Arts In The City
ROXY PAINE IN THE PARK
Singer Fiona Apple performs at 2006’s Central Park SummerStage concert series.
SPRING FEVER
While the city may be waiting for the
weather to catch up with the calendar,
this spring promises plenty of exciting
arts events:
HIGHLINE BALLROOM
Though the park itself won’t open un-
til Summer 2008, the HighLine Ball-
room is ready to debut with a bang.
On April 30, quintessential New York
rocker Lou Reed will open the venue
with a special performance. During
its opening month, a wide array of
acts, including rapper Mos Def, Brit-
SPOTLIGHT
This week, the Met is set to
rock the art world, with what
could be the biggest event of
the season. After 15 years of
preparation, museum director
Philippe de Montebello unveils
his pet project, the renovated
Greek and Roman wing of the
museum. When it opens on
April 20, the 30,000-square-foot
gallery will house over 5,000
works of art, many of which
haven’t been seen in decades
and some which have never
been exhibited at all. Billed as
a “museum within a museum,”
the galleries will include works
from prehistoric times through
the late Roman Empire,
10 • Resident The Week Of April 16, 2007
WEEKLY PICKS
Waiting in line for a Shake Shack
burger will become more of a cultural Painter Dana Schutz’s
apocalyptic paintings are
event this May, when Madison Square
filled with humor and sly
Park gets three new sculptures by lo-
references to the history of
cal artist Roxy Paine. The works of art. Her new exhibition,
art, which range from seven to 42 feet “Stand by Earth Man” is at
tall, mix organic and industrial forms, Zach Feuer Gallery through
with trees made out of stainless steel. May 19. lflgallery.com
art
While the acclaimed Alvin
SUMMERSTAGE
Ailey American Dance
While the weather is closer to spring Theater Company is
than summer, the folks behind Cen- out on tour, the group’s
tral Park’s SummerStage free concert younger sibling, the Ailey
AP Photo
series have given a sneak peak as to II dance troupe, perform
what to expect this year. The season “Ailey Highlights,” an
will kick off in June with a concert energetic selection of
by vocalist Cassandra Wilson fol- favorites choreographed by
the late Ailey himself. April
dance
ish chanteuse Amy Winehouse and lowed by New York punk legends
singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeo- Television. Other highlights include 19 and 21. alvinailey.org
cello will stop by the ballroom. a tribute to the hip-hop artists behind “Alice Neel,” a new
the 1982 graffiti classic “Wild Style” documentary about the
FESTIVAL FREEBIES and benefit concerts with Joss Stone Greenwich Village painter
Though the Tribeca Film Festival can and the Decemberists. whose portraits captured
be the hottest ticket in town, those —Heather Corcoran some of the most important
without a pass can still get in on the cultural figures of the
fun. From April 26-28, the festival REMEMBERING mid-20th century opens in
New York April 20. The
will present the Drive-In, free screen- Last week, the city said goodbye to
documentary, which was
ing under the stars. Among the films two of its leading creative minds, directed by Neel’s grandson,
to be screened at the World Financial artist Sol Lewitt and writer Kurt features interviews with art
Center Plaza is “Dirty Dancing,” a Vonnegut. Lewitt, the influential world insiders, including
perennial favorite that celebrates its artist and a driving force behind painter Chuck Close and
20th birthday this year. both the minimalist and conceptual artist, critic and curator
art movements, died April 8 at the Robert Storr. At Cinema
film
age of 78. The artist was perhaps Village. aliceneelfilm.com
best known for his Wall Drawings, For two nights only, British
conceptual pieces performed by as- balladeer Jarvis Cocker
sistants following the artist’s written brings his off-beat vocals to
Webster Hall. April 22-23.
music
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
instructions. The Connecticut na-
tive was a fixture in the New York art bowerypresents.com
scene, and was part of the group of Tony Award winner
artists nicknamed “the Bowery boys” Frank Langella and
that included artists Dan Flavin and Michael Sheen recreate
Eva Hesse. Vonnegut, best known a bit of television history
for his novels “Slaughterhouse-Five” on the stage with “Frost/
and “Cat’s Cradle” died on April 11 Nixon.” The play, which
following an injury in his Manhattan comes fresh off the heels of
home; he was 84. The author and a sold-out run in London,
asks the question: How
Marble statue of the youthful former WWII prisoner of war was
did a British talk show host
Hercules, Roman, A.D. 69-98. known for his use of biting satire and
get former U.S. president
works of science fiction. Vonnegut’s to offer a mea culpa that
including one of the world’s novels are widely considered among the world was waiting to
theater
only chariots to survive from the best and most influential of the hear? Through July 29.
antiquity.—H.C. 20th century.—H.C. frostnixononbroadway.com