QMAil: December 2005

We know...we can't believe it's December either. Only 30 more days until 2005 is behind us, but it's not too late to live up to some of those resolutions you made 11 months ago. Remember the one about going to more museums or visiting new places in New York that you always wondered about? You still have time, and we've got something special waiting for you. The Gift: Building a Collection for the Queens Museum of Art presents some 200 recent acquisitions ranging from iconic images of 20th century photography to exciting new work by the artists who have been central to the Museum's artistic endeavors. So treat yourself to a little escape from the hustle and bustle of the holidays in New York and see what we're giving to you this year. Happy holidays and all the best in the New Year.

December masthead: l. Chieng-Chi Chang, I do I do I do, 2000. Gelatin-silver print, 30 x 40 inches. Gift of Cheryl Lai. © Chieng-Chi Chang / Magnum Photo.
r. Terence Gower, Red Wall, 2004. Painted wall and framed text, dimensions variable. Gift of the artist.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

The Gift: Building a Collection for the Queens Museum or Art

Through February 12, 2006

Traditionally museums keep collections. It is, in part, what defines them. A relatively young institution, the Queens Museum of Art has relied upon the generosity of collectors, artists and friends as it has built a collection of work of both contemporary and historical significance. Because of this generosity the collection has grown considerably during the past five years. It has moved from a core of approximately 5,000 items primarily related to the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs to being a significant cache which now includes nearly 4,000 photographs from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries and an equal quantity of prints and drawings from the1930s to the present. Recently, we have been fortunate to acquire large scale installations that will suit the dynamic new spaces which will be available following the Museum's expansion into the other half of the New York City Building.

Inge Morath, Mrs. Nash, London, 1953. Vintage gelatin silver print,13 x 19½. Gift of E. Nobles and Margaret Breece Lowe. © Inge Morath / Magnum Photo.

What waits in the galleries is evidence of a period of tremendous success in acquiring works; a success that marks a new chapter in the history of the Queens Museum of Art. More than 200 remarkable works of art are on view and all are fine testaments to their donor's taste and generosity. Selections from six recently acquired collections of iconic 20th century photographs and works on paper - photographs of Salvador Dal“ creating his 1939 Surrealist pavilion, Dream of Venus; works from the seminal exhibition Photography in the Fine Arts: Museum Directors' Selections for the 1965 World's Fair; photographs from the collection of Charles W. Schwartz; New York Noir: Crime Photos from the New York Daily News Archive; a body of etchings by John Sloan and Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier; and work by William Sharp, including drawings, sketches and notebooks Ð are joined by a dynamic array of recent artwork by artists who have been at the core of the Museum's artistic endeavors. In addition, portions of a 1,200 square foot relief map of the New York watershed on long-term loan form the Department of Environmental Protection will provide a wonderful complement to our Panorama. Together these recent acquisitions reflect this site's past, the collection's present and the Museum's future.

Featuring work by: Richard Avedon, Felice Beato, Werner Bischof, Joseph Breitenbach, Esther Bubley, Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Chieng-Chi Chang, Sam Folk, Marietta Ganapin, Chitra Ganesh, Burt Glinn, Terence Gower, Bolek Greczynski, Ellen Harvey, Ken Heyman, Tamar Hirschl, Jenny Holzer, Eric Hongisto, Don Hunter, Masayuki Kawai, Shin il Kim, William Klein, Dorothea Lange, Abigail Lazkoz, Pia Lindman, Larry Litt, Nava Lubelski, Rita McBride and Discoteca Flaming Star, Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier, John L. Moore, Inge Morath, Fred Morgan, John Morris, Yasushi Nagao, Yamini Nayar, New York Daily News, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Arnold NewmanNils Norman, Ruth Orkin, Eung-Ho Park, Fernando Renes, Mark Riboud, Troy Richards, Arhur Rothstein, Theodore Rozumalski, Raymond Saá, David Seymour, William Sharp, SLAAAP!, John Sloan, W. Eugene Smith, K. Tamamura, Brian Tolle, Julian LaVerdiere, Javier Viver, Tom Warren, Louise Weinberg, WNYC New York Public Radio.

Odd Lots: Revisiting Gordon
Matta-Clark's Fake Estates

Through January 22, 2006

Gordon Matta-Clark's undated sketch on the exterior of a file folder depicting several of his lots. Courtesy Jane Crawford, The Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark.

Odd Lots: Revisiting Gordon Matta-Clark's Fake Estates examines the legacy of Gordon Matta-Clark (1943-1978) through the history of his important project Fake Estates (1973-4). A meditation on property, ownership, landscape, and absence, Fake Estates was born when Matta-Clark discovered that the city periodically auctioned off “gutterspace” — absurdly small slivers of land carved from the urban grid by anomalies in surveying, zoning, and municipal construction. Matta-Clark purchased fifteen of these odd lots at auction. He then visited and photographed each one, and collected the related maps and deeds. None of his many plans for further use of the slivers was ever carried out before his death in 1978. Now, decades later, Odd Lots furthers his vision.

