Inaugural Event of the New Atlantis 2020 Series with Special Musical Guest Andy J. Forest @ OBSERVATORY


A Lecture, Performance, and Party hosted by John Swenson, author of New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans
Date: Saturday, July 23rd
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $5
Night One of the New Atlantis 2020 Series
** Books will be available for sale and signing

“In New Orleans, it was the culture of the city—its musicians, its second-liners and Mardi Gras Indians, its chefs and trumpeters and sissy bounce rappers—who asserted for the future more than any political leadership or economic imperative. It was the refusal of the artists to let go of the idea of New Orleans that saved the city. NEW ATLANTIS tells this remarkable story and does so clearly, with considerable detail and affection.”
—David Simon, Producer of HBO’s Treme

New Orleans is under siege from a lethal combination of natural and man-made disasters. The effects of the flood following hurricane Katrina in 2005 are still being felt throughout New Orleans, while the rapid destruction of the south Louisiana wetlands that protect the city from hurricane surges brings the threat of future inundations.
Musicians have been in the forefront of efforts to educate the public about how to combat this threat even before Katrina; they have also led the economic recovery of New Orleans after the flood by returning quickly to restore the city’s cultural identity. Award winning author John Swenson’s book New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans (Oxford University Press) details the struggle musicians have undertaken to rebuild New Orleans and speak out for its future.

Tonight, join us for the inaugural event of the new Observatory series New Atlantis 2020; this series, curated and moderated by John Swenson, will feature live performances, readings and discussions that will explore the relationship between the musicians of New Orleans and the rebuilding of the city after Katrina. Tonight’s event will will begin with a lavishly illustrated introductory lecture by Swenson, introducing us to the key themes and characters of the book. Next, award-winning New Orleans based musician and songwriter Andy J. Forest–who figures prominently in the book–will perform live at Observatory on guitar and harmonica. Following this performance, Swenson will moderate a Q and A with the musician, after which he will DJ a rich variety of New Orleans music while we enjoy some beer and wine.

Opening Reception, Zoe Beloff’s Amazing Hysteria Theatres at Coney Island
Friday, July 22 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Coney Island USA
1208 Surf Avenue

This Friday, Morbid Anatomy and The Great Coney Island Spectacularium cordially invite you to an opening reception to celebrate the launch of our short-term exhibition of “Four Hysterical Dramas” by Zoe Beloff. This exhibition will be on view at The Spectacularium from July 22nd until August 20th.

Four Hysterical Dramas
Beloff will present four miniature theaters housing depictions of actual hysterics filmed by doctors in Belgium,… Romania, and the United States. Updating a Victorian stage trick called “Pepper’s Ghost”, Beloff has transformed these patients into ghostly figures performing an endless loop of madness within the space of each diorama. Beloff was inspired by several remarkable developments at the end of the 19th century: the discovery of the unconscious by psychotherapists, doctors’ emerging practice of filming their hysterical patients with motion picture cameras, and the public’s fascination with madness which manifested itself in the emotive, hysterical behavior of actors in Parisian cabarets.

Opening reception for “Cosmosis”
Saturday, July 23 · 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Pochron Studios Gallery’s 2nd show of the 2011 season will explore the transference of cosmic energies.

EVE @ SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS
Sat July 23rd 8-11

Judy Chicago, Mary Beth Edelson, Kim McCarty, Ayanah Moor, Alex Prager, Lisa Steele, Swoon, Stella Vine and Hannah Wilke.

Subliminal Projects Gallery is honored to present Eve, an important group exhibition of works by revolutionary female artists Judy
Chicago, Mary Beth Edelson, Kim McCarty, Ayanah Moor, Alex Prager, Lisa Steele, Swoon, Stella Vine and Hannah Wilke. Eve is a cultural icon and reinforces the idea of equality that feminism drives home. Eve is a composition of powerful female artists, stemming from the feminist era of the 1970’s to the present. The exhibition explores how individual perceptions of femininity are expressed through each artist’s specific genre. Eve is on view July 23rd through August 20th, 2011. A reception for the artists will be held Saturday, July 23rd, from 8-11p.m.

CHET ZAR AND CRAIG LAROTONDA @ LAST RITES.

Friday July 22nd:
Last Rites Gallery Opening Reception:
Doors open 7pm until 11pm
 No cover
 Refreshments served

Saturday July 23rd:
The unveiling of the all new Tattoo Theatre
Doors open 7pm until real late!
$10 cover charge after 10pm
18 and over
Refreshments served

Sunday July 24th
The Painting Lounge
Doors open 3pm until 11pm
No Cover
Refreshments served