ArtRx NYC
We advise you to close out summer the best way New York knows how: with film screenings.
It’s (gasp) the last week of August. So we advise you to close out summer the best way New York knows how: with film screenings. Among the offerings, there’s Fame, if you’re looking for a classic; Jonas Mekas’s daily, diaristic videos, if high art is more your speed; and a selection of mid-20th-century cartoons, if you’re seeking hidden gems.
Mainstream ’80s
When: Tuesday, August 25, 6:30–10:30pm
Where: Between Sheep Meadow and Terrace Drive (Central Park, Manhattan)
In honor of the Central Park Conservancy’s 35th anniversary, the organization is showing movies all summer that are 35 years old — which means the ’80s. And it’s difficult to beat a story about artsy teenagers wanting to be famous in NYC. Head to the park on Tuesday for this legendary American musical directed by Alan Parker. Bonus: those outfits, that choreography and catchy music, and all the high school drama. Bring a blanket. —Carolina Drake
Indie ’80s
When: Wednesday, August 26, 9:30pm ($14)
Where: BAM (30 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene, Brooklyn)
As part of its Indie80s series, BAM is screening Alphabet City (1984), a lurid exploitation film set in the eponymous East Village neighborhood. Admittedly, I haven’t seen the movie, but just look at the trailer: that white pontiac, the synthpop soundtrack, breakdancers, and neon-streaked streets. The film, which Roger Ebert described as “one of the silliest films” of 1984, has a paltry 4.7 stars (out of 10) on IMDB. A fair assessment or an underappreciated ’80s artifact? You decide. —Tiernan Morgan
An Andrei Tarkovsky Documentary
When: Friday, August 28, 7pm ($10/free for members)
Where: Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle, Manhattan)
MAD continues to celebrate the legacy of Andrei Tarkovsky with the screening of this documentary, Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Directed by Michal Leszczylowski, the film follows the process of Tarkovsky making his final movie, The Sacrifice (Offret), and features interviews with him, anecdotes from his widow, and behind-the-scenes footage. Tarkovsky worked under censorship in Soviet Russia, but his influence extended well beyond the state. Don’t miss a chance to see how he did it. —Cihan Küçük
365 Days with Jonas Mekas
When: Friday, August 28, 7pm ($6)
Where: Microscope Gallery (1329 Willoughby Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn)
Ever the pioneer, Jonas Mekas was making short videos of his daily life long before Tumblr was dubbed an “$800 million art project.” The filmmaker’s quotidian clips range from 30 seconds to 30 minutes and feature snippets of his life at home in Brooklyn; travels abroad to Paris, Japan, and beyond; and conversations and collaborations with fellow artists and friends. You can come and go as you please during this three-hour screening of the month of August, but don’t miss Mekas himself in attendance, or pizza served halfway through.
Cemetery Placemaking
When: Saturday, August 29, 2:30–4pm
Where: Sextantworks (#20A Nolan Park, Governors Island)
Cemeteries are becoming increasingly popular places to hold events, but how do you do so in a way that’s respectful of the dead? This discussion will explore the opportunities, challenges, and possibilities of placemaking in places of death, with historic preservationist Chelsea J. Dowell, former Woodlawn Cemetery Director of Programs Cristiana Peña, and Allison Meier — who, in addition to being a staff writer here at Hyperallergic (where she’s written quite a bit about cemeteries), is a cemetery tour connoisseur.
Open Printmaking
When: Saturday, August 29, 10am–1pm
Where: The Base (1302 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn)
Anarchist center The Base will host a printmaking session this weekend, where attendees can make street art, patches, stickers and more. Cutting tools, ink, coffee, and music to keep people going will be supplied, but they suggest you bring your own materials to make more personal work. The Base prioritizes creativity and collaboration, so their weekly printmaking session is a perfect way to develop not just your print skills but also your world perspective. —CK
Cartoon Carnival
When: Saturday, August 29, 7:30pm ($10)
Where: City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
There are plenty of outdoor movies during the summer, but the Cartoon Carnival is a standout, billed to feature over a dozen 16mm cartoons dating from the 1920s through the 1940s. The selection comes from Tommy Stathes’s collection of over 1,500 early animated films that the “Cartoon Cryptozoologist” has been building for over a decade. This event, taking place in the City Reliquary’s backyard, marks the 35th edition of Stathes’s screenings; we recommend arriving early to secure prime seats. —Claire Voon
Ugly Duckling Presse Party
When: Sunday, August 30, 3–11pm ($50)
Where: The Paper Box (17 Meadow Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Pretty much all indie publishers are great, but we especially adore Ugly Duckling Presse, which is based in Brooklyn and grew out of a 1990s zine. Ugly Duckling focuses on emerging, international, and “forgotten” writers working in poetry, artists’ books, performance texts, and other creative forms. We look forward to seeing that experimental spirit move from the page to the stage at their benefit “rent party,” of which Hyperallergic is the media sponsor.
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With contributions by Carolina Drake, Cihan Küçük, Tiernan Morgan, and Claire Voon
