It’s time for another weekend of gallery hopping with our newest section, Gallery Beat.
We’ve got a bit of everything this week: some experimental photography, a little history, and a whole lot of Picasso.
Sally Mann: “Upon Reflection”
This exhibit is unfortunately closing quickly, but that is no excuse to skip it. Sally Mann, considered one of the most influential photographers of our time, has on display here a collection of haunting and beautiful self-portraits. Mann took photographs of her face and torso while bed-ridden with injuries sustained in a horsing accident in 2006. The close-ups are highly dimensional and show the detailed contours of the artist’s body. Simultaneously, they are fluid and blurred- like a series of memories or inner reflections.
The gallery describes her printing process this way: “Each unique image is captured as a wet-plate positive on a large, black glass plate and then is joined with others in groupings of 3, 9, 20 or even up to 75 plates.” Wow- talk about artistry. This is one of the nicest abstract photography exhibits I’ve been to in quite a while.
Edwynn Houk Gallery
745 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor (@ 59th Street)
New York, NY 10151
(212) 750-7070
Exhibit through Nov. 3
Edith Wharton’s New York City: A Backward Glance
Edith Wharton made France her home for many many years, but New York (her hometown) was always her source of inspiration. This tiny exhibit on the second floor of the New York Society Library shares a collection of rare print editions of Wharton’s novels. That includes first editions of Wharton’s most famous publications “The House of Mirth” (1905) and “The Age of Innocence” (1920).
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Wharton’s birth, the exhibit also features several family photographs and handwritten letters, sent from Wharton to her cousin Frederic Rhinelander King.
Wharton was a society girl raised in a high-class social circle. Her father was a shareholder and member of the library, and her cousin was a trustee and chairman of the board- so this is the perfect place to honor her.
New York Society Library
53 East 79th Street (at Madison Ave.)
New York, NY 10075
(212) 288-6900
Exhibit through Dec. 31
Picasso Black and White
Pablo Picasso is one of the most fascinating and celebrated artists of all time. To honor his work and artistic passion, the Guggenheim Museum has a new exhibit devoted solely to Picasso’s black and white paintings. It is the first exhibit of its kind.
In an overt rejection of color, Picasso “purged it from his work in order to highlight the formal structure and autonomy of form inherent in his art.” Spanning years 1904 to 1971, we see this rejection through all his work mediums- paintings, sculptures, and works on paper.
For all you lovers of modern and experimental art, Picasso just about tops them all. You may have seen his work many times before, but this new and rare exploration is still well worth a visit.
Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)
New York, NY 10128-0173
Exhibit through Jan. 23, 2013
