensive) list of New York museum shows this fall. There’s a lot to see and do and here are some we’re really looking forward to:

• Abstract Expressionist New York at MoMA (Oct 3, 2010 – Apr 25, 2011) — This exhibition may very well redefine our concept of one of the most important art movements of last century. It also promises to highlight some previously overlooked figures that deserve more attention, including a personal favorite of mine, photographer Aaron Siskind.
• Fred Tomaselli at the Brooklyn Museum (Oct 8, 2010 – Jan 2, 2011) — Trippy, vivid, and inspiring are three words I’d use to describe the art of Tomaselli. Mark this one on your calendars. Now let’s hope the Brooklyn Museum’s consistently bad exhibition design (think the Egyptian galleries) doesn’t ruin this thing.
• Free at the New Museum (Oct 23, 2010 – Jan 23, 2011) — If you’re interested in new media and the internet, then this show is a must-see. The press release promises an exhibition that “makes a case for a newly formed public art that responds to a vastly more connected society whose true openness is still being negotiated.”
• Gerhard Richter at the Drawing Center (Sept 11 – Nov 18, 2010) — A consistently interesting draftsman, Richter on paper always worth a look.
• John Baldessari at the Metropolitan Museum (Oct 20, 2010 – Jan 9, 2011) — I may not be the biggest Baldessari fan, but you can’t argue with his influential body of work that has come to define left coast art. The show was jointly organized by LACMA and the Tate, but will Baldessari melt the hearts of New York art audiences? Not sure, but there’s a good chance.
• Cuba in Revolution at the International Center of Photography (Sept 24, 2010 – Jan 9, 2011) — Photography does historic moments better than any other medium and the ICP has picked a still controversial moment in 20th Century history that continues to live on in the public imagination. With over 30 photographers, this show will probably be one of the best photo shows of the season. Included in the mix are rare vintage prints are “Alberto Korda’s famous portrait of Che Guevara titled ‘Heroic Guerrilla’ and never-before-seen images of Che’s death in Bolivia in 1967.” Photography doesn’t get more art school sexy than this.
• The Global Africa Project at the Museum of Art and Design (Nov 17, 2010 – May 15, 2011) — This exhibition offers us a lofty promise, to explore “the Impact of African Visual Culture on Contemporary Art, Craft, and Design around the World” and to accomplish this they have included some big art names (Yinka Shonibare, Kehinde Wiley … ) and lesser knowns that may not be familiar to art world peeps. Even if the curatorial premise doesn’t work perfectly, there’s sure to be some interesting objects on display.

As an aside: for those in Philadelphia, our blog buddy The Art Blog has created a fantastic Google map of their must-see shows that is great resource for Philly residents or those simply visiting — great job Libby & Roberta!