Gallery Shows

Generation Paper: A Fashion Phenom of the 1960’s – Museum of Arts and Design

Exploring a little-known aspect of 1960s culture, Generation Paper: A Fashion Phenom of the 1960’s (March 18 – August 27, 2023) presents a dizzying array of garments made from paper and paper-like textiles for the American retail clothing market. Produced as an advertising ploy or garment option, these easily customizable, ready to wear clothes were a hit with younger shoppers looking to stand out in a crowd or older people who simply wanted to add variety to their wardrobes. Many of the items on show are in pristine condition, having been donated to the Phoenix Art Museum’s fashion design department in their original packaging, preserving the stunning color and design sense that were a hallmark of fashion in the late 1960s. The result is a fascinating insight into the taste, style, and marketing methods of mid-century American fashion.

Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle (Broadway and 58^th Street), Hours: Tu – Sun: 10-6, Admission: General admission: $18, Seniors (ages 65 and up): $14, Students (w/ ID): $12, People 18 years and younger: Free, Members: Free. On Thursdays, admission tickets are half price. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WEARING A FACIAL MASK IS ENCOURAGED, BUT NOT MANDATORY.

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What That Quilt Knows About Me and Material Witness: Folk and Self-Taught Artists at Work – American Folk Art Museum

The spring/summer exhibitions at the American Folk Art Museum draw upon the permanent collections to tell compelling stories of creators and their materials, illustrating the wide-ranging history of the United States. In What That Quilt Knows About Me (March 17 – October 29, 2023), a generous section of the museum’s floor space displays a stellar collection of geometric and narrative quilts from the 19^th to 21^st centuries. Where possible, maker and local/national history are linked together through vivid descriptions that enrich the viewer’s understanding of everything from the roles of women in rural/urban life to the choices made by textile artists in expressing their thoughts.

In Material Witness: Folk and Self-Taught Artists at Work (March 17 – October 29, 2023), visitors learn how choice of material shapes and enhances the maker’s art, directing the result in surprising ways. Over 140 objects are on display, loosely arranged in four sections: from the earth, alchemy and light, matter in hand, and in the spirit. Each area demonstrates connections between material, ease or difficulty of constructing an art object, and how the piece might transcend its original intent, receiving different interpretations/understandings from later generations. The museum has also created a special website that goes into further details about certain works, click here for more information.

American Folk Art Museum, 2 Lincoln Square (at Columbus Avenue and 66^th Street), Hours: Wed – Sun: 11:30-6, Admission: Free. Walk-ins are welcome but the museum requests visitors reserve a free ticket online. To reserve a free ticket, click here PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT FACE MASKS ARE RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.

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Kyohei Inukai – Japan Society

The latest show from the Japan Society, Kyohei Inukai (March 17 – June 25, 2023), presents the work of an artist nearly unknown today, yet who made a successful career for decades, exploring various artistic styles and methods. Kyohei Inukai (born Earle Goodenow to a Japanese father and American mother, both artists) trained at the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Students League of New York at various times, and worked in advertising, commercial art, and children’s book illustration using the Goodenow name. He chose to use his late father’s name to sign his fine art pieces, which mixed various media styles and techniques with current mid and late 20^th century art movements. The resulting works, many in print format, are exceptionally vivid in their color combinations, often incorporating geometric shapes reminiscent of op-art. Other works on paper employ sumi-e ink painting, filling the page to its edges, overwhelming the eye with bold forms, and creating a subtle link between Western and Japanese art techniques to great effect.

Japan Society, 333 East 47^th Street (near First Avenue), Hours: Wed – Sun: 12-7, Admission: Adults: $12, Senior Adults: $10, Students w/ ID: $10, Persons with disabilities and their accompanying caregiver: Free, Children 16 years and under: Free, Members: Free. From 12pm-1pm on Wednesdays through Fridays, only members may enter, after that time the general public may enter. On Fridays between 6-9pm, admission is free but tickets should be reserved in advance on the website. To reserve tickets, click here

Full vaccination plus booster (if eligible) is advised but not required to enter the building. Masks are recommended but not required (unless visiting/using the language center facilities). A mask will be provided upon request if you do not have one. Capacity for entry is strictly limited via timed ticketing and social distancing is required. More information about entry requirements may be found here

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The Sassoons and After ‘The Wild’: Contemporary Art from The Barnett and Annalee Newman Foundation Collection – The Jewish Museum

The two latest shows from The Jewish Museum are an engaging mix of world history, family connections, and contemporary viewpoints that are a trademark of the institution. In The Sassoons (March 3 – August 13, 2023), visitors explore the stories from four generations of an internationally renowned family, starting with David Sassoon, an Iraqi Jew who resettled in India. His efforts, along with his adult children’s contributions, eventually created an internationally known business dealing in everything from the opium trade to textiles. The objects on display bring to life the interests of following generations as they balanced their faith with the outside world, while also pursuing a distinct vision of exceptional aesthetic standards in such areas as Asian art and Old Masters.

The selected works in After ‘The Wild’: Contemporary Art from The Barnett and Annalee Newman Foundation Collection (March 24 – October 1, 2023) are part of a larger 2018 gift and feature pieces from grant winners of the Foundation. A mix of familiar and unknown names are on display, creating an interesting dialog between the many points of view. In addition, the wall talkers do an excellent job of explaining each artist’s interests, technique, and background, giving viewers useful insights into the creative process behind the objects.

The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue (at 92^nd Street), Hours: Thur: 11-8, Fri – Mon: 11-6, Admission: Adults: $18, Seniors over 65 years of age: $12, Students (with ID): $8, Children 18 years and younger: Free, Visitors with disabilities and their caregiver: Free, SNAP/EBT cardholders: Free, Members: Free. On Saturdays admission is free to all visitors.