Max Steiner
A couple of Halloween-themed shows (and arty-parties) open this week including one at The Standard Shop (442 West 13th Street) with a pop-up sale of one-of-a-kind masks made by Bushwick designer/sculptor Max Steiner. Stop by this week, they're only on view until Halloween.
"Pet Sematary," a group show atShoot the Lobster(138 Eldridge Street), opens on Wednesday, October 28th, 6 to 8 p.m., and is up through November 8th. Not sure how -- or if -- this relates to Stephen King, but here's the artists involved: Elaine Cameron-Weir, Jeffery Joyal, Win McCarthy, Jeanette Mundt, Will Sheldon and Nolan Simon.
The Storefront for Art and Architecture hosts their annual (and always fun) Critical Halloween party on October 31, 9 p.m. until late, at DCTV Firehouse (87 Lafayette Street). This year's them is "DEMO" -- as in democracy, demolition, demoted, demographic etc. -- so dress accordingly and stick around until midnight, when a jury will award seven prizes. Music by Daniel Perlin and Surfing. Tickets are HERE.
Madison McGaw
The New Museum's (235 Bowery) "members-only" Halloween bash is on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Dress as a thrift store painting (and check out Jim Shaw's retrospective), have a cocktail and dance to the music. All for a $70 membership fee, and you'll be invited to all up-coming member events.
Bortolami (520 West 20th Street) opens "CIRCA" featuring several new works, as well as some from the 90s by New York artist Tom Burr on October 29th, 6 to 8 p.m. Included are his photos from public-restroom cruising spots and Polaroids of 42nd Street facades along with a life-size re-creation of a section of Zurich's Platzspitz. Up until December 23rd.
Bryce Wymer
Hazan Projects (35 North Moore Street) presents their inaugural exhibition, "TEXT ME," on Thursday, October 29th, 6 to 8 p.m., and up until December 12th. The group show features "text-based" art that aims to "challenge our ingrained understanding of letters, words and language." The artists include Meg Hitchcock, Henry Mandell, Matt McCormick, Andrea Mary Marshall and seven more.
Kota Ezawa
On Friday, October 30th, 6 to 8 p.m., Murray Guy (235 West 17th Street) opens an exhibit by Oakland artist Kota Ezawa who looks at the 1990 robbery of Boston's Gardner Museum via his "reconstruction" of the 13 stolen works and a new six-minute animated film, recreating the museum's surveillance video footage. Up until December 19.
Paul Cocksedge
Friedman Benda (515 West 26th Street) opens "FREEZE," their second show of works by the London-based designer Paul Cocksedge on October 29, 6 to 8 p.m. This time around, Cocksedge "exploits freezing temperatures to create a bond between metals that otherwise do not adhere in nature." On view until December 9.
Each day in November, fine art photographer Steve Giovinco will post one portrait of his father's decline and final moments on Snapchat. The images can be viewed for only 24 hours. The app exhibition, "Scenes From a Life, Ch. 3, "captures his unfolding emotions...and difficult moments when(his) father's illness became worse." Sign in to Snapchat and go to SteveGiovinco as a friend.
Maira Kalman
Julie Saul Gallery (535 West 22nd Street) presents several gouache paintings from Maira Kalman's latest book "Beloved Dog," opening on October 29th, 6 to 8 p.m. They also have a show of early photos by Morton Bartlett opening the same night. Both up until December 23rd.
Venus Over Manhattan (980 Madison Avenue) has a show by "eccentric art world maverick" H.C. Westermann called "See America First" opening on November 2nd, 6 to 8 p.m., and up until December 19th. Sculptures and works on paper by the late, American post-war artist reflect his "yearning for an era that favored traditional values."
ONGOING (AND WORTH CHECKING OUT):
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, a monumental art installation called "Enlightened Universe" by Spanish artist Cristobal Gabarron has gone up in Central Park's Rumsey Playfield. It's on view until November 15th.
Jack Shainman's The School (25 Broad Street, Kinderhook, New York) has a multimedia group exhibition up now called "Winter in America" with works by over 40 artists that explore "the mood currently expressed in the United States...(and) that reflect the quiet introspection of winter." Check it out on Saturday's from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.
The "Difficult" show at R & Company, (82 Franklin Street) curated by Jim Walrod, closes on October 29th. Last chance to check out his picks of works that were originally mocked, but eventually became icons of 20th Century design.