Art Rx
This week, go see performance in Bushwick, help the homeless of Greenpoint, learn about a new wave of feminist art, check out video art from Berlin, listen to Rhizome's major tech art meeting of the minds and explore the remains of a secret performance … and that's not all.

This week, we’re making a house call. Yes, it’s THAT serious. First, sit down, second, breathe, now third, go see performance in Bushwick, help the homeless of Greenpoint, learn about a new wave of feminist art, check out video art from Berlin, listen to Rhizome’s major tech art meeting of the minds and explore the remains of a secret performance … and that’s not all.
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Cubans of the North
When: Opening Thursday, April 12, 6–8pm
Where: Chashama 655 (
655 Third Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan)
The Cuban Arts Fund is mounting this group show of works by artists of Cuban ancestry (Aravade, César Alfonso, Jesús Rivera, Augustin Rolando Rojas, Raúl Villarreal) who are based in the US and Canada. I’m fascinated by diasporas of all kinds (African, Jewish, Armenian, Kurdish, Chinese, Korean, South Asian … ) so I’m curious to see how nostalgia for Cuba coupled with the island’s Communist ideology plays through the work of those reacting from the outside.
Audrey Flack: Sculpture, 1989–2012
When: Opening Thursday, April 12
Where: Gary Snyder Gallery (529 West 20th Street, 10th Floor, Chelsea, Manhattan)
Biostallations and Active Theaters of War
When: Friday, April 13, 7pm–1am
Where: 319 Scholes (319 Scholes, Bushwick, Brooklyn)
“The object is over, dead, finished. The virtual is soon to follow.” — The press release for SexFoodDeath reads like part esoteric MFA thesis essay, part neo-anarchist manifesto. Either way, this should be a compelling event, 319 Scholes has had a string of successful shows in the past few months so I would recommend checking out this one-night only panel discussion/visual art exhibition. Did I mention I’m in it? —DE
Eat for the Hungry of North Brooklyn
When: Friday, April 13, 8pm
Where: Greenpoint Church (136 Milton Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
Each week, the Greenpoint Reformed Church Hunger Program provides no-cost groceries and a weekly hot meal to hungry people in Northern Brooklyn. It takes $6,000 per week to feed all these people. Much of the money comes from government food programs, but $1,500 more per week is needed for additional food, plus utilities, building maintenance, volunteer coordination and overall administration. This is how you can help … attend a dinner hosted by Greenpointers.com & Yummy Eats this Friday (cost $40 for a great Cajun feast) and proceeds benefit the Greenpoint Soup Kitchen. Talk about a win win.
Bad Girls in Bushwick
When: Opening Saturday, April 14, 6–9pm
Where: Interstate Projects (56 Bogart Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn)
This show is a response to a 1994 exhibition by the founder and director of the New Museum, Marcia Tucker, entitled Bad Girlsthat included works by more than 60 artists who were grappling with the continuing evolution of feminist ideals. I often dislike shows that revisit historic shows (it often turns out gimmicky) but since Interstate is such a great gallery, I trust that they’ll do things a little differently. Organized by Jamie Sterns, the show features the art of Gina Beavers, Rachel de Joode, Dora + Maja, Jamie Felton, Rebecca Gilbert, Denise Kupferschmidt, Narcissister and Amy Yao.
Pillows in the Sky
When: Saturday April 14, 6p–8p
Where: Tanya Bonakdar Gallery (521 West 21st Street, Chelsea, Manhattan)
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery will be opening a new exhibition featuring work by Ernesto Neto. Known for his soft, hanging sculptures, Neto is a Brazilian artist that often creates extremely compelling experiential environments with his work. —DE
New Video Art from Berlin
When: Saturday, April 14, 5, 6:30 and 8pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Wyoming Building (5 East 3rd Street, East Village, Manhattan)
The Goethe-Institut New York is presenting a screening of young Berlin-based video artists. The list is long and I’m sure there will be some standouts in the bunch, so why not see for yourself. The featured artists are Nike Arnold, Cyclixe, Stefan Ewald, Mikko Gaestel, Niklas Goldbach, Constantin Hartenstein, Rasso Hilber, Sylbee Kim, Lilli Kuschel, Lilli & Lola, Rebecca Loyche, Francisco Montoya, Iris Musolf, Andrew Stoyanoff, David Schmitt, Lior Schamriz, Christoph Schlingensief, Heiko Tubbesing, Clemens Wilhelm, Richard Wilhelmer and Elizabeth Wurst. Yup, that’s a mouthful.
Rhizome Seven on Seven Conference
When: Saturday, April 14, 12pm–9pm
Where: New Museum (235 Bowery, Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Seven artists and seven technologists will be paired on Friday into seven teams of two, and challenged to come up with something new on the spot — let’s hope it’s better than Instagram. Each pair will then offer what they cooked up in a day’s time at a conference held this Saturday, April 14, starting at 12pm with an afterparty in the museum’s Sky Room from 6pm until 9pm. The list of participants is impressive. —RC
The Remains of a Secret Performance
When: Saturday, April 14, 12–10 pm, Sunday, April 15, 12–7pm
Where: 121 Essex Street (121 Essex Street, Second Floor, Lower East Side, Manhattan)
I really don’t know what this is but anything with AA Bronson’s name on it means that I’m ALL.OVER.IT. The man is an art god among mortals. The Facebook invite says that you are “invited to view the remains of a secret performance by Ryan Brewer, AA Bronson and Elijah Burgher.” Yes, I know … WTF … but then it gets better. “Inspired by faerie circles, tea parties, group therapy, ceremonial magic, quilting bees, séances, circle jerks and other spiritual, psychological and social forms, the three artists create a painting, invoke a community, and construct a conversation around suicide, sexuality, ritual, healing and art.” Ok, you got me at circle jerk.
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With listings by Robert Cicetti and Don Edler.
Top image via