At the Queens Museum of Art, the origins of the project are presented through Matta-Clark's materials, Jaime Davidovich's film of Matta-Clark visiting the sites in 1975, and the Panorama of the City of New York, on which the 15 Matta-Clark sites are marked.

Odd Lots was conceived and curated by Cabinet Magazine editors Jeffrey Kastner, Sina Najafi, and Frances Richard.

More information about Odd Lots is available here.

This exhibition has been made possible by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Altria Group, Inc.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Indian Classical Dance Showcase with Nirali Shastri

Saturday, December 10, 3 - 4:30pm

At the age of 11, Nirali Shastri became the youngest performer in the state of Gujurat to have completed her Arangetrum a 2-hour solo performance that is a momentous step in every Bharatnatyam dancer's career. She later moved to Toronto, where she acted as Assistant teacher at Nrytyakala, The Canadian Academy of Indian Dance and was a key company dancers with the acclaimed Menaka Thakkar Dance Company. Ms. Shastri recently moved to New York City, where she is learning western dance styles. Please welcome her for her debut New York city public performance.

Illuminations: Lights From Around the World

Sunday, December 11, 2 - 4pm

Lights are an important part of celebrating many religious holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Diwali. Join us for an exploration of the important symbolic and historic meaning of light —beyond its simple beauty. Storytelling, dance performances, examples of various lighted decorations, hands-on art-making activities for the family, and holiday food will keep things festive.

“Light the Parol” Filipino Christmas Celebration

Sunday, December 18, 3 - 6pm

A parol is a colorful Philippine Christmas lantern in the shape of a star that represent the star of Bethlehem, and used as Christmas decorations throughout the Philippines. Filipino American Human Services, Inc. invites the community to sponsor a parol that will be lit on a Christmas tree at the museum. Food and refreshments will be provided, cultural performances by the FAHSI community will take place.

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QMA INFORMATION

New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens NY 11368
TEL: 718 592 9700

HOURS

SEPTEMBER 6 - JUNE 25
Wednesday - Friday:
10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday:
12:00pm - 5:00pm

Closed Monday & Tuesday

ADMISSION

Admission is by suggested donation.
Adults: $5.00
Senior and Children: $2.50
Members and Children
under five: Free

LOCATION

Click for Museum directions

DECEMBER SERIES CALENDAR

CINEMAROSA — Queens Only Queer Film Series End of Season Reception

Special Double Feature Presentation on AIDS in Perspectiva Join us for the season finale presentation of two unique and controversial works dealing with issues related to sexual education and HIV/AIDS awareness. Alter the screenings, meet with cast of Shelby Knox in a Q&A session followed by a cocktail reception at the museum's Unisphere Gallery. Note: Films may contain mature themes. Additional information is available at Cinemarosa's web site

Sunday, December 18
3 - 5 pm
Giorni / Days(Directed by Laura Muscardin, taly, 2001, 80 min.), A handsome 35 year old HIVer, has lived a conservative life of control for the last ten years: he has a stable relationship with an adoring partner, a prestigious position as a banker, and a strict regimen of medicine to stay healthy. But a sudden new romance shatters this carefully crafted structure when he meets the sexy, dynamic Andrea who embarks him on a reckless romance that changes his outlook and life forever. DAYS is about the repercussions of personal choices. Courtesy of Picture This! Entertainment



The Education of Shelby Knox (Directed by Lipschutz & Rosenblatt, USA , 2004, 76 min.), is the story of a teenage girl's personal, political, and spiritual coming of age, forged through her involvement in a small town battle over sex education and her friendship with a group of gay students.

The Film Series — Commanding Films

Our ten-week film series reflecting the Ten Commandments wraps up with three notable features:

Monday, December 5, 2 pm
The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948, John Huston, 124 min) and leads a post-screening discussion on its relation to the Eighth Commandment, You shall not steal.

Monday, December 12, 2 pm
Absence of Malice (1981, Sydney Pollack, 116 min) and leads a post-screening discussion on its relation to the Ninth Commandment, You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Monday, December 19, 2 pm
Body and Soul (1947, Robert Rossen, 104 min) and leads a post-screening discussion on its relation to the Tenth Commandment, You shall not covet . . .

The Looking Series — Narrative Reality: Art that Reports

When it comes to the concept of reality, one thing is clear - everybody's idea of it is different. The Fall/Winter season of Looking Series slide talks will discuss artists' definitions of narrative reality through an exploration of their works. The cost is $5 per session, free for members.

Thursday, December 1
2 - 3:30 pm
Reality at QMA: Tour of Current Exhibitions

Thursday, December 8
2 - 3:30 pm
Political Realities: Dealing with Social and Civic Issues

Thursday, December 15
2 - 3:30 pm
Social Realism: Art as Propaganda

Thursday, December 22
2 - 3:30 pm
Today's Realities: Contemporary Approaches

The Listening Series with The Forest Hills Chamber Players

Thursday, December 8
3:30 - 4:30 pm

Three Queens residents who met at The Julliard School and shared a desire to bring quality and accessible performances to audiences of the outer boroughs, recently established the Forest Hills Chamber Players. As a special treat, they will be joined by guest violist Margaret Hjaltested to perform works by Mozart, Bach, and Rossini as well as some holiday classics.

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