QMAil: March 2006
Despite the blistering cold outside, March hosts the official beginning of Spring, when life blossoms anew. And as in nature, new life is sprouting at the QMA in March with the opening of three dynamic exhibitions — ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City; Open Routines: Recent Projects by Pedro Lasch; and Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao: Habitat 7. And more importantly, you are all invited to the opening of these three shows on Sunday, March 12, 3-6 pm, for an afternoon of powerful images of home and abroad and poignant commentary on the journeys between the two. Of course there will be mariachi, cocktails and plenty of good times. Bring your friends, bring your enemies, bring your families. All are welcome and all will leave fully sated.
March masthead: Demetrio Carrasco, Untitled, 1996. Color print on paper, 35 3/8 x 51 3/16 inches.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City
March 12 — August 20, 2006
Opening Reception: Sunday, March 12, 3 pm
The inhabitants of the largest cities in the world are exposed to an incredible diversity of stimuli. Such is the case in both Mexico City and New York. ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City is a collective exercise in discovery. It is an attempt to understand the differing attachments and mysterious attributes that Mexico City contains, as well as the intimate and affectionate experiences that it produces in its people. More than glorifying or denigrating the city, the intention of the exhibition is to explore what it means to live in an urban center of these dimensions. Although the photographs, paintings, prints, engravings, videos, short films, animations, digital images, sounds, texts and everyday objects contain a personal viewpoint, they also contribute to creating a collective visual perspective.
Manon Amen, Boing, 2000. Color print on paper, 31 1/2 x 47 1/4 inches.
ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City presents some 160 glimpses of the city, through the eyes of artists, photojournalists and citizens, literally providing the ABC's of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, from abasto (supply) to zoom. ABCDF reflects the deep connections that all those whose work is featured have for this city, one that enchants in the same fashion that New York does.
ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City at the Queens Museum of Art has been made possible by the generous support of: CONACULTA: Mexico's National Council for Culture and Arts. Jacques and Natasha Gelman Trust, Control Bureau, Fundacion Televisa, SRE: Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affiars, The Mex-Am Cultural Foundation, Inc., The Consulate General of Mexico in New York, Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, Cuervo Tradicional, Mexicana Airlines, Tortilleria Chinantla, Dasein Foundation, Jarritos, Corona, Villacero Group, and Vitro.
More information about ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City is available here.
Open Routines: Recent Projects by Pedro Lasch
March 12 — July 9, 2006
Opening Reception: Sunday, March 12, 3 pm
Pedro Lasch was born in Mexico City in 1975 and lived there until he moved to New York when he was 19. Since 1999 he has focused on creating multiple art initiatives that bridge the local concerns and interests of recent Latino immigrants in Queens and other boroughs with the current state of international politics. Open Routines: Recent Projects by Pedro Lasch reflects the artist's preoccupation with the theory and practice of socially engaged art through a series of public interventions within the flow of the everyday. These interactions or temporal rearrangements form a chain of open routines that develop within specific social situations originating mostly outside of the conventional art context. His various roles as artist, educator, activist, cultural organizer and producer should be understood as building upon one another to form an interdisciplinary practice.
Pedro Lasch, Media Defacements - Part 1, 2004. Video Stills from Naturalizations Series, duration: 3:00 min.
The four works shown in Open Routines, spanning an eight year period, have generated engaging ways to link contemporary art to the Latino community located within the Museum's immediate neighborhood. Three of the four projects involve direct exchanges and collaborations with various communities in Queens. Most of the pieces refer directly to the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, and reflect cross-class and cosmopolitan perspectives.
Open Routines: Recent Projects by Pedro Lasch and emerging artists projects at the QMA are supported by the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc., The Greenwall Foundation and the Jerome Foundation.
More information is available here.
Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao: Habitat 7
March 12 — July 9, 2006
Opening Reception: Sunday, March 12, 3 pm
Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao, 46th Street, Sunnyside, 2005. Duratran, 20 x 48 inches
Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao, a native of Taiwan, immigrated to Vancouver when he was 18, eventually making his way to New York. This past December, he won the New York Times' 2nd Annual “Capture the Times” photography contest with his evocative large-scale panoramic views of life in Queens. 30 of his compelling photographs — some measuring eight feet wide — are presented at the QMA in Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao: Habitat 7, his first solo museum exhibition.
Liao's subject is the cultural diversity that has become a binding factor in the borough of Queens. The #7 train has long been dubbed “The International Express” due to the myriad cultures that have formed hybrid communities along train's route. Like the great civilizations that lined the major rivers of the world, the #7 is one of New York City's important arteries and has been a source of inspiration for numerous creative ideas, economic pursuits and cultural exchanges for decades. Installed in the Panorama of the City of New York, Habitat 7 invites a consideration of the how modern societies evolve around the manmade river basins of today.
Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao: Habitat 7 has been made possible by the generous support of the Council for Cultural Affairs, Taiwan, R.O.C. in collaboration with the Taipei Cultural Center, TECO in New York, JGS, Inc. and Crystal Foundation.
More information is available here.
SPECIAL EVENTS
UN 60th Anniversary Discussion Series:Partition of Israel/Palestine — A Discussion with Artists Emily Jacir and Meir Gal
Sunday, March 5, 2 - 4 pm
United Nations Association — Queens Chapter & QMA invite you to the first of three discussions which revisit the major events that took place while the General Assembly met in the QMA building, which include the including partitions of Israel/Palestine and Korea, as well as the founding of UNICEF.
Including presentations by Palestinian American Artist Emily Jacir and Queens College History Professor and Middle East conflict resolution expert, Mark Rosenblum.
Opening Reception for all Three Exhibitions
Sunday, March 12, 3 - 6 pm — JOIN US!
Celebrate the opening of these three exhibitions with us! Live music, tours, food, refreshments and an afternoon of new and old friends... Opening sponsored by Cuervo Tradicional, Corona, Jarritos and the Taipei Cultural Center.
First Sonidero Exchange / Primer Intercambio Sonidero
Saturday, March 18, 1 pm
The public is invited to bring sonidero materials such as CDs, DVDs, LPs, T-shirts, flyers, and posters to The museum to add to Mexican artist Pedro Lasch's interactive Somidero altar/archive in the Unisphere Gallery. Sonidero videos will be shown, and presentations will be made by guest speakers including Javier Juarez (Director of Onda Sonidera) and Diego Medina (Co-founder Circulo de Arte y Cultura de Nueva York)
Naturalizations Workshop for Children with Pedro Lasch/Taller de Naturalizaciones para Niños with Pedro Lasch.
Sunday, March 19, 1 - 3 pm
Explore the relationship between oral tradition and technological mediation using special mirror masks created by Mexican artist Pedro Lasch.
Dia de la Primavera Spring Celebration
Sunday, March 19, 1 - 3:30 pm
The public is invited to celebrate this Latin American holiday with a day of free art-making, food, and parade. We will create spring masks, costumes, flowers, and flags inspired by the rite of spring and the exhibitions. In the Mexican tradition, we will don our costumes and parade through the museum's galleries, continuing outside if weather permits. A picnic will follow the parade. Children are welcome to come in a spring costume representing an animal, insect, or flower. At the end of the activities, everyone is invited to a dance performance to honor another spring festival: Holi — The Indian Celebration of Colors.
Holi — The Indian Celebration of Colors with Suparc Abha B. Roy & Group
Sunday, March 19, 3 - 5 pm
In celebration of the coming of spring and its riot of color, come to the Queens Museum of Art to enjoy a demonstration of Indian saris from different regions, performances of Indian classical dance, hands-on artmaking workshops for the family, and samples of traditional Holi celebration food. Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever, pranks, and lots of fun!
Oracle Theater, Inc. presents Japanese Folk Tales of Love & Woe
Sunday, March 26, 2 - 4 pm
In Japanese oral tradition, there are many tales of gods and demons and their interaction with humanity. Through the mystical artistry of an ancient Japanese puppetry form, known as bunraku. These gods and demons come alive to unveil sagas about beauty, love, and youth and man's moral values. The performance incorporates elements of traditional styles of Japanese Theatre such as Bunraku, Noh, and Kabuki, with modern techniques of projection.
Stories include:
The Samurai and His Two Wives: A Samurai, displeased with his feeble lot, searches for happiness in wealth and success. Our misguided hero is dismayed with what he discovers and longs for that which is lost.
The Story of Urashima Taro: A Magical Sea Turtle Rewards a Fisherman, who is caring and kind. Mystical surprises lurk in the waters and in the capture of youth. Will you believe your eyes and ears?
The Frog and The Snake: A Simply Irresistible Snake, a Helpless Frog, and a Man, who has several daughters, create an interesting predicament. Good deeds, clever tricks, and loyalty create a powerful tale of love and woe.
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
TOURS
Enjoy free tours of the Panorama and special exhibitions on Saturdays and Sundays, including Spanish tours on Sundays.
LOCATION
UNISPHERE CAFÉ
Open every weekend — featuring small plates, sushi, desserts and beverages. Lunch with a view of the Unisphere.
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MARCH Series
Artist Talk Series
Artmaking workshop with Jaishri Abichandani
Saturday, March 4,
11 am - 1 pm
The public is invited to a free art-making workshop with artist Jaishri Abichandani, who will guide participants in making their own collages using photographs and traditional Indian imagery. The workshop will be in Hindi, with translation in English.
Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao, at the Woodside Library
Thursday, March 30,
4:30 - 5:30 pm
Come join Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao, a Taiwanese-born photographer who will talk about his award-winning panoramic pictures of the 7 train, Habitat 7. Mr. Liao will share his experiences as an immigrant artist in Queens and talk about his pictures that won the New York Times Magazine Photography Contest, “Capture the Times”. His work will be on view at the Queens Museum of Art from March 12 through July 9.
The Film Series — “And the Verdict Is... Films on Law and Justice”
Mark Ethan presents this 10-week series represents the law and its process, both within as well as beyond the frame of the courtroom, expressing the urban or rural social context.
Monday, March 6, 2 pm
The Oxbow Incident (William Wellman, 73 mins, 1943) including a post-screening discussion on “frontier justice” and the tension between the rule of law and vigilante justice in this classic western drama starring Henry Fonda. Plus clips from Young Mr. Lincoln and Clarence Darrow.
Monday, March 13, 2 pm
Deliverance (John Boorman, 109 mins, 1972) an adaptation of James Dickey's novel of a canoe trip which turns nightmarishly bad, starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight.
Monday, March 20, 2 pm
The Caine Mutiny (Edward Dmytryk, 125 misn, 1954) in which Humphrey Bogart starts as the paranoid Captain Queeg in the film version of Herman Wouk's Pulitzer Prize-winnng novel, and leads a post-screening discussion on military justice.
Monday, March 27, 2 pm
Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick, 86 mins, 1957) in which French army politics in WWI is the backdrop for a confrontation between military law and moral justice, starring Kirk Douglas.
The Looking Series — “LOOKING AT THE METROPOLIS”, Slide-Talks by Miriam Brumer
On the occasion of the exhibition ABCDF: Portraits of Mexico City, The Looking Series will focus on looking at the metropolis in art. Various aspects of large cosmopolitan areas in the world have always been investigated by artists; whether it be from the architectural, social or purely visual standpoint, cities have long served as a setting, to provide an ambience or as a source of documentation for the changing currents in art. Triumphal columns and arches in ancient Rome, pageantry recorded in Renaissance Florence, Lautrec's portrayal of nightlife in turn of the century Paris, decadence in 1920's Berlin as etched by George Grosz, and lively mixed media renditions of contemporary New York created by Red Grooms — all of these present us with a sense of a particular city in a particular art historical context.
The cost is $5 per session, free for members.
Thursday, March 16,
2 - 3:30 pm
Cities in Italy: Ancient to Modern
Thursday, March 23,
2 - 3:30 pm
Cities in Holland: the 17th Century
Thursday, March 30,
2 - 3:30 pm
London: different viewpoints 18th-20th Century
CINEMAROSA — Queens Only Queer Film Series
Additional information is available at Cinemarosa's web site.
Sunday, March 19, 3 - 5 pm
La ley de la noche / The Law of the Night (Diego Torres, Bolivia, 2004, 58 min.) One of the first transgender Bolivian films, it tells the story of Kiki, an effeminate young man driven to the city to escape persecution in his small village and to seek a better life. Though dreaming of success as a drag performer, he quickly turns to transvestite prostitution to survive, picking up the tricks of the trade from an experienced tranny. But life on the streets is dangerous, with police and thrill seeking bashers threatening violence unpredictably. When Kiki becomes involved with Mateo, an artist who has run into trouble with some local thugs, can the couple avoid tragedy?
Maricones / Faggots (Marcos Arriaga, Peru/Canada , 2005, 52 min.) Documentary that offer a gritty look at the life of Eusebio, a 58 year-old working-class gay man in Lima, Peru. Eusebio mixes candor about his sexuality with intimations of internalized homophobia. He relishes telling stories about his sexual encounters with other men, while doing all he can to make sure his brother's sons don't turn out gay like him.
CALLS FOR ENTRIES
Queens International 2006
(October 1, 2006 — January 14, 2007)
An invitation to artists of all media, who currently live and/or work in the borough of Queens to have their work reviewed for possible inclusion in the exhibition.
DEADLINE: June 1, 2006 (postmarked)
More information is available here.
Dance in Queens: Dance Residency Summer 2006
Queens Museum of Art and TOPAZ ARTS announce the fourth annual dance residency project to take place Summer 2006. This residency promotes dance in Queens and encourages the creative process by offering choreographers the opportunity to rehearse and perform at the Queens Museum of Art located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
DEADLINE: April 21, 2006 (postmarked)
More information is available here.
The Queens Museum is housed in the New York City Building, which is owned by the City of New York. With the assistance of the Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and the New York City Council, the Museum is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York City Department for the Aging and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. Additional funding is provided by the New York State Legislature, the New York State Council on the Arts, New York Council on the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, generous corporate and foundation supporters, members and friends.
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